Originally Posted by Lionel Hutz
From AOPA USA.
It looks like a very good system. Much better and cheaper than Mode S
Uhuh?
Garmin is proud to introduce the GDL 90™ — general aviation's first certified ADS-B Universal Access Transceiver (UAT).
...
Garmin part number: 013-00176-01
Suggested Retail Price:
$7995.00 U.S.D. (for domestic US market only)
The GTX 330 Mode S transponder (1090ES datalink) has a $4835 list price tag.
Both are in principle capable of supporting ADS-B. No one has ever satisfactorily explained to me why the UAT should work out cheaper than a Mode S transponder with 1090ES capability. With electronics, it's all about volume, over which the development costs are spread.
The advantage of the GTX 330, of course, is that it also responds to Mode A/C and Mode S ground interrogation, as well as interrogation from TCAS, while we wait for ADS-B.