Uavionix adsb transponder

[bogmonster]

Has anyone tried uavionix new adsb solution?

http://www.uavionix.com/products/echo-uat/

I ordered one and just received it today. Barring any setbacks, I'm hoping to have it installed this weekend.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10155210931968516&set=a.10155210931768516.1073741826.663028515&type=3&size=2048%2C1536

[airlina]

Mike, I have been waiting for a reasonably priced solution to the 2020 ADSB mandate and looks like you may have found it. can you keep us posted on your install and inflight testing on this unit . I will be next if it works as advertised. thanks for the link. Bruce N199CL

[Russell320]

Mike,

How's that install going....I'm very interested.

Russ

[bogmonster]

I got a little delayed, but hope to finish this weekend. I was able to bench test and configure it. The gps and flight data to flyq seemed to work good.

MJH

[bogmonster]

I finally got out and got it installed this morning. I flew within the mode c veil for around an hour and then got the performance report. All green gum balls.

I attached the report if anyone is interested

MJH

[bogmonster]

Forgot to mention, the gps, traffic and weather all worked great with FlyQ (best aviation app out there IMHO). First really nice day of the year and everyone and their brother were out flying.

[airlina]

Hi Mike ,thanks for the update, from what I can see from your photo, you bought the $1400 version using the Uavionics supplied GPS. Also can you tell us how the install was. If you did it in a weekend , I suspect its pretty straightforward . From what I read on the Uavionics website , I can keep my existing microair transponder as well. This may be the exact system I have been waiting for and is the reason I didn't want to rush into the ADSB equipage as i figured prices would fall as new manufacturers entered the market. As far as I can tell , this unit will not satisfy the FAA $500 rebate program, can you confirm this. Thanks again for the heads up. Bruce N199CL

[bogmonster]

Yes, I did the $1400 version since I didn't have an existing gps source. The gps antenna I received didn't look like the one they show. Not sure when that one will be released.

It was a simple install. I'll take a picture the next time I go to the airport. I mounted it on centerline between the seats. 3 ft from com and transponder antenna and 10 in from human body. It worked as advertised with my narco transponder.

The $500 rebate is only for tso'd solutions.

[airlina]

Thanks Mike

[bogmonster]

See attached photos

[Dave S]

Mike,

Really appreciate your contribution.......Question. If I understand correctly, there are two antennas used with this set up ...including a separate one for the GPS - couldn't quite figure out where you mounted the GPS antenna; but, it looks like it has a fairly long cable and could go quite a few places. Do you just use the original transponder antenna or is there a separate one for the reply?

[bogmonster]

Only one antenna plus gps. The reply antenna is located between the two boxes. If you look closely you can see the right angle BNC connector. I cheated and used a 3' rg58u coax cable assuming the vswr is close enough since I don't have a power meter. Must have turned out pretty good since I pick up traffic and towers as soon as I get above the trees.

I used a 6 x 8 25 mil alum for ground plane attached to two 3/4" by 6" aluminum angle to mount the boxes to and attach to the airframe. The angles were pop riveted together to form a z. I would have liked to have spaced them a little further apart but I only had 1' of angle.

I mounted the gps antenna just under the front edge of the glare shield. Had to use zip ties since this gps antenna doesn't have mounting holes.

MJH

[jrevens]

Today I ordered the same units that you did Mike. I had been looking at these since they were first announced. I believe it's going to be a good one. Thanks for posting your experience!

[Dave S]

With Mike's experience, (and some other information) I am coming to the conclusion that the smart money on the ADS-B issues goes with waiting a bit from when the FAA was first pushing it a while back. I don't even see any benefit to their rebate deal....unless a person is rich enough to spend more than they save.

Levil Aviation is supposed to be coming out with a small, completely contained device that provides compliance with ADS-B out requirements for $1K. ($1K seems to be the new cost standard). This thing is supposed to be complete including a WAAS GPS; and, triggers/retransmitts off the existing Transponder antenna for squawk code.

http://aviation.levil.com/products.html check the product called "Beacon"

Skuttlebut among our local avionics experimenters seems to favor belief that things will get better quick.....one of the allied technologies which might play into a small cheap unit for aircraft is the possibility of having ADS-B on drones....where things really have to be light and small. There is no technical reason this stuff can't be smaller and less expensive.

The evidence of rapid development of compact easier to install and use electronics is everywhere.....I most notably recall the first aviation GPS units back in the 90's which were so extremely user abusive, hopelessly expensive and a handful to install that they really made the old paper charts seem like the best thing since sliced bread.

I plan to get up to see Mike's installation when I can; and, I am beginning to think there should be a lot of good discussion on the subject following OSH. John, be sure to speak up with your experiences too.:)

[jrevens]

I think you're right, Dave. I'm a poster boy for why you should think long and hard before becoming an early adopter of new technology. Although being one has usually worked out well for me throughout my life, I feel that I really got "bit" by this ADS-B thing. I decided I wanted to have my fox complete and ready for 2020, with a clean behind the panel installation of ADS-B, when I thought I was getting close to completeing the project a couple of years ago (hah!). So... I bought the experimental version of the Navworx unit. It was the least expensive UAT, with the most features of any that I was aware of. Then the FAA pulled their prior approval of it probably about a year ago, and the legality of it has been in limbo ever since. It's honestly reminiscent of the Bob Hoover incident in the early 90's, but Navworx has handled the situation very poorly IMHO. I've finally had enough, and decided to install the uAvionix units after many phone calls and research. I want to button up my panel & avionics systems and be done for (hopefully) many years. I've pulled the Navworx unit & I'll keep it for my other plane, if they ever get their act completely together.

Since you mentioned drones, that is what uAvionix has been deeply involved with before stepping into the general aviation market. Everything for the UAVs is designed to be as small, light and powerful as possible. I don't think that we will see anything much more compact, with all of the built-in features of their units for appreciably less money, but my track record for those kinds of predictions is blemished. These "miniature" units are a full 20 watt transceiver, with built-in wi-fi, auto coupling with a legacy mode C transponder if you wish, etc., etc. They are really amazing in my opinion.

[jrevens]

...

The evidence of rapid development of compact easier to install and use electronics is everywhere.....I most notably recall the first aviation GPS units back in the 90's which were so extremely user abusive, hopelessly expensive and a handful to install that they really made the old paper charts seem like the best thing since sliced bread...



That's so true, Dave, but my experience with GPS was different. In the very early '90s I bought one of the very first Garmin GPS units designed for aviation use - the GPS-100. It's panel mounted with built-in battery back-up. At the time I had several good friends who adamantly urged me to invest in a Loran unit instead. I can't tell you how many times I heard... "The government will shut the GPS system down whenever they want to! Go with what's tried and proven." I had the first unit in this area as far as I know. A few years later, I was feeling pretty smart, as the GPS market was exploding. IMO, it was/is extremely intuitive and easy to use, and required nothing more than power and an antenna. What an amazing device it was to me. I got rid of my Edo-Air nav-com shortly afterwards, going to a King KY-97 comm radio. Believe it or not, that Garmin unit is still in my panel as a back-up to my GPS 196, and it still works perfectly, 26 years later!

[SkySteve]

Since you mentioned drones, that is what uAvionix has been deeply involved with before stepping into the general aviation market. Everything for the UAVs is designed to be as small, light and powerful as possible. I don't think that we will see anything much more compact, with all of the built-in features of their units for appreciably less money, but my track record for those kinds of predictions is blemished. These "miniature" units are a full 20 watt transceiver, with built-in wi-fi, auto coupling with a legacy mode C transponder if you wish, etc., etc. They are really amazing in my opinion.

Having been in the UAS (Unmanned Arial Systems = drone) business in the past, I agree there are high quality, very small and very powerful "miniature" units for drones that work great. So ... my question: Is there a reason we cannot use these drone units in our Kitfox's?

[jiott]

FYI, Dynon has chosen UAvionix (slightly modified to carry the Dynon logo) as their ADS-B IN reciever. I think this speaks well for UAvionix. I just purchased this unit but have not installed it yet.

[jrevens]

Having been in the UAS (Unmanned Arial Systems = drone) business in the past, I agree there are high quality, very small and very powerful "miniature" units for drones that work great. So ... my question: Is there a reason we cannot use these drone units in our Kitfox's?

I'm not sure I'm clear on what you're asking, Steve, but I guess that is basically what uAvionix is doing, utilizing the expertise and knowledge that they have acquired and developed in the UAS business to develop, or possibly refine and re-package new products specifically for general aviation (ECHO, SKYFYX, etc.).