Folks,
I've been using the Dynon Skyview in my Velocity and love it. I've flown VFR, and want to get my IFR rating and was looking for avionics options to support IFR. I had a Garmin SL30 that works well with Skyview and that would make me legal, but only allow ILS approaches. I looked at installing a 430, but even used they are still $6K plus. So, after consulting a few folks, I landed on the Garmin 300XL. Its an IFR GPS, but will not provide any vertical nav, so no precision GPS approaches. But, it opens up all the other approaches that use DME or ADF and I'll have my SL30 for precision ILS approaches, so I thought it would be a good options. Also, being able to file enroute IFR seems much easier than having to navigate between VOR beacons.
I did see some documentation in the Dynon installation manual indicating support for the 300XL, and there were some mentions of it on the wiki and a few posts in the forum. So, I sourced a refurbished unit for $2200 - can't beat that price, and bought the Dynon ARINC-429 adapter and rolled up my sleeves. Long story short, I got it to work and it seems like it will be great option, but I thought I'd share my experience as it was not exactly straightforward.
So, first off, here's what the Garmin 300XL manual indicates are the minimum installation requirements for the 300XL to be used for IFR:
• Pressure Altitude Device—This device delivers pressure altitude data to the GPS 155XL/GNC
300XL. This data comes from an encoder or altitude data digitizer.
• Manual Course Device—This device delivers the manual course selected to the GPS
155XL/GNC 300XL. Course information can come from an analog resolver or from an EFIS via
the ARINC 429 bus.
• HSI/CDI Device—This device displays Nav Flag, Left/Right, and To/From information. This
can be displayed on the EFIS, HSI or CDI.
• External Annunciators and Switches:
• NAV Annunciator
• GPS Annunciator
• NAV/GPS Switch
• HOLD Annunciator
• AUTO Annunciator
• GPS Sequence Switch
• Approach Active Annunciator (not required for A2)
• Approach Arm Annunciator (not required for A2)
• GPS Approach Switch (not required for A2)
• Message Annunciator
• Arrival Annunciator
Pretty long list, but lets go thru it.
Pressure altitude - this comes from Skyview via one of the serial ports. One of the options on the serial port output is "Icarus Altitude." This supplies the Garmin 300XL with the pressure altitude it needs.
Manual Course Device - this comes from Skyview over the ARINC interface
HSI/CDI Device - Skyview displays this
When it came to the annunciators, to be honest, I didn't know what an annunciator was for, but they're freaking expensive. One that works with the 300XL is over $1000 used, and its just some switches and indicators. So, I made my own. Its pretty simple, there's a few switches that the 300XL needs (just open or ground), and it outputs a number of negative logic sources that can be used to drive lights or LED's to provide indications.
Here's the ones you need:
Don't need the NAV or GPS indictors or the NAV/GPS switch - Skyview allows you to select either the NAV or GPS source, and provides indication which you're using.
You need a switch for the Seq Hold function, and two LED's to show the SEQ and HOLD indications.
You need a GPS approach switch, and two LED's to indicate ARM and ACTIVE GPS modes.
Finally, you need two LED's to show the MSG and ARRIVAL indications.
I've attached a pic of the annunciator I used. The wiring of the SEQ HOLD switch and SEQ and HOLD indicators is shown in the back of the 300XL installation manual. The wiring of the other indicators is very straightforward, just supply +12V to one side of the indicator light, and wire the other to the 300XL (for example, the ARM GPS indicator goes to Pin 28 of the DB-37 connector).
So, once you've got the annunciator figured out, the only thing left is connecting the 300XL to the Skyview panel. Figure D-8 of the 300XL installation manual describes the connections to the ARINC-429 interface. Although the Skyview installation manual (Fig 86) only indicates that you should connect to the 300XL ARINC outputs, I connected the inputs as well, as I'm pretty sure it needs bidirectional communication. So, instead of just pins 15/16 on the 300XL -> pins 11/23 on the Skyview ARINC, also connect pins 32/33 on the 300XL -> pins 12/24 on the Skyview ARINC. Also, connect the RS-232 output on the 300XL (Pin 24) to the Serial RX on the ARINC (pin 3).
As mentioned earlier, you need to get the pressure altitude from the Dynon the the 300XL, and this is done using one of the Skyview serial outputs configured in Icarus mode to the RS-232 input on the 300XL (pin 17 on the DB-37).
Just about there. Once its all connected, go to the setup in the 300XL (hold Enter when you power it on), use the following settings:
I/O Channel 1: Input: icarus-alt, Output: aviation
ARINC 429 Channel, Input: Course/heading, Output: Collins PL2 EFS
APPR switch: instld
Use the annunciator test and switch test to see if your annunciator panel is functioning properly.
Setup the ARINC in the Skyview setup (pretty straighforward), and the serial out port you used to icarus (doesn't matter the altitude resolution you select).
Now, you should be good to go! IFR GPS for ~$2500.
One bug I've found in the Skyview software is that you should be able to select whether you want to see either the Skyview flight plan or the 300XL flight plan from the flight plan menus. But, it doesn't allow me to select the 300XL flight plan to be displayed. But, there is a screen-touch button that allows selection of which flight plan to display, and that works fine.
I've had a few flights with it, and am able to put in a GPS flight plan on the 300XL, and the AP follows it nicely, and the flight plan is displayed on the Skyview.
Hope this is helpful.
Geoff
I've been using the Dynon Skyview in my Velocity and love it. I've flown VFR, and want to get my IFR rating and was looking for avionics options to support IFR. I had a Garmin SL30 that works well with Skyview and that would make me legal, but only allow ILS approaches. I looked at installing a 430, but even used they are still $6K plus. So, after consulting a few folks, I landed on the Garmin 300XL. Its an IFR GPS, but will not provide any vertical nav, so no precision GPS approaches. But, it opens up all the other approaches that use DME or ADF and I'll have my SL30 for precision ILS approaches, so I thought it would be a good options. Also, being able to file enroute IFR seems much easier than having to navigate between VOR beacons.
I did see some documentation in the Dynon installation manual indicating support for the 300XL, and there were some mentions of it on the wiki and a few posts in the forum. So, I sourced a refurbished unit for $2200 - can't beat that price, and bought the Dynon ARINC-429 adapter and rolled up my sleeves. Long story short, I got it to work and it seems like it will be great option, but I thought I'd share my experience as it was not exactly straightforward.
So, first off, here's what the Garmin 300XL manual indicates are the minimum installation requirements for the 300XL to be used for IFR:
• Pressure Altitude Device—This device delivers pressure altitude data to the GPS 155XL/GNC
300XL. This data comes from an encoder or altitude data digitizer.
• Manual Course Device—This device delivers the manual course selected to the GPS
155XL/GNC 300XL. Course information can come from an analog resolver or from an EFIS via
the ARINC 429 bus.
• HSI/CDI Device—This device displays Nav Flag, Left/Right, and To/From information. This
can be displayed on the EFIS, HSI or CDI.
• External Annunciators and Switches:
• NAV Annunciator
• GPS Annunciator
• NAV/GPS Switch
• HOLD Annunciator
• AUTO Annunciator
• GPS Sequence Switch
• Approach Active Annunciator (not required for A2)
• Approach Arm Annunciator (not required for A2)
• GPS Approach Switch (not required for A2)
• Message Annunciator
• Arrival Annunciator
Pretty long list, but lets go thru it.
Pressure altitude - this comes from Skyview via one of the serial ports. One of the options on the serial port output is "Icarus Altitude." This supplies the Garmin 300XL with the pressure altitude it needs.
Manual Course Device - this comes from Skyview over the ARINC interface
HSI/CDI Device - Skyview displays this
When it came to the annunciators, to be honest, I didn't know what an annunciator was for, but they're freaking expensive. One that works with the 300XL is over $1000 used, and its just some switches and indicators. So, I made my own. Its pretty simple, there's a few switches that the 300XL needs (just open or ground), and it outputs a number of negative logic sources that can be used to drive lights or LED's to provide indications.
Here's the ones you need:
Don't need the NAV or GPS indictors or the NAV/GPS switch - Skyview allows you to select either the NAV or GPS source, and provides indication which you're using.
You need a switch for the Seq Hold function, and two LED's to show the SEQ and HOLD indications.
You need a GPS approach switch, and two LED's to indicate ARM and ACTIVE GPS modes.
Finally, you need two LED's to show the MSG and ARRIVAL indications.
I've attached a pic of the annunciator I used. The wiring of the SEQ HOLD switch and SEQ and HOLD indicators is shown in the back of the 300XL installation manual. The wiring of the other indicators is very straightforward, just supply +12V to one side of the indicator light, and wire the other to the 300XL (for example, the ARM GPS indicator goes to Pin 28 of the DB-37 connector).
So, once you've got the annunciator figured out, the only thing left is connecting the 300XL to the Skyview panel. Figure D-8 of the 300XL installation manual describes the connections to the ARINC-429 interface. Although the Skyview installation manual (Fig 86) only indicates that you should connect to the 300XL ARINC outputs, I connected the inputs as well, as I'm pretty sure it needs bidirectional communication. So, instead of just pins 15/16 on the 300XL -> pins 11/23 on the Skyview ARINC, also connect pins 32/33 on the 300XL -> pins 12/24 on the Skyview ARINC. Also, connect the RS-232 output on the 300XL (Pin 24) to the Serial RX on the ARINC (pin 3).
As mentioned earlier, you need to get the pressure altitude from the Dynon the the 300XL, and this is done using one of the Skyview serial outputs configured in Icarus mode to the RS-232 input on the 300XL (pin 17 on the DB-37).
Just about there. Once its all connected, go to the setup in the 300XL (hold Enter when you power it on), use the following settings:
I/O Channel 1: Input: icarus-alt, Output: aviation
ARINC 429 Channel, Input: Course/heading, Output: Collins PL2 EFS
APPR switch: instld
Use the annunciator test and switch test to see if your annunciator panel is functioning properly.
Setup the ARINC in the Skyview setup (pretty straighforward), and the serial out port you used to icarus (doesn't matter the altitude resolution you select).
Now, you should be good to go! IFR GPS for ~$2500.
One bug I've found in the Skyview software is that you should be able to select whether you want to see either the Skyview flight plan or the 300XL flight plan from the flight plan menus. But, it doesn't allow me to select the 300XL flight plan to be displayed. But, there is a screen-touch button that allows selection of which flight plan to display, and that works fine.
I've had a few flights with it, and am able to put in a GPS flight plan on the 300XL, and the AP follows it nicely, and the flight plan is displayed on the Skyview.
Hope this is helpful.
Geoff
