Van's Air Force

The definitive Van's Aircraft support community! Buying, building or flying an RV? Join our exclusive family of mentors and enthusiasts!

G4X: Connecting the Dots

Heard a rumour dealers can no longer order the G3X touch screen.
Not saying this is not true, but if the announcement is going to happen at OSH, and it then takes a month or 6 weeks to fill the pipeline… that leaves no Garmin panel sales for 2-3 months. that would seem odd to me.
 
Heard a rumour dealers can no longer order the G3X touch screen.
that doesn't sound right. No responsible business would do that. The whole reason they keep this stuff secret is to prervent sales from falling off a cliff as customers delay purchases waiting for the new version. halting orders lets the cat out of the bag, so why wouldn't they just announce it and start taking pre orders on the new stuff?
 
that doesn't sound right. No responsible business would do that. The whole reason they keep this stuff secret is to prervent sales from falling off a cliff as customers delay purchases waiting for the new version. halting orders lets the cat out of the bag, so why wouldn't they just announce it and start taking pre orders on the new stuff?
One scenario is that the old screen has an obsolete part, a last time buy was done, and the new screen program is behind schedule. Can’t build more of the old screen without a large redesign expense, and the new screen is addressing the obsolete parts anyway. So, you just can’t accept any new orders for stuff you can’t build. Management goes nuts.
Classic impact of development program schedule slips.

Memory is crazy right now. Lots of parts going obsolete as the manufacturers retool foundries for data center parts.
 
One scenario is that the old screen has an obsolete part, a last time buy was done, and the new screen program is behind schedule. Can’t build more of the old screen without a large redesign expense, and the new screen is addressing the obsolete parts anyway. So, you just can’t accept any new orders for stuff you can’t build. Management goes nuts.
Classic impact of development program schedule slips.

Memory is crazy right now. Lots of parts going obsolete as the manufacturers retool foundries for data center parts.
This would suggest an immediate end to support of the G3X. There would be more than a few people unhappy about this.
 
How about we switch the conversation to rumors about capability and offerings.
From what I have gathered, it will be offered with the option of navigator (i.e. 650) and audio panel, transponder and A/P will remain the same as the EIS. If that is true, will it have a portrait version to fit into a standard size panel to have three of them in a RV14 type panel
 
I wish I could find the thread where someone was talking about the processor they used in the GDUs. If they're right about that specific IC, it's absolutely ancient
A 1K through hole resistor is also ancient and still made in the millions every year. Just because it is old doesn’t mean it will no longer be made. It is really about demand and whether there is still enough to justify the effort. Many older parts just have limited production runs and the issue is more about purchasing in large volumes as they may only be run a couple times a year.

Obsolescence is absolutely an issue in electronics, but age itself is not the only factor. Garmin is a big company and can afford to buy thousands of them once they are informed about end of life.
 
A 1K through hole resistor is also ancient and still made in the millions every year. Just because it is old doesn’t mean it will no longer be made. It is really about demand and whether there is still enough to justify the effort. Many older parts just have limited production runs and the issue is more about purchasing in large volumes as they may only be run a couple times a year.

Obsolescence is absolutely an issue in electronics, but age itself is not the only factor. Garmin is a big company and can afford to buy thousands of them once they are informed about end of life.
With CPUs and displays, the rest of industry has moved forward as fabs have moved to smaller feature sizes. Unlike resistors, there's little demand for a 10-year-old processor when a newer faster one can be had for less. This is what happened with the covid car shortages of CPUs. They were forced to upgrade to more modern chipsets.
 
How about we switch the conversation to rumors about capability and offerings.
From what I have gathered, it will be offered with the option of navigator (i.e. 650) and audio panel, transponder and A/P will remain the same as the EIS. If that is true, will it have a portrait version to fit into a standard size panel to have three of them in a RV14 type panel
That would be awesome.
 
I hope my 2011 G3X (non touch) setup will make it a few more years, long enough for the next gen GDUs and related components to be out for a year or more. I feel like it’s better to replace anything that fails with the same gear if I can find it rather than risk buying a platform that might be difficult to source in a few years. I’d just be back in the same boat I’m already in.
 
I am sure they will come out this OSH. Built my RV-10 with G3X (non-touch), and my first flight was the week after they announced G3X touch.
Should have my first flight in my RV-14 with G3X in August (already installed G3X), so of course they will announce G4X before I fly. :(
 
I am sure they will come out this OSH. Built my RV-10 with G3X (non-touch), and my first flight was the week after they announced G3X touch.
Should have my first flight in my RV-14 with G3X in August (already installed G3X), so of course they will announce G4X before I fly. :(
Hmph! I just bought a used (installed but never flown) G3X for about $900 less than new quotes. This is a panel upgrade. I was going to wait, but convinced myself that even if they announce a new panel at osh, i won't have one in my hands for months after that, and I don't want to be grounded for that long. I figured the accessories/adjacent bits would be the same so I could go ahead and start with those, but seeing the potential for integrated options, I think maybe I should wait anyway. Oshkosh is about a month away at this point, and there is no way I am back in the air before then, so I will choose some less-likely to be replaced things to install for now, such as the EIS and autopilot servos, magnetometer. I will wait on navigator, comm, audio panel until this rumor mill has been validated or squashed. I MAY have a never-used G3X for sale for a great price in August...
 
My guess is an experimental version of the G1000, with options for integrated systems like a GTN or ADSB transponder.
There will be a base version for those that just want the screen.
 
Take it for what it is worth, I spoke with Stein before I ordered my G3X touch earlier this year. He told me that even if the next gen was announced at Airventure (and he seemed to think it would be) I would be sitting on my hands until September (at least) to get my hands on one, plus the time to build my panel after that. He also said that he expected there would be “a path to upgrade”. I believe that means that whatever “it” is will be (mostly) compatible with all the other bits I have now installed. I do not know if he had any specific information, but he clearly understands the market and product offerings as well as anyone without “Garmin” in their email address.
 
Take it for what it is worth, I spoke with Stein before I ordered my G3X touch earlier this year. He told me that even if the next gen was announced at Airventure (and he seemed to think it would be) I would be sitting on my hands until September (at least) to get my hands on one, plus the time to build my panel after that. He also said that he expected there would be “a path to upgrade”. I believe that means that whatever “it” is will be (mostly) compatible with all the other bits I have now installed. I do not know if he had any specific information, but he clearly understands the market and product offerings as well as anyone without “Garmin” in their email address.
It will very most likely be a path for upgrade but unless you are related to one of those billionaire who would want to get the old generation with the idea to upgrade before your $??K is close to obsolete.
 
Back
Top