Adding New Avionics; New Garmin Data Bases Needed?

[WDD]

I have a GNC 355 Nav/Com for which I currently subscribe for a Database.

I just added to it a GTN 650xi and dual GI 275's, plane is almost ready to be picked up from Avionics shop.

Do I need to buy an additional database subscription for the new GTN 650xi?

Also, will not the GI 275's just get any data needed data from the GTN and GNC?

 

[Dixiebluesky]

If you have one of their single database for a single device you will need to get one of the paks which is all avionics in a single aircraft.

 

[WDD]

Ok. I’ll call Garmin and see how I can convert my existing one device db subscription to “all devices”.

Thanks

 

[M20K]

Do I need to buy an additional database subscription for the new GTN 650xi?

Hopefully your shop made sure you have the DB in it that is coming out now. CHECK when you pick up the plane. Everything should show up as Current (green check mark).

And yes, you'll need a subscription for the GTN and it is optional for the 275, but it will nag you all the time that the DB is out of date. I also have a GTN, GNC & 275 as my backup AI and have a Americas Standard OnePak subscription that includes all three devices. I'm probably going to do some flying in Canada this summer, so I'll be adding that DB at some point.

Some other notes.... When I got my GTN I needed the Flight Stream 510 to connect to ForeFlight. If you didn't buy a FS-510, you now should not need to. With the CrossTalk between the GTN and GNC you should be able to connect to the GNC and when you change the Flight Plan on either unit, they will sync. Then notify ForeFlight (or I'm sure G Pilot) of the change. Also, assuming Database Sync is turned on, you should be able to put the SD Card with your DB Updates in the GTN and it will go to the GNC and 275. I usually power up the GTN and load the new DB and then shut down. Then I'll start the plane and turn all the Avionics on as normal. Now that the Update is already in the GTN, it will reach out with this new power on to tell the other units there is a DB Update. And you can have a couple of standard SD Cards so you can do the Update with one you have at home, then take it to the plane and bring the old one home.

 

[Dixiebluesky]

Ok. I’ll call Garmin and see how I can convert my existing one device db subscription to “all devices”.

Thanks

Its a bit confusing to me, they have the one pack and the pilot pak. I use the one pack because it is cheaper and all devices can be updated. I still don't know what the higher priced pilot pak gets you that the one pak doesn't. I don't have wireless database download capability which sucks due to the window of the new databases becoming available to the time they are needed is so short. I don't know why that length of time is so short.

 

[asicer]

I just added to it a GTN 650xi and dual GI 275's, plane is almost ready to be picked up from Avionics shop.

Did they give you the serial numbers? Go to https://fly.garmin.com and add them to your account.

Do I need to buy an additional database subscription for the new GTN 650xi?

Each new device should come with a card with a free one month database update. The Garmin dealer that did the installation should be giving it to you along with all the other paperwork. From https://fly.garmin.com go to the device and under the serial number (system ID) there should be a "Redeem Coupon" link. A common mistake is adding the database to your cart and trying to redeem the coupon at checkout instead of using the "Redeem Coupon" link.

You'll probably want to wait until after the freebies expire before upgrading to a OnePak.

Also, will not the GI 275's just get any data needed data from the GTN and GNC?

No, they have their own set of databases.

I still don't know what the higher priced pilot pak gets you that the one pak doesn't.

Jepp charts.

 

[WDD]

The avionics shop already added the new parts to my account, and it looks like the databases were updated. I was able to give the shop access to my account.

Per comment above, I now just need to change my database subscription to “all devices”.

 

[asicer]

The avionics shop already added the new parts to my account, and it looks like the databases were updated.

Just remember that the one month free cards are in addition to whatever the shop loaded on to the devices.

 

[WDD]

Ah. Didn’t think of that. Many thanks!

 

[Dixiebluesky]

The pilot pak has Jepp, makes sense. I paid the one time fee for each G3X touch to be able to use Jepp plates but never ended up doing so. To this day I don't think I have ever looked at a plate on the avionics, just so used to using the ipad for the actual plate.

 

[flyingcheesehead]

I have a GNC 355 Nav/Com for which I currently subscribe for a Database.

I just added to it a GTN 650xi and dual GI 275's, plane is almost ready to be picked up from Avionics shop.

Do I need to buy an additional database subscription for the new GTN 650xi?

Yes.

Also, will not the GI 275's just get any data needed data from the GTN and GNC?

Only if you buy the subscription! Just add it all on fly.garmin.com, the pricing is much lower for the second and subsequent devices than it is for the first navigator.

Its a bit confusing to me, they have the one pack and the pilot pak. I use the one pack because it is cheaper and all devices can be updated. I still don't know what the higher priced pilot pak gets you that the one pak doesn't.

Jepp charts vs. government charts are the only difference.

I don't have wireless database download capability which sucks due to the window of the new databases becoming available to the time they are needed is so short. I don't know why that length of time is so short.

New data is available about a week before it becomes effective (which is always in the wee hours on a Thursday morning). And the data is only good for four weeks, so I'm not sure how much time you want? Updated data is important to safety of flight.

The pilot pak has Jepp, makes sense. I paid the one time fee for each G3X touch to be able to use Jepp plates but never ended up doing so. To this day I don't think I have ever looked at a plate on the avionics, just so used to using the ipad for the actual plate.

I don't even spend the money to get the plates on the GTN any more, but I will say that on a G3000 I definitely prefer having the plate right there on my PFD. It's very nice to be able to verify approach details with just a glance, and no head motion. If/when I get a full glass panel put into the Mooney I'll probably bring the plate up split-screen on that again.

 

[Dixiebluesky]

I guess I have been thinking about it wrong. If you load and fly an approach the data a 750 is using to do that is in the navigation data, not the flight chart data?

 

[flyingcheesehead]

I guess I have been thinking about it wrong. If you load and fly an approach the data a 750 is using to do that is in the navigation data, not the flight chart data?

Correct. FliteCharts are the approach plates that you can look at on the screen. As big as the 750 is, it's still just a hair smaller than I'd really prefer for the plates. The G3000's display height is over 20% greater than the 750 so it shows the plate in a very nice readable form.

This is one reason I'm waiting for a replacement for the G3X Touch. The G3X Touch has a very wide bezel, such that the height of the screen is barely more than the GTN 750 (less than 1/4" difference I think). I like the size of the unit, but much more of it needs to be display to enable a viewing area that's really good for plates. Maybe I'm just getting old and blind, though. Anyone here use a G3X Touch to view plates?

 

[Dixiebluesky]

I have a dual G3X touch setup. The right screen stays on the engine page 90% of the time, the other 10% is XM weather. I guess I have pulled up approach plates on it before, just not doing an actual approach. Maybe it would seem more usable if I either had Jepp on the Garmin or used government plates. It would for sure work great to view the plate on a G3. Even though I have the ipad on a mount as of recently I can still easily pull it off and have the plate in my hand. Now typing it out it does seem like its more of a "this is how I've always done it" type deal.

For sure appreciate the info on the actual approach the plane is flying being tied to the nav data and not the flight chart.

 

[WDD]

I have a dual G3X touch setup. The right screen stays on the engine page 90% of the time, the other 10% is XM weather. I guess I have pulled up approach plates on it before, just not doing an actual approach. Maybe it would seem more usable if I either had Jepp on the Garmin or used government plates. It would for sure work great to view the plate on a G3. Even though I have the ipad on a mount as of recently I can still easily pull it off and have the plate in my hand. Now typing it out it does seem like its more of a "this is how I've always done it" type deal.

For sure appreciate the info on the actual approach the plane is flying being tied to the nav data and not the flight chart.

Would you post a picture of that set up? Seems like a good set up. I’m guessing the cost of a second smaller screen probably isn’t that much more than a dedicated engine monitor.

 

[eman1200]

I have a dual G3X touch setup. The right screen stays on the engine page 90% of the time, the other 10% is XM weather. I guess I have pulled up approach plates on it before, just not doing an actual approach. Maybe it would seem more usable if I either had Jepp on the Garmin or used government plates. It would for sure work great to view the plate on a G3. Even though I have the ipad on a mount as of recently I can still easily pull it off and have the plate in my hand. Now typing it out it does seem like its more of a "this is how I've always done it" type deal.

For sure appreciate the info on the actual approach the plane is flying being tied to the nav data and not the flight chart.

I haven’t read the whole thread but are you saying the g3x doesn’t have geo referenced approach plates?

 

[WDD]

So the G3 was built with the G5 in mind, uses same networking type, etc. I wonder if its replacement (G3xi ?) would be built to be plug and play with the newer GI275?

 

[Dixiebluesky]

Would you post a picture of that set up? Seems like a good set up. I’m guessing the cost of a second smaller screen probably isn’t that much more than a dedicated engine monitor.

I will take a few pictures. I didn't have anything installed myself personally, I bought the plane already set up.

 

[Dixiebluesky]

I haven’t read the whole thread but are you saying the g3x doesn’t have geo referenced approach plates?

I will pull up a plate and test this out, I think it should be georeferenced but not 100% on that. I keep the PFD side in split screen with flight instruments on one side and map on the other.

 

[asicer]

I wonder if its replacement (G3xi ?) would be built to be plug and play with the newer GI275?

At this point in time, only Garmin knows if even such a thing exists.

Oh by the way, apropos to the thread title the GI275 comes with 10 free hours of synvis. After that, it's $500 to buy a software unlock. You'll probably want to decide on that around the same time you upgrade your database subscription.

 

[WDD]

I decided not to turn on the syn vis, as the screen isn’t big enough to add that to the mix IMHO.

 

[asicer]

I decided not to turn on the syn vis, as the screen isn’t big enough to add that to the mix IMHO.

Between syn vis and all the other data fields (in the other thread) that you ask to disable, you're turning off everything that makes a GI275 a GI275.

 

[WDD]

There’s plenty left packed in there! Just trying to get rid of the duplicated information.

It would also be nice though if they could offer a slightly larger “old guy font size” LOL.

 

[flyingcheesehead]

I decided not to turn on the syn vis, as the screen isn’t big enough to add that to the mix IMHO.

The best reason to get the syn vis unlocked isn't the syn vis, it's the Flight Path Marker.