New Aspen Avionics MAX Upgrade Experience with IFD |
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donemory
Groupie Joined: 18 Feb 2019 Location: Medina, OH Status: Offline Points: 44 |
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Posted: 02 Aug 2019 at 11:01am |
Just checking to see if anyone with an IFDxxx has upgraded their Aspen Avionics to the new MAX upgrade, available & effective, 7/1/19, and what effect or experience, if any, that the upgrade had on the IFD series, good, indifferent, or bad? I have an IFD540 recently installed & I just sent off my 3 Aspen units for the MAX upgrade to be completed in August. I am wondering what to expect? Thanks.
Don
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Don
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Fuz16
Newbie Joined: 08 Dec 2018 Location: Missouri Status: Offline Points: 13 |
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I am following this. I am doing the same upgrade in a few months.
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ddgates
Senior Member Joined: 12 Aug 2011 Location: Deer Valley Status: Offline Points: 1100 |
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+1 next month
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David Gates
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sltx1050
Newbie Joined: 01 Feb 2019 Location: St. Louis, MO Status: Offline Points: 14 |
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soon as well
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Fuz16
Newbie Joined: 08 Dec 2018 Location: Missouri Status: Offline Points: 13 |
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Following, mine will be done in a few months.
Please post a pirep when you get it back. Thanks.
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donemory
Groupie Joined: 18 Feb 2019 Location: Medina, OH Status: Offline Points: 44 |
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All, my 3 Aspen Units arrive today at Aspen Avionics in Albuquerque, NM facility for the MAX upgrade according to tracking numbers & Aspen. Aspen says it’s a 10 business day turnaround. So based on this data, it looks to be end of month or 1st of September to do the re-install. My understanding these units will be ready to go except we will need to run an extra wire to my audio panel for altitude call-outs. I’ll update all on the final outcome once installation completed & flight tested.
Don
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Don
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ddgates
Senior Member Joined: 12 Aug 2011 Location: Deer Valley Status: Offline Points: 1100 |
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An update would be good.
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David Gates
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nrproces
Senior Member Joined: 19 Sep 2016 Location: Marion, MT Status: Offline Points: 142 |
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I was a bit disappointed when I learned that my buggy would be down for a min of 10 days, I have decided to find out if I can delay my upgrade until the winter when I don't fly as much. I will let you know what they say, after the inquiry. |
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Sauce
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ddgates
Senior Member Joined: 12 Aug 2011 Location: Deer Valley Status: Offline Points: 1100 |
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Got my email last night. Aspen wants my units 9/1!
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David Gates
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Robert114
Newbie Joined: 02 Dec 2018 Location: SC Status: Offline Points: 38 |
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My PFD & MFD are also scheduled to go back 9/1. Hoped Aspen would take them one at a time but apparently they both must be done at once. Currently, my IFD 540 calls out “500” feet when I’m descending in the pattern. Anyone know what other altitudes will be called out with the additional wire? They’ll be a lot of “chatter” if it talks every time I drift up or down a couple of hundred feet.
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ddgates
Senior Member Joined: 12 Aug 2011 Location: Deer Valley Status: Offline Points: 1100 |
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From what I have seen, the max can call out ALTITUDE (as set from your altitude tape) and MINIMUM (as set in your minimum window). Useful, but not a robust feature set (yet).
It also calls out TERRAIN and OBSTRUCTIONS. The Max PG is posted on Aspen's web site. Edited by ddgates - 09 Aug 2019 at 4:09pm |
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David Gates
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Robert114
Newbie Joined: 02 Dec 2018 Location: SC Status: Offline Points: 38 |
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My upgrades got pushed back until “October” because of some supplier issue (China tariffs?). My avionics shop says he’s still waiting for August panels to come back. Anyone successful with the Max upgrade?
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Cruiser
Senior Member Joined: 24 Feb 2017 Location: Ohio Status: Offline Points: 139 |
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The screens are brighter and the refresh rate is faster. As for function there is really no change between Aspen and IFD. The GPS passes the same data to the Aspen and the Aspen passes the same data to the IFD that was used before.
Aspen added some features to their screens 1. Banana bar 2, Audio alerts 3. Pop out window for adjustment of baro, Alt, Hdg etc. with bigger numbers that are very easy to see. The big thing is LESS heat generated by the Aspen units. Edited by Cruiser - 01 Oct 2019 at 7:55pm |
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ddgates
Senior Member Joined: 12 Aug 2011 Location: Deer Valley Status: Offline Points: 1100 |
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Nice. Thanks for posting.
Got an email from Aspen yesterday - they still report supply chain issues - and are asking that those who had October upgrade dates but haven't sent in their units to hold until November. I was supposed to have been earlier but have been slipped several times. Beginning to wonder, but it sounds like the upgrade is worth doing.
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David Gates
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donemory
Groupie Joined: 18 Feb 2019 Location: Medina, OH Status: Offline Points: 44 |
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All, well I finally finished in getting the Aspen Max upgrade for my 3 Aspen units although it took 5 weeks instead of 2 as originally stated due to their supply issues. As of this point, I don’t see any difference how the new upgrade communicates with the IFD540 as compared to before. I’m still trying to get the altitude audio hooked up though which is one of the new features. The Aspen Max upgrade did not fix my issue that on final I’m still lined up to the right of course. My Aspen does show the same on the PFD. Now I’m wondering if my AutoControl III autopilot is the culprit. It just recently stopped working on a flight (it worked on the To trip but stopped working on the Return trip) as it will not fly heading or GPSS. Now I can’t continue to problem solve. This might be a blessing to solve my problem however...just don’t know yet as all avionics shops are covered up due to ADSB work so I’m kinda stuck until I have the autopilot looked at! :-(
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Don
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AviSteve
Admin Group Joined: 12 Feb 2018 Location: Melbourne, FL Status: Offline Points: 2213 |
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Try this... 1. Boot into Maintenance Mode 2. Use AUX or touch to get to the Config tab 3. Outer knob to the Main System Config Page 4. Press the knob button 5. Outer knob to the "Appr Roll Steer" item. 6. If the setting is "Enabled", set it to "Disabled". 7. Press the knob button 8. Use AUX or touch to get to the Update tab 9. Press "Done" to boot back into flight mode Setting Appr Roll Steer to disable will cause the IFD to invalidate roll steering outputs during approach. It's possible that the autopilot is seeing roll steering and prioritizing it over deviations. Let us know if that fixes the issue. |
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Steve Lindsley
Avidyne Engineering |
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