Can I ask anyone who has completed the Garmin upgrades how they like it?

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SinkorSwim

Pre-takeoff checklist
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HFC1969
I go back and forth on what to do.. I also know there are hundreds of threads about how everyone has approached 2020; I think I have read them all.

Currently, I am leaning towards: upgrading my 430 to waas, upgrading my 330 to waas and installing a flight stream 210 if there is money left over.

Who has upgraded and how did it turn out for you?

garmin%20upgrade_zpsk7p2u6nw.jpg
 
If you like your 430 get WAAS while you still can or just bite the bullet for a more modern GTN or IFD unit. LPV capability is awesome.
 
I went the 430W upgrade and 330ES route. No FS.

Two upgrades may be the least cost.
 
Not specifically what you asked - but we had a G430 non was with the 330 Transponder. I looked at the cost of upgrading to WAAS including installation labor. We opted for the Avidyne IFD 440 to replace the Garmin 430. It is a direct plug in replacement for the 430. It uses the same tray and VOR head. We got a $2k incentive discount from Avidyne for switching from Garmin and we have the Non-Waas 430 to sell to offset more of the cost. I had heartburn about spending that much money to upgrade our 20 year old GPS to WAAS and still have an old unit. Just make sure you add up all the cost. You might find it is not that much more money to get a new GPS.
 
Ravioli said:
I went the 430W upgrade and 330ES route. No FS.

Two upgrades may be the least cost.
Click to expand...

That would be my choice

Though depending on where you fly I’d wait
 
if you like your 430, you can keep your 430...

Seriously, after much analysis we chose to upgrade our 430 to a 430W, and paired it with a new GTX345 transponder. We took advantage of the $500 ADS-B rebate and a $100 coupon from Garmin for attending their seminar at Oshkosh.

Functionally/operationally we’re very pleased. This was a few years ago though. Don’t know if the numbers and analysis would work out the same today with new options on the market. YMMV.
 
When the 430 WAAS upgrades came out, they were $1500. Then $3000 and now $4500. You can buy a 430W for around $7500. Sell your 430-non WAAS for $4000-4500 and chunk in the extra 3000-3500 for a 430W.
 
SinkorSwim said:
I go back and forth on what to do.. I also know there are hundreds of threads about how everyone has approached 2020; I think I have read them all.

Currently, I am leaning towards: upgrading my 430 to waas, upgrading my 330 to waas and installing a flight stream 210 if there is money left over.

Who has upgraded and how did it turn out for you?
Click to expand...

I upgraded my 530 a while back. Haven't yet done the ADS-B thing, but will probably try to find a used 330 and do the same thing you plan. Can't see springing more $ for touchscreen stuff. The GNS navigators still work fine and more than get the job done for us private pilots.


SbestCFII said:
When the 430 WAAS upgrades came out, they were $1500. Then $3000 and now $4500. You can buy a 430W for around $7500. Sell your 430-non WAAS for $4000-4500 and chunk in the extra 3000-3500 for a 430W.
Click to expand...

The WAAS upgrade pretty well refurbishes and updates the unit, and includes the WAAS GPS antenna replacement.

For the small difference in price, and the hassle of selling one box and buying another I'd still spring for the Garmin upgrade, unless the Garmin install dealer can work the box-swap for you.
 
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Will garmin make another gps between the 650--750 one is to big the other to small love the size of 530
 
We have a 330 to 330ES, 430 to 430W ,stec55to 55x and a FS210 scheduled for July. I can tell you in August whether it's worth the expense.
 
SbestCFII said:
When the 430 WAAS upgrades came out, they were $1500. Then $3000 and now $4500. You can buy a 430W for around $7500. Sell your 430-non WAAS for $4000-4500 and chunk in the extra 3000-3500 for a 430W.
Click to expand...

Non-WAAS is now around $3k, thanks to the increase in upgrade cost.
 
Thanks... everyone...

The way I look at it .. IFD440 is $11,000 - $3,500(non waas 430) = $7,500; I still have to upgrade the antenna.. also have to upgrade for the transponder..

Does anyone know will my upgraded 330(to ES) work with the IFD440 ?
 
I upgraded to 430W, but I won't put anything Garmin in my panel again until they open up the ADS-B data to more than just GP and FF. I'm going with L-3 on the ADS-B stuff. Might even yank the 430 and 340 out of principle
 
It’s a bit comical the other vendors make an exact tray swap unit for the 430/530... and Garmin doesn’t. What were they thinking?

Actually, they were probably not wanting to **** off the dealers who make their money off the install... :/
 
I did the 430W last year with a used 330ES and a used flightstrean 210. I love my panel. I dont miss the fancy GTN visual capabilities with aera 660 and the ease of using FlightAware/FS-210. Everything is modular and easily upgrade/replaceable.

Transponder was $1500
Did an aera 660 tied to the GNS as an MFD $600
Bought a 430W used for $6100 from a reputable avionics shop.
Sold my non WAAS for $4500.
Needed to replace RG-400 and bought a GA-35 off eBay (new) for a reasonable cost.
Flightsream 210 was about $700
Did the ADSB rebate

Not bad capabilities for the equipment cost. Enough avionics reserve left over to continue upgrading panel (now planning a GFC 500). Everything plays pretty nicely together. The most important aspect with regard to workload is the FS-210
 
SinkorSwim said:
Thanks... everyone...

The way I look at it .. IFD440 is $11,000 - $3,500(non waas 430) = $7,500; I still have to upgrade the antenna.. also have to upgrade for the transponder..

Does anyone know will my upgraded 330(to ES) work with the IFD440 ?
Click to expand...
I think your estimate on the IFD is a little high. We just did the upgrade to the 440. Avidyne is offering good incentives for the 440 if you upgrade from a Garmin then you can sell the Garmin 430. You can get into a new GPS now for a good price.
 
Define "good incentive" what sort of numbers am I putting on that check?
 
EdFred said:
Define "good incentive" what sort of numbers am I putting on that check?
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Ed - I can't tell you for sure what they are offering today. In October we got a $2000 discount on the IFD440 because we were upgrading the non-WAAS GNS430. Plus we got to 430 back to sell. There was also a promo that we got free WIFI on the IFD. I know that expired at the end of October. It just did not make sense to me to pay the cost to upgrade the 430 to WAAS and still have a 20 year old GPS. Time will tell if it was the right decision.
 
FS-210 was in my plane when I bought it. Really neat option. It's (for me) a lot easier to load up a flight plan on FF, then just bluetooth it to the 430, than do all the knob twisting necessary to do the same thing on the 430.
 
Sounds great what about the 510 add on
 
Jim_CAK said:
I think your estimate on the IFD is a little high. We just did the upgrade to the 440. Avidyne is offering good incentives for the 440 if you upgrade from a Garmin then you can sell the Garmin 430. You can get into a new GPS now for a good price.
Click to expand...


So are you thinking $9500? (IFD440)

If that s true, then $9500-($4000-$3500) = $6000to$5500 for a IFD 440... then you would not need the FS-210.. saving you another $1000 so its a wash..

Am I forgetting something?
 
After the incentive the IFD was less than 9K. Then you have the old 430 to sell. We sold ours to the guy in the next hangar and did not ask full retail. I see non-waas 430s listed on EBay for 4-5k. Even if you get 3K for the 430, your under $6,000 for the new IFD440. The WAAS upgrade cost being reported are all over the map. When I checked into upgrading it was $4,000. So it is 6k for a new unit or 4K to upgrade the old gps to WAAS. For that little bit of difference, I would go for the new hardware. You should check with an Avionics shop to find out what the current incentives are for upgrading from a Garmin. Also - some shops make more money off different brands. They are not always eager to explain that brand x would be a better deal than brand y - if they have better margins on brand y. You might ask Jesse Saint - about the current incentives. Jesse is on these boards and has an avionics shop.
 
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I had purchased all of the Garmin upgrades. The GTN650, the GTX345 and dual G5's for the HSI and AI. I scrapped all of it to go to the Avidyne 550 and 440. They threw in a free Txpndr and a rebate. The Avidyne units are so much easier to navigate around and fly with. They also come with a remote keypad that mounts on your yolk so you can change frequencies without ever touching the unit. It also broadcasts via Wifi/Blue Tooth to your Ipad.
 
Howdy all. Timely thread.

Going through the same thought process now. Currently scheduled in March to have the Lynx NGT9000 installed (chose this route as I get a special discount through my employer). As of this moment, I will be upgrading my 430 to WAAS and also doing the FS210. I can still change my mind and go with the 440. Technically, I don’t need to upgrade my 430 (at least not for ADS-B) but I figured this might be a good opportunity to just get it done. I have considered just doing the Lynx and readdressing the WAAS navigator another time.

I am finally used to the 430 (Have had my plane 6 months or so) and mine is in great shape. I’ve found that it’s easy to get trapped in the “it’s just another 2k for the next better model” mindset. Well if I cough up an extra 2k or whatever to go with the 440 instead of upgrading my 430, I might as well do the 540 as it’s only another 2-3k over the 440. Heck if I do the 540 I might as well do the 550 and get AHRS synthetic vision.

Also, as has been mentioned, with the 430 upgrade you essentially get a new unit back that will be rock solid for years to come. I’ve not heard of widespread issues with the 440 but I’ve heard of a few. A 430W combined the FS210 and FF is pretty powerful and is pretty much as capable as the latest and greatest. Also, you get a solid back up AHRS with the FS210 to use with FF SV.

Mostly thinking out loud here. Not an easy choice. If I already had a 430W, it would be a no brainer to do the FS210 and be done. With the upgrade needed, not so clear anymore.
 
dudemize said:
Howdy all. Timely thread.

Going through the same thought process now. Currently scheduled in March to have the Lynx NGT9000 installed (chose this route as I get a special discount through my employer). As of this moment, I will be upgrading my 430 to WAAS and also doing the FS210. I can still change my mind and go with the 440. Technically, I don’t need to upgrade my 430 (at least not for ADS-B) but I figured this might be a good opportunity to just get it done. I have considered just doing the Lynx and readdressing the WAAS navigator another time.

I am finally used to the 430 (Have had my plane 6 months or so) and mine is in great shape. I’ve found that it’s easy to get trapped in the “it’s just another 2k for the next better model” mindset. Well if I cough up an extra 2k or whatever to go with the 440 instead of upgrading my 430, I might as well do the 540 as it’s only another 2-3k over the 440. Heck if I do the 540 I might as well do the 550 and get AHRS synthetic vision.

Also, as has been mentioned, with the 430 upgrade you essentially get a new unit back that will be rock solid for years to come. I’ve not heard of widespread issues with the 440 but I’ve heard of a few. A 430W combined the FS210 and FF is pretty powerful and is pretty much as capable as the latest and greatest. Also, you get a solid back up AHRS with the FS210 to use with FF SV.

Mostly thinking out loud here. Not an easy choice. If I already had a 430W, it would be a no brainer to do the FS210 and be done. With the upgrade needed, not so clear anymore.
Click to expand...

If you can wait until Sun n Fun AND your going Avidyne should have some great specials. I went with the 550IFD and 440 IFD stack in my Twin Commander.
 
dudemize said:
If I already had a 430W, it would be a no brainer to do the FS210 and be done. With the upgrade needed, not so clear anymore.
Click to expand...


Right there with you on that.

Bobby Hamer said:
If you can wait until Sun n Fun AND your going Avidyne should have some great specials. I went with the 550IFD and 440 IFD stack in my Twin Commander.
Click to expand...
I am hoping there is a large incentive here in the home stretch.
 
Bobby Hamer said:
If you can wait until Sun n Fun AND your going Avidyne should have some great specials. I went with the 550IFD and 440 IFD stack in my Twin Commander.
Click to expand...

Not planning to go to Sun n Fun (went last year), but am planning on OSH!
 
dudemize said:
Howdy all. Timely thread.

Going through the same thought process now. Currently scheduled in March to have the Lynx NGT9000 installed (chose this route as I get a special discount through my employer). As of this moment, I will be upgrading my 430 to WAAS and also doing the FS210. I can still change my mind and go with the 440. Technically, I don’t need to upgrade my 430 (at least not for ADS-B) but I figured this might be a good opportunity to just get it done. I have considered just doing the Lynx and readdressing the WAAS navigator another time.

I am finally used to the 430 (Have had my plane 6 months or so) and mine is in great shape. I’ve found that it’s easy to get trapped in the “it’s just another 2k for the next better model” mindset. Well if I cough up an extra 2k or whatever to go with the 440 instead of upgrading my 430, I might as well do the 540 as it’s only another 2-3k over the 440. Heck if I do the 540 I might as well do the 550 and get AHRS synthetic vision.

Also, as has been mentioned, with the 430 upgrade you essentially get a new unit back that will be rock solid for years to come. I’ve not heard of widespread issues with the 440 but I’ve heard of a few. A 430W combined the FS210 and FF is pretty powerful and is pretty much as capable as the latest and greatest. Also, you get a solid back up AHRS with the FS210 to use with FF SV.

Mostly thinking out loud here. Not an easy choice. If I already had a 430W, it would be a no brainer to do the FS210 and be done. With the upgrade needed, not so clear anymore.
Click to expand...

For my install, decided to go with the IFD440. I should be able to sell my pristine non-WAAS 430 for around 4k or so. In the end the cost differential between upgrading my 430 and adding the FS210 was just to small compared to a new 440. No FS210 required, one less thing to install.

In addition, I have decided to add Active Traffic to my NGT9000 install (NGT9000+). All in, it's an additional 4k over the base NGT9000 install. Needless to say, I will be spending some $$$ in a couple weeks.
 
If I understand correctly, the 330 is OUT only. I REALLY don’t understand why, if it is upgrade time anyway, and you have a 430 why you wouldn’t bite the bullet and get IN while you’re at it. In fact, I would put in a 345 instead of the Flightstream. They can pre wire for the Flightstream while they are in there for only about a hundred bucks, then save your dimes and put in Flightstream later.

My $0.02,
 
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