GNS 530W repair

Any DA40 related topics

Moderators: Rick, Lance Murray

Post Reply
User avatar
Rich
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 4592
Joined: Mon Aug 30, 2010 12:40 pm
First Name: Rich
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: N40XE
Airports: S39 Prineville OR
Has thanked: 145 times
Been thanked: 1180 times

GNS 530W repair

Post by Rich »

In my case it's really just the anti-glare coating on the screen that's a problem. But I learned during a recent IPS it's really a big problem and seems to have gotten worse. I tried some stick-on anti-glare films but they didn't adequately deal with the problem. So off to Garmin it went. Flat rate these days is $1450.00. Not too much of an increase from the last time (which was more serious - no GS for ILS OR WAAS approaches). The plane is still flyable but these functions are inop for the time being:

1. ADS-B out. This is a rationale for transponders that either have independent position source or can switch between such sources. This does compromise TIS-B data coming in and, of course, my transmitting to other nearby traffic my information.
2. Autopilot NAV mode and coupling. Just ROL, HDG and VS/ALT modes.

Garmin has historically turned these around quickly, so I shouldn't be without too long.
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
User avatar
Rich
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 4592
Joined: Mon Aug 30, 2010 12:40 pm
First Name: Rich
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: N40XE
Airports: S39 Prineville OR
Has thanked: 145 times
Been thanked: 1180 times

Re: GNS 530W repair

Post by Rich »

I got the unit back and installed today and took it out for a test drive to make sure everything still works. This included a coupled RNAV (LP) approach to my home airport. During the approach a perfect-word scenario arose. I'm flying down the pipe (with the A/P doing most of the grunt work) and what do I spy about 3 miles behind me on the same approach but another ADS-B equipped aircraft - a pre-1960 C182. I could track him ONLY because of ADS-B. And we could communicate directly plane-plane because our N-numbers are on our respective displays. We don' need no controllers :D
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
User avatar
blsewardjr
4 Diamonds Member
4 Diamonds Member
Posts: 485
Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2011 11:19 pm
First Name: Bernie
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: N377DS
Airports: KCHO
Has thanked: 118 times
Been thanked: 146 times

Re: GNS 530W repair

Post by blsewardjr »

How does the screen look? Were there any upgrades to the software? I'm thinking about doing the same with mine although for now the anti-glare film makes it bearable.
Bernie Seward, IR, AGI
2003 DA40 N377DS
KCHO Charlottesville, VA
User avatar
Rich
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 4592
Joined: Mon Aug 30, 2010 12:40 pm
First Name: Rich
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: N40XE
Airports: S39 Prineville OR
Has thanked: 145 times
Been thanked: 1180 times

Re: GNS 530W repair

Post by Rich »

blsewardjr wrote: Thu Aug 08, 2019 1:20 am How does the screen look? Were there any upgrades to the software? I'm thinking about doing the same with mine although for now the anti-glare film makes it bearable.
The screen looks great! Blinding direct sunlight has no effect on visibility.

They bring the software up to date (now at 5.40), but they don't do anything about things like the obstacle/terrain database, which I've left many years out of date. I'll get around to that one of these days. The technician also ran calibration tests on the CDI functions and adjusted the 525 behavior to correct a slight inaccuracy. I do believe if the software is enough out of date it inhibits the display of GS when executing non-LPV approaches. (Mine wasn't that old.) But you can get software updates and adjustments like this done without the expense of having Garmin repair the unit.
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
User avatar
Colin
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 2006
Joined: Sat Aug 21, 2010 8:37 pm
First Name: Colin
Aircraft Type: DA42
Aircraft Registration: N972RD
Airports: KFHR
Has thanked: 319 times
Been thanked: 527 times

Re: GNS 530W repair

Post by Colin »

Flying into ORS on Orcas Island last week a Cirrus called to me on the CTAF using my tail number and asked if I needed to go ahead of him. That was pretty cool.
Colin Summers, PP Multi-Engine IFR, ~3,000hrs
colin@mightycheese.com * send email rather than PM
http://www.flyingsummers.com
N972RD DA42 G1000 2.0 s/n 42.AC100 (sold!)
N971RD DA40 G1000 s/n 40.508 (traded)
User avatar
Boatguy
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 1827
Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2018 4:48 am
First Name: Russ
Aircraft Type: DA62
Aircraft Registration: N962M
Airports: KSTS
Has thanked: 1328 times
Been thanked: 1163 times

Re: GNS 530W repair

Post by Boatguy »

Colin wrote: Thu Aug 08, 2019 2:45 pm Flying into ORS on Orcas Island last week a Cirrus called to me on the CTAF using my tail number and asked if I needed to go ahead of him. That was pretty cool.
Did you also see his tail number? Was this on your G1000 traffic display or in Foreflight?
User avatar
Colin
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 2006
Joined: Sat Aug 21, 2010 8:37 pm
First Name: Colin
Aircraft Type: DA42
Aircraft Registration: N972RD
Airports: KFHR
Has thanked: 319 times
Been thanked: 527 times

Re: GNS 530W repair

Post by Colin »

Yes, I saw his tail number. He identified himself and asked for me by tail number. Then I glanced at my MFD and saw him. It was exactly what I think the engineers of the system would have imagined happening on the approach to a small airport in Alaska.
Colin Summers, PP Multi-Engine IFR, ~3,000hrs
colin@mightycheese.com * send email rather than PM
http://www.flyingsummers.com
N972RD DA42 G1000 2.0 s/n 42.AC100 (sold!)
N971RD DA40 G1000 s/n 40.508 (traded)
Post Reply