IFD540/440 Touch Screen GPS/NAV/COM : New 540 questions.

 

I have a few questions:

1)  When I departed on the first two flights (but not the trip home, after only a brief shutdown):  The 540 would show that it had acquired almost all the satellites (on the GPS status page - almost all green bars), no warnings or alerts.  I did not check the GPS STATE field.    When I took off and for several minutes after, the airplane symbol was not "tracking heading"  i.e.:  It appeared to be moving sideways, over the map.  The GPS knew where it was, as the airplane moved across the map, but did not point, in the direction that I was going.   The GPS also knew it's altitude, leading me to believe that it "saw enough satellites" to compute a very accurate fix.  This would be MONSTROUSLY distracting in IFR.  After, something like 5 minutes, it resolved itself and when I turned the airplane, the little airplane would show the turn.   Is this something that is fixed in 10.0.3?  Know issue?  Somthing not configured correctly?

 

2) I attempted to add a com3 and or com4 "slot" to the left data block, but they were grayed out.  After a re-read of the pilot's manual, it appears that maybe I need to delete some other stuff below it to free up the space?   I shall try that next flight.

 

3)  My XM weather from my Garmin GDL-69/A is not coming in.  It seems to know about my subscription, etc, but the data never updates.  I will be working with my shop on this one.   They know about the issue.   The status page shows signal "very strong, or something" Service level:  Aviator lite.  So, it seems that it is communicating with the XM box in the airplane and with the XM satellites(?).    Any thoughts, here?

 

4) It seems that the "Chart" approach plate loads the departure airport?    After a 1.5 hour flight, with the destiantion airport loaded, and approach loaded and activated, I had to manually load the arrival plate.  Could this not be auto loaded / defaulted when you load/activate the approach.

 

5)  I flew a practice GPS approach, and everthing worked well, except that there was no "ownship" position displayed on the chart.  i.e.:  No airplane symbol showed up on the chart page.  I have not yet attempted to pay Jeppeson the "vig" for the chart updates.  (The amount, of which, BTW, would pay for an ipad, a data subscription to Foreflight, and a stratus reciever)... So, maybe the lack of current charts is why?    Am I correct, to understand, that the chart will display a geo-referenced position on the approach plate?   Then switch to the taxi diagram with position displayed once on the ground?

 

6)  I didn't see any indication, that was my storm scope data was / was not being displayed.  The 530W had a dedicated page for this.   Is there some sort of indiaction that strikes are / are not being displayed?

 

 

I DID really start to like the box on the flight home (third flight).  It is easy to use, and intuative.  Once I get a few little glitches cleaned up (XM WX), and get a bit more used to it, I think that I will  LOVE LOVE LOVE it.  Right now, it's a serious, cautious, LIKE!   Once I get my second 540 installed (waiting on shop availability), it'll be extra sweet. 

 

Thanks,
Ken