Garmin GNC255 - DME?

CC268

CC268

Final Approach
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CC268
Flew my plane for the first time last night with the new G5 HSI and GNC255. Good stuff. I noticed the GNC255 gives you what looks to be full DME info (distance to station, bearing to station, time to station, etc) - pretty cool. Unfortunately, there is no Supplemental AFM that makes it legal to use as a DME - at least from what I can find.

I believe the SL30 has the ability to be used as DME. Why wouldn't Garmin make their newest radio capable of being used as a DME, but the last generation radio was?

Not a huge deal, we didn't buy the radio to be used as a DME, but it was cool/surprising to see all the capabilites of the radio included what looked to be all the info you would get on any older DME.
 
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CC268 said:
Okay thanks - and yes I have read the Pilot Guide several times.
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I've never heard of a NAV/COM/DME before. But the NAV boards in radios typically have optional DME tuning, that means when you dial in a stattion on the nav it will auto tune the connected DME radio to the appropriate DME frequency. This is very common. I'm not sure how many NAV/COMs will actually display the DME data but this one obviously can.
 
bnt83 said:
I've never heard of a NAV/COM/DME before. But the NAV boards in radios typically have optional DME tuning, that means when you dial in a stattion on the nav it will auto tune the connected DME radio to the appropriate DME frequency. This is very common. I'm not sure how many NAV/COMs will actually display the DME data but this one obviously can.
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Gotcha - oh well, not a big deal. Just thought I'd ask on here about it.
 
bnt83 said:
Flown it much since you got them goodies installed?
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No last night was the first time. I've been insanely busy between getting married, honeymoon, moving into a new condo, etc. There are a few bugs that need to be worked out - avionics shop is taking a look at these issues today. The HSI is worth its weight in gold...absolutely awesome. The radio is amazing too. As soon as we have the few issues ironed out I should be ready for my IR checkride in a few weeks.
 
So to get DME (or fake DME) displayed on a GNC255, do you need a DME antenna installed for this? Or is it pulling that information through the VOR antenna?

The handbook mentions DME sensor... what is that exactly?
 
Mtns2Skies said:
So to get DME (or fake DME) displayed on a GNC255, do you need a DME antenna installed for this? Or is it pulling that information through the VOR antenna?

The handbook mentions DME sensor... what is that exactly?
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The GNC255 is NOT a DME transceiver, it must get that information from a DME transceiver (for real DME) or a GPS (fake DME).

Basically there are two DME transceivers, panel mounted which will have a display and transceiver in the instrument panel mounted chassis and remote mounted which only the display is panel mounted. The GNC255 can replace the display on the remote mounted DME transceiver.

All DME transceivers must be tuned, the GNC255 can do that for you. All DME transceivers will need their own antenna.
 
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bnt83 said:
The GNC255 is NOT a DME transceiver, it must get that information from a DME transceiver (for real DME) or a GPS (fake DME).
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:yeahthat: Whatever he said :p
 
bnt83 said:
The GNC255 is NOT a DME transceiver, it must get that information from a DME transceiver (for real DME) or a GPS (fake DME).

Basically there are two DME transceivers, panel mounted which will have a display and transceiver in the instrument panel mounted chassis and remote mounted which only the display is panel mounted. The GNC255 can replace the display on the remote mounted DME transceiver.

All DME transceivers must be tuned, the GNC255 can do that for you.
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Thank you - so follow up questions... About what would the cheapest remote DME transceiver be?
 
GNC255 is the best radio ever doe
 
Mtns2Skies said:
Thank you - so follow up questions... About what would the cheapest remote DME transceiver be?
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The only remote GA DME options are the KN-63 ($10k) and the KDM-706/706A (upper 5 digits).
 
Axtel4 said:
The only remote GA DME options are the KN-63 ($10k) and the KDM-706/706A (upper 5 digits).
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But in addition to those, many of the panel mounts (like the ubiquitous KN62 and KN64) can be remotely channeled. You put the switch on it in "RMT" and it follows whatever radio it's connected to.
 
For nearly all approaches, it's legal to substitute a GPS navigator for a DME. It's not a DME, but it will replace one legally in nearly all situations.
 
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