GTN XI models

[gfb]

Has anyone seen one in person? Is it noticeably different from the legacy GTN models?

 

[NordicDave]

They are the same, just new screen and more processor power to carry more features and faster response time.

 

[gfb]

That's what I figured. Curious if the screen is noticeably better/faster.

 

[NordicDave]

The screen is faster, charts load faster, and unit starts-up faster too.

 

[midlifeflyer]

That's what I figured. Curious if the screen is noticeably better/faster.

I was recently in an airplane with a "standard" 750 but also with a G600 TXi PFD. The screen quality difference between them was noticeable.

 

[flyingcheesehead]

Has anyone seen one in person? Is it noticeably different from the legacy GTN models?

I have not, but I noticed that the physical design of the unit closely resembles the TXi glass panels.

 

[ISU_Radar]

I've heard an interesting tidbit, and was wondering if anyone else has as well. What I heard is something about the new GTN Xi's plus Flightstream 510 is incompatible with Foreflight. While that seems odd, I somehow wouldn't be super shocked. Can anyone, especially avionics installers, confirm or deny?

 

[bnt83]

I'm expecting to trade-up to 650xi in March. Its gonna hurt just like all my other avionics did but it just seems to make sense for me and this particular installation.

 

[ltiii]

I've heard an interesting tidbit, and was wondering if anyone else has as well. What I heard is something about the new GTN Xi's plus Flightstream 510 is incompatible with Foreflight. While that seems odd, I somehow wouldn't be super shocked. Can anyone, especially avionics installers, confirm or deny?

I would love more info on this as well. Anyone? I just checked FF website and they have this to say:

What hardware do I need to connect ForeFlight Mobile to my Garmin GNS or GTN avionics?
You will need a Garmin Flight Stream 110, Flight Stream 210, or a Flight Stream 510 to connect ForeFlight Mobile to your GNS or GTN* Garmin avionics. The Flight Stream 510 is only compatible with GTN 650 and 750 series Navigators.

Contact your avionics shop for more details on pricing and installation or see Garmin's website for more information about the Flight Stream 110/210.

*GTN 650/750 only. GTN 650Xi and GTN 750Xi are not supported.

Is this Garmin's way of forcing you to use Garmin Pilot? Or is this a temporary thing until FF gets up to speed on compatibility with new hardware?

 

[gacoon]

Is this Garmin's way of forcing you to use Garmin Pilot? Or is this a temporary thing until FF gets up to speed on compatibility with new hardware?

Garmin Pilot also needs one of those options. There is no wifi or bluetooth in a stock GNS or GTN.

 

[Davidl13]

Zero chance Garmin will purposefully not connect to FF...

 

[N1120A]

I've heard an interesting tidbit, and was wondering if anyone else has as well. What I heard is something about the new GTN Xi's plus Flightstream 510 is incompatible with Foreflight. While that seems odd, I somehow wouldn't be super shocked. Can anyone, especially avionics installers, confirm or deny?

I would love more info on this as well. Anyone? I just checked FF website and they have this to say:

What hardware do I need to connect ForeFlight Mobile to my Garmin GNS or GTN avionics?
You will need a Garmin Flight Stream 110, Flight Stream 210, or a Flight Stream 510 to connect ForeFlight Mobile to your GNS or GTN* Garmin avionics. The Flight Stream 510 is only compatible with GTN 650 and 750 series Navigators.

Contact your avionics shop for more details on pricing and installation or see Garmin's website for more information about the Flight Stream 110/210.

*GTN 650/750 only. GTN 650Xi and GTN 750Xi are not supported.

Is this Garmin's way of forcing you to use Garmin Pilot? Or is this a temporary thing until FF gets up to speed on compatibility with new hardware?

I think this is a poorly written page. AFAIK, the XIs come with Connext built in - like the 375.

Zero chance Garmin will purposefully not connect to FF...

Exactly. Too widespread to ignore.

 

[Fracpilot]

I think this is a poorly written page. AFAIK, the XIs come with Connext built in - like the 375.



Exactly. Too widespread to ignore.

I don’t believe this is correct. You’ll still need to by the FS510 or FS210 to use Connext.


From Garmin:


Wirelessly load flight plans and database updates with an optional Connext link.

FLIGHT PLAN TRANSFER

Save time by creating your flight plan on your mobile device at home, then use Connext2 to wirelessly upload the data into your GTN Xi during preflight at the airport.

FLIGHT STREAM

In addition to GPS data, a compatible Connext wireless gateway5 can stream ADS-B traffic, weather and backup attitude data to your mobile device in real time2.
DATABASE SYNC

A Flight Stream 510 Connext gateway5 adds Database Concierge to your GTN Xi navigator. Upload databases from your tablet in minutes — then let automatic sync with your avionics do the rest.

2 Optional feature; additional hardware may be required

5 Sold separately

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/606906

 

[bnt83]

The xis do not have any built-in wireless connectivity. Why would they give away the $1k profit each FS510 they sell?

 

[N1120A]

I don’t believe this is correct. You’ll still need to by the FS510 or FS210 to use Connext.


From Garmin:


Wirelessly load flight plans and database updates with an optional Connext link.

FLIGHT PLAN TRANSFER

Save time by creating your flight plan on your mobile device at home, then use Connext2 to wirelessly upload the data into your GTN Xi during preflight at the airport.

FLIGHT STREAM

In addition to GPS data, a compatible Connext wireless gateway5 can stream ADS-B traffic, weather and backup attitude data to your mobile device in real time2.
DATABASE SYNC

A Flight Stream 510 Connext gateway5 adds Database Concierge to your GTN Xi navigator. Upload databases from your tablet in minutes — then let automatic sync with your avionics do the rest.

2 Optional feature; additional hardware may be required

5 Sold separately

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/606906

The xis do not have any built-in wireless connectivity. Why would they give away the $1k profit each FS510 they sell?

You need FS510 for Database Concierge. You don't need it for wireless flight plan, as far as I can tell. You don't need FS510 to upload to the 375 or the 175.

 

[bnt83]

You need FS510 for Database Concierge. You don't need it for wireless flight plan, as far as I can tell. You don't need FS510 to upload to the 375 or the 175.

Xi does not have built-in flight plan transfer.

 

[Jdm]

Interesting topic. Our 650xi just arrived. Installation in progress. We have not purchased the FS510 yet. Garmin’s web info is not always accurate. My avionics shop is becoming frustrated with Garmin because of this.

 

[TerryD]

Installed a GTN650Xi on Monday...it works fine with Foreflight Mobile through my FS210.

I upgraded from the GTN650 to the GTN650Xi, and I noticed a huge difference in the following:

1. The screen is MUCH brighter and WAY clearer
2. The screen “appears” much larger since it sits flush with the bezel as opposed to being recessed.
3. The screen responsiveness is MUCH better, touch gestures work much better
4. The boot up time is crazy fast compared to the 650
5. Everything runs faster, just navigating through menus/screens is a noticeable difference

 

[Fracpilot]

Installed a GTN650Xi on Monday...it works fine with Foreflight Mobile through my FS210.

I upgraded from the GTN650 to the GTN650Xi, and I noticed a huge difference in the following:

1. The screen is MUCH brighter and WAY clearer
2. The screen “appears” much larger since it sits flush with the bezel as opposed to being recessed.
3. The screen responsiveness is MUCH better, touch gestures work much better
4. The boot up time is crazy fast compared to the 650
5. Everything runs faster, just navigating through menus/screens is a noticeable difference

Thanks for the report.
Was your 650 already installed? If so, How did you go about the exchange process? This is my situation.

Or was your 650 not installed yet and the dealer did the $500 upgrade?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Jdm]

Thanks for the report.
Was your 650 already installed? If so, How did you go about the exchange process? This is my situation.

Or was your 650 not installed yet and the dealer did the $500 upgrade?

Hey. Not sure if this helps you, but we were initially told that we missed the $500 upgrade window but ended up actually getting it.
We paid in advance for our 650 legacy in late Nov. The unit shipped around the 1st week of Dec. The Xi launched around Jan 8, but we didn’t know. No one reached out to us with this info. I happened to learn about the Xi during the 1st week of Feb. We contacted our shop to request an exchange as the unit was still sitting in the box. The request was denied based on the 30 day exchange expiration! We were told there’s no possibility of getting the Xi at that point. Our dealer’s request was totally rejected. The dealer suggested that we take it up with Garmin ourselves as a last ditch effort. The area rep who was suppose to handle this was out on leave. Not looking good! Thankfully a Garmin regional rep took over our case and provided awesome service. He immediately authorized the $500 upgrade/exchange based on their 45 day amnesty policy. We just barely made the amnesty cut off. $500 well spent

 

[Fracpilot]

Hey. Not sure if this helps you, but we were initially told that we missed the $500 upgrade window but ended up actually getting it.
We paid in advance for our 650 legacy in late Nov. The unit shipped around the 1st week of Dec. The Xi launched around Jan 8, but we didn’t know. No one reached out to us with this info. I happened to learn about the Xi during the 1st week of Feb. We contacted our shop to request an exchange as the unit was still sitting in the box. The request was denied based on the 30 day exchange expiration! We were told there’s no possibility of getting the Xi at that point. Our dealer’s request was totally rejected. The dealer suggested that we take it up with Garmin ourselves as a last ditch effort. The area rep who was suppose to handle this was out on leave. Not looking good! Thankfully a Garmin regional rep took over our case and provided awesome service. He immediately authorized the $500 upgrade/exchange based on their 45 day amnesty policy. We just barely made the amnesty cut off. $500 well spent

Thanks for the report. Glad they took care of you.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[bnt83]

Old VS New. I haven't messed with the dimmer settings at all so I may end up turning the brightness down a bit.

 

[bnt83]

Another new radio shot. I think there may have been some smudges on in it or my camera wasn't completely clean. It looks like a fingerprint on the standby frequency button.

https://i.imgur.com/ie1vs7f.mp4

 

[Fracpilot]

Another new radio shot. I think there may have been some smudges on in it or my camera wasn't completely clean. It looks like a fingerprint on the standby frequency button.

I can’t tell the difference. Maybe I’m not looking in the right spot.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[bnt83]

One minor thing I'm seeing, the xi Airplane Flight Supplement (AFMS) doesn't require any additional documents be available to the crew, the old 6xx AFMS required a Cockpit Reference Guide (CRG) be available to crew, so you can throw away the old CRG when you upgrade to the xi, that's another 100+ pages of manual I won't have on board anymore.

It seemed a little silly to me when I first got a GTN several years ago that there was an STC approved AFMS, the AFMS required the CRG, and then there was still the non-required enormous Pilot's Guide on top of that.

 

[Fracpilot]

One minor thing I'm seeing, the xi Airplane Flight Supplement (AFMS) doesn't require any additional documents be available to the crew, the old 6xx AFMS required a Cockpit Reference Guide (CRG) be available to crew, so you can throw away the old CRG when you upgrade to the xi, that's another 100+ pages of manual I won't have on board anymore.

It seemed a little silly to me when I first got a GTN several years ago that there was an STC approved AFMS, the AFMS required the CRG, and then there was still the non-required enormous Pilot's Guide on top of that.

I keep all that paper stuff in the documents section of ForeFlight. I put it all in Dropbox and FF syncs to it. I have all of the AFMS’s, STC’s, POH, insurance, and W&B there. It really makes things a lot easier.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[bnt83]

I keep all that paper stuff in the documents section of ForeFlight. I put it all in Dropbox and FF syncs to it. I have all of the AFMS’s, STC’s, POH, insurance, and W&B there. It really makes things a lot easier.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I like to do both, keep all required documents in the airplane on paper and digital, all non-required I keep only in digital.

 

[DesertNomad]

Installed a GTN650Xi on Monday...it works fine with Foreflight Mobile through my FS210.

I upgraded from the GTN650 to the GTN650Xi, and I noticed a huge difference in the following:

1. The screen is MUCH brighter and WAY clearer
2. The screen “appears” much larger since it sits flush with the bezel as opposed to being recessed.
3. The screen responsiveness is MUCH better, touch gestures work much better
4. The boot up time is crazy fast compared to the 650
5. Everything runs faster, just navigating through menus/screens is a noticeable difference

Does flight plan transfer work via ForeFlight and a FlightStream 210? ForeFlight says it does not work with the xi models.

 

[Jdm]

I have the 650Xi but haven’t tried a flight plan transfer. My understanding is you’re gonna need the FS 510 and the Garmin app. Both of which cost more than what the benefits are worth to me.
I’ve found the SD card to be super easy for updates, especially since it’s not required to remain in the gps unit while in use