Updating 430W/530W databases

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ahmebane
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Updating 430W/530W databases

Post by ahmebane »

Hi All,
So I just purchased a 2003 DA40, N275DS. It has a 430W/530W & I want to get a DB subscription. I was told that there is an option from Jepp and/or Garmin to purchase the subscription for the 530W & then for a small bump in price get the 430W DB as well to avoid having two separate subscriptions at double the price. I'm not seeing this option on the Garmin website. Was I misinformed? Do I really have to pay double? From what I understand, if the two DBs dont match, then I cant transfer flight plans, etc between the two boxes - they essentially wont talk to each other.

Thanks - and sorry if there is already an answer in the forum somewhere - I spent a while searching and did not find it.
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Rich
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Re: Updating 430W/530W databases

Post by Rich »

I get the DB's for both of these from Jeppesen. As it happens I just renewed the subscriptions for both and it was $729. I looked into Garmin but it didn't seem to offer a price break for this situation and it wasn't clear their mechanism for downloading the data every update period was as Mac/iOS friendly as Jepp's. You are correct, if the DB's don't match you can't crossfill and one will be out of date and you might get a critical bit of misinformation (e.g., the frequency change happening next month for my home airport).

With Jepp you have the option of downloading onto an iPhone or iPad and transferring at the proper time to the data cards for the unit using the Bad Elf Wombat. This is a cool option for updating at the field.

In any case you will need the Jeppesen Skybound G2 adapter (or Garmin's equivalent) to connect the proprietary data cards via USB.
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
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ahmebane
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Re: Updating 430W/530W databases

Post by ahmebane »

Was that the nav, obstacle, and terrain data? How much of a price break did you get?
Thx.
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Rich
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Re: Updating 430W/530W databases

Post by Rich »

ahmebane wrote: Mon Feb 03, 2020 5:51 pm Was that the nav, obstacle, and terrain data? How much of a price break did you get?
Thx.
Nav data only. I don't think it was much of a break. I don't pay much attention as I don't even consider flying with one of the databases out of date.

I haven't updated my terrain databases in years - like 10. I think it might only be available from Garmin.

BTW, the cards are location-specific in the units. The nav database cards go in the left slot of each one.
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
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Re: Updating 430W/530W databases

Post by Rich »

BTW, it's worth registering with Garmin as the owner of these units, by serial number. It's also worth checking that the software versions are up to date at some point. This is a separate deal from the nav data. It gets updated by a Garmin service facility.
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
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ahmebane
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Re: Updating 430W/530W databases

Post by ahmebane »

Looking at Garmin's website, I can get their bundle of nav, terrain, and obstacle for both units for $649. 13 updates on the nav, 7 on the obstacle, 1 one the terrain. Not sure I can do any better elsewhere, but if I find something I'll post it.
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Re: Updating 430W/530W databases

Post by Rich »

Garmin now has an option for Mac downloads, though not iOS. Have you figured out what you need to load the databases from Garmin onto the proprietary cards used by the GNS unit (i.e., an equivalent to the Skybound adapter)? That information is missing from anything I've so far found on the Garmin site.
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
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Re: Updating 430W/530W databases

Post by chili4way »

The Garmin OnePak and PilotPak covers that database subscription "for all of the compatible Garmin avionics installed in a single aircraft, all for one annual price." OnePak provides FAA information, PilotPak provides Jeppesen. Prices depend on what subscriptions / options you select but you should not need two.

https://fly.garmin.com/fly-garmin/onepak/
https://fly.garmin.com/fly-garmin/pilotpak/
Last edited by chili4way on Mon Feb 03, 2020 7:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Rich
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Re: Updating 430W/530W databases

Post by Rich »

Rich wrote: Mon Feb 03, 2020 7:29 pm Garmin now has an option for Mac downloads, though not iOS. Have you figured out what you need to load the databases from Garmin onto the proprietary cards used by the GNS unit (i.e., an equivalent to the Skybound adapter)? That information is missing from anything I've so far found on the Garmin site.
Ah ha! found it.
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
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Rich
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Re: Updating 430W/530W databases

Post by Rich »

I ordered the gizmo. I figure to try out a single terrain/obstacle database update. Maybe next year at renewal time I'll see about switching over. Meanwhile I'll be lobbying to see if they would support iOS/Wombat, which is super-convenient for some situations.

There is a quirk with the GNS units. They can only hold one update at a time, so you shouldn't have a card with the "next" database in the unit. Jeppesen makes the updates available 1 week before they apply. So you can load them into spare cards and swap when it's time OR just download ahead of time and load the cards later, at the proper time. Do these scenarios also work with Garmin?
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
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