We were able to definitively test a little question I have had in the back of my mid the other day, and I thought I?d share it here for the archives. I have had a single GNS 430 in my RV-8 since it was new, and we are building our RV-3 with a single 430W (the 430 not really being available new anymore). For those who aren?t aware, the databases are not the same between the two 430 versions, and with the cost of an annual subscription from Jepp being just shy of $400, I wasn?t looking forward to TWO of them ? particularly since we NEVER have two airplanes operating IFR in our family at the same time. The plan, therefore, was to upgrade the RV-8?s unit to a WAAS version, and share a single subscription between the two planes ? which ever was going IFR would have the up-to-date card, and the other would have the immediately prior database on a second card.
While we were executing this plan (having the WAAS upgrade performed, it was pointed out to me that the Install manual for the 430W specifically says that once a card is used in a unit, it can?t be used in another. This was directly contrary to what I was told by a reliable Garmin source. Sure enough, the other day, we got the new 430W installed in the -8, and I preformed the card swap ? and it works perfectly. You CAN share a single database between two 430W?s, so long as you are willing to have two cards, and one unit a Revision behind?..
Paul
While we were executing this plan (having the WAAS upgrade performed, it was pointed out to me that the Install manual for the 430W specifically says that once a card is used in a unit, it can?t be used in another. This was directly contrary to what I was told by a reliable Garmin source. Sure enough, the other day, we got the new 430W installed in the -8, and I preformed the card swap ? and it works perfectly. You CAN share a single database between two 430W?s, so long as you are willing to have two cards, and one unit a Revision behind?..
Paul
