New MLB100 978 MHz ADS-B In Receiver

I fly with them for what they expect to be their final flight test of this and the rest of 10.1.0.0 on Wed afternoon (tomorrow).

Do you anticipate having the Wifi unlocked with version 10.1? If so, have you also been able to secure an agreement with a vendor (hopefully Foreflight) that will allow us to show the traffic on our iPads until you're able to demonstrate what the FAA requires to get it on the 540?

Not exactly.

All the code required for Bluetooth and WiFi operations are in Release10.1.0.0.

But, the FAA has added additional cert requirements on the STC side of that. So, until the extra STC work is done on that (post Rel 10.1.0.0 STC), we have set an internal bit in a manner that disables the Bluetooth and WiFi functionality. Once that extra STC work is done, a software utility will be released (at no $ charge) that you can squirt into the USB port that will take about 4 seconds.

As for the WiFi apps, the vendors all still want to keep mum until you can actually download them from the app stores. So for now, we stay tight-lipped.

To be clear, we did not miss that guidance. There is a clause that permits exactly what we did but an internal argument with the cert authority overroad and the subsequent course reversal came too late in this project.

AviJake wrote: 1.  Yes, that's the plan. 2.  Yes, BUT......the FAA did not like our implementation of the traffic icons so we had to pull that part out of Release 10.1.0.0.  We will be adding it pronto after 10.1 and the 440 are released. 3.  Yes, that's included in Release 10.1.0.0.

Thanks, Jake.

Sounds good to me. I am very interested in your product to make sure the integration works well. Plus I can let my bank account recuperate a bit.

Separately, would there be any benefit to having this particular box be a dual band receiver? (1090 and 978)

I suppose it could pick up some traffic when outside the ADS-B broadcast area.

I have noticed that my current setup doesn't pick up targets until I'm up in the air a bit (above pattern altitude).

Regards, Jim

Jim:

Agreed, active traffic is the best, but I'd rather save that money.

Still, it won't catch them all either. Plenty of airplanes still flying without an electrical system or a transponder.

Regards, Jim

Hi Jake, just received my 540 & 340 yesterday and am awaiting the MLB, but Az does raise one interesting point about supporting 978 only.  Maybe you could clarify. 

Comancheguy,

It sure sounds right to me.

There are many places where we will be outside the "service volume area" or whatever they're calling it.

I saw it on my recent trip to Tucson. In my Garmin Pilot app I was receiving "air to air" but I was not receiving anything from a ground based station.

I was in radar contact with ATC on a discrete squawk code at that time. I was in cruise flight at 11,500' MSL.

A dual band receiver would gets you air to air inbound from either 978 or 1090 Out in addition to ground based transmissions from either.

Regards, Jim

AviJake wrote: Tom W's post above is correct.

Yes, agreed.

Well, there is the MLB-2xx coming out. It is dual band.

There are only two frequencies: 978 & 1090. For air-to-air, and no ground TIS-R repeaters, to receive both, you need ability to receive both (IN) frequencies...

Edited by n7ifr - 18 Apr 2015 at 7:09pm

n7ifr wrote: There are only two frequencies: 978 & 1090. For air-to-air, and no ground TIS-R repeaters, to receive both, you need ability to receive both (IN) frequencies... Hence, the Avidyne combo TAS xxxA (with 1090 IN) and MLB100 (with 978 IN) will pick up both air-to-air, and when within a ground station range (FIS-R), your AXP340 1090 Out triggers both from the ground station, so you receive both as well.    When out in the boonies (no FIS-R), with Air-to-air, the TAS "A" receives 1090 IN and MLB100 receives 978 IN, but someone else out there will only receive your 1090 OUT (AXP340) unless they also have Dual IN receive capability. Tom W.

Edited by MikeK - 18 Apr 2015 at 11:45pm

Is there a dual-band MLB2xx in the works?  Because right now a dual-band Stratus or a dual-band iLevil and an iPad outperforms a 540 and an MLB100. Not to mention price. I really want traffic up on the panel, but (at least for my flying in the west) it needs to capture all traffic, not just when near a ground station.

I do acknowledge certified equipment lags portables so I understand why Avidyne doesn't have it, but I hope they can show a reasonably affordable path with planned equipment or support of other equipment.

flybikeski wrote: Is there a dual-band MLB2xx in the works?  Because right now a dual-band Stratus or a dual-band iLevil and an iPad outperforms a 540 and an MLB100. Not to mention price. I really want traffic up on the panel, but (at least for my flying in the west) it needs to capture all traffic, not just when near a ground station. I do acknowledge certified equipment lags portables so I understand why Avidyne doesn't have it, but I hope they can show a reasonably affordable path with planned equipment or support of other equipment.

There is no device made that captures all the traffic.

SB Jim wrote: There is no device made that captures all the traffic.

Was not looking for one of those.  However seeing more is better than seeing less.  (For me and my flying profile.  A MLB100 looks great for many folks).

Edited by flybikeski - 19 Apr 2015 at 3:55pm

The ARX200 is the successor to the ARX100 -

Edited by ddgates - 19 Apr 2015 at 4:42pm

The Aspen units are rebadged Freeflight units. They will be sold at a bit of a premium, but will not require an unlock code. Freeflight's units apparently will work too, but Aspen will charge an unlock code to let them work.

* Orest

Simpson:

ddgates wrote: Simpson: Not to split hairs, but if you do that TASxxxA and the MLB100, you will also need ADS-B out, e.g. the AXP 340.

"what are you trying to gain from a dual band system that a TAS system wouldn't provide?"

We are trying to find a built-in solution that gives us air-to-air (broadcast) reception of all ADS-B signals without spending the minimum of around $15k it would take to do it with your TAS/MLB100 combination.  Most of us are currently using Stratus or Garmin portable units with iPads and have that capability for well less than $2k.  I know you have an interest in selling your TAS systems but it is just not realistic for you to expect people to follow that route.  For that matter, I believe there really is no future for TAS systems.  I would really like to see you come out with a dual frequency ADS-B receiver to interface to my IFD540/AXP340/EX600 avionics stack.  Until you do, I will continue to rely on my Stratus/iPad combination.


Edited by jblodgett - 20 Apr 2015 at 11:31am

jblodgett wrote: We are trying to find a built-in solution that gives us air-to-air (broadcast) reception of all ADS-B signals without spending the minimum of around $15k it would take to do it with your TAS/MLB100 combination.  Most of us are currently using Stratus or Garmin portable units with iPads and have that capability for well less than $2k.  I know you have an interest in selling your TAS systems but it is just not realistic for you to expect people to follow that route.  For that matter, I believe there really is no future for TAS systems.  I would really like to see you come out with a dual frequency ADS-B receiver to interface to my IFD540/AXP340/EX600 avionics stack.  Until you do, I will continue to rely on my Stratus/iPad combination.

AviSimpson,

I don't think anyone on this forum expects Stratus pricing on certified equipment, so no worries there. I think it will be pretty clear in the market (FreeFlight, Aspen, etc.) what certified dual-band ADS-B receivers should be priced at.  I think the point is your customers want one.  Maybe more so than the MLX2xx products.  But I'm just guessing at that...

I don't think what's being asked for is outrageous. I'll do some research our end so we can see what it would take to get it added to a platform like the MLB/MLX series.