FreeFlight promo for dual-band upgrade
Printed From: Avidyne
Category: Avidyne General
Forum Name: SkyTrax Series ADS-B Receivers & Transceivers
Forum Description: Topics on the Avidyne SkyTrax 978 MHz Receivers & Transceivers
URL: https://avidynelive.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=2089
Printed Date: 26 Mar 2026 at 3:29pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.07 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: FreeFlight promo for dual-band upgrade
Posted By: paulr
Subject: FreeFlight promo for dual-band upgrade
Date Posted: 13 Oct 2020 at 11:05am
I got an email today from FreeFlight announcing a US$2500 rebate with trade-in of a RANGR:
I emailed them to ask if that also applies to SkyTrax units. They responded and said "we'd be happy to help," but no word yet on what exactly they're willing to offer.
If you want to know more, I'd suggest mailing Ashley Ring (aring@freeflightsystems.com) to express your interest.
|
Replies:
Posted By: paulr
Date Posted: 13 Oct 2020 at 11:15am
|
FWIW, it looks like the model with the rebate is https://sarasotaavionics.com/avionics/rangr-xvr" rel="nofollow - this one , which Sarasota lists for $6200. Soooo... maybe not such a killer deal after all. We shall see.
https://sarasotaavionics.com/avionics/rangr-xvr
|
Posted By: rpostmo
Date Posted: 16 Oct 2020 at 4:48am
|
That kind of price spells a death knell for the AXP-340. |
Posted By: paulr
Date Posted: 16 Oct 2020 at 4:51am
| That's what I told FreeFlight. $6200 for their box? Why? Even with the rebate, I could pay $3700 for their box or $4200 for a GTX345, then remove and sell my AXP340 and SkyTrax 100 and end up maybe paying $2500 out of pocket total. That's not a compelling argument in favor of FreeFlight's box. |
Posted By: oskrypuch
Date Posted: 16 Oct 2020 at 11:06am
|
The price shown is $5300. Was that a typo on their site earlier? IAC, if I was going to do something, I'd sell my AXP-322 and slide in a Lynx 9000R. * Orest
|
Posted By: paulr
Date Posted: 19 Oct 2020 at 2:45am
| The default choice at https://sarasotaavionics.com/avionics/rangr-xvr shows you the regular receiver-- you have to choose "dual band" from the pulldown and then you'll see that it's USD$900 more than the regular one. Madness. |
Posted By: oskrypuch
Date Posted: 19 Oct 2020 at 7:08am
|
Thanks, I only noticed that after I posted, thought I had deleted my post. $6200 it is. Pricey. * Orest
|
Posted By: HenryM
Date Posted: 19 Oct 2020 at 10:33am
| I e-mailed Ashley Ring, but didn't get a response. |
Posted By: TurboPA30
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2020 at 11:04am
| What do you get by pulling something that works fine and gives you all the traffic you need? Better than what you have would only be teh addition of active traffic. |
Posted By: HenryM
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2020 at 1:19pm
| I have been in several circumstances without tower reception, so a dual-band receiver lets me receive most traffic nearby directly. A UAT receiver misses most traffic, since I think most planes transmit on 1090. |
Posted By: n7ifr
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2020 at 1:56pm
|
If you set your Transponder saying you have only 978, then you will also get ground ADS-R with the 1090 targets translated to 978 for your receiver. Tom W.
|
Posted By: HenryM
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2020 at 2:17pm
|
When you are not receiving ADS-R (no ground stations), a dual band receiver will get all planes that are nearby, whether they have UAT (I think the minority of planes) or 1090ES transponders. I have had this situation occur relatively often. I have an MLB100 UAT-only receiver. If you are (receiving a ground station, then this is not really an issue because the ground station will (theoretically at least) send you whatever you are not receiving plus perhaps some primary mode C targets. A single-band UAT receiver should be all you need. A dual band receiver is also useful when you cross the border. There are quite a few planes there that have ADS-B because they come to the US, but there are no towers to send up ADS-R.
|
Posted By: n7ifr
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2020 at 4:06pm
|
Yes, I would agree that without the ground ADS-R, and no TCAS, then the dual band would be great to receive 1090 info. Tom
|
Posted By: TurboPA30
Date Posted: 16 Nov 2020 at 4:55am
| Although when you are without radar coverage, the active traffic is still the only way to see other TXP equipped planes. You can get used active traffic systems for less than the delta in between a single and a dual band receiver new. |
Posted By: n7ifr
Date Posted: 16 Nov 2020 at 5:24am
|
Wow - So there is still a "market" for our used TAS units... Not that I would part with it. I just "Upgraded" my failing MLB (aka Navworx/Skytrax100) to the new Skytrax100B, broke down and paid the Aspen Unlocks (PFD/MFD), and still display the TAS605A: Love the combo: . 978 UAT on Aspens and IFD540 #2 . 1090 (TAS-A plus ADSB) on IFD540 #1. Tom W.
|