Good day,

I just bought reality XP GNS430 to X plane 11, I have been very seriously disappointed to learn that its database is over 10 years old (running off the garmin trainer), I have been more disappointed to later learn that in order to keep its database up to date, I'd need an actual Garmin subscription which costs a lot of money (ref: 

I spent hours trying to find an email on the website to no avail - it all referred me to this forum over and over again.

 

The whole reason I bought this product is to practice my IFR recency and practice for upcoming IPCs without having to hire a simulator/aeroplane that costs a lot of money,  but since having a recent database costs an immense amount of money, I find that it is not worth is to make the investment.

 

if there is a way to update my Nav Database that is of REASONABLE cost, I would appreciate that, Im just really really disappointed to learn this .

Hi,

I'm sorry the out-the-box experience didn't fulfill your expectations. Please allow me to clarify:

1. The GNS User's Manual freely available on our website prior purchase mentions the Garmin trainer is the most recent v3.3 main software version released in 2010 (p4).

Many other customers are reporting they don't find much changes between the DB which is included and the current ones. However, should you want to update the database it is possible and I'd suggest you start reading the recommended posts at the top of the dedicated discussion found here:

 

2. The GNS installs a plugin which can display the GNS screen with or without the GNS bezel both in popup windows and on the 3D cockpit. It can't be automated because there is no way to automatically know where the GNS can be in any given panel, but there are solutions.

There are many aircraft offering a RXP configuration by default which consists most of the time in enabling the GNS in the RXP plugin menu to make it automagicaly appear on the 3D panel.

Otherwise, there is a tutorial in the RXP User's Manual guiding you step by step to embed the GNS in the default B58 (p.24). This method applies to most if not all aircraft.

Last but not least, other customers applying the tutorial to the letter are sharing their work in the dedicated discussion here:

3. Reality XP is the developer of the product, F1 is our e-commerce procurement partner handling payment only, avsim.com is hosting our official support forum.

I see two new members here making their first posts.  First, welcome.  I am another user like you.  Been here since 1998.  It is a great place to share experiences and to build on the experiences of others.  Again, welcome.  You can expect to find a lot of that here.

First recommendation is to start your own topics when you need help.  When you post your own issue as a response to someone else's post it gets confusing.  So you see a response.  Was it a response to you?  Or to him?  OK.

Please realize that there are multiple developers involved in any avionics installation you attempt.  There is the simulator itself, then the aircraft model developer, then the avionics developer.  In a perfect world we would like them to work closely together.  The world is not perfect.  Sometimes that happens.  Often times it does not.  Much of the reason for that is that this particular avionics developer has updated its products much more recently than add on aircraft developers have updated theirs.  Quite a number of aircraft models from earlier simulators have been brought forward to newer simulators with only the same level of avionics support in their previous releases.

Per NAV databases...  These avionics ride on, or use as their engines so to speak, the respective trainer software from Garmin.  Likely the license agreements that allow that are limited to the state of the trainers themselves.  In the case of the GNS trainers, Garmin has not updated the trainer in years.  Thus the GNS database has not been updated in that trainer.  The GTN series fares better as Garmin has updated that trainer about once a year.  And each trainer update features an updated, but slightly out of date NAV database.  Again, this developer is very likely limited by license agreements.

For almost 35 years since actively flying myself, I have flown simulators.  Over those years I often frequented the base of operations at local airports, greeting and building relationships with active pilots.  I was able over that time span to get hand-me-down just out of date print charts and IAPs (instrument approach plates).  That before these wonderful add on avionics.  Much the same rapport occurs here regarding NAV databases.  Get your head in the game and build some relationships and you may be very happy you did that.

Please take time to acclimate yourselves here on Avsim.  Most questions/issues have been previously discussed, most user-to-user.  Scanning several pages of topic titles here takes a handful of minutes and provides much quicker resolution than venting with another new angry message and waiting hours if not days waiting for a responses.

This is a great place if you allow it to be a great place.  And please understand that issues span multiple developers.  Not fair to attempt to hold just one accountable.

Edited October 20, 20205 yr by fppilot