FS2020: The TDS GTNXi Review - The Most Thorough & Complete Garmin System I've Ever Seen!

[@Big_Sierra]

I love this. Sure, Navigraph integration would be nice, but as someone who does a lot of airliner stuff with Navigraph, it’s nice to immerse oneself in the system as it would be in real life, instead of just “set it and forget it”, as one would with loading a flight plan from Simbrief. Besides, you can still use Navigraph you just have to add your flight plan manually.

[@sjpeckham1]

great review sir

[@Huddison]

Thanks

[@mikecoffee100]

A Marvulous video as always Thank You.

[@Huddison]

Thanks Mike

[@richavery66]

Thank you for this video. I own and regularly use the TDS GTNXi - usually in the JF Piper Warrior and Turbo Arrow, and I'm really looking forward to using it in the forthcoming Black Square TBM 850. (I'll then have access to a working weather radar as well which, as you pointed out, isn't available in the TDS product.) A few points on some of the points in the video: The website says that the price of 49.95 EUR excludes VAT, so would I be right to assume that the GTNXi costs around 60 EUR here in the UK? The free version of the GTN 750 is by PMS50 and is a pared down version of their payware product; however, it's not a GTNXi. It might be worth pointing out that the TDS product also includes the GTNXi 650, just as the PMS50 product includes a GTN 650.) AFAIK, it is possible to update the database through the Garmin trainer but it's very expensive and really only something a real-world pilot who owns a unit would do. There was a GTN750 for FSX by Reality XP which used the Garmin trainer but I think this is the only one made for MSFS to date.

[@Huddison]

Thanks for the addition info.

[@McAero08]

The nav data cannot be updated and you only get outdated charts for the US, nowhere else. Has been that for years for th3 p3d GTN addons.

[@Huddison]

There are a lot of other benefits for having the GTNXi.

[@DarkGT]

By the time you end playing with the interface you should have arrived at Birmingham 😅. It looks very detailed, like a simulation inside a simulation.

[@Huddison]

It really does feel like an intricate module all of its own.

[@baardk2]

Great video as always. Can this replace Simbrief?

[@Huddison]

Thanks. Simbrief is best for generating flight routes; The GTNXi lets you graphically plan local routes type thing.

[@sivoltage]

Ooo this looks interesting.

[@davewills6121]

If i buy the tds gtnxi, is there any manuals detailing the basics, or tutorials for beginners, or one of its siblings that is nearly identicle?

[@Huddison]

I have an update video that I'm somewhat in the process of making for this Garmin system. There's a few videos out in the wild on this unit; the only other point of reference for it, is the included manual (which is thankfully quite thorough).

[@darrellwestbrook9592]

Anyone have any idea why it says it’s connected but it’s not showing up in any of the planes?

[@Huddison]

I had a similar issue when I installed it on my new PC; but I upgraded to the pro edition all seems well atm. You're best reaching out to the developers directly.

[@astyn8182]

Hi i need to ask a question when you did your video on the t hotas 4 set up when my throttle is at max after a while it will go down to zero did you experience that’s as well

[@Huddison]

I believe you've asked this elsewhere - check our Discord for troubleshooting this please.

[@davidtsw]

So are the charts limited to North America as in the US, Canada and Mexico ?

[@Huddison]

North America I believe.

[@RedRuffinsore]

Actually you CAN add contacts into the system, although there's really nothing you can do with them. Some of the unavailable features would be really cool in real life. It would send text or email messages to people if you have set it up to do so as you reach certain waypoints. saying "Jim has reached the XYZ waypoint". I think the TERRAIN feature will show red if you would run into the terrain at your current altitude. It was all red at sea level of the airport, but if you were flying at 5000 ASL, you would only see terrain in red that you would run into at that height. I have been happy with it so far. Still trying to figure out the VNAV part.

[@Huddison]

Fantastic additions - it really is quite a special addon eh

[@RedRuffinsore]

@@Huddison Yes sir. Indeed it is.

[@RedRuffinsore]

@@Huddison Well, no wonder I couldn't get the VNAV to work on approach...it's not included apparently. A rep from TDS said that it will fly something called an LPV (Localiser Performance with Vertical Guidance) approach, which I had not heard of to be honest. I will do more research on that.

[@nyrxi]

Hello, before I buy, are the charts and the "safe taxi" available worldwide? Ps: What do we lose when we don't fly in America?

[@Huddison]

The charts only cover North America. You'll need something like Navigraph kzbin.info/www/bejne/o4nLiGaXad2hebs to see and use charts for the rest of the World.

[@nyrxi]

@@Huddison Thanks, I've got it. Can it be integrated into the gtn?

[@Huddison]

They haven't integrated it into the GTNXi (not yet at least)@@nyrxi

[@helicopterovirtual-msfs6254]

Excelente.

[@eddiezetlein6582]

The lack of navigation database downloads, and the fact that charts for Europe and other countries are not included makes this a non starter for me. I bought the Premium version of the PMS 50 750 GTN and it has almost the same level of functionality as this unit. It can couple your autopilot to fly really precise RNAV and ILS approaches down to minimums and has full Navigraph and Simbrief integration. VCALC is included so it can fly a VNAV descent profile. User waypoints can be created just as you showed. The free version is very basic but at least it gives you a chance to try it out in some of the Working Title equipped planes where the autopilot is much enhanced. If TDS ever fully complete this version with current database and global chart coverage I might be tempted , but for now its half baked and not finished. As a case in point, I do much of my flying from and to Fairoaks in Surrey. With the PMS 50 750 GTN I can fly RNAV arrivals into this tiny airport. You wouldn't be able to do that in the TDS unit as they wouldn't be in the database.

[@Huddison]

Hopefully they'll integrate Navigraph into the unit soon. There's more too this than just the charts databases though.

[@nzvonrock8529]

it will be amazing if or when it gets navigraph integration, so that anybody who does not fly in the states can use charts

[@Huddison]

Hopefully one day.

[@TormodSteinsholt]

That looks plain awesome. Too bad you can't buy it for the stock aircrafts

[@Huddison]

Yes it would be great to have it in whichever aircraft you want.

[@paulwilson8367]

The expired Nav databases DO make a difference. A great many approaches that you select in SimBrief are NOT available in the data base and when you look for the specified approach, it will not be an option. You will find that many waypoints that SimBrief uploads to the GTXNi are not in the data base and must be skipped. You will get that message on your screen. Waypoint Locked Out. There are practically no RNAV-RNP approaches available and you will not be able to fly them. TDS really NEEDS to work on their navigation data bases.

[@Huddison]

Interesting, thanks for highlighting that.

[@fbhombal]

Is PMS50 better? I have been using that for a few weeks and it has missing features and waypoints also.

[@Huddison]

The premium version? It's one I still need to get. @@fbhombal

[@eddiezetlein6582]

I did enjoy the video though 🙂

[@sivoltage]

The price has shot up - 64.95 EUR $70.80 USD¹ £55.86 GBP¹

[@Huddison]

Yes, they have updated the software: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r6jcgpyHnpeHetE

[@astyn8182]

On mfs

[@SAMFONG7997]

I have installed TDS GTNXI which does not work in MSFS2020

[@Huddison]

It obviously works, as myself and many others have been (and still are) using in FS2020 for some time. Contact TDS Sim directly if you are having issues installing it.