GNS 430 squelch sticking

1SGBrokePilot

1SGBrokePilot

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Bringing this over from another site to see if anyone here has any ideas

I understand that repair on GNS is not simple to resource today. I am looking for solutions to the following problem: my squelch seems to get stuck on for random periods of time. The button has not been pushed and sometimes jiggling the volume button will seem to set it back to not a constant receive status. When I recently took my 430 to a local repair guy to have the internal battery replaced, he thought the issue I was having was associated with the volume/squelch knob/switch. He did not feel comfortable being the one to attempt to replace it, but was confident that it was the problem. I understand that the 430 is probably nearing the end of its life, but I would like to get a few more years out of it before I have to face the significant replacement cost.

For now my work around is to just use my back up radio instead of the 430. However it is an old KX170 and doesn't have the convenience of easy flipping channels.

Anyone know a place I can consult?
 
Is this a 430W or not?

I think Garmin still has flat fee repairs on the 430W, and they're not gonna last much longer. Send it in!
 
KX170 and a non Wass GNS 430

You'll spend money fixing an old, minimally supported piece of equipment on which something else will probably fail.

I'd save the money and buy a new Garmin GTR 205 or a used yellow tagged GTR 225 to replace the KX170, and use your GNS 430 for Com 2 and Nav Radio.
 
WDD said:
KX170 and a non Wass GNS 430

You'll spend money fixing an old, minimally supported piece of equipment on which something else will probably fail.

I'd save the money and buy a new Garmin GTR 205 or a used yellow tagged GTR 225 to replace the KX170, and use your GNS 430 for Com 2 and Nav Radio.
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not a bad idea. I'm already on my second KX170. The last one just stopped, and I got a decent deal on one that came with a 90 day warranty. It has lasted me a few years. The only think I like about the 170 is that it is a back up Nav/ILS radio.


​

 
IMHO, these days one Nav radio is all you need. I’d wager 90% of the time you never use even one.

Years ago you had 2 nav radios to give you two navigators. With your GNS giving you GPS and Nav radio you still have two navigation modes.

Then when the GNS dies sometime in the future, maybe an old GTN 650 would work for you.
 
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WDD said:
IMHO, these days one Nav radio is all you need. I’d wager 90% of the time you never use even one.

Years ago you had 2 nav radios to give you two navigators. With your GNS giving you GPS and Nav radio you still have two navigation modes.

Then when the GNS dies sometime in the future, maybe an old GTN 650 would work for you.
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I still have a KX165 as my #2. I was thinking I'd replace it with a Garmin GNC 255 (or now a GNC 215) but if my GTN 750 GPS/Nav/Com goes tango uniform, I think I'd rather have a GPS than a Nav radio as the backup. So, the GNC 355 is looking like an awfully nice #2 GPS/Com.
 
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I have the GNC 355 as my 2nd GPS and Com 2 as well. GTN 650xi is #1 GPS, Com 1, and a Nav radio.

I think you’ve got a long way to go before a GTN 750 ages out though.
 
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WDD said:
I have the GNC 355 as my 2nd GPS and Com 2 as well. GTN 650xi is #1 GPS, Com 1, and a Nav radio.

I think you’ve got a long way to go before a GTN 750 ages out though.
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The 750 still does *almost* everything. The 750Xi does add two things I'd like, though: Smart Glide and compatibility with the new Garmin GCO 14 carbon monoxide detector.

The KX165 will need replacing sooner, though. It's interesting to me that Garmin has been advertising the "low end" GPS/Nav/Com solution on Facebook: GPS 175 combined with GNC 215. That gets you GPS/Nav/Com capability for $11,490 compared to the $13,495 for the GTN 650Xi. The 650Xi gets you the aforementioned two items plus VNAV capability and a slightly larger screen.
 
BTW - @AlphaMike has the GTN750 and GNC 355 combo. He's offered me some nice tips on using both synced (although my combo is GTNxi 650 with the GNC 355). Besides the GPS back up, being able to have the two GTN screens working together is really nice.
 
WDD said:
BTW - @AlphaMike has the GTN750 and GNC 355 combo. He's offered me some nice tips on using both synced (although my combo is GTNxi 650 with the GNC 355). Besides the GPS back up, being able to have the two GTN screens working together is really nice.
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I would love to hear more.
 
For me, my take away:
Keep the flight plan on the 650 and the moving map and key data fields on the GNC.

One reason is that the 650 can allow you to enter an altitude for a fix that the GFC 500 VNav function can use. The GNC can’t.

I also like the larger screen for finding and loading the specifics of an approach after ATC instructions, Direct to on a fix to enter an arrival, load and activate approach, etc.

As I have the xi version of the GTN it gives me safe glide button, which can also drive the AP. The GNC doesn’t have that.

I also have the option having more data fields show since I have two independent screens.

Note: I don’t use the GTN for traffic. If I did, and if I had the larger 750 screen I might switch what unit does what.

Net net, I have a map and heading data screen up at all times on the GNC to help me stay on course, situational awareness while being able to work the flight plan, be in the flight plan and other menus.

Like I said, I’m still kicking the tires on this new to me set up, but it’s exceeding my expectations so far. Reach out to Alpha for more tips.
 
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flyingcheesehead said:
Garmin has been advertising the "low end" GPS/Nav/Com solution on Facebook: GPS 175 combined with GNC 215. That gets you GPS/Nav/Com capability for $11,490 compared to the $13,495 for the GTN 650Xi. The 650Xi gets you the aforementioned two items plus VNAV capability and a slightly larger screen.
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It gets you more than that, but mostly either details or stuff that matters more to an installer than an end-user.
 
WDD said:
For me, my take away:
Keep the flight plan on the 650 and the moving map and key data fields on the GNC.
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Interesting. Does the 650 have the current leg at the bottom of the map screen? If so, you can tap that and it takes you straight to the flight plan. That's how I generally get there. I get your reasoning for the rest.

It's too bad the 355 doesn't have a "default nav" page like the 650Xi that you can fill with data fields, as otherwise having the map on the larger 650Xi and then tapping to the flight plan might be preferable.

WDD said:
Garmin is smart in their pricing. IMHO paying $2000 more is worth it though.
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They're definitely very good at making you want the next bigger thing. For me, the Nav just isn't worth it though, and the difference in price between a 650Xi and a GNC355 is enough to deter any silly thoughts I have about that.
 
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