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GNS480
Looking to upgrade my panel does anyone have a GNS480 installed any good/bad comments would be appreciated.
Thanks
- Robert Miller
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Thu Sep 01, 2011 4:24 am
- Location: Alberta
Re: GNS480
The best thumbnail description of the 480 in comparison to the 430/530 units is that the 480 is for IFR pilots who occasionally fly VFR and the 430/530 units are for VFR pilots who occasional fly IFR. The two units think a bit differently and the 480 has airways in the database, and the 430/530 does not. To program the 480 for a trip, you have to tell it the destination first, and then fill in how you want to get there. The 430/530 you enter sequential points, one after the other. That is a lot of work on a long flight unless you are going direct or nearly so.
Kristin Winter- ICS member
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- Location: Northern California
Re: GNS480
IMHO It really comes down to your attitude and approach to flying. If you want to hit D> you don't want to go with the 480... you will not be happy with it. If you are a bit more of a geek (I'll throw myself on that pile as I have one)... and want an experience that is more like a FMS... the 480 does that. JVB pulled his dual 480s and installed a 750 and a 650 to replace. That is probably "the high end solution". I really like the 480 as it flys the airways... no intermediate way points have to be entered.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gns480-users/
It took me a few hours to get up to speed on the 480... I had to think... (YUCK!). But I love it.
Jim
Kristin beat me with her reply and it asked me to review my comments... still submitting as written
- MULEFLY
- ICS member
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- Joined: Tue Jan 25, 2000 1:34 am
- Location: Wisconsin
Re: GNS480
I installed my 480 a year ago and absolutely love it. My only regret is not installing two of them. My background is military and airline; the 480 works very much like an airliners FMS so it was a very easy transition.
There is a great free simulator available for the PC where you are able to use your current Jepp database to practice whatever where ever. I have found it very useful to be able to see how the arrivals and departures load up and sequence from the comfort of my office desk before going out and flying it for real.
Bang for the buck; I don't think the 480 can be beaten.
James.
James Turner- Posts: 102
- Joined: Wed Nov 30, 2011 5:20 am
Re: GNS480
Jim
- MULEFLY
- ICS member
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- Location: Wisconsin
Re: GNS480
With a little selective shopping the cost for both was less than a 430W.
I also second all of the above comments.
Jim Hiatt
JIMICS2452- ICS member
- Posts: 254
- Joined: Sat Mar 09, 2002 9:26 pm
- Location: Pine Shadows Airpark - North Fort Myers, FL
Re: GNS480
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhIwBUKL_-E
Regards
- Robert Miller
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Thu Sep 01, 2011 4:24 am
- Location: Alberta
Re: GNS480
I'd suggests downloading the manuals and PC simulator for it from the Garmin website to get a better hands-on idea. The "knob-ology" is very different from the 430/530 though so don't get frustrated and give it some time if the 430 is what you are used to.
One final comment.... recently I heard someone talk about waning support for the 480. I asked Garmin about this and they said they have government contracts that require continued 480 support for at least another 8 years. Just FYI.
Good luck,
- Charles
Charles Schefer- Posts: 563
- Joined: Mon Mar 12, 2012 7:09 pm
Re: GNS480
Thanks for the all the positive comments I have purchased a unit and currently it is going into Garmin for a Software update and a bench test to 8130 standards. I go down to Houston on business in a couple of weeks and hope to bring it home with me. I will certainly down load the manuals and simulator and start working with the unit.
Regards
- Robert Miller
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Thu Sep 01, 2011 4:24 am
- Location: Alberta
Re: GNS480
A very knowledgeable source on these boxes told me that when Garmin announced that they would not be making any more that the gov't... ordered 200 more ... so a bit of a support statement.
It will tryst your mind..
but all the best in getting up to speed.... when you are in the "shit"... this is the box to have as your co-pilot.
All the best!
Jim
- MULEFLY
- ICS member
- Posts: 900
- Joined: Tue Jan 25, 2000 1:34 am
- Location: Wisconsin
Re: GNS480
Been working with the simulator manuals etc and looking for more advice.
The 430W /530W provide a glidepath style indication on RNAV a (GNSS) approaches called LNAV+V, the +V gives you a 3 deg Glidepath angle not necessarily guaranteed of obstacle clearance.
Will the 480 provide lat and vertical similar to the 430/530 on RNAV (GNSS) Approaches and does it provide obstacle information?
I cannot seem to find this info out in the material I'm looking at.
Also what nav head would you suggest to install for loc/gl support?
Thanks
Bill
- Robert Miller
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Thu Sep 01, 2011 4:24 am
- Location: Alberta
Re: GNS480
Gary
- md11flyer
- ICS member
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Re: GNS480
Clearly, Garmin is trying to move everyone to their new touch screen GTN series. They are building some bridges to the old GNS430W and GNS530W, such as crossfill.
The GDL88, which is Garmin's nicely thought out ADS B in and out solution will interface to the GTN series, the 430W and 530W, but not the 480, and there don't appear to be any plans to provide connection to the 480.
A lot of the products from the Garmin AT division, such as the SL30 and SL40, MX200, etc have very nice features, but Garmin has been slowly moving away from them.
Just some additional food for thought.
Ron Keil
- Ron B Keil
- ICS Secretary
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Re: GNS480
The 480 is (IMHO) a great product. Yesterday I flew from DC to Boston and back and my routing was changed no less than 6 times (complete new full route via airways). Having the airways in the 480 like a "mini-FMS" was awesome. Didn't have knob it all in. Also I can tell you that the folks at Garmin told me the 480 platform was what they used as the base for the new GTN series. Others may say otherwise and in truth I don't know for sure but that is what the techs I spoke to at Garmin told me during one call.
I think the 430 / 530 and 480 are all great tools...
- Charles
Charles Schefer- Posts: 563
- Joined: Mon Mar 12, 2012 7:09 pm
Re: GNS480
Kristin... do you recall the posting?... you lurk there more than I do.
All the best!
Jim
- MULEFLY
- ICS member
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- Joined: Tue Jan 25, 2000 1:34 am
- Location: Wisconsin
Re: GNS480
I understand from reading those posts that there would be an update, but what the scope of that update is, I didn't really understand. Much of their discussion is over my head.
Kristin Winter- ICS member
- Posts: 1299
- Joined: Tue Aug 09, 2005 5:21 pm
- Location: Northern California
Re: GNS480
I got the GNS-480 installed and very impressed with it.
I have a question in regards to fuel flow data, we were able to allow the 480 to talk to the JPI 700 and provided the necessary data to give me fuel required, remaining etc on the JPI but I do not get any data on the 480.
Does any one know if I can feed data from the same flow meter into the 480 as we do the JPI?
Thanks
- Robert Miller
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Thu Sep 01, 2011 4:24 am
- Location: Alberta
Re: GNS480
JIMICS2452- ICS member
- Posts: 254
- Joined: Sat Mar 09, 2002 9:26 pm
- Location: Pine Shadows Airpark - North Fort Myers, FL
Re: GNS480
The JPI and the 480 will talk to each other just fine. At least mine do. You probably don't have all the wires hooked up properly. I think there is an Rx, Tx, and ground wire that all have to be hooked up on that particular port. You will have to check out both of the installation manuals to get the specifics. There are also some set up adjustments (configuration) in the JPI that have to be set properly. On my 2nd map page on the 480 (there are four pages) I have all the fuel information displayed. It only takes one click of the round knob to get there on my 480. Each of the pages has user selectable data that can be displayed.
As we have all discussed previously on this thread, the 480 is a very capable unit, but the learning curve for the pilot is steep. It's also possible that the fuel flow information is already being sent to the 480 and you just aren't pushing the right buttons to bring it up. I can't tell from here which is the culprit. My recommendation would be to first find an instructor who can lead you through some of the 480 basics and at the same time use his wisdom in your particular plane to see if fuel flow really isn't being received by the 480. If that is the case, then the second step would be to a go to the person or shop that did the install and have them double check that wiring or the configuration until they can show you that the info is on the 480 as well as on the JPI.
I highly recommend that you seek out a 480 instructor that is very familiar and can check that for you. My strong hunch is that is where you will find the problem, but can't be certain from this distance. Reading the owners manual in depth would be helpful for you also.
Sincerely,
Skip Dykema
Comanche 180, Commercial-Instrument, SEL, MEL, A&P
- skipsouthernsky
- Past President
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- Joined: Sun May 11, 2003 7:40 pm
- Location: Davie, Florida (Ft. Lauderdale)
Re: GNS480
All the best!
Jim
- MULEFLY
- ICS member
- Posts: 900
- Joined: Tue Jan 25, 2000 1:34 am
- Location: Wisconsin
Re: GNS480
Skip is correct it is a steep learning curve to learn how to operate the 480 but it is sure worth it so far.
- Robert Miller
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Thu Sep 01, 2011 4:24 am
- Location: Alberta
Re: GNS480
If you go to the Garmin website and search for the 480 you will find there is a PC based simulator for it. I've used all the Garmin simulators for different aircraft I fly and while the 480 sim is not as well developed as say the 430/530 sim in that it does not have the HSI and altitude selector it is a very good sim and runs the actual 480 code. it's a great way to learn in the comfort of an armchair vs in the air.
- Charles
Charles Schefer- Posts: 563
- Joined: Mon Mar 12, 2012 7:09 pm
Re: GNS480
Jim
- MULEFLY
- ICS member
- Posts: 900
- Joined: Tue Jan 25, 2000 1:34 am
- Location: Wisconsin
Re: GNS480
- Charles
Charles Schefer- Posts: 563
- Joined: Mon Mar 12, 2012 7:09 pm
Re: GNS480
Best Regards
- Robert Miller
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Thu Sep 01, 2011 4:24 am
- Location: Alberta