CNX80 or Garmin 430

[Adsie]

Just checking thoughts on which GPS people would prefer to use during RNAV approaches.

CNX80 or Garmin 430?

Things like loading the approaches, suspending the approach for holding ETC

Thanks in advance

[falconx]

430 no question- nothing to it

[Adsie]

Yeah - I know the 430 is very user friendly.

Maybe I should have rewrote the question.

Tips and tricks for RNAV approaches using a CNX80

[Bladeangle]

Practice during the day in nice weather till your used to the different layout.

I hated the CNX at first, being so used to the 430. But persevere with it, they are a fantastic unit to use once proficient with it.

[NZ744]

Why not the new Garmin GTN650 or larger GTN750? They are both the new forerunners to now out of production Garmin 430/530. We have recently fitted the GTN650 to our Metroliners in replacement/ upgrade of the older 430s and they work a treat. More features, larger touch screen and so simple to use.

[Adsie]

Because the aircraft has a CNX80 in it

[KeepItStraight]

CNX80/GNS480 every time, no questions.

Even though 530/530 owners have trouble adjusting to the CNX80 it's actually an easier GPS to learn from scratch. Once you become used to it, you probably would never want to go back to the 430/530, it is more intuitive and more feature rich from an IFR stand point.

If you get confused as to where you are, pressing the MAP button always takes you back to the same page, which is almost always the default page you would operate in.

The NRST button along with the INFO button gives you direct access to a lot of info on all the various waypoints and airspace, including frequencies, bearing and distance to that waypoint and in the case of airports, runway direction and length and air port facilities like lighting, sunrise sunset etc.

The DIRECT TO function is very powerful allowing you to go DIRECT to a point as a destination, or by using course to or from, or OBS, or hold at that point. If you are holding you can programme in hold direction and time or distance, and if you have an auto pilot with GPSS the CNX80/GNS480 will fly to the hold carry out the correct entry and fly the hold.

Flight plans can be entered by using Airways which saves considerable time on a plan with a lot of waypoints.

The CNX80 always displays the GPS derived distance to any tuned VOR or DME so you effectively have a second DME. With a VOR/LOC so long as the VOR/LOC has a three letter identifier the CNX80 will display the three letter code for the VOR/LOC, no need to listen for the Ident.

There is one or two quirks when using the CNX80.

When you load a plan you must first insert an origin airport and a destination airport, note they need to be airports not a nav aid. Then you are able to load Departures, Arrivals and Approaches. The point being Departures, Arrivals and Approaches go with the Airport not the nav aid. Without the origin and destination airports inserted you cannot load any Departures, Arrivals or Approaches.

Once you have the Origin and Destination loaded you then need to add the navaid for the origin airport, then from that waypoint you can insert airways and build your plan. If you aren't using an airway just enter the flight plan waypoints in sequence.

The CNX80 will flag a DISCONTINUITY when there is disconnect between two parts of the plan so it's pretty hard to have a gap in the flight plan and not know about it. One example is when you load an STAR. The CNX80 does not assume you will go from the last waypoint in the STAR to the airport. It needs you to tell it to do that by deleting the DISCONTINUITY or if you need to fly the approach to load the approach.

When you load an approach that has a hold at the start of the approach the hold will always be loaded and unlike the 430 you cannot delete the hold, however as you approach the hold the SUSP annunciater will illuminate, pressing the SUSP button will resume normal waypoint sequencing.

As Bladeangle says the CNX80/GNS480 is a fantastic unit. Enjoy it.

[Vincent Chase]

The cnx80 uses fms style logic and terms, things like departure and arrival airport entry, discontinuitys, airways, and everything described above. It also includes transponder code selection, ability to listen to standby freq and so many other features that leave the 430/530 for dead. Get your head around it and using an fms will be a breeze.