PMS GTN 750 Premium worth it?

[captain420 3,099]

Since I don't believe or like supporting subscription models, is it worth $75 for the lifetime deal? In the past I've probably spent to almost $200+ on all these avionics on various sims from FSX, P3D, X-plane. And this time I just want to be careful where I spend my money. Is the PMS GTN 750/650 in any way better than RXP or Flight1's version? One thing I like about the PMS version is that it uses the navdata of MSFS which makes it easier to update rather than the difficult way of updating it through the garmin trainer. I want something close to the real unit, and since PMS isn't using the garmin trainer, I'm not sure how well it emulates the real world unit. Would like to hear opinions from the community here. Is there anything on the horizon that may be better that I should hold off for?

[btacon 1,789]

17 minutes ago, captain420 said:

Since I don't believe or like supporting subscription models, is it worth $75 for the lifetime deal? In the past I've probably spent to almost $200+ on all these avionics on various sims from FSX, P3D, X-plane. And this time I just want to be careful where I spend my money. Is the PMS GTN 750/650 in any way better than RXP or Flight1's version? One thing I like about the PMS version is that it uses the navdata of MSFS which makes it easier to update rather than the difficult way of updating it through the garmin trainer. I want something close to the real unit, and since PMS isn't using the garmin trainer, I'm not sure how well it emulates the real world unit. Would like to hear opinions from the community here. Is there anything on the horizon that may be better that I should hold off for?

I can’t tell you if it’s worth $75.00. That is up to you and how difficult it is for you to obtain $75.00.

I can tell you it’s worth the $25.00 for one year to unlock the device. It is amazing and every bit as good as its cousins in xp and P3d land. 

That’s what I did and it will take me three years to equal 75.00. I may not even be flying MSFS in 2023 

My 2 cents

-B

[ark 1,290]

 

10 minutes ago, btacon said:

It is amazing and every bit as good as its cousins in xp and P3d land. 

Does the PMS GTN 750 now have the capability to drive the autopilot NAV and APR functions of steam gauge MSFS aircraft?

Al

Edited September 27, 2021 by ark

[Glenn Fitzpatrick 3,798]

There are updates almost daily at present so support and development appears good but whether it is "worth it" depends on your flight sim budget, how often you would use the premium features of the gtn750 and the opportunity cost (what other hardware or addon you might have bought with the same money instead) . I suppose also whether you are confident of ongoing support for the product by PM50.

For example, personally I have stuck with the free one as (aside from the odd flight in the CRJ)  i currently mainly fly VFR and do not have a current Navigraph subscription. However someone that already has Navigraph and who flies IFR all the time - they may well decide otherwise and just buy it.

 

 

Edited September 28, 2021 by Glenn Fitzpatrick

[Glenn Fitzpatrick 3,798]

23 minutes ago, ark said:

 

Does the PMS GTN 750 now have the capability to drive the autopilot NAV and APR functions of steam gauge MSFS aircraft?

Al

With the free version in the JF Arrows you seem to be le to enter a flight plan and it works with the AP, it seems like it loads to the built in MSFS flight plan system - though as a result you do still get occasional MSFS AP glitches - but that is a generic sim issue .

[Alvega 2,124]

I went for the $25/year to be able to test it all the Premium functions and I like it. I also have a Navigraph sub but I wanted the other nice functions like textual metar, weather radar, FPL catalog, airways, user waypoints and so on. It keeps getting better with every update.

[ark 1,290]

15 minutes ago, Glenn Fitzpatrick said:

With the free version in the JF Arrows you seem to be le to enter a flight plan and it works with the AP, it seems like it loads to the built in MSFS flight plan system - though as a result you do still get occasional MSFS AP glitches - but that is a generic sim issue .

So if I understand correctly the PMS GTN 750 will 'automatically' fly a flight plan route. That's interesting, and the reason I asked the question is because I thought not having 'access' to the MSFS AP in order to drive the NAV and APR functions was what was preventing other developers, like RXP, from developing a GTN750 for MSFS. 

Maybe the inability to use the Garmin trainer is more the issue?

Thanks for the feedback,

Al

Edited September 28, 2021 by ark

[ryanbatc 12,838]

Unless they changed how the thing navigates, I don't think it's nearly as good as the old RXP / F1 version was. If someday WT changes the entire navigational capabilities of the base so , and the PMS unit changes as well...then I believe it would be possiblyll even better.

However its database can be updated with the base sim or Navigraph which makes it very viable for a lot of users.

 

[captain420 3,099]

5 minutes ago, ryanbatcund said:

I don't think it's nearly as good as the old RXP / F1 version was.

Could you please elaborate on why you think it's not on par with those units?

[ryanbatc 12,838]

Unless they changed something it still navigates like the default g1000 or GNS.  Wen you load approaches it won't do the full procedure if you have an RNAV approach, it will load a huge arc to the IAF if you select it from a large angle.  Direct to and activate leg functions were quirky.  Maybe the dev has fixed all this I'm not sure.

[captain420 3,099]

3 minutes ago, ryanbatcund said:

Unless they changed something it still navigates like the default g1000 or GNS.  Wen you load approaches it won't do the full procedure if you have an RNAV approach, it will load a huge arc to the IAF if you select it from a large angle.  Direct to and activate leg functions were quirky.  Maybe the dev has fixed all this I'm not sure.

Have you used the latest version of the PMS GTN 750/650?

[ryanbatc 12,838]

Not the premium version.

[btacon 1,789]

From the PMS website, the published added functionality of Premium:

Map waypoint selection
Map waypoint elevation data
Navigraph Charts *
Traffic page
Terrain page
Weather radar
FPL preview
FPL Cumulative distance
FPL Import
FPL Catalog (load and save)
Airways
User waypoints
Textual Metar
VCALC utility

-B

[Ixoye 1,821]

It's definitely worth it, it's perfect for GA aircraft like JF Pipers, especially if you have Navigraph, and you can also load flight plans from Little Nav Map.

[ryanbatc 12,838]

31 minutes ago, Ixoye said:

It's definitely worth it, it's perfect for GA aircraft like JF Pipers, especially if you have Navigraph, and you can also load flight plans from Little Nav Map.

Can it navigate just as well as the NXi?  I'd say the NXi is just about even with the RXP/F1 stuff, well once they add the missed approach stuff.  Features are cool, but actual navigation is my concern.  I guess if people want to part with the cash that's up to them.

edit:  I'm going to try the PMS GTN against the nxi, and maybe against the RXP GTN - see how they differ etc.

Edited September 28, 2021 by ryanbatcund