Aside from digital displays and push-button features, entry-level transponders have been slow to advance. That’s changing—since manufacturers are developing new models that save panel space, simplify installation and include advanced features as standard.
Still, transponders are one of the gotta-have systems in which owners hate to invest. For some, the year 2020 ADS-B mandate is a convenient reason to sit on the fence and wait out a transponder upgrade. While this could be smart thinking, you’ll still need traditional 1090 MHz transponder equipment in a full-up ADS-B interface. Here’s a look at entry-level models that get the job done without busting the budget. We looked at digital transponders in the $3000 price point—our idea of a budget upgrade. You’ll be pleasantly surprised that most models are forward-engineered and designed as multi-function devices. Better yet, they might offer growth potential in an evolving ADS-B world, where you’ll still need a traditional transponder.