Cockpit Weather Choices

For many, the cockpit weather product of choice is SiriusXM Satellite Weather (XMWX). Thats partly because of Garmins highly popular line of GPS portables with optional satellite XM receivers. That started with the GPSMAP 396 in 2002 and continues with the current aera series and GPSMAP 696. Theres also the GDL 69-an XMWX receiver compatible with most Garmin panel-mount devices. As dominant as Garmin and SiriusXM are in datalink weather, there are other choices. …

Editorial Staff

Wednesday, July 30, 2014 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Pilots primarily choose between subscription-based SiriusXM Weather (XMWX), offering comprehensive data and broad coverage, and free ADS-B weather (FIS-B), which has limitations in data products and availability, often requiring the aircraft to be airborne.
A variety of hardware exists for both XMWX and FIS-B, including certified panel-mount systems integrated with specific avionics brands (e.g., Garmin, Avidyne, Aspen) and portable receivers.
The portable ADS-B market is extensive, providing free FIS-B weather to tablet applications, but users face challenges in ensuring compatibility between different receiver hardware and preferred aviation apps.
Future developments, such as the Capstone protocol and hybrid Wi-Fi receivers, aim to enhance interoperability between different ADS-B equipment and integrate portable weather solutions with panel-mounted displays.

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For many, the cockpit weather product of choice is SiriusXM Satellite Weather (XMWX). That’s partly because of Garmin’s highly popular line of GPS portables with optional satellite XM receivers. That started with the GPSMAP 396 in 2002 and continues with the current aera series and GPSMAP 696. There’s also the GDL 69—an XMWX receiver compatible with most Garmin panel-mount devices. As dominant as Garmin and SiriusXM are in datalink weather, there are other choices.