UAvionix AV-30-C in Cherokee

MickYoumans

MickYoumans

Cleared for Takeoff
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Jan 26, 2012
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1,334
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2J5 / KBXG - Georgia
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MickYoumans
In December, I had two uAvionix AV-30-C’s installed in my Piper Cherokee. In the process we pulled out the vacuum pump along with the old AI and DG instruments. I’d have to go back and check my new weight and balance, which is in the airplane, but I think I saved just shy of 15 lbs. I flew my plane home on Dec 23rd and made my second flight with the new instruments this afternoon, 1/4/2022. So far I absolutely love having the AI/EFIS in my panel. The jury is still out on the AV-30 configured for DG. I am seeing what I consider excessive drift on the DG. There is a new firmware/software update for the AV-30’s that is supposed to improve the DG function. I have obtained the USB to RS232 adapter and DSUB connectors that I need to make a patch cable for updating my AV-30’s. Hopefully I’ll have time to wire up the patch cable and do the updates in the near future. The AI is very impressive with all of the features that it contains. It is a lot of bang for the buck. It was easy to install, setup and calibrate. I have been very happy with its performance. I’ll post a few pictures for you to check out. I’ll be glad to answer any questions you might have about them. Two of the pictures were taken during installation before I had configured the data fields on the AI the way I wanted them. These instruments have three screens that you can configure differently for takeoff, cruise and landing as desired. I added the OAT probe option for TAS and Density Altitude but did not opt to hook up GPS to the instrument(s).
0E1137E3-A399-4525-9C9C-D15DB5B362EF.jpeg 3BA4CC04-EB51-4C38-A179-5052A7D723A7.jpeg 2CE40525-272C-47C3-AA5A-6485CD4A3FD8.jpeg 87E6DDF6-683C-4AD2-B6F8-3AC4D3E4D472.jpeg 04DC16B2-0974-4AD3-9880-00393CD2FDC1.jpeg C7EF26B2-7150-4CBA-8735-A19A0380615E.jpeg
 
Very nice panel, love the 650 and looks like a nice engine monitor too. Also check out the AV20.
 
MickYoumans said:
In December, I had two uAvionix AV-30-C’s installed in my Piper Cherokee. In the process we pulled out the vacuum pump along with the old AI and DG instruments. I’d have to go back and check my new weight and balance, which is in the airplane, but I think I saved just shy of 15 lbs. I flew my plane home on Dec 23rd and made my second flight with the new instruments this afternoon, 1/4/2022. So far I absolutely love having the AI/EFIS in my panel. The jury is still out on the AV-30 configured for DG. I am seeing what I consider excessive drift on the DG. There is a new firmware/software update for the AV-30’s that is supposed to improve the DG function. I have obtained the USB to RS232 adapter and DSUB connectors that I need to make a patch cable for updating my AV-30’s. Hopefully I’ll have time to wire up the patch cable and do the updates in the near future. The AI is very impressive with all of the features that it contains. It is a lot of bang for the buck. It was easy to install, setup and calibrate. I have been very happy with its performance. I’ll post a few pictures for you to check out. I’ll be glad to answer any questions you might have about them. Two of the pictures were taken during installation before I had configured the data fields on the AI the way I wanted them. These instruments have three screens that you can configure differently for takeoff, cruise and landing as desired. I added the OAT probe option for TAS and Density Altitude but did not opt to hook up GPS to the instrument(s).
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Great layout....

I would absolutely recommending the update to the latest firmware that was just approved by FAA.

Soon we'll release AVLink to be paired with AV-30-C which will make future updates wireless and allows you to connect to Sentry or another ADS-B IN source as well as future connectivity to your EFB. It is already available for the AV-30-E

Happy flying

Cyriel (uAvionix)
 
Cyriel Kronenburg said:
Great layout....

I would absolutely recommending the update to the latest firmware that was just approved by FAA.

Soon we'll release AVLink to be paired with AV-30-C which will make future updates wireless and allows you to connect to Sentry or another ADS-B IN source as well as future connectivity to your EFB. It is already available for the AV-30-E

Happy flying

Cyriel (uAvionix)
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Cyriel,

Where are you on the autopilot interface module?
 
Nice panel! I'll need to update too no doubt because our recently installed AV-30-Cs drift too much on the heading as well.
 
Anyone get the update done? Does it resolve the drift issue? I've got one installed as an AI, and would really like to install a second in place of the DG, and remove the vacuum system. (PA28-140)
 
The lack of a magnetometer on the DG is a huge miss (and I was told by one of their engineers while at Oshkosh that they don't plan to add one). And the lack of any meaningful (at least publicly disclosed) progress on any sort of autopilot integration is concerning.
 
bradg33 said:
The lack of a magnetometer on the DG is a huge miss (and I was told by one of their engineers while at Oshkosh that they don't plan to add one). And the lack of any meaningful (at least publicly disclosed) progress on any sort of autopilot integration is concerning.
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It has a magnetometer now
 
ktup-flyer said:
It has a magnetometer now
Click to expand...

It has an internal magnetometer that, from what I've read, really is just to help with drift correction. A real "slaved" magnetometer needs to be away from the panel to be accurage. It's still unslaved, it's just supposed to be less drift-y.
 
MickYoumans said:
In December, I had two uAvionix AV-30-C’s installed in my Piper Cherokee. In the process we pulled out the vacuum pump along with the old AI and DG instruments. I’d have to go back and check my new weight and balance, which is in the airplane, but I think I saved just shy of 15 lbs. I flew my plane home on Dec 23rd and made my second flight with the new instruments this afternoon, 1/4/2022. So far I absolutely love having the AI/EFIS in my panel. The jury is still out on the AV-30 configured for DG. I am seeing what I consider excessive drift on the DG. There is a new firmware/software update for the AV-30’s that is supposed to improve the DG function. I have obtained the USB to RS232 adapter and DSUB connectors that I need to make a patch cable for updating my AV-30’s. Hopefully I’ll have time to wire up the patch cable and do the updates in the near future. The AI is very impressive with all of the features that it contains. It is a lot of bang for the buck. It was easy to install, setup and calibrate. I have been very happy with its performance. I’ll post a few pictures for you to check out. I’ll be glad to answer any questions you might have about them. Two of the pictures were taken during installation before I had configured the data fields on the AI the way I wanted them. These instruments have three screens that you can configure differently for takeoff, cruise and landing as desired. I added the OAT probe option for TAS and Density Altitude but did not opt to hook up GPS to the instrument(s).
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Let us know if the update helps.
 
RussellJ said:
Let us know if the update helps.
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I'm not the OP but I updated the firmware and I still consider the drift on the DG to be excessive. The OAT probe also seems to provide a nonlinear measurement so I'd take the TAS indications with a grain of salt.
 
mondtster said:
I'm not the OP but I updated the firmware and I still consider the drift on the DG to be excessive. The OAT probe also seems to provide a nonlinear measurement so I'd take the TAS indications with a grain of salt.
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Do you have the -001 hardware? Or is it the -002 hardware?
 
asicer said:
Do you have the -001 hardware? Or is it the -002 hardware?
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I have to double check tomorrow. I don't remember off the top of my head and they were bought during a time period that I wouldn't be surprised if they were either.
 
RussellJ said:
Let us know if the update helps.
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I pulled the instruments yesterday to update. Unfortunately I had dental surgery today. I’m a bit out of it between the anesthesia and pain meds. As soon as I’m feeling better, I will install the updates and reinstall the instruments. I have already downloaded the service bulletin, loader software and the firmware for the update. I just need to wire up my USB to RS232 adapter to a 15 pin D-SUB to communicate between my laptop and the instruments. I have the -002 version of the instruments. I will make another post here with the results. Shooting for next Monday for test flight. Standby.
 
Thanks for updates. I have been flying is a same configuration in a 172 with similar results AI works very well. DG tends to drift excessively. Which doesn't help the problem of the compass changing heading 30 degrees when the engine RPM exceeds 2100RPM. So the DG setting procedure is reduce RPM to 2100 RPM let compass stabilize, Set DG and return back to cruise RPM.
A good report of the firmware helping might push the owner (or me) to get the firmware update done sooner.

Brian
CFIIG/ASEL
 
I’m hearing good things over on the piperowner forums regarding the precession issue being fixed:

“With about 3 hours time on them since reinstalled, the heading displayed on the AI and the course on the DG stay right in alignment; so far no precession whatsoever. I am V-E-R-Y happy!”

But I’m also seeing contrary reports on other forums.

I’m scheduling the one I have to go in to install the magnetometer and firmware update, so I’ll report back here when I get it back.
 
Anyone know how to tell when ordering if it is the -002 HW? Other than calling and verifying? It seems opaque from websites, see a -01 on sites I've checked. Not sure whether the 3 digit dash number has any correlation to the 2 digit dash number.
 
focal_plane said:
Anyone know how to tell when ordering if it is the -002 HW? Other than calling and verifying? It seems opaque from websites, see a -01 on sites I've checked. Not sure whether the 3 digit dash number has any correlation to the 2 digit dash number.
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All since Oshkosh are -002s
 
Bathman said:
65 hours on verson 02 with the latest firmware and from a precession point of view they perform the same or better than a traditional DI.
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Indeed, that is good to hear. Any other reports would be welcome. Annual in a few months. Options under review.
 
Darryl Snover said:
Anyone get the update done? Does it resolve the drift issue? I've got one installed as an AI, and would really like to install a second in place of the DG, and remove the vacuum system. (PA28-140)
Click to expand...
I was able to perform the software updates in my two AV30’s today. I’m now running software version 2.1.2. I made a patch cable that went from my USB to RS232 adapter to a 15 pin DSUB. The software update was easy to perform and no issues encountered. After reinstallation I performed the new gyro calibration in the new software then made a test flight. I am so happy to say there was a very noticeable improvement in the performance of the DG. Prior to this update I was seeing a lot of drift in both the DG and the heading tape in the AI. They were both drifting in opposite directions which was really annoying. With the software update and gyro cal I am now seeing stable directional information from both of my instruments. I can set the headings in both instruments and they stay pretty much in sync with each other and with minimal drift. What I’m seeing now is what I was expecting from these instruments. The performance now is comparable with a standard DG. The great thing is I was able to pull out the old, less reliable, vacuum system and save a little weight in the process.
 
MickYoumans said:
I was able to perform the software updates in my two AV30’s today. I’m now running software version 2.1.2. I made a patch cable that went from my USB to RS232 adapter to a 15 pin DSUB. The software update was easy to perform and no issues encountered. After reinstallation I performed the new gyro calibration in the new software then made a test flight. I am so happy to say there was a very noticeable improvement in the performance of the DG. Prior to this update I was seeing a lot of drift in both the DG and the heading tape in the AI. They were both drifting in opposite directions which was really annoying. With the software update and gyro cal I am now seeing stable directional information from both of my instruments. I can set the headings in both instruments and they stay pretty much in sync with each other and with minimal drift. What I’m seeing now is what I was expecting from these instruments. The performance now is comparable with a standard DG. The great thing is I was able to pull out the old, less reliable, vacuum system and save a little weight in the process.
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Sounds good. Thanks for the update
 
That’s a very nice set up you have. I was really considering this product for a while before I went with the Skyview.
 
NotarPilot said:
That’s a very nice set up you have. I was really considering this product for a while before I went with the Skyview.
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Thank you! Initially I was not happy at all with the DG performance but since I updated to 2.1.2 the DG function is so much better. I just got home from flying down to KSSI St Simons Island to meet up with other pilot friends for lunch. The AV-30’s were a pleasure to use. All of the extra features in the AI are so nice to have compared to my old vacuum AI.
 
My experience on the 2 AV30s I just installed in my aircraft. Latest firmware and magnetic sensor installed. First flight rendered a DG drift of 40 degrees in 40 minutes of flying. The precession was about the same for both AV30s but in opposite directions. After some research I found that there is a "magnetic calibration" that can be performed. This is not in the install manual. I found it in a SB about the firmware update. After the calibration I continued to fly for about 30 minutes. When I landed the drift was 7 degrees. About a week later I made another flight. The precession was back to 35 degrees in 40 minutes of flying. I was assured by the sales assoc. at Uavionics that this problem was fixed with the firmware update. I failed to take in to account that I was speaking to a salesman. A friend of mine was waiting to see how they performed before buying 2 for his plane. Needless to say he decided not to install them. They look great though!
 
Flew our club plane (AA 5) with the pair of AV-30s, with older firmware. On a previous flight in December, I adjusted the heading about 3 or 4 times in 2 hours. Flew it yesterday and only need adjustment once in 2.5 hours. I don't like the inconsistency. Your experience with the updated firmware is a bummer because I'm hoping it helps ours.
 
How can an instrument be certified and perform so poorly? If I bought a cheap consumer product on ebay, I would be surprised with such a bad performance. I thought certification guaranteed top-notch performance.
 
Sunday, I took the plane up for almost 3 hours. We did slow flight, all of the stalls, steep turns, chandelles, 10 take offs and landings. Only had to adjust it by less than 10 degrees once.

The last time I flew cross country I had to adjust multiple times on each two hour leg and ended up using the mag compass for vectors. That was right after the install. Could be human error because I was unfamiliar and playing with all of the settings and layouts in flight. But the heading is a straight forward thing.
I hope the firmware update holds consistently solid heading. Still like the unit.
 
Gleaned from the other thread in case you missed it (baby steps IMHO):

https://uavionix.com/uavionix-annou...netometer-support-for-av-30-e-panel-displays/

uAvionix announces digital autopilot and external magnetometer support for AV-30-E panel displays
03/21/22|Press Release
Bigfork, Montana – March 21, 2022 – uAvionix is pleased to announce the AV-30-E multimode indicator now includes digital autopilot and external magnetometer interface capabilities.

With the ability to control autopilot heading, altitude, and vertical speed from its intuitive user interface, the AV-30-E provides a highly integrated and capable replacement for traditional attitude indicators and directional gyro instruments. Simplified installation is accomplished by supporting modern, digital autopilots. No expensive interface adapters are required. A no-cost software upgrade for the non-certified AV-30-E is available now, featuring support for the following autopilots:

TruTrak.jpg


  • TruTrak Vizion 385 and Vizion PMA
  • BendixKing xCruze 100 and AeroCruze 100
Additional digital autopilots, including the Trio Pro Pilot, are undergoing integration testing. Certification of the autopilot interface capabilities, for the AV-30-C, is underway. Development of interface adapters for analog autopilots continues, building on the core autopilot interface support now introduced.

In addition to autopilot interface capabilities, the AV-30 series will soon gain support for an external magnetometer, the uAvionix AV-Mag. Designed with a best-in-class magnetic sensor, the AV-Mag allows for increased performance and decreased workload through zero-drift magnetically slaved DG operation. More AV-Mag information will be made available shortly. Certified units, and corresponding software updates, will follow.
 
I wonder how many firmware updates have been announce to "improve performance in DG mode" there has been. I know of 3 myself. I really want to like these units. The precession is the only thing that keeps me from shouting it from the rooftops. Maybe the 2.1.4 update will make a difference. Probably still a while before the remote magnetometer becomes available for the C units.
 
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