GRT vs ADVANCED vs DYNON EFIS

[spmerrell]

Does anyone have any feed back on the pros and cons of the Grand Rapids, Advanced, and Dynon EFIS systems? I need to make a decision on which of the 3 to choose for an F1 Evo project.

[Brantel]

Sir,

Welcome to the forum. There are tons of info in the archives. Do some searching and you will find more info than you can absorb about this very subject.

[N395V]

for an F1 Evo project.

We want pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rickmellor]

You've got lots of research to do on this. Here's a quick primer:

Cost:
GRT - High
AFS - Medium
Dynon - Low

Size:
AFS - Biggest
Dynon - Middle
GRT - Smallest

Capabilities:
GRT - Most
AFS - Middle
Dynon - Fewest

Compatibility
GRT - High
AFS - Medium
Dynon - Low

Things are about to change to make this list a bit more interesting but I believe it's correct for the current offerings. Dynon and AFS have both announced ARINC interfaces so all three will soon offer Nav interfaces to things like the Garmin 5/430 (GRT already does). GRT has announced larger screens which higher resolution so that will bring them up to par with AFS and Dynon. GRT already has moving map and weather, AFS is about to release it and Dynon hasn't moved on this as of yet (as far as I can tell).

This is quick and dirty and fairly subjective but you get what you paid for. Good luck and I can't wait to see pictures of your panel!

-Rick

p.s. The above assumes GRT Horizon 1, AFS 3500 and Dynon D180.

[jcmcdowell]

The GRT dual sport for $6200 is a lot of bang for the buck with internal GPS and sensors for 4 cyl.

Comparatively the AFS was more for a 2 screen setup and Dynon was marginally less for a 2 screen setup (add the sensor prices to their list price)

I like the fact that I can upgrade for the delta of cost with GRT to a Horizon 1 down the road pretty easily.

While the newer super high res screens are pretty sexy, The smaller screens offer the advantage of being able to stack.

I haven't figured out how to use the GRTs with one screen- its possible on the AFS, but I like the additional functionality you get with the GRT.

After SUN N FUN, I was a bit discouraged with the newer GRT screens. I have my panel all planned and they simply didn't fit the larger screens. I really took a hard look at Dynon and AFS while I was there and after weighing all the perks of each system- I am resolved the dual Sport is the best bang for the buck currently.

Combined with an SL30 and a Garmin 396/496 combo- it will provide an upgradeable light IFR platform that won't break the bank on startup.

[jcmcdowell]

The GRT system would seem to most effective with the EFIS on the top screen and moving map and/or EIS on the bottom.

One could use the smaller screen for the EFIS on top and a bigger screen ($600 more- not the super duper hi res) for the EIS on the bottom.

This would allow for future upgrades, but still maintain a tight panel.

[Radomir]

Why stack? there's plenty of room on that panel for SxS config..

[rickmellor]

That's a great point ... with GRT they have three different mounting options available:

• Front-mount flanged
• Flush-mount flanged
• Radio stack (6.25" wide, flush, no flanges)

Lots of options for getting the right layout and appearance.

-Rick

[pgroell]

I found another plus for GRT, even if you go for only one screen (lets say the new big and bright Sport HS), adding engine monitoring capability will get you an EIS.
This makes a backup for engine controls should you loose for any reason your EFIS . Depending on how you do your panel, you could fly with the EFIS missing. With Dynon or AFS, you loose the screen you loose all.

[fmarino1976]

I just noticed that there are not that many references to Blue Mountain Avionics stuff in EFIS discussions in the forum. Any particular reasons? I have looked around their website and I like the synthetic view, but I have no experience with either one of the systems mention. Can anybody give us some insight into the BMA system?