Filser TRT800 Transponder - problems ... ?
 

I've just been a good little citizen and gone and got myself a Mode S Transponder - a Filser TRT800 to be precise - I believe several hundreds of which are already in service throughout Europe.

Except there seems to be a problem and the Mod has so far not been approved by the CAA.


Word is that they 'sometimes' don't respond in busy TMA environments.

Anyone else got one fitted/approved, and anyone else got any problems or tales to tell ?

Mr Not Happy :ugh:

I have one - no probs with the CAA.

The unit has the reputation for not being the best at that end of the market. I would recomend the Becker as being the best buy.

You would have to raise a Mod for the installation of this unit, do not assume that Filser would supply an STC to install this unit, the only company that cover most single engine aircraft with an STC is Trig.

L

Have had a TRT800A since May. No probs.... so far. Friends in TC tell me it works fine...... so far

rgds BEX

i have the Filser transponder and radio, both work prefectly, the guys at
LX avionics Ltd. Radio transceivers, Mode S transponders, variometers, flight recorders
are very helpful,

We have raised a mod on it (it's going into a 172), and it is here that the CAA are raising issues. According to my friendly avionics engineer it may be something to do with the power supply in the unit.

BEX - what type is your unit installed in ?

Just say the CAA refused the mod (say, on the grounds of the unit being unreliable), does this mean that all other similar model TRT800s would have to be removed or returned to manufacturer for adjustment ? And would this apply across Europe ?

tangovictor - that's where I got it, through LX.

TRT800 is undergoing investigations by the the manufacturer and Eurocontrol regarding performance issues, following negative experiences by a number of ANSPs in Europe. It could be that the CAA are holding off because of that.

My TRT800A is in my very old, but cherished, Cessna 150.

The EASA mod paperwork (all 36 pages and 300 Euros) was done by the chap who fitted it for me, and the unit supplied by LX avioniocs, above.

Rgds BEX

My TRT800 works excellent.... In a permit aircraft so no CAA issues.
Service from LX avionics is absolutely fantastic.

Mate had a problem with his when a poor install saw the co-axial being departed from the antenna and got running high SWR and popped the output side of the transmitter. LX directed him to send it to Germany, 7 days later and a small bill for 48 euro and all was back in situ and working fine.

Good experience here, and works fine. Also, its small profile is excellent and is one of the very few units with the encoder built into the actual transponder itself.

Jon

:}Oh no ..... you've succumbed :sad:

Here's why......
 

http://www.avionik.de/Grafix/PDF/EAS...008-0158_1.pdf

RS

TRS80 Transponder
 

We were also good little boys and fitted a TRS80 in our C-150 when the old mode A only one went unreliable. It seems we are affected by the AD so we're going to have to placard the aircraft and insert a note in the POH basically saying unless they say it's OK do not fly into airspace that requires a transponder and is mode S equipped because your shiny new mode S transponder is a piece of junk. :ugh::ugh:
Anyone know what airspace in the UK apart from Heathrow Zone is currently affected?

I should have thought that all people who have bought a Filser Mode S would be entitled to a full refund including fitting costs as the unit is clearly unfit for purpose...........

Cusco

Better than that, they should pay for the cost of putting you in the position you would have been in had they not broken the contract, which a reasonable judge (I'm sure they all are!) might agree was that they should pay for you get a different unit from a different manufacturer supplied and fitted.

Good point Cusco.... But the question is who should pay? The story is a very complicated one.

In essence the Filser/Funkwerk transponder was approved against a published EASA standard and as far as I know, still complies with the standard.

The guys who designed built and installed the ground-based kit also have equipment that complies with the appropriate standards. But the two bits of kit still the two sometime have difficulty talking to one another. Something fishy with the standards (that by common consent were not the best written ever) you might think.

Don't be too quick to judge when you don't know all the facts. It could be that Filser/Funkwerk have a good case against the authorities.

This sounds like a good case for waiting for a couple of years before I install the mode S kit. I still can't understand how mode S is going to be useful until all flying vehicles have it. And, what advantages are there if I can't get a service from ATC or see other other aircraft?

A flight club in my area installed like 5 of them. They are crap.

There were so many problems with the unit itself, like rebooting in flight, resetting to 7000 automatic in flight etc... they fixed most things in the last months, but now you can't use them in Germany anymore.

If you give peanuts you get monkeys

In a couple of years time without Mode S you won't be able even to leave these shores for a spot of European Touring.

We took the 'head in the sand' approach with Mode S only a few years ago and installed a mode A/C replacement when our ancient TXPDR went t*ts up. Mode S seemed so far away and so expensive then...........

So now we'll be dumping a pretty new (in aviation terms) Mode A/C Garmin in favour of mode S.

All this Filsher cr*p has certainly steered me back towards Garmin..............

Cusco

Yeap - I like the Garmin kit but would be interested to know how good the TRIG unit is; this is my preferred option as it would slot straight into my KT76A (+ AK 350 encoder) position.