Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co.
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Wasilla, AK | Peachtree City, GA
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GARMIN GDL® 50 PORTABLE ADS-B / GPS RECEIVER
MFR Model# 010-01561-00
Overview
Wirelessly Link to Weather, Traffic, GPS and More
 Track
Aviation WeatherFeaturing ADS-B “In” datalink technology, the GDL 50 receiver allows reception of subscription-free Flight Information Service-Broadcast (FIS-B) weather information. With this, your compatible devices² can display animated graphical weather plus METARs, TAFs, winds and temperatures aloft, PIREPs, NOTAMs and other features linked from ADS-B. And to help you maintain the most current weather picture, your GDL 50 receiver can queue the ADS-B weather data display while your display device is sleeping or turned off, so it automatically updates when you turn the screen back on. Spot Potential Traffic Threats To aid in situational awareness, GDL 50 can also receive ADS-B position reports directly from other aircraft in your vicinity. In the U.S., 2 frequencies (978 UAT and 1090 ES) are approved by the FAA for ADS-B broadcasts, so the GDL 50 series offers access to both frequencies. This allows you to see the most comprehensive view of all ADS-B “Out” equipped targets in your vicinity. Your compatible display³ will alert you by announcing traffic targets both audibly and visually. Spoken audio alerts announce “Traffic, Traffic” to get you looking right away.  View Enhanced Traffic FeaturesTo further extend your display’s traffic monitoring capability (on compatible displays), the GDL 50 receiver also allows access to our TargetTrend relative motion tracking technology. This feature gives you a faster, more intuitive way to judge the direction and closure rate of intruding targets relative to your aircraft’s position. So, rather than a fixed “snapshot” of the traffic situation, TargetTrend provides a more dynamic “velocity-based” display that shows which aircraft trajectories are most likely to converge with your own. For example, if traffic is ahead of you and traveling along the same track but at a slower rate, the motion vector would point opposite of its indicated direction of flight to show you are overtaking the traffic. The result — you’re able to make faster, better target avoidance decisions. For airport operations, TerminalTraffic technology (a part of the comprehensive Garmin suite of Terminal Safety Solutions) enables ADS-B-equipped surface targets to be displayed on your device’s SafeTaxi® diagram so you can see what’s happening with traffic on busy runways and taxiways. ADS-B-equipped aircraft in-flight are easily distinguished from ground vehicles and taxiing aircraft, which are displayed using distinct colors and symbols. Thus, TerminalTraffic provides a clear, real-time overview of on-surface activity in the airport environment.  Built-in GPS and Attitude Sensors for SVX™ DisplayIn addition to its weather and traffic capabilities, your GDL 50 feature set includes a built-in WAAS GPS receiver. This enables GDL 50 to deliver highly accurate aircraft position, speed and altitude information to your compatible mobile device app. Also, built-in attitude sensors enable select Garmin aviation portables and apps with our SVX synthetic vision technology to serve as a backup attitude reference during your flights. With virtual terrain, obstacles, runways, horizon cues, HSI, GPS speed, altitude and more, this brings a whole new perspective to your portable navigation. Battery Power for Hours GDL 50 is a true go-anywhere device. A rechargeable built-in lithium-ion battery allows GDL 50 to operate for up to 8 hours on a single charge. And for operation connected to power, you can plug it into your aircraft’s 12 V power outlet with the included adapter cable, or use the microUSB port positioned on the side of the receiver. Link up with the Benefits of ADS-B For pilots who want subscription-free U.S. datalink weather and traffic, the compact GDL 50 portable ADS-B receiver offers a versatile solution with an array of additional capabilities. And by going with Garmin, your receiver will be backed by a comprehensive 1-year warranty — and by the industry’s No. 1-ranked product support team. GDL 50 is a noncertified receive-only product. It does not provide ADS-B “Out” capability to satisfy FAA mandate requirements. |
Features
- Compatible with G3X Touch™, aera® 660 and aera 795/796 aviation portables, the Garmin Pilot™ app on Apple® or Android™ mobile devices, and FltPlan Go.
- GDL 50 can simultaneously support up to: 2 wireless display devices and 2 wired display devices.
- Rechargeable lithium-ion battery allows the GDL 50 to operate for up to 8 hours on a single charge.
Specifications
Physical- Unit dimensions, WxHxD: 4.9" x 1.3" x 3.4" (12.44 x 3.30 x 8.64 cm)
- Weight: 0.75 lbs (0.34 kg)
- Anti-slip mat (bottom of unit only)
- Operating temperature: -20°C to +60°C (-4°F to 140°F)
- Operating altitude: To 55,000 ft
- Nominal operating velocity range: 0 – 800 kts (411 m/s)
- Power input: 10 to 32 VDC, 3.5 W max.
- Battery type: Lithium-ion rechargeable (built-in)
- Charge temperature: Unit may not charge at extreme temperatures below 0° C (32° F) or above 32° C (90° F)
- Typical battery operating time: 5 hours
- 18-pin power and data connector
- microUSB
- ADS-B MCX antenna port
- GPS MCX antenna port
- Wireless Connext™ (Bluetooth®)
In The Box
- GDL 50 portable receiver
- Suction cup for cable placement
- Mounting bracket
- Trial subscription to Garmin Pilot™ app
- Vehicle power cable
- Documentation
Reviews
I am very impressed with the GDL-50!! It works flawlessly with my I-pad Garmin Pilot app and it worked equally well with my flying buddies I-pad Foreflight app. Very easy to use and set up and receives and installed updates automatically. Garmin Pilot displays for terrain and AHARS is flawless and very detailed. The ADS-B information that is provided on-screen is invaluable and is a must have flying in SOCAL. I am very pleased with the GDL-50. The GDL-50 is great in that it will communicate with apps other than Garmin Pilot. My only negative comment is it does not come with a mount that can be temporarily mounted in the aircraft, such as suction cupped to the side windows like the cheaper competitor. Overall wise expenditure of funds!!!
Flying several aircraft without ADSB-In so this portable unit works seamlessly with Garmin Pilot. Very pleased that the antenna works well on the dash of a 737. Thought the heated windows would block the GPS signal but it worked great
The Garmin GDL 50 works great with my Aera 660. I am smitten with both products. I have not flown it yet but inside my home, its picking up traffic from a long distance away when the traffic scale is expanded. My only negative comment is with the included documentation .... insufficient and poorly written. I searched online to see if something more was available and it was not. It took me a few days to figure out what CR was when traffic was tapped, for example ... Closure Rate + a speed. Garmin needs to re-do and improve the documentation pamphlet. I have a lifetime subscription to FlyQ so I wont be able to view WX or traffic on my iPad but I did test the ability of the GDL 50 to provide position to it and it works fine. So Ill have to use the Aera to see FIS-B and TIS-B. Thats OK with me I knew that going in. If I switch to Pilot or Foreflight, I can solve that.
Works as advertised with my Aera 796. I have the antenna remoted to the winshield
Arrived quickly, works well, good battery life.
Works well and provides pertinent signals to my iPad.
Flew with the GDL50 this weekend. Worked as described.
Awesome unit. Far superior to GDL39 due to internal battery and smaller antenna. GPS more quickly gets new position on salary up. Works flawlessly with Garmin Pilot or FltPlan Go apps.
Really completes the functionality of the Aera 660. Has a tacky strip on the bottom to stay in place on the glareshield. I really am impressed with this combination.
This thing is great. I cant believe how many aircraft I was missing. One flight with this and I will never fly without it again. If you fly VFR I recommend getting this ASAP.
Q&A
Per the manual this does not come with a mount or wiring harness. This has holes for hardware and it comes with a connector to make a wiring harness. You will need male BNC's for the antennas. One for GPS/WAAS and one to receive the ADS-B frequency. The GA 35 and AV-74 antennas would be good choices.
The only difference is the form factor of the units, and at this time, the GDL 50 is only compatible with Garmin portable GPS units and the Garmin Pilot app.
Thank you for your note on this. We will post it for other customers to review.
Yes, per Garmin, this will work with Foreflight.
Yes the GDL 50 will work on glare shield without any external antennas. The only exception would be an aircraft with a heated windshield. Voltage is 10-32vdc rated.
The GDL 50 is an ADS-B in receiver. As such, it does not require a subscription to receive and display the free FAA weather and traffic. The unit will work with Garmin devices and apps, as well as Foreflight and numerous other EFB apps.
They use the same connectors, so this will work as long as you have the most recent software for your 696.
The GDL 50R part # 11-16232 comes with a Lithium-ion rechargeable battery built in.
No, this is not designed to interface with the GTN 750.
The Bluetooth works well, but you can use Part# 11-10736 for a hard wire if you prefer.
