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8/4/2011 5:13 PM
 

This subject is confusing. I'll give it my best shot, based on conversations with people at Oshkosh and some reading.

I think the unit NavWorks portable was the PADS600, but as I said it did not look quite like the photo on the website. And what I was told about traffic does not agree with what is on their website. I do not know if the information I was given is wrong or if the website is wrong. Since they are not shipping a product yet it could change.

The ADS-600B transceiver is not TSO'd, according to their website. I do not know if it will be. I guess that is OK for experimental aircraft.

There are two frequencies used in the US for transponders and ADS-B. One is 1090 MHZ, the common transponder frequency. The other is 978 MHz, known as UAT. For aircraft flying belown 18,000 feet the transponder can transmit on either frequency. In the rest of the world the transponder must be 1090 MHz. ADS-B output on 1090 MHz is part of Mode S extended squitter. The Trig TT31 is an example of a transponder that can send ADS-B output.

The ADS-B out information includes an exact position. This position requires an aircraft GPS. Some newer GPS units, like the Garmin 430 WAAS and the GTN series provide the necessary output. Older GPS units, such as the non-WAAS Garmin 430 and the Bendix KLN-94 and KLN-89B do not provide the necessary accuracy information. I think there are blind GPS receivers that will also provide the information.

In other words, ADS-B out isn't cheap, especially in a certificated aircraft.

As far as the traffic information, that is only sent when the radar hears a transponder with ADS-B out. The radar will send local traffic, but that may be only traffic which is local to the aircraft with the transponder. So if you don't have the transponder it may not show traffic local to you!

The traffic information is always sent on 978 MHz, even if the transponder is on 1090 MHz. I don't know if traffic is also sent on 1090 MHz.

Again, this is for the USA - other countries don't use 978 MHz.

 
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8/4/2011 11:26 PM
 

Paul and rvanpd, thanks for the responses. After reading them, I remembered that the bit about "traffic info is only broadcast in response to an ADS-B out signal" sounded familiar. I would guess that explains the disclaimer on the Skynav site and perhaps is what the Navworx guy at OSH was trying to say (though I would probably want to try again to get a straight story from them before I purchased anything)...their receivers are perhaps capable of receiving TIS-B traffic info, but there may not be any to receive unless someone in the area is pinging the station and causing it to broadcast reports.

Paul, re: your comment about ADS-B out and position, the Navworx site does talk about that (if it can be believed). The ADS600-B has a built-in GPS receiver that updates position at a 5Hz rate (same rate as a Garmin 430W). So, it can report its own position. It can also accept a "remote" GPS signal from another onboard device that can provide it via ARINC 429 protocol (like a 430W), and then it will use that position in its reporting instead of its own internal source.

I did notice the ADS600-B is not TSO'd. I'm not in a hurry to buy, so that didn't concern me immediately. Figure I'll think about that more if/when I get more serious about a purchase...

 
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8/5/2011 3:23 AM
 

Cobra,

The man I talked to at the NavWorks booth was very explicit. He said the device would not provide any traffic information on the output because the FAA only allows it when the aircraft has ADS-B out. I asked about the case where the plane had a 1090 MHz ADS-B out and he said it would not provide traffic.

By the way, the box looked quite a bit different from the one on their website. It was about the same size, but black plastic. There was no round bump for the GPS. And the UAT antenna was mounted on the top in the center with no right-angle bend.

 
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8/6/2011 9:36 AM
 

Many thanks, Paul--I appreciate the information you've provided in this thread. Definitely set the bit in my head that I'll need to do some serious "due diligence" before I buy when the time comes!

 
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