G1000 WAAS upgrade

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CFIDave
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Re: G1000 WAAS upgrade

Post by CFIDave »

pietromarx wrote:The buttons on the bezel are likely just key-code inputs delivered via USB into the panel's computer. Since Garmin produces the bezel itself or through a manufacturing contract, they could put any buttons they want on it. This isn't why they're discontinuing the manufacturing; it is a very inexpensive part of the product's bill or materials (BOM).
As of last year Garmin discontinued manufacturing all legacy G1000 PFD/MFD panels, including all of the versions with different buttons listed above. They now produce only (much brighter/faster) G1000 NXi PFD/MFD panels, with whatever autopilot buttons on the bezel are negotiated with each aircraft manufacturer.
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Re: G1000 WAAS upgrade

Post by pietromarx »

CFIDave wrote:
pietromarx wrote:The buttons on the bezel are likely just key-code inputs delivered via USB into the panel's computer. Since Garmin produces the bezel itself or through a manufacturing contract, they could put any buttons they want on it. This isn't why they're discontinuing the manufacturing; it is a very inexpensive part of the product's bill or materials (BOM).
As of last year Garmin discontinued manufacturing all legacy G1000 PFD/MFD panels, including all of the versions with different buttons listed above. They now produce only (much brighter/faster) G1000 NXi PFD/MFD panels, with whatever autopilot buttons on the bezel are negotiated with each aircraft manufacturer.
Excellent (not!) news for all of us with the older panels and no route to the (brighter/faster/whatever) G1000 NXi upgrades. : - (
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Re: G1000 WAAS upgrade

Post by dgger »

CFIDave wrote:There's another version of the G1000 MFD for DA42 NG/-VI and DA62 aircraft that adds a YD (Yaw Damper) button for the GFC700. I've never seen a panel with YD but no VNAV button.
That would be my panel. It exists.
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Re: G1000 WAAS upgrade

Post by TimS »

pietromarx wrote: This brings up the question of why there are so many code bases for the G1000. Garmin is probably now supporting more than 20 completely separate code bases, each with their own features and bugs. This is a very old model of software licensing and management.
I have seen multiple people ask Garmin this question. Garmin has actually answered that the code base is modular and there is no "fracturing" between implementations. The manufactures pick and chose which modules to enable and integrate to their platform and a custom specific static/optimized compile is produced for them.
pietromarx wrote: The buttons on the bezel are likely just key-code inputs delivered via USB into the panel's computer. Since Garmin produces the bezel itself or through a manufacturing contract, they could put any buttons they want on it. This isn't why they're discontinuing the manufacturing; it is a very inexpensive part of the product's bill or materials (BOM).
Not button, but Garmin said source parts for the chips, boards, connectors are the issue.... Like the GNS430 before, time marches on and tech companies no longer produce the parts. So Garmin pre-buys large quantities of supplies and estimates how long they can remain in service. Do not forget, changing a chip in avionics means redoing significant parts of the certification process; and Garmi needs to be able to support HW that is ten plus years old for another ten years. That is multiple life times in tech.

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Re: G1000 WAAS upgrade

Post by pietromarx »

The code bases are definitely fractured ... modularly. The situation between Garmin and their manufacturers is quite similar to Android, the device drivers, and phone manufacturers. They're maintaining a lot of historic code divided by module, manufacturer, etc. The answer that the code is modular and custom built doesn't actually address the question.

As for the buttons vs. other parts, this is exactly right: they can't source their third-party components. We had this exact issue when we (at Qualcomm) started doing automotive parts. The sourcing deals were decades longer than in the cellular world.
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Re: G1000 WAAS upgrade

Post by Sandy »

CFIDave wrote:
GIA63W Production:
For other planes like King Airs, a G1000 NXi upgrade from an installed "legacy" G1000 requires replacement of only the screens (they contain the newer, much more powerful CPUs and much more memory needed to run GDU Version 20 and above). The GIA63W (x2) is used by both legacy G1000 and new G1000 NXi flight decks, so legacy GIA63Ws can be "re-used" by NXi, and the GIA63W remains in production for new aircraft.
Apparently, the G1000NXi uses GIA64's rather than GIA63W's which Garmin no longer supplies. If anyone knows of someone replacing their G1000 with an NXi, and replacing their GIA63W's with GIA64's, or if anyone knows of available GIA63W's, I could use a pair.

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Re: G1000 WAAS upgrade

Post by pietromarx »

Hey Sandy - where'd you hear that? This a new / different piece of information than what has been published to date and one which will make any NXi upgrade considerably more painful. The NXi documents for Cessnas and other planes show that GIA63Ws are still being installed. Similarly, Diamond's page on the DA62 shows GIA-63Ws, too (https://www.diamondaircraft.com/aircraft/da62/).

The available documentation on the GIA64 only shows its use today in the helicopter versions of the G1000, 5000, etc.

Thanks


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Re: G1000 WAAS upgrade

Post by Sandy »

Peter, I got that information from Diamond after I questioned why I could not find any dealer who has GIA63W's to upgrade my 2005 DA40 to WAAS, as I thought that they would be used, also, with the NXi. I didn't understand how Garmin could be providing WAAS NXi's without the GIA63W's until they told me that Garmin now produces the GIA64. Maybe when the "big guys" upgrade to NXi's some GIA63W LRUs will become available.

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Re: G1000 WAAS upgrade

Post by Antoine »

FWIW a friend of mine recently bought a 2007 Columbia 400 non WAAS and she ordered an upgrade of the GIA63 to the W version in a hurry: She said she bought the last 2 parts available worldwide.
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Re: G1000 WAAS upgrade

Post by CFIDave »

I've also now heard that the GIA63W is no longer being made, replaced by the GIA64W in new G1000 NXi aircraft like the Piper M-series (PA-46) and TBM 910. But new G1000 NXi Diamonds have been coming with GIA63Ws, perhaps until Diamond runs out of 63W inventory?

I'll be visiting London to pick up a customer's new DA62 in a few weeks and will determine which unit it has. A related issue is whether new NXi Diamonds are certified and have the necessary software to run the GIA64W.
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