Planning for ADSB

[Jerry Folkerts]

I made the decision to use the NAVWORX 600 Exp ADSB system in my Super Rebel. Once I made the decision, I was able to go ahead and run the power and ground wires, antennas and antenna wires, and their unique method of grabbing the encoder/transponder data. I went ahead and purchased the Transmonspe, the attachment to the transponder cable that grabs the signals, and placed it on my transponder cable under the floor. I ran the USB cord to the tray I made to hold the box. I'm using a B&C Ted transponder antenna for the UAT antenna, and a Garmin GA-56 non-WAAS antenna for the GPS antenna. I will defer purchasing the actual 600-Exp until a later date. Hopefully, they will have a special at Oshkosh in the next couple of years. So, Group B installed awaiting Group A. The picture below is where I'll mount the box, with nutplates already installed under the tray.

[DocBaker]

Jerry, I also installed the ADS600-EXP, but I installed the STX-165 transponder/encoder unit as well. The ADS600 gets the data directly from the STX-165 via RS232. I'm using a Garmin GDL 39 3D with Garmin Pilot and have an iPad Air II mounted in the center of the panel and an iPad mini mounted on the left wing. Both will receive ADS-B data and AHRS from the GDL 39. I also have FlyQ EFB on both iPads and the ADS600 will send ADS-B data to it via WiFi. One reason I chose Garmin Pilot is because it uses Jeppesen Canadian VNCs.

One thing I would suggest is for you to get the new ADS-B antenna instead of the transponder antenna. The transponder antenna is tuned for 1090 and the UAT antenna is tuned for 978. I think the transponder antenna would work, but the UAT 978 would be better. Here is the link: https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/ ... -13561.php

Lindall

[Jerry Folkerts]

Lindall,
Good catch. I'll order one today.
Best,
Jerry

[schaumr]

Guys,
Before you spend money on new antennas, do a search at the Van's airforce site on this topic....even the guy who sells the Delta-Pop UAT 978 blade antenna (and Dynon staff too) have done tests that show that a simple TED antenna is more than adequate to pick up the 978 and 1090 signals used in ADS-B, since any loss in reception due to mis-matching of the antenna is compensated for by the sheer proximity of all those ADS-B towers.

Also, I assume everyone knows about the Stratux open-source project.
http://stratux.me/

No need to spend hundreds on these receivers.

Cheers,
Rob

[DocBaker]

Thanks for your input Rob. The UAT 978 antenna is only $16 compared to $27 for the 1090MHz. It's not the degradation of reception that is the issue. The ADS600-EXP is a transmitter and the antenna transmits better with the correct tuning and standing wave. It's not a big issue in most cases. Like I said, the 1090 will work just fine for reception and probably transmission in most cases. But there are those of us who live in the ADS-B fringe areas where there is not complete coverage of the ADS-B network of towers, particularly in the NW and even here in southern MO. Every little bit helps and the cost isn't that great to change antennas.

Lindall

[ericfo]

I only recently learned about the "free" ADSB-In solution. I've been running the open source Stratux in our plane for about a week.

All up I'm into it for about $75. Main board is about $35 and the two programmable USB receivers (one for 978Mhz and one for 1090MHz) are about $20 each including the usable antenna. I 3D printed my case from an open source design. I have not added the $40 GPS/AHRS chip yet since the tablet GPS is fine. It is all simple to assemble and no programming required, no soldering. Plug and play.

We get METARs, TAFs, Nexrad radar, winds aloft, NOTAMs, plus the current half baked traffic alerts since few US aircraft have ADSB-Out (only a third of US carriers).

I works well enough that I canceled my XM Wx that I have paid $35 per month for over a decade!!!

Because I hate subscriptions, I am using the free aviation app AvAre (http://apps4av.com/avare-overview) on my old busted Android tablet. So, no more buying paper charts (old expired chart in plane as emergency backup). It is not a very good app, but it is free and works okay...and it is free. Free.

My wife has an iPad Mini (I hate overpriced Apple) and using the very professional ForeFlight aviation app which only works with Apple (bastards). Both tablets connect simultaneously to the Stratux via WiFi, not bluetooth, and get all the same weather and traffic information. Now my wife and I fly around heads down messing with the tablets, cutting off traffic in the pattern, landing on taxi ways and crashing into mountains. Nobody is looking out the front of the plane.

Will probably go with the permanant external antennas, but have had no problem with free ones that come with the usb receivers. Right now I just toss the Stratux on the dash and plug its usb power into the cigarette lighter. I will permantly mount under the panel and hardwire soon.

Currently we rarely fly anywhere that requires a transponder. So, waiting for a $100 ADSB-Out open source solution by 2020.

Eric Fogelin
N645E Elite Amphib
N112R Rebel

P.S. Pictures show our Stratux with its top lid off.

[schaumr]

FWIW....I'm installing a TRIG TT31 transponder as my ADS-B 'out' solution (1090 ES) and the install manual suggests any transponder antenna will work (TSO C166b compliant install with a Garmin GPS-400W). I'm in the Northeast though, so there are more ADS-B towers around here than quills on a porcupine.

Regarding the Stratux, the output is standard GDL-90 protocol so I'm hoping it will communicate with my GRT EFIS Sport via USB. I am installing a separate TED antenna and cable to receive the 978 signal for that unit.

Cheers,
Rob

[Ken]

My stratux seems to work fine with the flightplango app on an ipad. Flightplango is a pretty good free replacement for foreflight. Does everything I want complete with all the Canadian charts and stuff as well. Haven't tried it with Android.
Ken

[Jerry Folkerts]

Eric,
I agree with your thinking and that is why I went the way I did. For a couple hundred dollars, I was able to bury the Group B for the NAVWORX Transceiver under my floor etc. while I'm building and before I rivet the floor in place. If a less expensive box that meets the FAA requirements comes out before 2020, I'm ready to jump. I actually believe if that's the case, the NAVWORX box will come down in price due to competition.
Just in case, I also ran a few wires that will allow me to pull whatever I need through some open grommets in each sheer web under the floor.
Jerry

[Gary G]

I just downloaded the app for Flightplango and started looking through the software. Is there no option for planning a new destination during actual flight? I don't see how you can pick an alternate destination once you have entered the flight plan on their homepage. Thanks to everyone who shares info on these site. I really like the feedback from actual users instead of the people creating the software.