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Dynon opinions

Fenderbean

Fenderbean

Well Known Member
For anyone with the new Skyview stuff why did you choose it over Advance and or Garmin. Advanced seems to be higher than Garmin and Dynon seems to better option and trying to understand. I know garmin is the standard but I seee soooo many Dynon and wonder what I am missing. THanks
 
Dynon is the gold standard of after the sale service. I’ve been burn by Garmin on this. I also find the SkyView HDX to be very intuitive. The GTN-650 not so much.

First three builds are all IFR birds flying with dual SkyView install and the GTN-650. Current RV-10 project is another SkyView HDX build, and again using the GTN-650XI as the IFR certified navigator as it is the least bad of the certified options. New panel is done and now In the final stage of making airplane to panel wire connections.

Side note. The common comment of “I have all Garmin so the boxes can talk to each other” is not valid.
Carl
 
One of the things I really appreciate is software updates are free. Download and install. Maybe true for the others.
It may come down to the mission. Dynon works for my VFR flying. Everything can be done either by touch or with buttons. That's why they added the shelf on the HDX. It's a anchor when you're bumpy. I can program the screens to display whatever I want, almost anywhere I want. The Multi Function Display is a Map but often is switched to 50% with either the Engine Management System or the Advanced Control Module data displayed.
It's very user centric. Dynon has a lot of You Tube Academy videos. They may give you insight to the Dynon system.
 
I chose Dynon Skyview. Their stuff works. I like the layout and configurability. I've never liked dealing with Garmin's customer/dealer bureaucracy. Dynon is local, I know the guys I talk to on the phone. And they're easy to deal with.
 
The first flight I took as a passenger nearly 12 years ago in an RV-7 had a dual Dynon Skyview setup. It stuck with me and When I started my build 10 years ago thats what I knew I would go with. When the HDX came out, thats what I put in my plane. The wiring was very simple. The SkyView Network protocol makes wiring everything a matter of routing rather than anything more complex. I did all the wiring myself and in doing so learned every pin and wire in my avionics, and that allowed me to really get a better understanding for the full system. Not that you can't do that with AFS or Garmin, but CAN can be tricky. AFS is probably easier, but because its easier I don't think I personally would have spent as much time trying to learn everything. I also really like having buttons and knobs (with the option of touchscreen). Tactile feel is very satisfying when adjusting things like bugs or radio frequencies. I do have space on the panel for a Garmin navigator for when I do IFR training/flying (still holding out for a Dynon certified navigator 🤞),so i'm not fundamentally against Garmin in any way.
 
I fly Dynon HDX in my -14A, I can’t think of anything it doesn’t do well. I really wanted to like the advanced and their great big MFD for the -10 I’m building.
I tend to not follow the crowd. At Osh I made a point of playing with Dynon, Advanced and Garmin. Disappointedly I found the Garmin seemed more intuitive to me while the advanced left me looking around for what I wanted.

Like so many things, it’s mostly “what you grew up with”, I think features and functionality are not significantly different.

Resale value (for my kids!) to commercial pilots used to Garmin systems also has me leaning towards G.
But I still really want to like Advanced/Dynon……..
 
When I was deciding how to configure my day VFR RV-3B project, I downloaded and read the various vendor's operating manuals, and tried to imagine actually using that equipment. Then I did the same for the installation manuals, and tried to imagine installing it. I knew I wasn't going to hire the panel out. Initially I chose GRT, but after wrestling a long time with their engine sensor box installation, I gave up, sold the GRT autopilot servos I'd bought and installed (with more difficulty than I'd been led to believe), and bought Dynon.

Haven't flown yet but installation difficulty is more limited by the size of an RV-3B and my own inexperience than by anything Dynon wrong did; they've been great, so far.

Dave
 
1. Available manuals
2. Support
3. Pre built harnesses
4. Don’t need a separate A/P

I fly garmin professionally, does it do things that dynon can’t? Yep. Synthetic viz is smoother and less glitchy.

Been asking dynon to be able to add crossing restrictions into their flight plan page, add functionality of hitting TOGA on ground the bring up flight director etc. I recommend their products to everyone I know even though I fly both.
 
I had the HDX in my 7. I found wiring is easy with the Dynon harness which is terminated at one end. Setup and operation is quite easy as well. I liked that you can choose widgets and locations to suit your display preference. Updates are easy to install and support is great. I have the AFS 6600 in my 8. I ordered the harness from them which worked out ok. Installation and setup is quite easy although I found the Skyview a little easier and documentation more current. I miss having the ability to choose widgets and locations on the 6600 but overall it is ok. AOA calibration on the 6600 is much more difficult than the Dynon. Support from AFS is great as well, although Dynon doesn't seem to be as knowledgable on the AFS so best to contact AFS. Two friends have Garmin in their 8 and Rocket. Wiring is much more complicated as is the user interface and the final cost is higher. All will get the job done. Pick your poison. Fire suit on!
 
Lots of great comments, I really like the newer 12 inch dynon and I need something for IFR. I plan to build something that if needed I can pop through the weather and go. I def would use a garmin GPS/NAV/COM and the ability to do everything via the PFD is something I really like about the Garmin. Does Dynon offewr this type of install? I didnt see many options like that.
 
I have put Dynon in 5 airplanes so far and will continue to do so. The user interface is superior, the price is right, the service after the sale is great. What's not to love?
 
I have both Dynon and Garmin as back up on my airplane. Dynon was easy to install. I felt every step of the installation, Garmin was trying to nickle and dime me, having to buy this and that which wasn't fully stated in the instructions. The Garmin ended up costing a lot more and a lot more headache than had I just use 100% Dynon
 
I installed two Dynon HDX screens with an Avidyne IFD540 in my RV-7A. I just love it. When I was deciding I visited Stein Air at Oshkosh. Their advise was stand there and simulate a flight from take off to landing on each of their display systems. (Garmin and Dynon). The one that is most intuitive to me was the Dynon. I could practically fly with it with no training at all. That convinced me to go with Dynon.

I also had Rob Hickman at Advanced Flight Systems build a quick build panel for me. One of the best things I did with my build.
 
Dynon was easy to buy (ordering was easy and they delivered promptly in well-packed boxes) The configuration (what I wanted and needed) and wiring are straight-forward. Their equipment is well-built, intuitive to use, and I like the look and feel.

But, honestly, what did it for me was this: back in my trail running/racing days I used a Garmin wrist GPS. It seemed that whenever I really needed it to work, I'd turn it on and it would display "Garmin" but would not finish booting. Nothing I could do to get it to behave, either. I don't know how many races I was running and I look down and see "Garmin" when I Really needed to see my pace, time, or distance. Eventually, usually when I was well into the run, the GPS would finish doing whatever it was that it was doing and the "Garmin" display would go away to be replaced by the 00:00:00. Big help.

So, when it came time to spend the big bucks on avionics "Garmin" was not in the front of my mind.
Cheers!
 
Is it possible to get behind the panel connectivity that eliminates the need for control boxes on the panel itself like Garmin? That was my only reason for leaning towards garmin. I really like a company that cares and that is not Garmin.
 
Fenderbean said:
Is it possible to get behind the panel connectivity that eliminates the need for control boxes on the panel itself like Garmin? That was my only reason for leaning towards garmin. I really like a company that cares and that is not Garmin.
Click to expand...
If you refer to the small control boxes like the AP and knob panel, yes. Pretty much every function can be managed on the EFIS. The Intercom is the exception. It's a small box and module together. Maybe someone makes a remote.
 
Went to Oshkosh and talked to both vendors. Garmin had a software guy who didn’t know his hardware product line and didn’t have time to talk to me. Dynon spent an hour with me walking through the whole set of options. Went with Dynon. Their support was great during installation. I find the avionics more intuitive than Garmin and easier to use during turbulence.

My second built is an RV12is that I plan to sell. Picked Garmin because it might be easier to sell.

Summary: Dynon for my own plane. Garmin for ease of resale.
 
The Knob box used for the Dynon isn't needed on the AFS as those key knobs are there on the right side. So, you can save some space and a harness there.
 
There are literally hundreds of threads here in the VAF archives that debate the merits of each EFIS system in great detail. It always ends up with everyone defending their choice. Stein and I used to give a forum at AirVenture many years ago on “how to choose an EFIS”, and quit doing it when all the “majors” reached a common level of capability, and if you compared apples to apples (exact same capabilities for each system choice), the prices were all within about 2% of each other. That meant that the only real difference was how each particular system interacted with your own brain. And the only way to know that is to actually play with them - not ask others how they play with their brain.

Customer service? I’ve read enough threads in the past twenty years to know that for every horror story there is a story full of praise - for each and every manufacturer. They’re all sinners, and they’re all saints - I think the biggest difference is how we (as customers) approach them. I am friends with most of the principles in all the companies, and they all WANT to do a good job for the community.

I own airplanes with EFIS’s from all the “majors” except AFS, and I fly AFS pretty often in airplanes so equipped. Do I have a favorite EFIS? Sure…but what it is doesn’t matter - what matters is how your choice works with your brain. Folks make a lot about wiring and installation, while the truth is that only happens once - you’ll be flying behind it for many years. The community has proven that they are ALL installable by most any builder - and lots of folks bypass that learning experience by having their panel built for them anyways.

We did a survey a few years back, and Dynon and Garmin tied for the majority of the installed market with a combined total of about 80%. I can’t recall if AFS (owned by Dynon) was broken out separately or included in the Dynon number ….sorry. But the fact remains that some choose one, some choose another. And with the exception of a few failed companies that are no longer around, they all work!
 
I have dual HDXs and a GTN650 in a 10 that I didn't build. I love my Dynons and like others have said, the customer service is exceptional. But I used to always say that if I had built the plane, I would go with all Garmin. Why, because as Carl mentioned, I was under the assumption that "all the boxes each other". One one of the problems is with doing wireless data updates. I have the flightstream card in my 650 to upload databases but you have to use Garmin Pilot app to do that with. Garmin won't let it's app talk to Dynon so I can't do updates to the HDXs or get ADSB traffic and weather to Garmin Pilot from the Dynon. I thought this might be different if I were to have the G3Xs instead of the HDXs. While you are able to get your weather and trafic from the G3Xs, you can't update all the boxes. I thought that with an all Garmin suite, you would be able to update ALL the databases wirelessly. I was told this is not the case and you still need to use data cards in the G3Xs. Correct me if I'm wrong.
 
wirejock said:
If you refer to the small control boxes like the AP and knob panel, yes. Pretty much every function can be managed on the EFIS. The Intercom is the exception. It's a small box and module together. Maybe someone makes a remote.
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Mostly - the automatic trim control lives within the SV-AP-PANEL so you wouldn’t have that functionality without one. All the button functions can be accessed on the touchscreen as well, so I suppose you could remote-mount it if you’re that short on panel space. I find it useful to have dedicated buttons, though.
 
Has anyone recently (emphasis on recently) priced out similar panels with Dynon and Garmin? I would like to know roughly the price difference and any capability differences. I have a RV-14 with a full Garmin panel and need to make a decision on my Rv-15 panel. I have always been a Garmin person but very intrigued with Dynon.
 
well @Fenderbean, as a retired pro-pilot with some experience under and below my belt, I sure could tell you what I thing of Dynon... but since VAFs doesn't tolerate neither sex nor religion, I will hereby refrain.
 
Dan 57 said:
well @Fenderbean, as a retired pro-pilot with some experience under and below my belt, I sure could tell you what I thing of Dynon... but since VAFs doesn't tolerate neither sex nor religion, I will hereby refrain.
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I can’t even tell if that’s a positive review or a negative one 🙃
 
I went with Garmin after using Garmin equipment in all the aircraft that I’ve flown and owned. I also spent years playing around with Advanced and Dynon at Oshkosh and would gladly go with either of them. The integrated junction box (for lack of a better term) is very appealing.

I didn’t go for either of them because to my eyes, the user interface design is painful to look at. Totally subjective, but everything from the font selection to the layout makes me “think too much” when I quickly glance at it. Could more time with it change that? Most likely but even after looking at it at Oshkosh I couldn’t.

Edit: I just read Paul’s post and agree completely. Somehow, Dynons aesthetic just doesn’t work for me. That doesn’t mean it’s good or bad.
 
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Like it has been mentioned above, I went with the Dynon because I have it in a previous plane and wanted them to be the same. Flying a Searey that cruises at 90 mph and an RV-8 at 150-165 knots is different enough. However, when I looked at them I always came back to they both do about the same things. However, Garmin has a simulator and Dynon does not and the Garmin 650XI and the Dynon don't seem to be able to change altitudes at waypoints and the Garmin will. Updates are less expensive on the Dynon and take less time then my Garmin equipped friends' updates. The control panel is required if you are using the Dynon radio and the AP panel gives you trim (as mentioned above). Most of my friends that chose Garmin seemed to regularly mention they were being risk averse. Like choosing Garmin was safer. Personally, I don't see that and I've always found Dynon tech people to make the effort. With Garmin it is often send it in with $1500 (GTN 650XI issue) and we'll see if anything is wrong or they just try to bump me to an email address to a higher tech level. Problem solving by email doesn't work real well with me. Either way, as also mentioned above, is really up to your preference.
 
j4cbo said:
I can’t even tell if that’s a positive review or a negative one 🙃
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lol me either, and I’m a retired Army pilot and we are pretty twisted in the sense of humor realm 🤣 but I’m oddly intrigued and hope he PMs me something!

True IFR capable is the goal and I think both will be great. I plan to install everything myself vs having someone pay so the dynon support maybe a factor but it will have a garmin gps. Ahhhhh why can’t it ever be a clear choice!
 
Jetmart said:
Has anyone recently (emphasis on recently) priced out similar panels with Dynon and Garmin? I would like to know roughly the price difference and any capability differences. I have a RV-14 with a full Garmin panel and need to make a decision on my Rv-15 panel. I have always been a Garmin person but very intrigued with Dynon.
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Don't take this as comprehensive by any means, its a "close 1 to 1" but I know some packages are missing items.. my goal was to get a ball park estimation between the majors for planning / budgeting. I had ruled Garmin out on price due to forums... and was pleasantly suprised to see they're roughly in the neighborhood as the others and not to counted out.

Paul's comments above are spot on to where I'm currently at in my decision. They all appear to be solid systems, and within rounding error on the overall cost of a -10. My plan now is to try them all out at Sun-n-fun and go from there.

I didn't price Dynon, but did do AFS. Components only based on web pricing (Garmin - I did get a quote so some discounting is listed on the total). All DIY. All within the last 2 weeks.

1769790008905.png
 
I’ve been developing custom avionics for more than 20 years. It started with AoA displays and stick shakers that worked with Dynon D10A /D100, then SkyView and G3X. I also developed stand-alone autotrim controllers for SkyView and stand-alone programmable flight displays/controllers for Dynon or Garmin systems.

Along the way, I became the editor of the original streaming data specification used by both D&G. Even though they are competitors, they cooperated fully. In my tech career, I often worked with international standards committees that often had ‘standards battles’ that represented proprietary interests. Both D&G were accessible and cooperative in my efforts to get a unified spec. Although there has been some divergence since then, kudos to both organizations.

Most recently, Dynon supported my request to stream data wirelessly, which I use for backseat displays in tandem aircraft. Over the years, they have spent dozens of hours on the phone with me, to resolve bugs in my systems as well as theirs. I haven’t had much follow up with Garmin.

One thing that I think tips the balance though is the Dynon/AFS ACM module that greatly simplifies wiring. The only reason that I didn’t use the ACM in my last build was it consumed a serial port that I required… before wireless streaming was available. I have helped others with IFR panels using combined Dynon, Garmin and VAL avionics panels, built by AFS.

I really think the ACM should be step one in choosing a panel architecture. Rob Hickman’s team can then build a panel using Dynon, Garmin and third party avionics. It may be cheaper and definitely easier and faster to install than DIY.
 
Ironflight said:
There are literally hundreds of threads here in the VAF archives that debate the merits of each EFIS system in great detail. It always ends up with everyone defending their choice. Stein and I used to give a forum at AirVenture many years ago on “how to choose an EFIS”, and quit doing it when all the “majors” reached a common level of capability, and if you compared apples to apples (exact same capabilities for each system choice), the prices were all within about 2% of each other. That meant that the only real difference was how each particular system interacted with your own brain. And the only way to know that is to actually play with them - not ask others how they play with their brain.

Customer service? I’ve read enough threads in the past twenty years to know that for every horror story there is a story full of praise - for each and every manufacturer. They’re all sinners, and they’re all saints - I think the biggest difference is how we (as customers) approach them. I am friends with most of the principles in all the companies, and they all WANT to do a good job for the community.

I own airplanes with EFIS’s from all the “majors” except AFS, and I fly AFS pretty often in airplanes so equipped. Do I have a favorite EFIS? Sure…but what it is doesn’t matter - what matters is how your choice works with your brain. Folks make a lot about wiring and installation, while the truth is that only happens once - you’ll be flying behind it for many years. The community has proven that they are ALL installable by most any builder - and lots of folks bypass that learning experience by having their panel built for them anyways.

We did a survey a few years back, and Dynon and Garmin tied for the majority of the installed market with a combined total of about 80%. I can’t recall if AFS (owned by Dynon) was broken out separately or included in the Dynon number ….sorry. But the fact remains that some choose one, some choose another. And with the exception of a few failed companies that are no longer around, they all work!
Click to expand...
Yep!
 
Advanced and Avidyne for me. Advanced support cannot be beat. If you’re DIY wiring the AFS-ACM makes it simple. The ACM can be used w either Dynon or Advanced.
 
JeffPeters said:
Don't take this as comprehensive by any means, its a "close 1 to 1" but I know some packages are missing items.. my goal was to get a ball park estimation between the majors for planning / budgeting. I had ruled Garmin out on price due to forums... and was pleasantly suprised to see they're roughly in the neighborhood as the others and not to counted out.

Paul's comments above are spot on to where I'm currently at in my decision. They all appear to be solid systems, and within rounding error on the overall cost of a -10. My plan now is to try them all out at Sun-n-fun and go from there.

I didn't price Dynon, but did do AFS. Components only based on web pricing (Garmin - I did get a quote so some discounting is listed on the total). All DIY. All within the last 2 weeks.

View attachment 108566
Click to expand...

Thanks Very Much, very helpful
 
Advanced would be more expensive than both if you add the vpx like u did for GRT and Garmin. I like GRT but you have bring other brand items more so now u deal with three vendors for support
 
Fenderbean said:
Advanced would be more expensive than both if you add the vpx like u did for GRT and Garmin. I like GRT but you have bring other brand items more so now u deal with three vendors for support
Click to expand...
Advanced has the ACM listed instead of the VPX.
 
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Paul Dye nailed it. I fly a lot of customer aircraft, some with G3X and they are great. But why did I become a Dynon dealer? Simply customer service. I have GTN and other avionics and the service costs are eye watering. Charting is nicer on the Dynon and way less expensive, especially down here. And last of all the Engine monitor is so much better and yes I am fussy when it comes to EMS's.

I have a few AFS customers also, nice gear but once again the EMS is the big difference in favour of HDX. Charting is not as nice either but still beats G3X.

Acuse me of bias if you will, but that is my objectively driven view. I also have a deep hatred on CANBUS which G3X (unlike G-certified G1000 etc) uses and with a career in industrial automation, my dislike is well founded.

So my order of preference is Dynon HDX, AFS, Garmin G3X and despite my comments above, out of the three you will not buy a bad option. It is like Beer. All beers are good beers, some just taste better than others. :-)
 
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