Small Avionics Upgrade

[ahkahn]

So I am making my first round with the avionics shop. Nervously excited!

- Upgrading my GTX-330 transponder to ES for the ADS-B-out.
- Updating my Aspen EFD1000Pro firmware from 1.1.1 to 2.7.2 (big jump!)
- Updating my GNS-430W firmware from 3.11 to most current - 5.x?
- Rewiring altitude encoding from analog encoding altimeter to Aspen for digital resolution (and better accuracy).
- Wanted to install a cigarette plug on pilot side, but after exploring the USB port idea, I decided to:
- Remove my KMA24 audio panel and PS3000 intercom and replace with a PS Engineering PMA450. I hear this is supposed to be a great panel/intercom... nervous about it, but hoping for the best. The USB port is what really hooked me... but the bluetooth has been on my wishlist for a while, so it's a worthwhile upgrade.
- Hopefully checking into an issue where you have to apply finger-destroying pressure to the PTT button for it to work.

Any decent pireps on this stuff?

 

[JOhnH]

Small Avionics upgrade?

Perhaps if you reserve that finger destroying pressure to hold on to your wallet while talking to the Avionics folks. (while we're in there any way, you might as well . . . )

But good luck with it all.

So I am making my first round with the avionics shop. Nervously excited!

- Upgrading my GTX-330 transponder to ES for the ADS-B-out.
- Updating my Aspen EFD1000Pro firmware from 1.1.1 to 2.7.2 (big jump!)
- Updating my GNS-430W firmware from 3.11 to most current - 5.x?
- Rewiring altitude encoding from analog encoding altimeter to Aspen for digital resolution (and better accuracy).
- Wanted to install a cigarette plug on pilot side, but after exploring the USB port idea, I decided to:
- Remove my KMA24 audio panel and PS3000 intercom and replace with a PS Engineering PMA450. I hear this is supposed to be a great panel/intercom... nervous about it, but hoping for the best. The USB port is what really hooked me... but the bluetooth has been on my wishlist for a while, so it's a worthwhile upgrade.
- Hopefully checking into an issue where you have to apply finger-destroying pressure to the PTT button for it to work.

Any decent pireps on this stuff?

 

[Challenged]

I'd feel like a kid on Christmas morning with a setup like that.

 

[dans2992]

Be sure to set the "Position integrity" to 1E-7 on the 330ES. It defaults to 1E-3 and that is for "uncertified" ADS-B out solutions and does you no good.

We are dealing with this now... The avionics shops have no clue..

 

[ahkahn]

Small Avionics upgrade?

Perhaps if you reserve that finger destroying pressure to hold on to your wallet while talking to the Avionics folks. (while we're in there any way, you might as well . . . )

But good luck with it all.

Well, that's how the PMA450 came about. If there were no wife (ie. little voice in your ear!) then the 430W would have been traded in on a 650.... but alas, there are finite resources available.

Be sure to set the "Position integrity" to 1E-7 on the 330ES. It defaults to 1E-3 and that is for "uncertified" ADS-B out solutions and does you no good.

We are dealing with this now... The avionics shops have no clue..

Good tip. How do I know if it's set properly? Is that something that I can change myself by getting into a configuration menu?

 

[Clark1961]

Well, that's how the PMA450 came about. If there were no wife (ie. little voice in your ear!) then the 430W would have been traded in on a 650.... but alas, there are finite resources available.



Good tip. How do I know if it's set properly? Is that something that I can change myself by getting into a configuration menu?

Ask the shop about the config. If they know they have to update the 430W software then they should be up to date on the required config. It's part of the 330ES STC I believe. After a couple flights with the new system you can ask the FAA to provide a report on the ADS-B performance of the new stuff. They'll look at their database of all your flights and tell you if things are working properly.

You might also verify the magnetometer calibration on the Aspen. Mine got knocked catty-whompuss on one upgrade. Not sure if it was the shop or the upgrade that did it.

Ya might also think about adding ADS-B in box from Aspen. More bucks but it would really round-out that setup. I'm just biding my time to add the "in" box.

 

[ahkahn]

Ask the shop about the config. If they know they have to update the 430W software then they should be up to date on the required config. It's part of the 330ES STC I believe. After a couple flights with the new system you can ask the FAA to provide a report on the ADS-B performance of the new stuff. They'll look at their database of all your flights and tell you if things are working properly.

You might also verify the magnetometer calibration on the Aspen. Mine got knocked catty-whompuss on one upgrade. Not sure if it was the shop or the upgrade that did it.

Ya might also think about adding ADS-B in box from Aspen. More bucks but it would really round-out that setup. I'm just biding my time to add the "in" box.

Yeah, the 430W firmware update is required. I listed it in my squawk list just to be thorough.

That's pretty cool about the ADS-B info. Would FlightAware also show that?

What exactly does the magnetometer and it's calibration do? How would I know whether or not it is working?

I looked at the ADS-B in box. I was interested in the Freeflight one because it will display on the Aspen, 430W, and wifi for Foreflight. The price was right until they told me that Aspen requires a $2000 unlock fee!

The Aspen only ADS-B in box won't display on the 430W (to my knowledge) or has wifi for Foreflight. a GDL-88 is only on the 430W and Garmin Pilot (I like Foreflight!)

So, for now I stick with the Stratus and Foreflight, and leave the TIS traffic on the 430W.

As soon as someone comes out with a box that will do all 3, and it's not a ridiculous price, I'm in.

 

[rbridges]

I just installed a PMA450 a few months ago. I had to send it back b/c the intellivox kept chopping my intercom. They repaired it under warranty. I guess I had an earlier one, and it required some firmware and hardware updates. Now it works awesome. It sounds great, bluetooth is incredible, but I absolutely love the built in USB charging port.

Sounds like you have a nice panel. I'd love to have some Aspen stuff, but I'm going to wait until my steam gauges give up the ghost.

 

[Clark1961]

Yeah, the 430W firmware update is required. I listed it in my squawk list just to be thorough.

That's pretty cool about the ADS-B info. Would FlightAware also show that?

What exactly does the magnetometer and it's calibration do? How would I know whether or not it is working?

I looked at the ADS-B in box. I was interested in the Freeflight one because it will display on the Aspen, 430W, and wifi for Foreflight. The price was right until they told me that Aspen requires a $2000 unlock fee!

The Aspen only ADS-B in box won't display on the 430W (to my knowledge) or has wifi for Foreflight. a GDL-88 is only on the 430W and Garmin Pilot (I like Foreflight!)

So, for now I stick with the Stratus and Foreflight, and leave the TIS traffic on the 430W.

As soon as someone comes out with a box that will do all 3, and it's not a ridiculous price, I'm in.

The magnetometer provides heading data. Part of the initial Aspen installation is calibration of the magnetometer so the heading data is accurate.

You're right as far as I know, the Aspen ADS-B in box won't display on the 430W but it will display on the Aspen and that's what I want. Right now I've got a yoke mount for the ipad so I get the traffic info with only a glance down but I think display on the Aspen will be better for me. Old eyes like things at arms length.

 

[Ted]

Rather than doing the 330 to ES conversion for ADS-B out, I would just get a GDL88. That will provide you with ADS-B in and out and give you WX download. The ES will make you 2020 compliant, but not give you any operational benefits. The GDL88 will give you operational benefits as well as make you 2020 compliant.

 

[Unit74]

Rather than doing the 330 to ES conversion for ADS-B out, I would just get a GDL88. That will provide you with ADS-B in and out and give you WX download. The ES will make you 2020 compliant, but not give you any operational benefits. The GDL88 will give you operational benefits as well as make you 2020 compliant.

I concur... If your not running pressurized FLs, you don't need the ES. Having the UAT display on your Garmin box for about the same cash is a no brainier. Non Garmin UATs won't talk with the big G right now, so those are pointless unles you when the traffic on an Aspen PFD instead of the GPS.

 

[ahkahn]

I concur... If your not running pressurized FLs, you don't need the ES. Having the UAT display on your Garmin box for about the same cash is a no brainier. Non Garmin UATs won't talk with the big G right now, so those are pointless unles you when the traffic on an Aspen PFD instead of the GPS.

I looked into that... unfortunately not the same amount of cash. I'm being charged $1300 to upgrade the 330 to ES, and a GDL-88 is in the $4000 range, IIRC.

I decided against the GDL-88 because I use the Stratus for weather anyway. The TIS traffic from the 330 is already going into the 430W, so I won't gain a whole lot of extra traffic that I don't already display on the 430W (from what I could tell). ForeFlight's weather radar blows away what would display on the 430W.

The magnetometer provides heading data. Part of the initial Aspen installation is calibration of the magnetometer so the heading data is accurate.

You're right as far as I know, the Aspen ADS-B in box won't display on the 430W but it will display on the Aspen and that's what I want. Right now I've got a yoke mount for the ipad so I get the traffic info with only a glance down but I think display on the Aspen will be better for me. Old eyes like things at arms length.

Great info. I'll make sure I cross check the Aspen with the compass before I leave. I also use a yoke mount for the iPad... I like that anyway because I can zoom in relatively easily for my young old eyes!

I just installed a PMA450 a few months ago. I had to send it back b/c the intellivox kept chopping my intercom. They repaired it under warranty. I guess I had an earlier one, and it required some firmware and hardware updates. Now it works awesome. It sounds great, bluetooth is incredible, but I absolutely love the built in USB charging port.

Sounds like you have a nice panel. I'd love to have some Aspen stuff, but I'm going to wait until my steam gauges give up the ghost.

Glad you like the PMA450 despite the warranty claim. I'll keep an eye out for that. I really like the panel... can't take any credit for it... The prior owner did everything.

Here's a shot of my panel... not the best shot, but shows the entire panel:

 

[rbridges]

Glad you like the PMA450 despite the warranty claim. I'll keep an eye out for that. I really like the panel... can't take any credit for it... The prior owner did everything.

Here's a shot of my panel... not the best shot, but shows the entire panel:

You'll know right away with the audio panel. It would literally cut me off when talking to passengers after 2 seconds. They asked for my serial # and knew right away that it had old firmware. My only gripe is that they should have told the vendors while it was still in inventory. Otherwise, nothing but good things to say about it.