Odyssey et al.

[Rainier Lamers]

Appologies in advance for this post, but it has become necessary due to some miss-conceptions. This post has been seeded due to comments under the "test" thread and moved here as this is where it belongs.
This post concernes our Enigma, Odyssey, Voyager and new RF product lines.

Enigma was launched at last years Oshkosh as a full featured EFIS with a size that is right for most homebuilt and factory built aircraft. Based on some six years of experience designing around 45 electronic flight systems, Enigma was designed with a whole host of intentions. The most important being an open system that is easy to upgrade and expand, lowest possible cost while giving best possible overall use in operation. Enigma is a primary flight system (MFD capable), engine and systems monitor (with dual engine and turbine engine support) and of course a full navigation system.
At this point in time, a very active user group has formed (not done or sponsored by us) and software updates tend to be issued every three weeks or so (for free of course) with new functionality. All this is now mostly seeded directly by the users of the system. 3D highway in the sky, 3D forward looking terrain, 3D runways etc are the lastest additions plus a very nice I/O extender that can be used to do just about any control or monitoring (Verbal audio message: "Door open", if a door opens - just one of countless examples).
The idea behind all of this is to make a system that is equaly applicable to just about any application and it is no surprise that Enigma is quite literaly taking the Rotor craft market by storm as a result of this (with certification in the making).
Above everything we value flexibility, ease of use, low cost and being able to keep a unit up to date even though technology changes fast. This includes hardware.
Enigmas like all our stuff, are produced in one of the most advanced, certified electronics production facilities in the southern hemisphere, in the beautifull town of Stellenbosch smack bang in one of the most scenic places on Earth.

Now it's Oschkosh again. This time we have an Odyssey on display and a few of our new technology VHF COM radios (Powerfull, very compact and light, yes - low cost).

Odyssey is just larger than a Garmin 1000 panel. It is 100% Enigma compatible. Same ideas, same databases - everything. But the loveliest, direct sunlight readable screen you will get to see in a while. The cost ?
How would something like $2990 grab you ? Budget $4000 or therabouts for a full system with engine monitoring and all the goodies and add another $3000 for a dual panel Odyssey. Now that is an awesome system, dual WAAS GPS, AHRS, EMU, MFD, NAV, ARINC.... the list goes on.

Voyager is next in line and should be out by the end of the year. Voyager is in effect a smaller version of Odyssey with an 8 inch display (Odyssey sports a 10.4").

Jeppesen Navdata support for the range (which soon will give you SIDS and STARS as well) is in the making, as are interfaces to popular flight planning programs. All of this in addition to our own databases which are open source, including maps - both raster and vector supported at the same time !

That is not the end of it either. But it will remain under wraps for now.

This now brings me to RF.
As of this Oshkosh, we are introducing our RF stuff. The first item is a very nice 3.5" sized VHF COM radio with all the bells and wistles (SL-40 serial communications compatibe - sorry, Garmin). Of course it can be connected to Enigma and Odyssey for frequency selection right from the databases.
The radio features 100 channels, each with alpha ID and function. 6W unmodulated carrier power. Very good sensitivity and zero internal adjustment points (the radio is largely software defined and is allways tuned to perfection). Dual watch and basestation modes with quad watch.
Two place digital VOX intercom (16 bits sampling, HIFI quality).
Lowest cost of any panel mount radio.

Right, this is radio #1. It is designed to be operated with gloved hands and is immensly suitable for open cockpit aircraft.
A version using traditional rotary controls will be released soon after.
Then, early next year our NAV/COM should be ready. Again, watch for unbelivable low price. The days of expensive NAV radios are soon over.
Transponder ?
You bet ! Mode-S comming up...

We are also going to offer super low cost "black box" versions of the VHF/NAV/COM and transponder that plug into our panels for a user interface.

Well,
this has been a long post, and again my appologies. I don't want to sound commercial as this is not what our company does. You read right. We do all of this because we LOVE doing this. We love designing and buiding instruments as much as we do flying them !

I hope this post can give you a bit of a better idea what we do and why we do it. We're a little different. You should know that.

Rainier
CEO MGL Avionics

[pierre smith]

Rainier,
I have my screwdriver and hacksaw in my hand and my Steam gauges are history!! Any body want first dibs on my six pack?

Wonderful....absolutely,
Pierre

[DanH]

I'm due to fly the test phase for a friend starting in a month or so. The aircraft is equipped with an an Enigma. I'm really looking forward to it; the panel in my own RV8 project is currently a blank slate. Couldn't ask for better timing. I'll report here.

Rainier, a double thank you for holding your price point. You certainly have my attention.

[TShort]

Note to self ... look for the MGL booth at OSH

Sounds interesting!

T.

[gpiney]

Lanier,

Will you be supporting multiple 'black box' radios? It would be nice to have 1 vhf/nav/com with a comm-only backup. And, will the nav/com have glideslope capabilities?

Boy, this make panel design easy!

[Rainier Lamers]

Yes, multiple radios are no problem (we will probably limit this to two but that has not yet been cast in stone).
Yes of course the NAV/COM will have glide slope. I'd not call it a NAV/COM otherwise !
In effect it's VHF, VOX COM, VOR, ILS and GS. Pretty similar to a Garmin SL30 (and in fact understands the same serial protocol so it's a plug in replacement). Also includes marker receiver.
MUCH smaller, MUCH lighter, MUCH less power.
Did I forget anything ? Oh yes - MUCH lower price.

Rainier

Originally Posted by gpiney

Lanier,

Will you be supporting multiple 'black box' radios? It would be nice to have 1 vhf/nav/com with a comm-only backup. And, will the nav/com have glideslope capabilities?

Boy, this make panel design easy!

[gpiney]

While I think of it, What are the chances of getting an 'External Audio' input somewhere for IPods or MP3 players? Or just the capability of wiring such to the black box.

[gpiney]

Originally Posted by gpiney

While I think of it, What are the chances of getting an 'External Audio' input somewhere for IPods or MP3 players? Or just the capability of wiring such to the black box.

While I am at it, Stereo would be real nice.

[apatti]

Can you design one that makes toast as well. I am sure you have to exhaust all that heat somewhere. It doesn't seem like it would take much to add a toast feature. Just a couple of lines of code...

I am not sure I'd want to be an engineer at MGL! The scope creep (also called creeping elegance) must be rampant! Just kidding, I imagine it is a heck of a lot of fun! Best of luck to you.

Seriously, as someone who is facing the panel building phase very soon, any innovations that will cut down on the wiring would be great. However, it is also important to maintain flexibility and serviceability. If everything is in one unit, and you have to remove it for repair, you could be grounded for a while. I'd hate to have to cancel a flight just because I my toaster needed repair.

[skidmk]

Originally Posted by Rainier Lamers

Budget $4000 or therabouts for a full system with engine monitoring and all the goodies and add another $3000 for a dual panel Odyssey. Now that is an awesome system, dual WAAS GPS, AHRS, EMU, MFD, NAV, ARINC.... the list goes on.

okay,,, 4000.00 (or thereabouts)... where do I send my check? Do you have a suggested retail for your nav/com and com?

Mike