iFly GPS Forum

Sam -

If your primary concern is traffic - FORGET ANY ADS-B DEVICE (at least in the near future). I am in the NY Metro area, ADS-B weather works very well but the traffic is virtually useless. My understanding is that until more planes have ADS-B transceivers installed you will get very limited info as the system requires 2 way communication to be effective (a plane with a transceiver must be in your area). I have the skyradar (which is only a receiver) and have flown several flights. On one trip I did receive 2 traffic warnings from the unit. That was the only time traffic has shown up.

The plane I purchsed has a garmin 530 with traffic and its lit up like a xmas tree on most days, traffic everywhere. I also have the smaller zaon unit which I purchased for use while training. Interesting that the 530 will show some traffic that the zaon doesn't and visa versa. The traffic on the 530 is by far superior but the zaon isnt a bad unit. I imagine that their bigger model which gives more specific information is even better but its 3x the price.

If $$$ is a factor, the smaller zaon unit is an amazing value and it works. It doesn't tell you from what direction the traffic is coming but you know if it is above or below, climbing or decending, and how close it is. My flight instructor was also very impressed by this little unit and highly recommends it now. I still keep it on my glare shield as another set of eyes and if I didn't get spoiled by the 530 would have no problem using it as my primary traffic system.

Hope this helps...

Dave

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Dave K

To get my iFly talking to the SkyRadar, I had to update my OS. Ed sent me a link and I updated it using a 256Mb SD card (only works with older SD card). This was Friday, on Saturday I...

...got a chance to put 3.8 hrs on work's C-206 yesterday (to test an electrical fix). It's has a GDL-90 installed and an MX-200 (has a TCAD receiver also). I brought my iFly and SkyRadar receiver along to see how they stack up to an installed ADS-B transceiver. Both ADS-B units showed the same traffic and weather (verified with iPad and SkyRadar app). Like mentioned earlier, traffic will not show unless an ADS-B transmitter has triggered the ground station (I just happened to be triggering them as I went). I like the SkyRadar and feel it was a good purchase. I have the Zaon XRX receiver in my TriPacer (had for 5 years and like it) and don't expect a lot of help from the ADS-B this early in its deployment.

Since I had ADS-B traffic the entire flight, I was able to try and figure out traffic on the iFly. I never really did. The SkyRadar app showed traffic on the base Sectional screen like the MX-200 shows it on the base map. I could never figure out how to get traffic to display on the iFly unless an alert had been issued. I like to begin looking for the traffic before an alert, but if I don't know traffic is there... Anybody see traffic farther out with the iFly? I tried the Weather page and Sectional page.

Kent,

Thanks for the reply. I'm beginning to think that I should wait on the SkyRadar. I agree with you that the technology should be made available to everyone so that we can all see how it will help us. I also see a lot of potential for the unit but only after we get people using ADS-B regularly.

Sam