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Dropped $800 on a fancy panel tester that was basically useless
I bought a brand-name avionics panel tester last spring thinking it would save me hours troubleshooting Garmin G5 installations. But half the functions didn't work with the older King radios I deal with, and the manual was written like a riddle. Has anyone else had better luck with one of those cheap multiscanner units instead?
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angela4314d ago
Half the functions didn't work" is probably accurate but those older King radios use a different signal format than Garmin stuff, so it's less about the tester being bad and more about it being made for a different generation of gear. I've seen a few people pick up those cheap multiscanner units and have decent luck with basic continuity and signal checks on older avionics, but they won't give you the detailed diagnostics a dedicated panel tester would. Your mileage may vary, but from what I've heard, the cheap ones are fine for quick troubleshooting if you're not expecting it to do everything a $800 unit should.
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corac9115d ago
Wait, the manual was written like a riddle? That's honestly kind of funny in a sad way. Like did they have someone who never actually used the thing write it? I've dealt with manuals that read like they were translated through three different languages and back again, but a riddle is a whole new level of bad. You spent $800 on a tester that can't handle half the stuff you actually need it for, that's just painful. Those older King radios are pretty particular about their signals, so I'm not surprised a fancy modern unit doesn't play nice. Hope you kept the receipt.
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