By now we should all be aware that to fly in a
sizeable chunk of controlled US airspace, we'll need to equip our birds with an
ADS-B OUT system.
Until recently, the costs I had been hearing
to buy and install an ADS-B transponder based system was on the order of and in
some cases in excess of $5,000
Thankfully, uAvionix has broken the
stranglehold on this high cost method of ADS-B compliance with a series of
products that I will affectionately refer to as using "sniffer" technology that
"sniffs" or senses your existing Mode-C transponder squawk code and transmits
the required ADS-B position info to ATC and complies with all the FAA required
signal specs.
Garmin (the folks who arguably have the bulk
of the high cost ADS-B transponder technology market) sued uAvionix claiming
that uAvionix infringed upon Garmin patents. See the uAvionix Press Release on
the lawsuit
HERE. Thankfully uAvionix prevailed in securing a Patent for their "sniffer"
technology. See uAvionix Press Release
HERE.
"As you may be aware, Garmin has filed a lawsuit against uAvionix for patent
infringement for their patented method for transponder synchronization," uAvonix
said in its announcement. "The issuance of the uAvionix patent indicates that
the USPTO recognizes there are distinct and innovative differences between the
uAvionix and Garmin solutions. While this does not end the dispute, it helps
validate uAvionix's innovations."
The first uAvionix FAA certified ADS-B
OUT system utilizing this low cost and simple install technology is the
skyBeacon.
No new transponder! Just a simple nav light housing change and some programming
on your smart phone with their downloadable app!
Click the links below to learn more about
skyBeacon.
If the skyBeacon footprint doesn't work for
you, uAvionix accelerated their efforts to get their ADS-B OUT
tailBeacon
system FAA certified. As of 11/1/2019,
the CERTIFIED tailBeacon is shipping from all the usual avionics dealers.
tailBeacon Bonanza Install Pirep
Below is a pirep with install pics from
Bonanza owner Bo H., on his CERTIFIED tailBeacon install.
Before tailBeacon
"Attached are some photos of my install - total cost was $1995 , plus I had a
few more things added or done which ran it up a little. All in I am ADSB
compliant and have in / out.
Time : 1/2 hour to 45 Minutes.
Paperwork 1 hour, including programming
Setback : the tail cone light cover is - gone - someone will come up with a 3
D print. It sets back a bit and so the end of the TailBeacon butts into the
inside of the cone. Looking for a good , cosmetic answer.
Process :
Wait wait wait for approval and delivery.
Once arrived
we completed the work in about 2 hours time.
Remove tailcone
Remove strobe
ID and cut wires
Cap unused store wires
Re connect the Molex connector with heat shrink tubing
Attach molex
Mount outer ring
Twist to lock the TailBeacon
Fit 2 Allen head lock screws
Try to modify the plastic tail cone— give up and put new screws into the old
holes that held the tail cone on.
Pull plane out for GPS signal acquisition
Do programming
Push plane back in
Do paperwork
Done."
After tailBeacon
I find it very interesting that the uAvionix
tailBeacon installation documentation
HERE states that the tailBeacon is 14 CFR §91.227 compliant and meets the
UAT transmitter performance requirements of TSO-154c Class B1S. RTCA DO-282B
Class B1Ss.
Hmmmmm.......
Utilizing the same Mode-C transponder
"sniffer" technology, the
tailBeacon
is similarly installed with the ease of replacing a nav position light housing
and utilizing your existing Mode-C transponder.
uAvionix echoUAT*
ADS-B IN & OUT System for $1000 - $1450*
*As of 1/23/2019, the echoUAT is only
available in an Experimental configuration.
I find it very interesting that the uAvionix
echoUAT installation documentation
HERE states that the echoUAT is 14 CFR §91.227 compliant and meets the
UAT transmitter performance requirements of TSO-154c Class B1S.
This is the same piece of equipment that
provides a valid ADS-B IN and OUT signal for our experimental brothers
and sisters to fly their aircraft in ADS-B mandate airspace. This system also
feeds ADS-B IN Wx and traffic products to a variety of very popular phone
and tablet EFB apps (ForeFlight, FltPlan Go, WingX, et. al.)!
Similarly simple to install by hooking up
power and ground and a WAAS position signal (from one of the approved WAAS panel
navigators) to the echo brain box OR by buying the system with an external WAAS
antenna (SkyFYX-EXT) for $1,399 or the remote WAAS antenna (SkyFYX GPS) for
$1,449.
The uAvionix installation manual for the
echoUAT is
HERE.
It would sure be nice if the echoUAT could be
FAA certified for our Beechcraft as it would take a major sting out of the cost
of compliance for the ADS-B 2020 mandate and also give pilots/owners the
benefits of the ADS-B Wx and traffic products for a very reasonable cost that no
self respecting aircraft owner could refuse. Just my humble opinion.........
In closing this narrative on the cost
effective ADS-B compliance product breakthroughs that uAvionix have introduced,
I would encourage all aircraft owners to give the uAvionix products a closer
look for their 2020 compliance plans. Remember, no expensive panel teardown and
rewiring for an expensive new transponder and no scrambling around trying to
find an avionics shop to fit you in their high dollar queue for an ADS-B
transponder install!