Too bad something like this not available for certificated airplanes.  Perhaps they will get STCs for the popular ones.

Too bad something like this not available for certificated airplanes.  Perhaps they will get STCs for the popular ones.

uAvionix says they will have a STC for a large number of planes and expect certification in the 1st qtr. 2018.

If you don’t hangar the aircraft, what’s to stop someone with a screw driver from walking
Off with your unit?

That's a good question! In my particular case, my plane is hangared at home and on those occasional overnights away, I try to get it in a secure hangar if at all possible, so I'm not too concerned for my personal situation.

LED nav/strobes aren't exactly inexpensive, and I've never heard of anyone swiping those, but I've certainly had the same thought - this is a $1500 device, so the risk/reward ratio is getting better for the thief!  :>(

As I provide feedback to uAvionix, I was definitely going to recommend that they consider some sort of tamper-proof screws that require a unique tool for removal.  I'm sure the "pro thief" can steal anything if they're determined, but it might cut down on thefts by "casual amateurs!"

John, your the greatest for R&D.  This product looks like a great alternative to the iLevel Beacon that we'll be installing.  

Curious, do you know if this will this work without a transponder, like the iLevel's Beacon? 

The skyBeacon requires that the plane is equipped with a transponder so as to wirelessly obtain pressure altitude data.

probably gets the code from it as well

I'm wondering, with the antenna being located where it is, and not under the fuselage, couldn't the the ADSB-out signal be blocked at times?

I was wondering the same thing about the signal being blocked

I'm wondering, with the antenna being located where it is, and not under the fuselage, couldn't the the ADSB-out signal be blocked at times?

It doesn't seem to be a problem so far with the ADSB ground stations, even at low altitudes. I flew a FAA Public ADS-B Performance Report and obtained a Google Earth tracking of my plane depicting my flight path tracked by ADS-B-OUT reception.  The flight path involved turns in all directions.  At no time did it appear that the stations lost my signal.  My home airport is down in a 1000'-deep valley surrounded by plateau.  The tracking was continuous right down to the plateau's ground-level (and perhaps slightly below ground-level of the plateau!) as I ascended and descended out of the valley.  Obviously, when I was down in the valley, I was well below ground stations' line-of-sight and the ADS-B reception was broken - also, obviously, that also occurred with my previous belly-mounted antenna, too!

John could you give me a hint on using Google Earth for ADS-B Out Tracking?  It is not obvious.  At least not to me.  :-)

Joe - On the PAPR report, I had one parameter that was off despite the rest of the report being perfect. (I suspect it was due to marginal radar coverage.)  I requested a manual review of the PAPR report and the FAA included the Google Earth tracking with the report.

Oh!  I tried flighttracker24 and I never show up.  Don't know if they only report heavier planes or what.  I have looked on web for a place where anyone can check on flight history and I haven't found one that reports when ADS-B Out is the only source.  e.g., not IFR or flight following.

Very nice and thorough review John.  It is an interesting product.  I am living with the Navworx in/out system and waiting to see how we resolve the AD.  It works great though. 

 I am living with the Navworx in/out system and waiting to see how we resolve the AD.  

I have the NavWorx ADS600-EXP.  Since NavWorx has folded, there doesn't appear there will be a solution that will let one continue to use the system after January (there's no way to attach an approved external GPS -  only the certified units have a provision for an external GPS).  I have, however, applied to the FAA for an AMOC (alternative means of compliance) to allow the UAT transmitter to be disabled and continue to use the ADS600-EXP as a receive-only system.  If that is approved, then the skyBeacon will be perfect since it will provide the ADSB-OUT and I can use the NavWorx for the ADSB-IN.

Hi John,  If transmitter is disabled does the FAA really care about the receiver?

If transmitter is disabled does the FAA really care about the receiver?

While it is true that receivers don't have to be "FAA approved," the NavWorx AD clearly includes the ADS600-EXP as affected by the AD.  It also clearly says that come January, the ADS600-EXP must be removed, or disabled by pulling its circuit breaker and disconnecting its antenna - rendering it totally unusable, obviously!  I think a "reasonable person" would wink and say, "Sure, if the transmitter is disabled, then what's the problem?"  HOWEVER, if one of those aggressive inspectors found the unit installed, powered, and cabled after January next year. they could reasonably argue that you're in violation of the AD!  To me, I'd rather have it in writing that it's OK to retain it and use it as a receiver!  I will grant you, however, that a remotely-mounted receiver is virtually undetectable! ;>)

"The SkyBeacon makes the aircraft not only UAT ADS-B Out compliant, but includes an integrated WAAS GPS, a wireless connection to any Mode C transponder, support for autonomous mode"

What does this mean? "support for autonomous mode"

Does this mean, I can use this without a Mode C transponder? I hope so.

I have built a Stratux ADS-B receiver and have a dash mounted tablet display now showing Weather and whatever ADS-B info it gets without ADS-B OUT installed. I was just hoping an ADS-B out solution could get its elevation from its own GPS info and not be depend on a separate Mode C transponder system simply for elevation information.

K.I.S.S. is what I want to achieve here, a nice simple machine. I don't want to add more wires under my dash with a whole Mode C transponder system if there is a way to avoid it.

Hi Ricky.  It is my understanding the requirement for ADS-B Out did not remove requirement for the Mode C transponder.

The SkyBeacon makes the aircraft not only UAT ADS-B Out compliant, but includes an integrated WAAS GPS, a wireless connection to any Mode C transponder, support for autonomous mode

Ricky - I believe that was a typo!  I'm not aware of any "autonomous" mode, but the skyBeacon (and many others) supports anonymous mode.  Anonymous mode is the ability to automatically suppress your tail number (and therefore you're "anonymous") in your ADSB data when flying VFR/squawking 1200 to protect your privacy. Normally, it is user-selectable as to whether this feature is enabled/disabled.

Does this mean, I can use this without a Mode C transponder? I hope so.

As far as I know, there are no ADSB-out transmitters that don't either require at least a Mode C transponder that is either physically connected, "sniffed" wirelessly by monitoring the transponder's squawk, or have a transponder integrated inside the ADSB unit (sometimes called an "all-in-one").  The reason for this is that one of the parameters of data the ADSB-out unit transmits is the barometric altitude ("Baro Alt" on the FAA Public ADSB Performance Report or PAPR).  There are many other parameters being transmitted, also, such as the GPS altitude, position, velocity - and that's just to name a few!  All of this data must agree within limits to verify it is accurate, so the barometric altitude has to agree with the transponder's altitude squawk.  Therefore, (and it is only my speculation!), it is simplest and cheapest for the ADSB to simply utilize and echo the transponder's barometric altitude data.  If you don't have a transponder, you could buy an "all-in-one" certified ADSB/Transponder, such as the Sandia "STX Sentinel 360,"  but it is $3200 and you still have the wiring, antenna, and cabling to deal with.

Since you already have an ADSB receiver, likely you'd come out at the least expense to buy an ADSB-out transmitter and a used Mode C transponder, but there's no way to get around the transponder installation.  I wouldn't be surprised if in the near future companies like uAvionix don't come out with an integrated ADSB/Mode C "all-in-one" with greatly simplified installation similar to the skyBeacon.