GNC 215 and HSDB

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ultrarunner

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ultrarunner
I'm looking at interfacing a GNC-215 to a GNX 275. After updating the 215 to software version v2.22 I have the option to select "External Database". HSDB says "receiving" on both. However, I'm still not seeing nearest airport frequencies or station names on the COM. GNX is on 3.22 (the newest). Curious if this just isn't built out yet.
 
If I'm reading the linked document correctly, this update is supposed to allow the GNC-215 to pull nav data from an external source? That would be pretty sweet, as everything in my aircraft updates automatically from GP pushing an update to one of my GI-275s with the exception of the GNC-215, which still requires the tedious SD card dance.
 
AvNavCom said:
If I'm reading the linked document correctly, this update is supposed to allow the GNC-215 to pull nav data from an external source? That would be pretty sweet, as everything in my aircraft updates automatically from GP pushing an update to one of my GI-275s with the exception of the GNC-215, which still requires the tedious SD card dance.
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That's my understanding too. The GNC allows me to enable the option "GPS Navigator Present", and the GNX375 seems to detect the presence of the GNC215, but not seeing information travel yet. The most recent software for the GNX375 predates the GNC215, and Garmin being Garmin, the software probably just isn't ready yet.
 
This is a Garmin problem. I have a GNC 355 connected to a GNC 215 via HSDB. Both units indicate they are connected. I updated to the latest software for both. 215 software v2.22 says it allows for position and data transfer but it doesn’t. I happened to run into an avionics shop owner yesterday and told him about the issue and he said Garmin recently put out a notice to dealers that this functionality doesn’t work.
 
nrimmer said:
This is a Garmin problem. I have a GNC 355 connected to a GNC 215 via HSDB. Both units indicate they are connected. I updated to the latest software for both. 215 software v2.22 says it allows for position and data transfer but it doesn’t. I happened to run into an avionics shop owner yesterday and told him about the issue and he said Garmin recently put out a notice to dealers that this functionality doesn’t work.
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v2.30 just came out a couple days ago. Has a number of fixes, but none of them seem to be for external databases.

Garmin | United States | Aviation Support

Garmin Aviation Support Center is where you will find answers to frequently asked questions and resources to help with all of your Garmin Aviation products.
support.garmin.com support.garmin.com

List of revisions to the pilots guide:

Interestingly, what was a 2-place intercom is now a 4-place intercom.
 
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They seem to be working on the intercom of the GTR 205, which isn't supported by the GNC 215. Another half-baked product release from Garmin at full price. I talked to Garmin support again today and they reiterated that GPS position data should (and he said "emphasis on the should") transport over HSDB. However, feeding an external database from a GNX 375, GNC 355, or GPS 175 is not supported. I'll know more once the RMA process plays out for what I genuinely hope is a bad unit they sold me. From what I understand, though, HSDB is intended only for G3X installations.
 
ultrarunner said:
They seem to be working on the intercom of the GTR 205, which isn't supported by the GNC 215. Another half-baked product release from Garmin at full price. I talked to Garmin support again today and they reiterated that GPS position data should (and he said "emphasis on the should") transport over HSDB. However, feeding an external database from a GNX 375, GNC 355, or GPS 175 is not supported. I'll know more once the RMA process plays out for what I genuinely hope is a bad unit they sold me. From what I understand, though, HSDB is intended only for G3X installations.
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Did you ever get anywhere with Garmin on this?

I finally got the database loaded onto the 215 with the SD card. Garmin told me that feeding database info over HSDB from the 355 is not supported. However the 355 still won’t provide position data to the 215 which is annoying because without it you don’t get frequency ID or nearest frequency. I have an ongoing email thread with Garmin support and will report back if I get a solution.
 
Yes, I spoke with Garmin and was told that the 175/355/375 do not support being an external database over HSDB. However, with the newest software (forgive me as I don't have it in front of me, but I believe 3.22 on the GPS) position data does travel over HSDB just fine. Internal database needs to be selected on the 215.

Frequency tag works, nearest search works, and distance to tuned VOR works. It's the single nice thing about the radio so far.

I assume if you have a thread with Garmin you've verified HSDB is working (hold the right knob button in during startup, choose diagnostics->HSDB and verify HDSB is "receiving" on both). You would also enable "GPS Navigator" in HSDB settings on the 215.
 
ultrarunner said:
It's the single nice thing about the radio so far.
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I’m totally with you on this. The switchology is completely different than on my 355 or any other device I’ve seen and the soft keys are pretty useless, by and large. I submitted a suggestion through their suggestion site to make it more standardized (which seems very doable just with a firmware upgrade) but I doubt they’ll change.

I had the exact same problem as the OP, my installer spent an hour on the phone with them trying to resolve it and the best they could say was that it SHOULD work and maybe it was because the databases were out of synch type-wise (one was Americas and another North America). Redoing that didn’t fix it. I’ll check the software version and the settings mentioned to see if I can resolve this. But I’m kinda underwhelmed by the radio so far. That said, it’s overall no worse than the KX170 it replaced, I guess.

Also, I had thought having my 275 HSI be the display for the 215 would mean my autopilot would track an ILS or VOR. That’s not working at all - are others getting that to work?
 
ultrarunner said:
Yes, I spoke with Garmin and was told that the 175/355/375 do not support being an external database over HSDB. However, with the newest software (forgive me as I don't have it in front of me, but I believe 3.22 on the GPS) position data does travel over HSDB just fine. Internal database needs to be selected on the 215.

Frequency tag works, nearest search works, and distance to tuned VOR works. It's the single nice thing about the radio so far.

I assume if you have a thread with Garmin you've verified HSDB is working (hold the right knob button in during startup, choose diagnostics->HSDB and verify HDSB is "receiving" on both). You would also enable "GPS Navigator" in HSDB settings on the 215.
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I still had it set to external database. Changed to internal database and now everything works. Thanks for the suggestion.
The distance to VOR is like having DME. I got used to frequency tags and toggle up/down through preset frequencies with the 355 and it’s nice to also have that on the #2 radio.
 
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