IFD 5 Series & IFD 4 Series Touch Screen GPS/NAV/COM

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KSN770 IFD540 comparison?

Printed From: Avidyne
Category: Avidyne General
Forum Name: IFD 5 Series & IFD 4 Series Touch Screen GPS/NAV/COM
Forum Description: Topics on Avidyne's IFD 5 Series and IFD 4 Series Touch Screen GPS/NAV/COM
URL: http://forums.avidyne.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=865
Printed Date: 28 Apr 2025 at 6:04pm
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Topic: KSN770 IFD540 comparison?

Posted By: compasst
Subject: KSN770 IFD540 comparison?
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2015 at 8:47am

Does anyone know of a comparison of the KSN770 with the IFD540? One of my IFR students is really impressed with my IFD540. His Turbo C182T came with full King avionics including a passive 5" display. He's considering upgrading to the KSN770 and giving up his pre-release IFD540 slot due to, in part, perceived financial savings. I'm wondering if the KSN770 approaches the IFD540 in features, functions, and usability. It's entry-level price is attractive, but I think the overall cost of installation, features, options, data subscriptions, and the like still favor the IFD540.

Any thoughts or articles or comparison charts available?

Replies:

Posted By: oskrypuch
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2015 at 11:26am

In my view, that would be a bad idea. The KSN770 is pretty good, but the UI is kind of clunky, and it is not as feature rich. I think he would be unhappy with it, after seeing what the IFD540 could do.

There is a flash training demo of the KSN770, as well as an iOS app and PC simulator. Why doesn't he, himself, have a look at that and read through the PG. Best thing is to see it at a trade show, of course.

It is aggressively priced, but if you take that difference, and divide by say, 12 years of operating life, the difference in price becomes largely a non-sequitur.

* Orest

Posted By: LANCE
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2015 at 11:53am

compasst wrote:

Does anyone know of a comparison of the KSN770 with the IFD540? One of my IFR students is really impressed with my IFD540. His Turbo C182T came with full King avionics including a passive 5" display. He's considering upgrading to the KSN770 and giving up his pre-release IFD540 slot due to, in part, perceived financial savings. I'm wondering if the KSN770 approaches the IFD540 in features, functions, and usability. It's entry-level price is attractive, but I think the overall cost of installation, features, options, data subscriptions, and the like still favor the IFD540.

Any thoughts or articles or comparison charts available?

How does he not have his pre-release IFD540 by now? I thought they were all delivered in early 2015.

Posted By: Gring
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2015 at 4:18pm

Please don't take this post as a Bendix King bashing post, it isn't intended to be.

The largest issue with the KNS770 in my opinion is that it's hard to tell if Bendix King is serious about being in the GA market and they don't have a complete offering. It is hard enough to get other manufacturers to talk to Avidyne equipment and I feel that Bendix King doesn't have the resources to make things work. They discontinued their PFD after very limited sales so it is hard to have faith that they'll be able to continue to provide products and updates.

And, the box is not nearly as feature rich and easy to use as the IFD540.

Posted By: AviJake
Date Posted: 02 Nov 2015 at 9:00pm

[/QUOTE]

How does he not have his pre-release IFD540 by now? I thought they were all delivered in early 2015.

[/QUOTE]

So did I.

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Steve Jacobson
sjacobson@avidyne.com