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- Oct 16, 2019
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Vintage Snazzy (so my adult children say)
A new GTN650xi data card from Garmin costs $499.
You don't - Your 1 "official" card will come with the GTN. The one from Amazon also works. Garmin claims your wings will fall off if it's not a Certified card. The xi series have given up on that fallacy, the pre xi stuff works fine with any FAT32 card also.Why is Garmin selling data cards for $499 when you can format and download your data update on a $30 card?
Am I missing something? I'm about to buy a GTN 650xi - I can't find anything telling me I need this $499 data card.
$30 is way too much for a 4GB SD card.Why is Garmin selling data cards for $499 when you can format and download your data update on a $30
It’s certified, but you don’t need certification. Maybe someone else does, but not you. If you are paranoid, just take the card out after you do the database update so nobody will know.I'm about to buy a GTN 650xi - I can't find anything telling me I need this $499 data card.
Why is Garmin selling data cards for $499 when you can format and download your data update on a $30 card?
Am I missing something? I'm about to buy a GTN 650xi - I can't find anything telling me I need this $499 data card.
Why is Garmin selling data cards for $499 when you can format and download your data update on a $30 card?
Am I missing something? I'm about to buy a GTN 650xi - I can't find anything telling me I need this $499 data card.
It is not a fallacy. The pre-Xi units require the card to use the unit in flight, as there is data on it. The Xi versions have more memory, so the card is only used to load the database updates and then can be removed.You don't - Your 1 "official" card will come with the GTN. The one from Amazon also works. Garmin claims your wings will fall off if it's not a Certified card. The xi series have given up on that fallacy, the pre xi stuff works fine with any FAT32 card also.
Not what I said. While it's strictly not compliant with the STC, a non-Garmin card will work just fine in a non-xi GTN. Yes it needs to stay in the unit, but there's no secret code in the card that says it's TSO or not. Just the sticker.It is not a fallacy. The pre-Xi units require the card to use the unit in flight, as there is data on it. The Xi versions have more memory, so the card is only used to load the database updates and then can be removed.