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Low-Cost ADS-B: Trig Avionics, NavWorx

In all the years weve been covering avionics, no piece of technology has been more confusing, uncertain and changeable as ADS-B. While NextGen may be the epitome of force-fed government technology, you'll eventually need to comply with an ADS-B mandate.The equipage mandate is still on schedule for the year 2020. Thats a long time given the rapidly changing nature of avionics. Buying equipment now is risky, yet the race for affordable ADS-B solutions has begun. Some are even introducing low-cost portable ADS-B products, an idea thats putting consumers at ease. Which low-cost products will withstand the scrutiny of the FAA and the test of time? We don't know. But here are some contenders.

Larry Anglisano
Verified

In all the years weve been covering avionics, no piece of technology has been more confusing, uncertain and changeable as ADS-B. While NextGen may be the epitome of force-fed government technology, you’ll eventually need to comply with an ADS-B mandate.

The equipage mandate is still on schedule for the year 2020. Thats a long time given the rapidly changing nature of avionics. Buying equipment now is risky, yet the race for affordable ADS-B solutions has begun. Some are even introducing

low-cost portable ADS-B products, an idea thats putting consumers at ease.

Which low-cost products will withstand the scrutiny of the FAA and the test of time? We don’t know. But here are some contenders.

FreeFlight Systems

Texas-based FreeFlight shows the most promise for a certified and compliant ADS-B solution, in our view. The company provide high-end GPS products to numerous markets (including aviation) and has ADS-B products expected to be TSOd by years end. The products are UAT-based, which is 978 MHz in and out for weather and traffic.

When we spoke with FreeFlights Jamie Luster, we sensed a dedication to bring to market products that meet the FAAs stringent specifications while ensuring the consumer buys a product that will go the uncertain ADS-B distance. FreeFlight openly admitted that low-end and non-certified products spawned from this process will be useful, but temporary solutions. They have a first-hand look at what it takes to meet the ADS-B TSO.

The FreeFlight product line consists of the RANGR 978MHz-series of datalink systems. The RANGR line offers several reasonably low-cost, lightweight solutions for becoming ADS-B compliant and adding datalink traffic and weather to the cockpit. FreeFlight told us their RANGR 978MHz solution will be fully ADS-B compliant, will meet the requirements of the mandate, can be installed easily with an STC provided by FreeFlight Systems and offers both datalink and traffic benefits with the transceiver models. Further, they offer an “E” version of the RANGR product for the experimental market designed for upgrade to a fully-TSOd version. While the experimental market has always enjoyed a certain freedom to do what they please with their own aircraft, its doubtful the FAA will treat them differently when it comes to operating in the NextGen environment.

The proposed RANGR product is available with or without an integral WAAS GPS and can be saddled up with remote receivers through ARINC and Serial data. The units are diversity-capable for connecting with top and bottom L-Band antennas.

Prices vary across the line, so reference the chart on page 17. Also note that UAT

Larry Anglisano

Editor in Chief Larry Anglisano has been a staple at Aviation Consumer since 1995. An active land, sea and glider pilot, Larry has over 30 years’ experience as an avionics repairman and flight test pilot. He’s the editorial director overseeing sister publications Aviation Safety magazine, IFR magazine and is a regular contributor to KITPLANES magazine with his Avionics Bootcamp column.