Garmin Connext and Flight Stream

[MooneyDriver78]

As far as I know Garmin uses the same digital Scitex radar scanners everybody else uses, and all their maritime gear is on NMEA code strings. I'm pretty sure you can integrate the new Garmin stuff with a PC as well.

The units i was looking at allowed you to pull XM wx, music on one and then send it any interconnected unit, pretty sure you can't do that with NMEA.

 

[MooneyDriver78]

Plenty of stuff can sync via Bluetooth today. I can see Garmin's approach though. They'll gain market share in the app market for every new GTN sold.


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Plus the GTN interface is the same as Garmin Pilot, makes it easy to switch between them. I think GP needs to improve their trip,planning functions, that's their weakness

 

[SbestCFII]

No chance. Garmin Pilot interfaces with the in-panel avionics. I've used them all, and it's just as good as a ForeFlight and WingX with the advantage of being compatible with the dominating avionics maker. Same cost as ForeFlight, but their GDL 39-3D is a little less expensive that the Stratus II.

 

[SbestCFII]

True that...unless ForeFlight can get interfaced with a major avionics maker (if there is one other than Garmin now), it's eventually a dead-end App. Garmin Pilot also runs just as well on Android as it does on the IPAD.

 

[SbestCFII]

I've instructed instrument students with ForeFlight, WingX and Garmin Pilot as well as lesser used Android apps like Avare and Aviloution. They all have basically the same capabilities absent ADS-B...it's all user preference and the ability to interface. GP does IOS and Android Platforms equally well, but I like the displays better on IOS and Garmin Pilot is easier to use that most. With flight stream, GP it basically turns your 430/530 unit into a 650/750 with your tablet as a ginormous MFD. Cool stuff. I held off from going Garmin as long as I could, but Bendix-King abandoned everybody and no one else has the hardware and software to beat, much less compete with them for the foreseeable future.

 

[Henning]

True that...unless ForeFlight can get interfaced with a major avionics maker (if there is one other than Garmin now), it's eventually a dead-end App. Garmin Pilot also runs just as well on Android as it does on the IPAD.

Yep, I'm running GP these days mainly since the interface is the same as the GTN boxes.

 

[happypilot876]

No chance. Garmin Pilot... Same cost as ForeFlight, but their GDL 39-3D is a little less expensive that the Stratus II.

Only if you get it without a battery, which considerably limits its utility if you're moving between different aircraft. And removes a backup should your aircraft have an electrical issue.

With a battery, the GDL39-3D is the same price as the Stratus II.

 

[Henning]

Only if you get it without a battery, which considerably limits its utility if you're moving between different aircraft. And removes a backup should your aircraft have an electrical issue.

With a battery, the GDL39-3D is the same price as the Stratus II.

Still puts the GDL39-3D in for the win because it will drive Garmin Pilot which will drive any Garmin stack.

 

[dans2992]

I'm going to an IFD 440 and ditching the seventh circle of Garmin proprietary hell ASAP.

I hear you, but have you used the IFD440 in person? I tried it at OSH, and it was like a panel-mount WingX , except the interface was even worse...

Garmin being like a panel mount ForeFlight in this analogy.

 

[chartbundle]

FF will just reverse engineer the WIFI interface, I'd be surprised if they were not trying do as we speak

Looks like Flight Stream is Bluetooth, which means in the iOS world, they can reverse engineer it, but they can't use it. Apple keeps a strong lock on which apps can use which Bluetooth devices and the Bluetooth device manufacturer has to bless every app.

I reverse engineered the GDL-39 early on, but you couldn't do anything useful with that knowledge on the iOS side.

 

[flyingcheesehead]

I think he meant FF not supporting a Garmin FS. FF will just reverse engineer the WIFI interface, I'd be surprised if they were not trying do as we speak

I dunno... I think if ForeFlight reverse-engineered the FlightStream/Connext system so they could communicate with it, Garmin would release an update that changed things and broke ForeFlight. It's a cat-and-mouse game that will do nothing but cost ForeFlight money.

OTOH, I'm sure ForeFlight is trying very hard to get Garmin to voluntarily interface with them.

I kinda wish ForeFlight could get big enough to take on Garmin in the avionics market. We need another serious player in the market, and right now there just isn't one. Unfortunately, playing in the certified hardware market would raise their costs two or three orders of magnitude at least... Sigh.

 

[Henning]

I would not expect cooperation from Garmin without leverage. Everything I have seen from the company business model has been completely predatory.

 

[txflyer]

I hear you, but have you used the IFD440 in person? I tried it at OSH, and it was like a panel-mount WingX , except the interface was even worse...

Garmin being like a panel mount ForeFlight in this analogy.

No I haven't and I may redact my statement. I just looked up the price for the IFD440. $15,000.00

My old GNS430W is looking better ... maybe with a flightstream 210 if I need a gadget 'fix'.

I'm going to wait for ADS-B out solution. We have five more years, a lot can happen in five years.

 

[MooneyDriver78]

No I haven't and I may redact my statement. I just looked up the price for the IFD440. $15,000.00



My old GNS430W is looking better ... maybe with a flightstream 210 if I need a gadget 'fix'.



I'm going to wait for ADS-B out solution. We have five more years, a lot can happen in five years.

I was going to wait also, but there is just too much traffic here in S. Florida, I'm really glad I have for local VFR flights, and the WX will come in handy on x-country trips