Apparently not considered in the analysis is the cost of a service if the
encoder drifts out of calibration.
With a separate encoder, it can be cheaper to replace with a new item,
whereas with an embedded encoder it's a costly service with downtime?
My personal preference is for the Filser (with extended squitter and higher
output, for future-proofing), because it is light and compact, and because
it is widely used on the Continent. However there have been recent
additional software problems; still doesn't put me off as the factory is
fixing these.
Duncan Mcf.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rowland Carson" <rowil@clara.net>
Sent: Friday, August 22, 2008 9:42 PM
Subject: Re: Europa-List: Mode S transponders
>As my panel is optimised for a 6.25" wide
>avionics stack the only transponder that seems
>to fit the bill looks to be the Trig TT31
>transponder. Has anyone else looked into this
>yet? If so what conclusions have you come to?
Nigel - my panel is still in a "soft" state so I
don't have your contsraints, but of those I've
looked at under 2k I am leaning towards the
Filser TRT800 which has the advantage of a
built-in alticoder. Both the Becker
BXP6401-2-(01) and the TRIG TT31 need an external
coder which adds to the cost. The Becker is the
shortest at 205mm and the Filser the lightest at
600g - the Trig is 1350g but puts out 240W
compared to only 100W for the Filser.
Incidentally the Garmin GTX328 while too long for
a Europa panel at 286mm also lacks the extended
squitter needed for ADS-B, so it's theoretically
less future-proof than the others. The Filser is
the only one that provides an active/standby
squawk display like the typical comms radio, and
that's about the only useful feature I see
missing from the TRIG. Filser also do a TRT800A
which seems to be much the same unit as the
TRT800, re-packaged 6.25" wide, so you might
consider that one.
As an electronic engineer, the impresssion I have
of the TRIG and the people who developed it is
that it is well designed and should be a solid
performer, but I have no hard facts or direct
experience to back that up.
I attach a PDF of my comparison sheet - at the
time I prepared it I wasn't able to get anything
about the Becker BXP6403 apart from a new-product
annoucement.
regards
Rowland
--
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