Dynon vs Garmin panel upgrade

[terryb]

Hello All, I recently purchased a RV6A with good build quality and am looking for advise on panel upgrades. I currently also have a C182 that has a Garmin panel we finished this year with dual G5's, G500, Gtn 650xi, dual primary EI CGR combo which I am happy with although I came close to going with a Dynon panel. I would like opinions on pros/cons of Dynon vs. Garmin, particularly wrt probable resale value. I would be doing the install with my local IA so probably not a lot of difference in labor costs. I tend to keep an airplane for 2-3 years then change so want to be cost efficient. I am instrument rated so will design the panel with light IFR planned.
thanks, Terry

 

[Ironflight]

Hi Terry - looks like you joined VAF fairly recently, so you might not be aware that there are twenty (plus) years of archives with hundreds of threads and literally THOUSANDS of responses stored here on this very question - do some searching, and then if you have questions that haven’t been addressed, you might see if anyone can answer them. These threads quickly devolve into “well I bought this, so it must be the best” responses…..

Paul

 

[Dad's RV-10]

Hi Terry - looks like you joined VAF fairly recently, so you might not be aware that there are twenty (plus) years of archives with hundreds of threads and literally THOUSANDS of responses stored here on this very question - do some searching, and then if you have questions that haven’t been addressed, you might see if anyone can answer them. These threads quickly devolve into “well I bought this, so it must be the best” responses…..

Click here for some search results.

 

[Walt]

Strickly from an aircraft transition standpoint, having the same operating system in both aircraft takes much less brain power.

 

[terryb]

Click here for some search results.

Thanks, I have been reading the forum for several months, should have thought of searching before posting. Appreciate the links. Not planning to keep the C182 but the capabilities especially of the autopilot are pretty amazing. previous planes had STEC and Century 2000.

 

[terryb]

Strickly from an aircraft transition standpoint, having the same operating system in both aircraft takes much less brain power.

The C182 Garmin panel has been pretty amazing to use. I am not planning to keep the 182 so willing to learn any system. I don't care much what the upgrade cost is but am interested is which system gives the best resale for the future. that may be difficult to pin down.

 

[rleffler]

I would give AFS a call, whether you’re interested in a Dynon or AFS solution. The costs of them putting the panel together may offset your A&P costs. since I don’t know your A&P, I can’t comment specifically. however, my experience is that many A&P’s don’t have avionics experience other than basic skills. Do you want to fund their learning curve? There are some great shops and A&Ps that can do great work with avionics, they just seem few and far between.

 

[MacCool]

I would give AFS a call, whether you’re interested in a Dynon or AFS solution. The costs of them putting the panel together may offset your A&P costs. since I don’t know your A&P, I can’t comment specifically. however, my experience is that many A&P’s don’t have avionics experience other than basic skills. Do you want to fund their learning curve? There are some great shops and A&Ps that can do great work with avionics, they just seem few and far between.

It's true that an Advanced Panel, whether Dynon-based or AFS-based, could very well be a cost-effective option for upgrading a panel, and Bob's comments about installation are spot-on.

 

[BobTurner]

IMHO you should go Garmin, for one reason: you said you would likely sell the plane in 2-3 years. Garmin, AFS/Dynon, GRT all make good avionics (full disclosure: I have GRT EFIS’s but also Dynon and Garmin avionics, and like what I bought, as does everyone). But most of your potential buyers will have never heard of GRT, and only a few will have heard of Dynon. But they all have heard of Garmin. It will make your sale go quicker and easier.

 

[Ironflight]

I would give AFS a call, whether you’re interested in a Dynon or AFS solution. The costs of them putting the panel together may offset your A&P costs. since I don’t know your A&P, I can’t comment specifically. however, my experience is that many A&P’s don’t have avionics experience other than basic skills. Do you want to fund their learning curve? There are some great shops and A&Ps that can do great work with avionics, they just seem few and far between.

Bob hits the nail on the head when it comes to A&P’s (and I am one) - there is no requirement in A&P training to fabricate and install a complete avionics package. IA’s - same thing (They are A&P’s with more training and experience in the regs for certified aircraft). You’d be better off finding an experienced RV builder or build assist shop to work with you….and that is perfectly legal given that the airplane is already licensed (and would even be legal if it wasn’t). Don;t limit your thinking to what you know from the Certified world - you have a lot more (and better) options here in experimental.

 

[Dugaru]

Not planning to keep the C182 but the capabilities especially of the autopilot are pretty amazing. previous planes had STEC and Century 2000.

To be honest, the STEC 30 in my old Warrior gave me far fewer problems than my Garmin autopilot. Not even close.

 

[Jim F]

I have the AFS Advanced Panel in my RV 10 and love it. Tech support from the company has been excellent and it gets rave reviews from airline pilot friends
As to resale value, within the Experimental community AFS/Dynon has a better reputation than Garmin.
Also the installation was easy and straight forward.

 

[terryb]

appreciate the insights. My A&P has fairly extensive experience with avionics. He has installed several radios over the years for me and recently did a certified replacement of all of the original gauges with the EI CRP combo package on the 182. I do like that the Dynon system is pretty much an entire package with prewired cables and the only other outside company requirement is for a IFR approved GPS.

 

[rv6ator]

I have the AFS Advanced Panel in my RV 10 and love it. Tech support from the company has been excellent and it gets rave reviews from airline pilot friends
As to resale value, within the Experimental community AFS/Dynon has a better reputation than Garmin.
Also the installation was easy and straight forward.

I installed an AFS quick panel in my RV-7 and absolutely love it, so much so that I installed same in my recently completed Javron Super Cub. AFS/Dynon support has been excellent.
In general Dynon flat rate repair fees and subscription rates are considerably less.

 

[RVbySDI]

Dynon will be less expensive overall. Garmin has a better resale due to what has already been mentioned. As Paul stated, think outside the “certificated GA” world. There is a great deal more options available to you in working on a panel upgrade than going the A&P route.

One thing to consider when thinking of Dynon vs Garmin deals with the audio panel. Currently Dynon does not sell an audiopanel. They do sell an intercom but the intercom is not configured to handle more than one radio. If you are considering two radios and flying IFR this might be something to consider. I am building a Dynon panel now for someone who is putting two radios in the panel with the Dynon intercom. It is something that can be dealt with using the intercom but it is not ideal. Managing two radios definitely works better with an audio panel. If you go with two radios and Dynon you will be installing a non-Dynon audio panel or wiring your own switching mechanism for switching radios.

 

[ATC_RV8OR]

IMHO you should go Garmin, for one reason: you said you would likely sell the plane in 2-3 years. Garmin, AFS/Dynon, GRT all make good avionics (full disclosure: I have GRT EFIS’s but also Dynon and Garmin avionics, and like what I bought, as does everyone). But most of your potential buyers will have never heard of GRT, and only a few will have heard of Dynon. But they all have heard of Garmin. It will make your sale go quicker and easier.

If they don’t know what Dynon is they probably don’t belong in the airplane. Send them and their $$$ packing to buy a 70-80 year old corroding aircraft full of Garmin 750s.

Don’t bother selling to those that are ignorant to EAB and it’s superior options.

Build what you want and not for someone else.

 

[rv6ator]

Dynon will be less expensive overall. Garmin has a better resale due to what has already been mentioned. As Paul stated, think outside the “certificated GA” world. There is a great deal more options available to you in working on a panel upgrade than going the A&P route.

One thing to consider when thinking of Dynon vs Garmin deals with the audio panel. Currently Dynon does not sell an audiopanel. They do sell an intercom but the intercom is not configured to handle more than one radio. If you are considering two radios and flying IFR this might be something to consider. I am building a Dynon panel now for someone who is putting two radios in the panel with the Dynon intercom. It is something that can be dealt with using the intercom but it is not ideal. Managing two radios definitely works better with an audio panel. If you go with two radios and Dynon you will be installing a non-Dynon audio panel or wiring your own switching mechanism for switching radios.

I have dual coms and am using a PDA 360XR remote audio panel which interfaces swell with the Dynon/AFS.

 

[ve0kog]

the dynon/radio intercom with the monitor function (Dual RX) covers many cases where with the old school setup you'd depend on having COM2 available. The TWR, ATIS, Ground/clearnance and approach frequencies can be instantly recalled into standby with a single button push. In practice this seems almost as convenient as having two separate radios. dynon also has inputs and a very simple support for dual COMs:

Dual Radio Operation
If you have two COM radios, you will have installed an external switch that chooses which radio
transmits when you press the PTT switch.
Use your radio volume control to control which radio(s) you wish to hear at any given moment