gdl88

eman1200

eman1200

Touchdown! Greaser!
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Bro do you even lift
good/bad/ugly? I'm NOT looking for a "you should get this instead", I'm ONLY asking about the 88. I see you can add on wireless connectivity for use with a tablet, which is good. is the product 'dead', meaning end of life on support in the near future or are newer models available? any reason why the 88 sux (not looking for garmin haters responses)? I know, high level and not very specific. just looking for feedback. assume the 88 is already in the plane with a 430. GO!
 
I have the GDL88 connected to a GTN650. Obviously there are more options out now compared to when I had it installed. The GDL88 has been working flawlessly for me over the past couple of years that I have had it. No complaints.
 
GDL84 has the FlightStream included, either 110 or 210 depending upon price.

Both do UAT 978 output, so only good in the US. If that's good for you then either is a good option. I'm looking at ADS-B out options and like those, but we'd like to go to the Bahamas and Cuba, so we need another option.
 
I have a GDL88 and a flightstream210. Works well. The gdl88 has limited life with the gtx transponders. Transponder with a gdl88 and wireless inside it. Going forward there will be less need for a separate ads-b unit. Buy transponders with it built in, and wireless.

Had there been a gtx345 when I bought my gdl88 And Flightstream I would have gone that way.
 
I put a GDL88 in the 310 in 2014. It was a very good unit that did what I wanted to. Primarily limitation is that as a UAT ADS-B box it will only be useful in the US and not in the flight levels. Provided that those limitations don't matter to you for a plane that you are considering purchase of, that does make the plane 2020 compliant and gives you ADS-B in, which the GTX 330ES did not. That was why we chose the GDL 88 for the 310.

As a general rule, it's good to have an avionics shop check to make sure you have the latest software versions every now and then, and purchase is a good time for that. New software versions are rolled out on occasion.
 
GDL88 is out of production as it's replaced my the new slide in transponders.

EDIT: Looks like you can still buy it. Our avionics guy told us it was out of production. @Ted DuPuis Doesn't the new GTX replace the function of the 88?

It's a good box. Only trouble I've ever had with it is connection issues that a power cycle won't easily fix.
 
Ours has been flawless for two years connected to a GTN. Agree with the comments on the all-in-one transponder, tho. We're considering moving the 88 to the Citabria to comply with the 2020 mandate, and putting a GTX345 in the 182, rather than a new box for the Champ.

Jim
 
ARFlyer said:
EDIT: Looks like you can still buy it. Our avionics guy told us it was out of production. @Ted DuPuis Doesn't the new GTX replace the function of the 88?
Click to expand...

I'm not aware of the GDL 88 being out of production. Saying the new GTX replaces the function isn't entirely accurate. The GTX 345 (or 345R) has ADS-B In capability (like the GDL 88) but is a Mode S with extended squitter transponder rather than UAT ADS-B Out. With a GTX 345 your aircraft is equipped to handle foreign airspace and also flight levels.

From the perspective of the legacy piston birds that most of us fly, the GTX 345 is the most logical transponder to use since it gives you full Mode S/ES and ADS-B In capability (plus Bluetooth). However the GDL 88 still has a place in the market for ADS-B In with aircraft that can't use a GTX 345 for whatever reason.
 
Still can do things with the GDL88 that the GTX345 won't do.

1) Diversity - top and bottom antenna
2) Anonymous mode for VFR flight

The GDL88 requires the FS110 or FS210 to work with an iPad. The GDL88 has dual RS422 ports so can be simultaneously wired to a MX20/GMX200/Aspen and the FS210. The GTX345 has only a single port, so it is one or the other.
 
gdl88's suck. Ya gotta have at least one dissenting opinion, lol. So what's it in?
 
wayne said:
GDL84 has the FlightStream included, either 110 or 210 depending upon price.

Both do UAT 978 output, so only good in the US. If that's good for you then either is a good option. I'm looking at ADS-B out options and like those, but we'd like to go to the Bahamas and Cuba, so we need another option.
Click to expand...

Anybody know when the ads-b mandate starts(ed) in the Bahamas? Is it 2020 like the US? I couldn't find a list of other country's implementation dates. Thanks!

Jim
 
wayne said:
Both do UAT 978 output, so only good in the US. If that's good for you then either is a good option. I'm looking at ADS-B out options and like those, but we'd like to go to the Bahamas and Cuba, so we need another option.
Click to expand...

I've done a few dozen trips to the Bahamas with our GDL88 & GTX327. I can tell you we were able to see other traffic displayed on our GTN750. AFAIK, you wont need 1090ES in the bahamas and they dont have an ADSB mandate... correct me if i'm wrong.
 
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