I am going to buy the Milviz C130 and even though I absolutely LOVE the fact it has an option for an old school radio navigation setup (finally real VOR to VOR, yeah!!!) I am also interested in the available GTN750 options.

Now I do use the WT G1000NXi in the Kodiak 100 and know it pretty well by know but I know nothing about the GTN750. My main problem is: there are two options:

• PMS50 GTN750 GNS530
• TDS GTN750XI

What exactly are the differences? Not only between the two types (750 vs 750NXi) but also between the software (does it use MSFS navdata or Garmin trainer?). I do know the PMS50 has a free version and I might give that a try but perhaps everyone here is using the TDS one because it is superior... I don't know.

Which one should I look into and get? What are people here using mostly? Which one suits the C130 the most? (I hardly buy addon planes so I will probably only use the 750 for the C130 for years to come.) Do they both load plans you setup in the MSFS planner? Can you create 'VNAV approaches' with them like you can with the G1000NXi?

Perhaps someone knows where to find a recent comparison video or review?

But perhaps they can't really be compared...?

As I said: CONFUSION all over. 😉

The TDS. Hands down. Don't buy the other one. (Reasons already states in the many threads here on this forum).

The PMS50 GTN750 runs entirely within MSFS, uses the same Navdata as MSFS, will display flight plans created in the MSFS planner, the and emulates many but not all of the features of the real unit.

The TDS GTN750XI uses the official Garmin Trainer and an external application to run, uses the Garmin dataset (either the one included with trainer or one from a real world unit if you have one), cannot display flight planes created in the MSFS planner and offers all the features of the real unit (though some are obviously not compatible with a sim like SirusXM).

Which is better however very much depends on what feature you want and what matters to you.

1 hour ago, tup61 said:

I am going to buy the Milviz C130 and even though I absolutely LOVE the fact it has an option for an old school radio navigation setup (finally real VOR to VOR, yeah!!!) I am also interested in the available GTN750 options.

Now I do use the WT G1000NXi in the Kodiak 100 and know it pretty well by know but I know nothing about the GTN750. My main problem is: there are two options:

• PMS50 GTN750 GNS530
• TDS GTN750XI

What exactly are the differences? Not only between the two types (750 vs 750NXi) but also between the software (does it use MSFS navdata or Garmin trainer?). I do know the PMS50 has a free version and I might give that a try but perhaps everyone here is using the TDS one because it is superior... I don't know.

Which one should I look into and get? What are people here using mostly? Which one suits the C130 the most? (I hardly buy addon planes so I will probably only use the 750 for the C130 for years to come.) Do they both load plans you setup in the MSFS planner? Can you create 'VNAV approaches' with them like you can with the G1000NXi?

Perhaps someone knows where to find a recent comparison video or review?

But perhaps they can't really be compared...?

As I said: CONFUSION all over. 😉

If you want to fly VOR to VOR, why do you need a payware GTN 750? Get the freeware version of the GNS 530 & GTN 750 and enjoy your C310.

Now if you are interested in a realistic representation of the GTN 750, then watch some YT videos of the TDS GTN units on the various airplanes that supports (i.e. c414) it and you will find that it's just like the P3D version. As good as it gets.

Edited May 4, 20224 yr by DJJose

Okay, thanks all! So the TDS seems to be the one to get. Does the navdata in that trainer ever get updated? I remember from the past (FSX) that the navdata in the trainer often was totally different than the sim. What if you plan a flight with Little Navmap: can you recreate that flight into the TDS version without getting into problems?

1 hour ago, Ricardo41 said:

(Reasons already states in the many threads here on this forum)

I did read a few topics about the other one but I must have missed the negative posts...

20 minutes ago, DJJose said:

If you want to fly VOR to VOR, why do you need a payware GTN 750?

Because I like to do VOR to VOR flights every now and then but not all the time. 😉 I will probably fly with the GPS more often but it's great to have a plane with old school navigation and NO GPS at all (which you have to turn off for old school flying and that just feels odd). Anyway, whenever I do use the GTN I want it to be 'as real as it gets'. so hence my question. The TDS is that one, as I know my now.

22 minutes ago, DJJose said:

Get the freeware version of the GNS 530 & GTN 750 and enjoy your C310.

Didn't know there were freeware versions... Those are mods of the Asobo devices, I presume? (I will check out the TDS anyway but I am just curious what this freeware is.)

You can plan a flight with Little Navmap and use Navigraph charts with PMS, and what I understand you can only use the TDS in US to take full advantage of it.

9 minutes ago, tup61 said:

Okay, thanks all! So the TDS seems to be the one to get. Does the navdata in that trainer ever get updated? I remember from the past (FSX) that the navdata in the trainer often was totally different than the sim. What if you plan a flight with Little Navmap: can you recreate that flight into the TDS version without getting into problems?

I did read a few topics about the other one but I must have missed the negative posts...

Because I like to do VOR to VOR flights every now and then but not all the time. 😉 I will probably fly with the GPS more often but it's great to have a plane with old school navigation and NO GPS at all (which you have to turn off for old school flying and that just feels odd). Anyway, whenever I do use the GTN I want it to be 'as real as it gets'. so hence my question. The TDS is that one, as I know my now.

Didn't know there were freeware versions... Those are mods of the Asobo devices, I presume? (I will check out the TDS anyway but I am just curious what this freeware is.)

Freeware GNS

https://github.com/pimarc/pms50-gns530/releases

Freeware/Payware GTN

https://pms50.com/msfs/

 

2 minutes ago, Ixoye said:

and what I understand you can only use the TDS in US to take full advantage of it.

Er... I think this only applies to the geo-referenced charts? As far as I can see everything else will work worldwide. Would be extremely odd if this addon can only be fully used in the US. I doubt it would be as popular as it is if that would be the case.

Thanks for the links @DJJose

5 minutes ago, tup61 said:

Er... I think this only applies to the geo-referenced charts? As far as I can see everything else will work worldwide. Would be extremely odd if this addon can only be fully used in the US. I doubt it would be as popular as it is if that would be the case.

Thanks for the links @DJJose

I think you need the the ultimate subscription to take advantage of world charts. There are many members that can confirm this for you.

Edited May 4, 20224 yr by DJJose

10 minutes ago, DJJose said:

I think you need the the ultimate subscription to take advantage of world charts.

Er... now it gets confusing again LOL Only the PMS50 has a subscription option, the TDS is a one time purchase...?

Start with the free PMS version and see how you get on first. If you then decide you need more depth you will have a choice to make. 

24 minutes ago, tup61 said:

Er... now it gets confusing again LOL Only the PMS50 has a subscription option, the TDS is a one time purchase...?

Yes. The TDS is a one time purchase. That's another reason to buy the TDS. It's not confusing if you follow my advise.

Either get the free version (PMS50 GTN 750) or buy the TDS 750. Not confusing at all.

17 minutes ago, 6297J said:

Start with the free PMS version and see how you get on first. If you then decide you need more depth you will have a choice to make. 

Good advice, however afaik the free PMS version is quite different from the TDS version (NXi). So I might not quite like the PMS but really love the TDS. But anyway, I've received enough advice to have another look at everything and to make a good decision, so thanks all!

O, wait, one more (something that hasn't been answered yet): does the Garmin trainer (TDS) ever get an update or are you stuck with the trainer data for years and years?

GTN Trainer data tends to get an update once or twice a year so it's old but usually not that old - current version of Navdata and charts expired 20 May 21, obstacle and taxi data 17 Jun 21
(though obviously if things have changed recently where you want to fly that may be a problem)

Garmin does issue some updates, occasionally, when they feel like it.  It’s a marketing tool for them, and fresh data isn’t a necessity for their hardware demo purposes.  If you have access to a garmin data subscription you can update it yourself, but that’s hundreds of dollars.

 

I don’t have either of these units, so no official dog in the fight.  I got tired of the stale data problems in previous sims tho, and tend to be on the side of units that don’t use the trainer.  You can’t fault the operational accuracy tho.