Navworx has ceased to do business... |
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ddgates
Senior Member Joined: 12 Aug 2011 Location: Deer Valley Status: Offline Points: 1100 |
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Posted: 19 Oct 2017 at 2:00pm |
I guess this leaves those of us who have skytrax boxes orphaned.
How does Avdyne see this?
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David Gates
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Ibraham
Senior Member Joined: 21 May 2016 Location: KHWO Status: Offline Points: 363 |
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Looking at the AD, it does not apply to Skytrax 100 (Navworx Part #200-0011), but eliminates all the support and updates.
PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES1.The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows: Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. [Amended] 2.The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD): (a) ApplicabilityThis AD applies to the following NavWorx, Inc., Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Universal Access Transceiver units (unit) installed on aircraft certificated in any category, including experimental: (1) Model ADS600-B part number (P/N) 200-0012; (2) Model ADS600-B P/N 200-0013; and (3) Model ADS600-EXP P/N 200-8013 |
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ddgates
Senior Member Joined: 12 Aug 2011 Location: Deer Valley Status: Offline Points: 1100 |
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And operationally makes it unlikely any firmware updates will be forthcoming, e.g. baud rate adjustment to allow display on other devices, e.g. Aspen MFDs which many of have (and which we were hoping to see happen). I guess that is the downside of buying rebranded equipment.
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David Gates
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Gring
Senior Member Joined: 30 Dec 2011 Location: Kingston, NY Status: Offline Points: 737 |
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Do we know any of this as fact? It's a big leap from Navworx closing down to "no support and update of skytrax products". I'd be careful drawing conclusions like that until the facts are in. Perhaps there is IP that Avidyne owns that allows the continuation of the Skytrax products - uninterrupted...Only Avidyne knows the contractual agreements in place with Navworx. Just sayin...
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tony
Senior Member Joined: 06 Dec 2011 Location: Atlanta Status: Offline Points: 466 |
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Note to Avidyne: I'd be willing to pay for a software update to my IFD so I could get traffic and weather from my Stratus via the WiFI connection. |
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ddgates
Senior Member Joined: 12 Aug 2011 Location: Deer Valley Status: Offline Points: 1100 |
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Gring:
Quoting the navworx web site. From their index.html page (which is now the only page visible): "The ADS600-B Gen 2.0 product utilizes a GPS module from a third-party vendor. Although the vendor represented their GPS module met 14 CFR 91.227, the FAA recently determined the GPS module does not meet 14 CFR 91.227. We are unable to sell the ADS600-B, or provide AD updates, for either certified or experimental aircraft. Therefore, we are not currently conducting any business and have ceased operations. We will provide updates if they become available." (EDIT: emphasis mine) I think if they were conducting other business they would have not addressed this in this way. David Edited by ddgates - 19 Oct 2017 at 5:31pm |
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David Gates
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TurboPA30
Senior Member Joined: 18 Sep 2010 Location: 27XS Status: Offline Points: 138 |
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Oh, great, just replaced my 3 MLB700 (orphaned by Sirius) with 3 Skytrax 100.
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ddgates
Senior Member Joined: 12 Aug 2011 Location: Deer Valley Status: Offline Points: 1100 |
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I think Going is right, expect Avidyne to stand by these boxes, albeit rebranded.
OTOH, improvements or extended functionality? I would doubt it.
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David Gates
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comancheguytoo
Newbie Joined: 17 Apr 2015 Location: CA Status: Offline Points: 29 |
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Haven't been around for awhile, but surprised not more questions coming up about the Navworx shutdown.
For those of us with the 100s, maybe we'll never need updates. Or like Gring, some allowance exists for Avidyne to make firmware changes, etc.
Wonder if anyone ever installed an MLX series with built in GPS, and if they are out of luck? |
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ansond
Senior Member Joined: 12 Nov 2009 Location: Austin, Texas Status: Offline Points: 151 |
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Hopeful that Avidyne had made source code escrow from Navworx a requirement for their reseller agreement with them... specifically for a situation like this...
Doug
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edanford
Senior Member Joined: 21 Nov 2011 Location: Austin Tx Status: Offline Points: 116 |
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That is a pretty normal business practice for OEM products.
Hope they have the code in Human readable form with knowledge of compilers used. |
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Ed
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Melohn
Senior Member Joined: 11 Dec 2013 Location: PHNL Status: Offline Points: 142 |
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Regardless of whether the firmware belongs to Avidyne, or they have access to it to make changes, the biggest problem may be that the hardware units will no longer have anyone to maintain or service them.
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dubs
Groupie Joined: 09 Apr 2016 Location: Tulsa, OK Status: Offline Points: 48 |
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I notice that Avidyne is still listing the SkyTrax100 as a product on its website. I am hoping that Avidyne is working to purchase the product line from NavWorks so that they can service previously sold units, and continue to offer the product in the future. Avidyne doesn't need the problem GPS receiver so long as it's connected to an IFD. Obviously, they should only buy the product line and not the company to avoid inheriting contingent liabilities.
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Baron C55
Tulsa, OK |
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chflyer
Senior Member Joined: 24 Jan 2013 Location: LSZK Status: Offline Points: 1038 |
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A comment from Simpson would be useful and possible regarding 1) new SkyTrax100 still for sale? 2) support for sold/installed SkyTrax100. That would/should close off all the questions on this subject.
Future development is really a separate subject, and Avidyne might not be ready to make any statement on that att, even if it is of significant concern to new purchasers. I suspect that interest in the SkyTrax100 has fallen off a cliff since this announcement, and will only come back once the future of the product is clearer. Simpson has stated (or left the impression) that Avidyne is not tied to NavWorx for the SkyTrax100, at least in the context of the AD which suggests that they may be able to continue maintenance support. |
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Vince
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HenryM
Senior Member Joined: 13 Oct 2017 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 502 |
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The AD applies to PN 200-0012 and -013. The SkyTrax is PN 200-011, so not part of the AD.
The whole AD issue is about problems with ADS-B Out and the SIL transmitted. The SkyTrax is only a receiver for ADS-B In, so it shouldn’t have any issues. Having said that, I’m still concerned about future support, since I have one of these. We’ll see what Avidyne comes up with. I wouldn’t mind seeing a dual-band unit. Henry |
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comancheguytoo
Newbie Joined: 17 Apr 2015 Location: CA Status: Offline Points: 29 |
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+1 for dual band unit
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AUXAIR
Senior Member Joined: 01 Jul 2015 Location: KSUA Status: Offline Points: 138 |
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+2
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David E.
Cessna 182 RG II |
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bellanca1730a
Groupie Joined: 04 Jul 2013 Location: Tampa Status: Offline Points: 63 |
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+3
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Sean Andrews
Bellanca Super Viking |
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tony
Senior Member Joined: 06 Dec 2011 Location: Atlanta Status: Offline Points: 466 |
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+4 for a dual band
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Stiletto1
Groupie Joined: 06 Aug 2017 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 70 |
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+5 for a REMOTE dual band in with internal WAAS, AHRS, and BT all ADSB data and position source to an IPad - basically a competitor to a GTX-345R. In this way you would get a back up NAV to the IFD, being non-reliant on the IFD for position source - squawk last code entered should IFD go dark - Be nice if it could choose best position source and switch over if it lost active one.
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C310C
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Ibraham
Senior Member Joined: 21 May 2016 Location: KHWO Status: Offline Points: 363 |
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Dream on
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Stiletto1
Groupie Joined: 06 Aug 2017 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 70 |
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Interesting response. The Gword GTX-345R does all of that now, except for selecting from two GPS position sources. Unfortunately the IFD can't control the 345R.
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C310C
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dubs
Groupie Joined: 09 Apr 2016 Location: Tulsa, OK Status: Offline Points: 48 |
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To anyone's knowledge, has Avidyne commented on this situation at all?
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Baron C55
Tulsa, OK |
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Ibraham
Senior Member Joined: 21 May 2016 Location: KHWO Status: Offline Points: 363 |
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The Avidyne website still has the Skytrax 100 listed there. The same page has a picture of the EX5000, but to this date the MFD is not able to display ADS-B weather or traffic pending software release 8.2, that has been in development since the MLB 100 was announced over 3 years ago.
Lincoln, MA – Thursday, October 9, 2014 – Avidyne Corporation, a leading provider of integrated avionics and safety systems for general aviation aircraft, introduced the MLB100 Datalink Receiver for ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) IN. The MLB100 is designed to provide ADS-B traffic and Flight Information System-Broadcast (FIS-B) weather information for display on Avidyne’s new IFD540 and IFD440 FMS/GPS/NAV/COMs, as well as EX600, EX500 and EX5000 Multi-Function Displays (MFD). http://www.avidyne.com/news/press.asp?release=302 The last news release was in June 2017, nothing about Navworx yet, not sure if that is good or bad. http://www.avidyne.com/products/978/index.html |
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AviSimpson
Senior Member Joined: 31 Mar 2015 Location: Lincoln, MA Status: Offline Points: 765 |
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Avidyne has been actively managing the relationship with NavWorx. We have a more than adequate supply on hand to fulfill orders. We understand that some customers may have some concern over the longevity of this ADS-B product and Avidyne is committed to continuing a repair and/or replacement process for all our existing and future customers. We will have more to add on this soon.
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Simpson Bennett
Avidyne Corporation Product Manager |
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dubs
Groupie Joined: 09 Apr 2016 Location: Tulsa, OK Status: Offline Points: 48 |
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Thank you for replying, and giving us some insight.
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Baron C55
Tulsa, OK |
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