Help me spend my money!

Will Kumley

Will Kumley

Line Up and Wait
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Aug 6, 2019
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750
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Pacific Southwest
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Display name:
Will
Looking for advice on future upgrades to our Piper Colt!
Existing panel: Garmin GNX375, Aspen Pro PFD, KY197 Com radio, SPA-400 intercom. - Everything currently installed works as advertised.

I'd like to possibly add an engine monitor and/or replace the com unit with an updated com unit or nav/com. One of the primary reasons for a com unit upgrade would be to add the monitor function so I can listen to weather while still talking to ATC.
- Engine monitor possibilities include the EI CGR-30P or a less expensive Insight G2 or G3.
- Com or Nav/Com possibilities are the Trig TY96A or TX56A.

The new Garmin slim units are off the table as they removed the integrated intercom and I'd like an all in one unit if possible. The Colt is only a 2 seater aircraft so I don't need a 4 or 6 place intercom.

Let me know your thoughts, especially if you have any of the possible units.
 
I have been a super happy user of perfectly reliable Insight G2 for 14 years in two planes.
Besides the CHTs and EGTs, I have carb temp, OAT, bus voltage, and FF (and fuel totalizer).
 
Get a PS Engineering Par 200B Audio panel with a build in Com radio and then add a Garmin GNC 215 Nav/Com.
 
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WDD said:
Get a PS Engineering Par 200B Audio panel with a build in Com radio and then add a Garmin GNC 215 Nav/Com.
Click to expand...
It's a 100hp mostly VFR 2-seater, not a Mooney or Bo ;)

And it looks like the panel is already close to full.
pilotsofamerica.com

Piper Colt panel upgrade!

Finally updated the panel in our little Colt. Here are a couple pictures of what we started with: Here she is with the panel installed and ready for testing while on the ground. And a couple shots of the expensive stuff during the test flight after ground checks were done. I've still...
pilotsofamerica.com pilotsofamerica.com
 
The PS audio panel would replace the SPA intercom, and the GNC 215 is fairly slim and would replace the KY 197, so panel real estate friendly. This would give him his 2 coms and a Nav radio, which he doesn’t have now - but should.
 
WDD said:
The PS audio panel would replace the SPA intercom, and the GNC 215 is fairly slim and would replace the KY 197, so panel real estate friendly.
Click to expand...
Are you sure about the intercom?

spa-400_new_web.jpg

11-17542a.jpg
 
I think it would fit, it gives him his second com, and the ability to control the coms. And it would give him a Nav / which I think is important as a GPS back up.

He did ask for opinions and ideas - and that’s mine. Hope he finds it useful in deciding what he wants to do.

What would you suggest?
 
WDD said:
I think it would fit, it gives him his second com, and the ability to control the coms. And it would give him a Nav / which I think is important as a GPS back up.

He did ask for opinions and ideas - and that’s mine. Hope he finds it useful in deciding what he wants to do.

What would you suggest?
Click to expand...
A couple things to keep in mind:
1. The PAR200 is a 2 box system. Even if you can cram the much bigger control head into the same space as the SPA400, you'll still have find somewhere for the transceiver box (picture below).
2. The Piper Colt is an offshoot of the Piper Cub. As such, I wouldn't exactly describe it as a serious cross-country machine. If I recall correctly, the fuel tanks are smaller than those in a 152.
3. I didn't see the intercom in the post-upgrade panel pictures. I suspect it might be in a location that's inconvenient for tuning the COM radio.
trig_ty_91_ty92_remote_only.jpg
 
What would you suggest to give him 2 coms?
 
WDD said:
What would you suggest to give him 2 coms?
Click to expand...
I think he had the right idea in post #1. A TX56a gives him an intercom, 1.5 NAV radios and 1.5 COMS with the 0.5 coming from monitor mode.
 
WDD said:
What would you suggest to give him 2 coms?
Click to expand...

I don't think he said he needs two comms; just a comm with a monitor for the second frequency. If he wants a second radio as a backup, he could just carry a handheld and save panel space.
 
asicer said:
I didn't see the intercom in the post-upgrade panel pictures. I suspect it might be in a location that's inconvenient for tuning the COM radio
Click to expand...
I didn't see pics.
But if the intercom is inconvenient, might be more reason to go with the PAR200B.

He did ask to spend his money :D

Out of these options, I'd go with post #3. Will make for a nice experience IMO.
 
asicer said:
I think he had the right idea in post #1. A TX56a gives him an intercom, 1.5 NAV radios and 1.5 COMS with the 0.5 coming from monitor mode.
Click to expand...

I second this recommendation; I’ve been pretty pleased with the Trig radios that I’ve installed and used. It seems like it would check all the boxes for what is desired.
 
You might want to consider a portable radio as a second com with limited space you could have an external antenna installed and keep a portable available.
 
Or……

Sell the Garmin 375 and install a 355 for the second com. Put a GTX 345 somewhere- as it is infrequently used is can go to the far right of the panel.
 
Half Fast said:
I don't think he said he needs two comms; just a comm with a monitor for the second frequency. If he wants a second radio as a backup, he could just carry a handheld and save panel space.
Click to expand...
Apropos of the topic at hand, aren't you running a single COM with monitor mode in your baby Beech? How's that working out? Are you ever wanting for a 2nd COM radio?
 
asicer said:
Apropos of the topic at hand, aren't you running a single COM with monitor mode in your baby Beech? How's that working out? Are you ever wanting for a 2nd COM radio?
Click to expand...

A single comm in the panel, yes, with monitoring of the standby frequency, but I also have a Yaesu handheld that's plugged into the audio panel and to an external antenna. So I have a COM1 (Garmin) and a COM2 (Yaesu), with COM2 having a battery and able to function if I lose electrical power.

1717205154009.png


Works pretty well. I mostly use the Yaesu for getting weather. Its transmission range is adequate near an airport but not as good as the Garmin.
 
Half Fast said:
A single comm in the panel, yes, with monitoring of the standby frequency, but I also have a Yaesu handheld that's plugged into the audio panel and to an external antenna. So I have a COM1 (Garmin) and a COM2 (Yaesu), with COM2 having a battery and able to function if I lose electrical power.

View attachment 129395


Works pretty well. I mostly use the Yaesu for getting weather. Its transmission range is adequate near an airport but not as good as the Garmin.
Click to expand...
Sounds like the Yaesu is preferred over the Garmin's monitor mode, then?

I suppose either is better than just a KY197 and nothing else.
 
asicer said:
Sounds like the Yaesu is preferred over the Garmin's monitor mode, then?
Click to expand...

No, not really. I usually have 121.5 in the Garmin's standby freq and I monitor it when flying XC. At an airport, I'll have (for example) ground and tower in active and standby on the Garmin, making for an easy flop, and ATIS in the Yaesu. Or, if I'm on flight following and approaching my destination, ATC is in active, the airport frequency is in standby so I can monitor it, and weather is in the Yaesu.

Basically, I try to have frequencies I might need to transmit on loaded into the Garmin, since it has more output power, and receive-only frequencies (weather or maybe a VOR) in the Yaesu. The Yaesu will receive VORs and display a CDI, so it functions as a nav/com, but the display is a bit hard to read in sunlight so it's a backup only.
 
Thanks for all the feedback so far. To answer some of the questions.
-The jury is still out on if I need to install a nav receiver, I've heard pros and cons to installing one. Most IFR pilots I talk to that have a GPS system tend to not use the nav receiver. If I go with a com only unit I've started looking at the Garmin GTR200B as it does the same things as the com only trig.
I'm not opposed to having a handheld nav receiver in case the GPS system stops working.
-The biggest desire in the com unit is to have a monitor function so I can listen to ATIS or an upcoming nontowered airport while still talking to ATC.
-Our Colt has a total of 36 gallons of fuel between both wing tanks with an endurance of roughly 6 hours, more if I go slower, which is more than I'll ever need. But my wife and I do enjoy flights of 1-2 hours fairly regularly.
- I've started my IFR training in this Colt as it is appropriately equipped for it.
 
asicer said:
A couple things to keep in mind:
1. The PAR200 is a 2 box system. Even if you can cram the much bigger control head into the same space as the SPA400, you'll still have find somewhere for the transceiver box (picture below).
2. The Piper Colt is an offshoot of the Piper Cub. As such, I wouldn't exactly describe it as a serious cross-country machine. If I recall correctly, the fuel tanks are smaller than those in a 152.
3. I didn't see the intercom in the post-upgrade panel pictures. I suspect it might be in a location that's inconvenient for tuning the COM radio.
trig_ty_91_ty92_remote_only.jpg
Click to expand...
The 2 box system and overall price are what is pushing me away from the PAR200. My intercom is easy to use, but is only an intercom and not an audio panel. But it is older and if I get an all in one unit as there are only 2 seats it'll help clean things up in front of and behind the panel.
 
Will Kumley said:
Looking for advice on future upgrades to our Piper Colt!
Existing panel: Garmin GNX375, Aspen Pro PFD, KY197 Com radio, SPA-400 intercom. - Everything currently installed works as advertised.

I'd like to possibly add an engine monitor and/or replace the com unit with an updated com unit or nav/com. One of the primary reasons for a com unit upgrade would be to add the monitor function so I can listen to weather while still talking to ATC.
- Engine monitor possibilities include the EI CGR-30P or a less expensive Insight G2 or G3.
- Com or Nav/Com possibilities are the Trig TY96A or TX56A.

The new Garmin slim units are off the table as they removed the integrated intercom and I'd like an all in one unit if possible. The Colt is only a 2 seater aircraft so I don't need a 4 or 6 place intercom.

Let me know your thoughts, especially if you have any of the possible units.
Click to expand...
Hi Will, have you considered the PAR200B, it would be your intercom, audio panel, with a remote mounted Trig TY91L that is remote mounted but controlled by the audio panel. PAR200B
 
mscheuer said:
Hi Will, have you considered the PAR200B, it would be your intercom, audio panel, with a remote mounted Trig TY91L that is remote mounted but controlled by the audio panel. PAR200B
Click to expand...
See post 3
 
Garmin GTR 200 is still available. Has built in intercom and 2nd freq monitoring.
 
Will Kumley said:
-The jury is still out on if I need to install a nav receiver, I've heard pros and cons to installing one. Most IFR pilots I talk to that have a GPS system tend to not use the nav receiver. If I go with a com only unit I've started looking at the Garmin GTR200B as it does the same things as the com only trig.
I'm not opposed to having a handheld nav receiver in case the GPS system stops working.
Click to expand...
Not used much doesn't mean they don't want to have it in the plane.

With GPS outages, I want backup nav and the ability to shoot the ILS approach and land.
 
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