HOW ABOUT SOME TRADE-IN BUCKS?
As long as manufacturers keep tossing new portable ADS-B traffic and weather receivers at the saturated market, why not sweeten the deal and at least offer some trade-in allowance for buyers left holding barely broken-in units? Even Apple takes old stuff in trade, and I suppose you could unload them on the used market like I do with pricey guitar pedals—a vigorous market where new stuff comes out every week. We otherwise found a good value in our long-term field report on ForeFlight’s Sentry Plus portable ADS-B receiver. Made by uAvionix, it’s a feature-rich unit with a good AHRS and a smart built-in CO detector, and the set has exclusive connectivity with the ForeFlight Mobile app. With solid performance, excellent sales support through Sporty’s and a palatable, although hardly inexpensive, $799 price tag, I suppose it’ll continue to be a decent seller, especially for loyal ForeFlight users. But how good can these gadgets get, and how many features do buyers really want in a battery-powered portable? For me, a bulletproof receiver and CO detector is more than enough. And keep the price south of $500, which is smartly what ForeFlight does with its middle-of-the-line Sentry. Cheaper yet is the de-featured Sentry Mini.
A couple of years ago when the ADS-B rush was over, Editor-at-Large Paul Bertorelli challenged me to a little wager that the market has seen the last of gee-whiz portable ADS-B gadgets. I disagreed and ended up smoking him on the bet because not long after, maybe at AirVenture the following month, Dynon and ForeFlight both released fresh receivers into a market where buyers were numb with choices. The Sentry Plus seems to sit at the top of the food chain, based on standard features. But what other features can entice buyers who by now have spent real money on ADS-B, including permanent-mount ADS-B Out gear for the mandate? I’m not sure, and even more unsure why manufacturers don’t offer trade-in value on these portable receivers. With supply chain troubles, maybe the recycled units can be of some value. Regardless, if I recently forked over $599 for a good-performing Sentry (still in the product line), it would be tough to drop another $799 on the now flagship Plus, as good as the unit is. But there are buyers who always need the latest stuff, although I suspect that crowd is dwindling.