Freeflight Rangr FDL 978 XVR

Chrisgoesflying

Chrisgoesflying

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Chrisgoesflying
I am looking for a quick ADS-B out solution and could get my hands on one of the Freeflight Rangr FLD 978 XVR units. It has part number 87098-00. I asked my avionics shop to install it and they came back to me today saying they could but based on what else I would need, I'm already at over $7,000 to install this unit and they aren't even done yet calculating everything.

They said:

- My KT76C Transponder does not interface with this unit (is that true? I thought it would interface with it).
- I would require a new transponder antenna (why?) and GPS antenna (okay, I knew that).
- Then they told me a bunch of other things I'd need that I didn't understand but doesn't sound like $7,000 (cables, wifi dongle for ADS-B in capability, etc.).

After that, they offered me "much better" options to get me U.S. ADS-B compliant in no time e.g. brand new Garmin ADS-B Transponder or even better, just do the whole WAAS GPS IFR upgrade now.

Anyway, looking at the POA brain trust to give me some advice in that regard. It seems like the main driver for their quote is the fact that my transponder wouldn't work with the unit, hence I'd need a new transponder or the control head for the Rangr. What do you guys say?
 
I have a TailbeaconX to install but it needs a controller. I ordered an AV30(E) and will use that to control the TailbeaconX but they also work with other units such as,
Garmin G5 and G3X, Dynon D10A/D100, Dynon SkyView, Advanced Flight Systems (AFS) EFIS, GRT MINI series, MGL iEFIS 7 perhaps others.

Pretty sure you are aware of these ... ;)
 
I’ve had the FreeFlight for exactly 10 years this month and am happy with it. It was connected to my KT78A, which has since died and been replaced with a Garmin GTX 337. The King required some sort of adapter for the RANGR to pick up its signal but it wasn’t hard or expensive.

Good/bad, the RANGR has ADS-B out but not compatible with Garmin or Foreflight. I’ve used Avare on a Samsung tablet and love it. I also have a Garmin GDL 50 to feed my Aera 660, so I have two sources of “in”.

I do think they may be right about the 76C but can’t remember why. If you just want out and don’t care about in, it may indeed be better to either go with a new Garmin transponder or look at the tailbeacon.

HTH
 
The tailbeacon (and skybeacon) doesn't work on my plane due to GPS obstruction where they would be installed. Plus I just upgraded all my lights to LED. I was considering either a Garmin GDL 82 or the Rangr. Went for the Rangr as I got a good deal on it and it has ADS-B in and out which I thought was cool as I could get rid of my clunky Stratux. But then the call from the Avionics shop saying my transponder won't work with it + all sorts of other stuff totalling $7k+. Guess I'll have to return the Rangr :-/
 
GDL 82 is a good option. Pretty simple install. I have one I just pulled out of a customer's airplane as part of a GTX345 upgrade if you need one.
 
I didn't realize you were in Canada. Yes, would still cover the shipping on that, however... Canada doesn't do UAT for ADS-B. Are you trying to meet the Canadian ADS-B requirements, or to cover you flying in to the US? And the KT76C works well with the GDL 82 (so long a the KT76C is in good shape otherwise, i.e. power output, frequency stability, etc).
 
Ryan Klems said:
I didn't realize you were in Canada. Yes, would still cover the shipping on that, however... Canada doesn't do UAT for ADS-B. Are you trying to meet the Canadian ADS-B requirements, or to cover you flying in to the US? And the KT76C works well with the GDL 82 (so long a the KT76C is in good shape otherwise, i.e. power output, frequency stability, etc).
Click to expand...

Just trying to comply with U.S. ADS-B for flights to the U.S. Until now, I simply avoided ADS-B airspace but that's annoying. Canada doesn't have a mandate yet for smaller airplanes. It won't have any rules until 2028 at the earliest. Let me talk to the avionics shop tomorrow. The GDL is only STC'd for Mooneys. I know in the U.S. one can install it with a 337 in any airplane but I'll have to confirm if that works up here as well.
 
Chrisgoesflying said:
Just trying to comply with U.S. ADS-B for flights to the U.S. Until now, I simply avoided ADS-B airspace but that's annoying. Canada doesn't have a mandate yet for smaller airplanes. It won't have any rules until 2028 at the earliest. Let me talk to the avionics shop tomorrow. The GDL is only STC'd for Mooneys. I know in the U.S. one can install it with a 337 in any airplane but I'll have to confirm if that works up here as well.
Click to expand...
Cool, that should be fine then. Yeah, we can use the Mooney one as a lead STC for the 337 for ADS-B, really not sure on the Canadian rules, hopefully there is some path for installing it.
 
Reading through the manual of the Freeflight, it says:

Transponders with serial control data out capability (like the GTX-
330/327/32/33 and SL-70/R) should be connected via an FDL-978-XVR serial port
to control Mode A code and IDENT. Mode A/C transponders without serial control
out can use the FDL-978-XVR internal Mode A receiver (configuration setting)
which receives on-board Mode A/C transponder transmissions to automatically set
Mode A code and IDENT control data transmit. Mode A receive is not compatible
with Mode S transponders"

Okay, let's say the KT76C doesn't have "serial control data out capability", shouldn't it still be possible to use this unit with the KT76C since it also says:
Mode A/C transponders without serial control
out can use the FDL-978-XVR internal Mode A receiver...
The only other place I found referencing the transponder it says:

The TC978 is not required if the FDL-978-XVR is connected to a transmit controller
(transponder) and/or display that can provide, as a minimum:

- Mode A code entry and display
- IDENT control and display
- ADS-B transmit and ADS-B position failure status mode

Maybe the KT76C can't one of those three things?
 
Well, seems like the avionics shop lied to me. I reached out to Freeflight to ask if the unit I have would work with the KT76C and they responded with the below message. Shoutout to Freeflight for their customer service by the way. I sent the email last night at around 8PM. They responded this morning at around 11AM and apologized for the slow response. Last time I had a Garmin issue, customer service took nearly a week and when I reached out to UAvionix with a question about their Tailbeacon three weeks ago, I never received any response.

"Thank you for your email. Terribly sorry for the delay in getting back with you.

The FDL-978 ADS-B unit you have listed, is fully compatible and would run in conjunction with your KT-76C. Once properly installed, the FDL-978 unit would monitor and update the Squawk codes that you enter into the KT-76C, and transmit ADS-B compliant information on the UAT (978Mhz) band.

I hope this information helps, but if you need any additional information, please feel free to let me know."

Now, equipped with that new information, needless to say that I won't work with the avionics shop. I may just move to Texas without ADS-B, stay outside of Dallas's mode C ring and get this unit installed at a shop in Texas. Any recommendations between Dallas and San Antonio?
 
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