GNS 430/530 navdata

[bdavidn]

Recently subscribed to PE to help keep current on my real world instrument flying and it has been a great resource so far.

The plane I rent just got the 530 back from the shop and is now WAAS enabled. I have the RealityXP 430/530, but the most updated navdata I was able to find for it was from 2010 (looks like the latest GTN trainer bin files won't work for the GNS trainer). Normally, I would be fine just doing doing ILS and RNAV approaches that haven't changed much, but with how prevalent LPV approaches are becoming, it would be great to get something a little more current. Does anyone have a more recent bin file that is compatible with the 430/530 trainer they'd be willing to share?

Thanks!

-Bryan New

[Ryan B]

Send me a PM

[bdavidn]

Thanks Ryan!

[labbadabba]

Send me a PM

Hey, don't hold out on us man! : )

[dhplane]

I recently got an update for my RXP 530 as of April, 2015 from Jetline Systems. I don't know how to make this available to others, or even if I'm allowed to... but maybe Jetline can make it available on some basis to others as well... it's worth a try, it really makes a difference compared to the default version.

[Ryan B]

Send me a PM

Hey, don't hold out on us man! : )

I didn't see a PM from you.

[bdavidn]

I've hit a bit of a roadblock with the RealityXP GNS. The lack of ability to update the navdata has basically made it unusable for me. I was using a 2017 worldwide.bin file that was working great, but my home airport (KSBP) recently changed the RNAV approach by adding a new fix and changing course headings, so not being able to update this for my PE flying has created issues for my real-world flying. I would be willing to pay Garmin for an update once a year but I rent and Garmin makes you enter serial numbers and aircraft information to be able to purchase.

After a lot of research, it appears my options are pretty limited. I have been doing some research on the Mindstar GNS units that use realnavdata in order to keep their database updated. Does anyone use the Mindstar GNS 430 or 530? I've seen a couple forums where people have said they can crash after a couple of hours and that some features of the real-world units are missing, but can't seem to pin down what. Would love to stick with the Reality XP v2 units as they model the real units quite accurately since they use Garmin's trainer, but as more approaches are added or changed, it's going to be a problem in the long run. Should also mention I'm on FSX:SE and as much as I would love to upgrade my virtual avionics, my real-world rental aircraft options use the GNS 430 or 530 so would like to stick with those as I mainly use FSX and PE for IFR practice.

Appreciate any input!

-Bryan

[Keith Smith]

The issue is that Reality XP is built upon a foundation that they don't control (the Garmin trainer). Your choices are to either subscribe to Garmin and learn how to extract the BIN file so you can use it with the Garmin trainer, or swap to another solution. As you pointed out, MindStar would be a good option. There may be certain elements which aren't perfectly simulated, but if you're already comfortable with the flows of the Garmin 430, then it won't matter a great deal.

Case in point, I use the stock xplane 530 which is a far cry from the real unit (LOTS of missing features). I don't care a great deal about the missing features because it's not a task that I really need to train at this point. If you share that same mindset, then swapping to MindStar and using the RealNav updates will be a good move for you and a more sustainable platform than the Garmin trainer. I love what RealityXP achieved, however, they're putting users in a really tough spot, because they're producing a perfect fidelity trainer with ancient nav data that isn't easily updated.

[bdavidn]

Appreciate the input Keith. Agreed that having an accurate database is more important than every feature working, I just want to make sure some of the more basic stuff like vertical guidance on LP approaches works (at least the ones that have them), as I see in the forums that that used to be an issue, but those posts were 3-4 years ago so not sure if that has been resolved since then.

I'm not too worried if the Aux page doesn't show up exactly as it would in the real thing, I just want to make sure the main navigation like direct to behavior and flight plans operate close to the way they do in the real unit. Reviews seem to be far and few between and their website lacks a lot of specifications, so tough to get a good idea of what they do and do not model. I'm sure I'll make the plunge at some point since not be able to fly the main approach to my home airport is a dealbreaker.

-Bryan