iFly GPS Forum

Hello All,

I purchased an iFly awhile back but returned it within the 30 day period (due to a conflict that would keep me from flying for several months), but I recently have been lurking on the forums here and anxiously wanted to purchase another unit...and I did so this morning! I can't wait to start using it again, loved it for the short time I had it originally...

I've been keeping an eye out for the Version 6 release and beta info, etc, and now that it's out I've also been contemplating purchasing a PCAS unit as well to combine with the iFly for traffic information (and weather, if offered too). I see that many are jumping onto the Radena bandwagon...is it the only one found to be compatible so far (I know Walter and the gang are diligent workers), and does it offer both traffic and weather information? How about the Zaon product line - has anyone looked into those as well (the XRX that is, the MRX doesn't have an output capability though I have seen it in action and like it)? Any other offerings we should be considering?

I live just north of the Dallas/Fort Worth Class B and fly all around the area, so traffic would come in handy for sure; weather can be unpredictable in this region of the U.S. too, but if a unit only has traffic and not weather (I believe Zaon is only traffic) that wouldn't be a total loss. Also, if I did purchase a unit that hasn't been fully vetted yet, how would one become a beta tester per se for the iFly?

Thanks in advance,

Bobby

Ralph,

Thanks for the reply. I should have clarified more, I understand that PCAS and ADS-B units are not one and the same, but can do similar functions such as traffic alerts. I can see how my wording sounded confusing. I'm concerned more with the traffic aspect of a PCAS or ADS-B unit than the weather, though both would be outstanding. I've been keeping up with the updates on Version 6 as well, as I purchased my original iFly back around April or May and was told in person in their office that ADS-B would soon be out of beta phase and compatible with various units. I've also seen several on here mentioning becoming beta testers for other non-approved PCAS and ADS-B units, so I was curious as to what headway had been made in those routes. Not complaining, the GPS is powerful enough as-is out of the box, but I don't want to jump in and buy an extra piece of traffic alert equipment only to find out I can't marry the two in the iFly display later. In reality, I was hoping that the "bugs" had been discovered in such that a strong "don't buy this unit" or "this other unit is difficult to make compatible", etc, instead of the more common "which other units have been tested to work OK", which is what I believe you thought I was asking.

Anyways, I appreciate the links to other info you included. I was under the impression that the DFW area already had some ADS-B coverage up and running (or so the FAA had told us)? Also, you mentioned that ADS-B is primarily "weather and some traffic", I've been hearing nothing but FAA and hardware officials touting the traffic capabilities of the system, and weather being a secondary afterthought - hence why I was lumping PCAS and ADS-B systems together since both are primarily traffic alert systems. New technology can be confusing sometimes, can't it? Guess we'll have to wait and see when it all is up and running what the realities of the system capabilities are. So long story short...does the Radena Skyradar provide traffic alert and SA, or is that why you repeatedly noted that ADS-B traffic "depends on the receiver/transceiver"? Is this also do to potential differences in units being in-data/receive only or both receive/transmit capable?

On a sidenote (for Walter, Shane, or other AP) I will be interested in doing beta testing if I do decide to buy a Zaon XRX PCAS unit...unless I'm convinced otherwise to throw my money into the group-buy for the Radena ADS-B unit (in that case, for whoever is leading the group-buy), then that's out the window for now. Any reason why I should go with one over the other? I guess this is more directed to my original post, having explained why I lumped the two systems together due to the traffic operations. Clear as mud, right? Thanks!