The 440 works fine, maybe you have an antenna problem. It is more reliable than the 700/701 series, but it doesn't have the ground mapping function and didn't work out that well for flying an ARA approach. Anybody using the series for offshore upgrades them to a 660.
The old Bendix 1400 was pretty good, but it is getting harder to keep them working, and they occupy a big old box on the panel. Once I saw a color TV I never wanted BW again, same with a GPS, same with a Radar. Have you looked at the Garmin GWX-68 offering?
Charron