I'm curious (beyond redundancy) what function two GPSs serve as avionics in modern GA planes? I'm considering doing some panel updates to add the freeware garmin 430 (uploaded last week) based on the FS9 default GPS alongside my Reality XP 530, but I'm not sure what I'd do with it! ;)Thanks,sg(cross posted to reality-xp forums)

Well with the Garmin 530 and 430 it gives you a gps, moving map, com/nav radios and other features. By having both the 530 and 430 in your stack allows you to reduce the amount of things on the panel so you can see everything. Plus you can run to have gps fixes on 2 points so that you can better triangulate your position. All in all, to make things easier, looks better with more room on your panel.

Beyond redundacy in IFR environment (which is highly desirable _ I am not even sure it is legal to fly IFR with a single COM) almost absolutely nothing. Unless for example you want to enjoy extra luxury of having your second 430 used to access other pages (like MAP, PROC, etc) while your primary 530 is fixed say on the primary NAV display. This saves you some keystrokes and you never loose your primary data from the screen.You may also look after your secondary airports using the second unit.But all this assumes that your 430 is another full-fledged Garmin.If this second 430 is based on the FS9 "default" GPS then I am afraid the value is almost nil. The default GPS in FS9 is so far in functionality and graphics quality from the real 430 (or from Reality XP's) that I personally wouldn't bother - but this is my opinion only.Michael J.http://www.reality-xp.com/community/nr/rsc/rxp-higher.jpg

GPS systems have a multitude of information that can be displayed at any one time but, it can't all be on the screen at the same time. Having 2 GPS systems in view at the same time could allow you to have a zoomed in view for detailed terrain info while one is zoomed out so you can see the big picture. You could also have one on map view while the other is on navigation display that gives you better directional info as well as ETA, TAS, GS etc.:)

Thanks for all the input. I thought, with respect to flightsim, that it would be useful to have an additional display, but use the reality xp GNS530 to do the hard work. With the ability to export a flight plan to the default GPS, I think this could work. I'm going to look into what the freeware GNS430 can use from the default GPS and see how it looks. I'll get back to you all later in the week.sg