Pireps on Aspen Evolution Pro

I went to Aspen website
http://www.aspenavionics.com/products/general-aviation/evolution-1000

and scaled my monitor to the Aspen product to 3.5" wide as per their specifications. Either I need new glasses or the Aspen font is too small. I can not tell if the altitude is 9930 or 9980. On the smart keys I could not read them at all. Overall the text is too small for me. I would have to pull the seat forward with the yoke on my belly to read it. Normally in cruise I pull the seat alll the way back to strech my legs. At that distance there is no way I can read the Aspen. I do not have this problem with the G530 or the Aera 560 and obviously neither with the steam gauges. The 3" display is simply too small for me.

José
 
hindsight2020 said:
I see they have three software variants of this unit: Pilot, Pro and VFR. The brochure wasn't very clear on the substantive differences, other than the Pro having EHSI software functionality and dual GPS receiver¿?

The VFR PFD retails for 5AMUs which is about half as the Pro PFD, and around one AMU under the Pilot PFD. What exactly are the substantive differences between the three?
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The Pilot is a watered down Pro. It does not have an HSI, only a CDI, but does include the ACU for AP GPSS. The VFR unit is a CDI only unit without an ACU but can be bought separately.

I don't think the VFR or Pilot version support ESV.
 
I think we get it, you've got weak eyesight and love your 560 portable GPS! Good for you!!:D If I could read it with 49 year old eyes that required reading glasses to pass my 3rd class, without glasses, it's easier to read than it appears! :D

Piloto said:
I went to Aspen website
http://www.aspenavionics.com/products/general-aviation/evolution-1000

and scaled my monitor to the Aspen product to 3.5" wide as per their specifications. Either I need new glasses or the Aspen font is too small. I can not tell if the altitude is 9930 or 9980. On the smart keys I could not read them at all. Overall the text is too small for me. I would have to pull the seat forward with the yoke on my belly to read it. Normally in cruise I pull the seat alll the way back to strech my legs. At that distance there is no way I can read the Aspen. I do not have this problem with the G530 or the Aera 560 and obviously neither with the steam gauges. The 3" display is simply too small for me.

José
Click to expand...
 
N747JB said:
I think we get it, you've got weak eyesight and love your 560 portable GPS! Good for you!!:D If I could read it with 49 year old eyes that required reading glasses to pass my 3rd class, without glasses, it's easier to read than it appears! :D
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He's also scaling a low resolution jpg from a website to life size and using that to judge the font. I couldn't read the numbers either, but it's because of the pixelation of the photo, not the actual device. Having flown behind an Aspen for years I would not trust someone who couldn't read the display to fly a plane at all. It's much easier to read than a chart or AFD, for example.
 
True, it takes a little getting used to, but so did the G600, the VSI is odd at first, but after 5 hours it's all second nature. :D
dukeblue219 said:
He's also scaling a low resolution jpg from a website to life size and using that to judge the font. I couldn't read the numbers either, but it's because of the pixelation of the photo, not the actual device. Having flown behind an Aspen for years I would not trust someone who couldn't read the display to fly a plane at all. It's much easier to read than a chart or AFD, for example.
Click to expand...
 
dukeblue219 said:
He's also scaling a low resolution jpg from a website to life size and using that to judge the font. I couldn't read the numbers either, but it's because of the pixelation of the photo, not the actual device. Having flown behind an Aspen for years I would not trust someone who couldn't read the display to fly a plane at all. It's much easier to read than a chart or AFD, for example.
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Exactly. Like John, I have been blessed with mid-life reading glasses and find that reading the Aspens to be a non issue. Most of us who need reading glasses in our 40s usually have problems reading in low light conditions. The Aspens have great back lights which really makes a difference.

My pictures certainly don't do the displays justice.
 
Will the aspen PFD mate with a piper arrow's autocontrol III series autopilot (century II?)? Is that what the aspen ACU unit is for?
 
hindsight2020 said:
Will the aspen PFD mate with a piper arrow's autocontrol III series autopilot (century II?)? Is that what the aspen ACU unit is for?
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Yes, the Aspen integrates fairly well with the Century autopilots. I'd suggest verifying that the avionics shop chosen has experience with the work and understands that the ACU has to be matched to the individual autopilot. My system (Aspen & Altimatic IIIc) used to make a random right turn about once every 15 to 20 hours of operation until the guys at Autopilot Central went through the installation and changed out the ACU to get the specified match. The avionics shop I used for the initial installation was good at connecting components but really didn't understand how the components interacted.
 
I find the Aspen mates well with the Century III in the 310. It would be nice if it had altitude pre-select, but oh well.
 
Ted DuPuis said:
I find the Aspen mates well with the Century III in the 310. It would be nice if it had altitude pre-select, but oh well.
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Agree it'd be nice. Electronically it shouldn't be difficult but the autopilot controls would have to be re-designed. At least they have an alternative (expensive) for AI input from the Aspen now.

I went for a voice enunciator with the upgrade to synthetic vision so at least I have the option of having the Aspen tell me about the altitude.
 
Clark1961 said:
Agree it'd be nice. Electronically it shouldn't be difficult but the autopilot controls would have to be re-designed. At least they have an alternative (expensive) for AI input from the Aspen now.

I went for a voice enunciator with the upgrade to synthetic vision so at least I have the option of having the Aspen tell me about the altitude.
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I was not aware of the voice annunciator option. What does it say? I might have to ask my avionics shop about that. I like voices over beeps.
 
Ted DuPuis said:
I was not aware of the voice annunciator option. What does it say? I might have to ask my avionics shop about that. I like voices over beeps.
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"check altitude and timer" - I got the model from EI so relatively cheap, about an AMU. It has a few other warnings like voltage - it really depends on what sensors are available to it.
 
Clark1961 said:
"check altitude and timer" - I got the model from EI so relatively cheap, about an AMU. It has a few other warnings like voltage - it really depends on what sensors are available to it.
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Do you have a link to the unit you bought? I like that idea.
 
Piloto said:
I do appreciate your comments on the Aspen on my comments. I do see value on the Aspen product but not enough for me to justify buying one. I went to the Controller.com website to see how many Mooneys M20J like mine are equipped with the Aspen. Out of a listing of 27 today I could not find a single one with the Aspen equipment. But the majority had the G430, G530 and engine analyzers. Some had TKS de-icing, long range tanks active TCAS systems and Stormscope. These are items that are more expensive than the Aspen products. My assessment is that it looks that the majority are happy with the steam gauges just like me.:)

José
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Or it may be we Mooney lovers are just a little slower than others! :D

I've seen several Mooneys with Aspens, and have flown a Bo with it. Personally, I love it and wouldn't consider replacing a failed mechanical HSI when the Aspen exists.
 
N747JB said:
I think we get it, you've got weak eyesight and love your 560 portable GPS! Good for you!!:D If I could read it with 49 year old eyes that required reading glasses to pass my 3rd class, without glasses, it's easier to read than it appears! :D
Click to expand...

My 56 yo eyes with glasses has no trouble with it either.
 
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I just had a aspen pro installed in a plane. I have been flying glass for awhile so after reading the book it was no transition to speak of. I am more than tickled at the improvement in utility and appearance of the install. I'm sure the plane will be flown more often because of it.
 
LDJones said:
I think it says, "Easy, Ted....take it easy!":D
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I had a dream the other night that I was flying the 310 truing out around 225 KTAS and my passenger decided it was too fast so he feathered the props. I then punched him in the nose.

Clark1961 said:
It's the AV-17 manufactured by Electronics International.
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Thanks. I took a look at it - obviously you got it to interface with the Aspen, and looking at the description to get activated it needs somethign that will provide a ground signal when the condition occurs. I might talk to my avionics tech about this. Sounds neat but like a complex install to get all the features I'd want out of it.
 
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