Why THIS Transponder May Change Aviation

[@brianberezowski5352]

WOW AWESOME video GREAT information. I'm a student pilot, 52 hours. 60 years old fulfilling my childhood dream of learning to fly. REALLY enjoyed this. THANK YOU for sharing your knowledge and experience. A big HELLO from CYQT. btw SaWeeeet ride that Lake Renegade. 👍👍

[@Brian.Murray]

Welcome to the club! We always need more pilots who want to get out and fly.

[@awookielearnstofly2925]

I just installed one of these on my PA22 Tri-Pacer. It's great! I was able to remove the old glitchy Narco transponder and encoder and already had the AV-30 to use as a control head. Great job explaining the evolution of transponder use and ADS-B.

[@jeff8565]

Just got the tailbeaconX and the AV-30 can't wait to get them installed

[@Brian.Murray]

I’m loving mine! We had some reliability issues from the install; the wires were rubbing and eventually broke. Since we fixed that it has been solid tho!

[@jean-clauded5823]

uAvionix skySensor-TSO now covers the ADS-B In signals. So you have ADSB-IN on one wing, and ADS-B IN on the other wing.

[@navion1946]

I recommend this video for every pilot in the world! So well explained.

[@navion1946]

I don’t see the promised follow on video regarding privacy issues that you mentioned, including the “easy fix”. Would love to understand that as well, thanks!

[@Brian.Murray]

I ended up taking it down. I’m working on a new video about the new performance reqs in Canada too, which I’ll include in that video.

[@Not_A_Hitman_USA]

Thank you sir A+

[@arcanondrum6543]

Thank you for this video.

[@juanponte8980]

Hello, awesome video. Do you know if there is a way to know if an aircraft has ADS-B already installed? What will confirm?

[@Brian.Murray]

The easiest way is to find the transponder and check if the model has adsb. Otherwise you can look up the tail number on flight radar or other sites, and they’ll tell you if there’s adsb and what type.

[@tommylyeah]

Interesting.

[@RobotoForgoto]

So.......is it working in the cockpit? Can you show us this in operation soon? Safe flying and pat the dog for me.

[@Brian.Murray]

Unfortunately my plane is certified so I can’t technically install it until it passes certification. Really annoying. But I will have a review of the AV30 coming in early to mid January.

[@froj.p6364]

@@Brian.Murray is the tailbeacon x still not certified? Are you opting for regular tailbeacon or going to wait for certification?

[@leemccready4652]

Thanks for the great video. Just a quick question: Does this and the AV30 completely replace the old transponder in a plane? Meaning can I change squak codes on the fly/ident/etc? Thanks again.

[@Brian.Murray]

Yep! It has a built in ModeC/ModeS. The av30 controls the tailbeacon. It’s a little annoying having to put in a code on the av30 but since it’s infrequent, it’s not that bad.

[@froj.p6364]

Awesome video. Do you find the squawk option on AV30 to be easy and efficient. Of course no numerical buttons. But does it still flow easily? Or is it a total pita during flight?

[@Brian.Murray]

I finally got the certified one. I can say it’s a pain to enter the 4 digit code. It’ll be nice if ATC eventually figures out those codes are useless now that it sends out the unique plane ID, but until then, we will suffer with entering them the slow way.

[@froj.p6364]

@@Brian.Murray I am so glad I asked. It looked like it would be harrowing. Like maybe even an AT50A would be simpler. Does the tailbeacon X, work with mode C? Or would I have to opt for the older tailbeacon in the event of using an older mode c that’s in the plane?

[@Brian.Murray]

@@froj.p6364 yea it would be simpler for sure, but here in Canada anyways, we set the code on the ground before takeoff so it’s not too troublesome. I know in much of the USA people swap to 1200 but we stick to codes even when VFR. The TBX does mode A, mode C, and mode S without any other transponder. The UI for entering the code is a tad annoying, but otherwise it’s really easy to use. It can also connect to other systems like I believe the G3x touch from garmin so that would be easier to enter the code, although a lot more expensive.

[@idleobserver7211]

The problem with PCB antennas isn't the backing board, it's the printed circuit. In order to condense a long antenna into a tight space, they lay out a complex figure that is generically called a gasket. It's a geometric structure with some surprising properties. Depending on the length of the necessary antenna vs the area of the backing board, the circuit structure can be very fine, and thus quite fragile. These antennas are susceptible to shock and vibration damage and because of the great length of the fine conductor, they are particularly sensitive to thermal expansion problems. That said, they can be pretty reliable. They've lurked in cell phones and similar devices for a couple decades now and a lot of design and material issues have been worked out. Just bear in mind that PCB antennas typically aren't mounted so they're exposed to weather, aircraft slip streams, and God knows what else.

[@Brian.Murray]

That's very true. The antenna on the PCB is pretty well potted in, and so far they haven't been having antenna breakage issues, but it's something to keep an eye on. I'm just very impressed how efficient the manufacturing process is; these things are designed to be mass produced, which should keep the price low and get them into more people's hands.

[@quinnjim]

Can I put this on a Kitfox? What would be the total cost to make this a legal transponder/ADSB solution (you mentioned I may need another device in the cockpit).

[@Brian.Murray]

Yes! It works on the kitfox as they’re experimental. It’s about 2500 for the TailbeaconX and 1600 for the av30. The av30 is a lot of instrument tho. Replaces most of my panel, and it’s certified. There’s an av20 which is simpler and cheaper but I would avoid it as the av30 is so much more device for not much more money.

[@quinnjim]

@@Brian.Murray Thanks very much for the expertise. I'm looking at a Kitfox, but I live under the Chicago mode C veil. I guess I need to budget $4,000 towards avionics if I buy a stripped down Kitfox. I just put dual GI-275's, a GNC 355 Nav/Com, a Garmin 345 transponder and a 345 audio panel in my 182. I thought I was done with avionics for awhile!

[@Brian.Murray]

There are a few things that are certain in life. Death. Taxes. And another bill from garmin. ;)

[@TheBarzook]

@@quinnjim the GTX345 is supposed to be in/out though?

[@quinnjim]

@@TheBarzook I have the GTX345 in my 182. I'm looking at buying a Kitfox and finding a cheaper ADSB solution.

[@chriskroeker1889]

If only this integrated with the Garmin G3X - could save a lot of time, effort, and money.

[@Brian.Murray]

They are apparently supposed to work with the G3X. The only downside is no ADSB-In, but you can get a GDL-52 and then you get SiriusXM Weather as well.

[@michaeljohnson2922]

Scott Holmes Cassutt in the background?

[@Brian.Murray]

Good eye!

[@garywheeler2055]

New subscriber 👍🇨🇦

[@Brian.Murray]

Thanks man! I appreciate it.

[@TheBarzook]

You mention it replaces mode C/S etc, but you still need a physical transponder in the panel to be able to squwak codes right?

[@Brian.Murray]

You only need a controller for it. The av30 works but they also have an av20 for non certified planes. You can totally ditch your old transponder.

[@nicholaslandolina]

Wow

[@spikekavalench]

Thanks, I would have been really disappointed to buy this and find out it doesn't have ADSB "in"!

[@Brian.Murray]

Yea it’s unfortunate, but a sentry connected to foreflight covers that for me.

[@flybobbie1449]

You wish you had all this kit when another aircraft pops out of cloud 50 feet above you.

[@boscoguo7538]

is this certified yet?

[@Brian.Murray]

Not yet! It was supposed to be certified last fall but they’ve run into some issues with the FAA. Lots of experimental folks are using it without any issues.

[@mikestirewalt5193]

Watching this video and suddenly a dog disappeared instantly! One moment he or she was sniffing around that soneri (or whatever it is) and the next minute he/she just disappeared into thin air! Do you know there is a ghost dog prowling around your hangar? You said in regards to the TailbeaconX, " . . . some place where it's not going to be blocked by the structure." If it's a wooden or fiberglass structure one can mount the X inside the fuselage and out of the way of things or people who could damage or steal it. Just sayin"

[@Brian.Murray]

I may know of someone who did just that! It works really well in a fabric plane.

[@gmcjetpilot]

Did you hair clippers break? Ha ha. I deleted my post. This is tailbeacon X not the original tailbeacon.

[@Brian.Murray]

You're thinking of the older, American only uAvionix equipment. The TailBeaconX (the new one), is exclusively 1090, and includes a ModeS (compatible with Mode C and Mode A) transponder inside. You do not need to keep an old Mode C transponder, and should actually remove or deactivate any old transponders. There is no 978 on the TailBeaconX (note, the X is important). It is designed to meet the mandate that many Non-American countries are setting out that use Satellite, Aireon tracking instead of ground stations like the USA. Most manufacturers are meeting that by installing two antennas in the 1090 band to transmit to the satellite tracking, while using the lower antenna to transmit to other aircraft. The X model is only available for experimental at this time, and has only been available for around 2 years.

[@gmcjetpilot]

@@Brian.Murray I'll look at it. I revised posts. Thanks