Garmin GDL® 50 Portable ADS-B Receiver
Wirelessly Link to Weather, Traffic, GPS and More
Providing an easy-to-use and completely portable aviation datalink, the compact GDL 50 ADS-B receiver lets you access the subscription-free ADS-B weather and traffic services (weather services only available in the U.S.) — while also providing GPS position, speed and altitude information as well as backup attitude reference. Better still, you can use our Connext® wireless connectivity to stream this information onto multiple Garmin aviation portables (including aera® 660, aera 796 or aera 795 series) as well as iPad® tablets and mobile devices with the Garmin Pilot™ app.
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 Australia the 1090 ES frequency is approved by CASA for ADS-B broadcasts, so the GDL 50 series allows you to see the most comprehensive view of all ADS-B "Out" equipped targets in your vicinity. Your compatible display 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 Features
To 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.
Built-in GPS and Attitude Sensors for SVX™ Display
In addition to its weather and traffic capabilities, your GDL 50 feature set includes a built-in WAAS-capable 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.
Track Aviation Weather (*USA Only)
Featuring 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 devices 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. (Available in the U.S. only)
Link up with the Benefits of ADS-B
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.
What is ADS-B?
ADS-B is a system in which electronic equipment onboard an aircraft automatically broadcasts the precise location of the aircraft via a digital data link.
The data can be used by other aircraft and air traffic control to show the aircraft’s position and altitude on display screens without the need for radar.
The system involves an aircraft with ADS-B determining its position using GPS. A suitable transmitter then broadcasts that position at rapid intervals, along with identity, altitude, velocity and other data. Dedicated ADS-B grounds stations receive the broadcasts and relay the information to air traffic control for precise tracking of the aircraft.
- Automatic - Requires no pilot input or external interrogation.
- Dependant - Depends on accurate position and velocity data from the aircraft's navigation system (eg. GPS).
- Surveillance - Provides aircraft position, altitude, velocity, and other surveillance data to facilities that require the information.
- Broadcast - Information is continually broadcast for monitoring by appropriately equipped ground stations or aircraft.
ADS-B data is broadcast every half-second on a 1090MHz, digital data link.
Broadcasts may include:
- Flight Identification (flight number callsign or call sign)
- ICAO 24-bit Aircraft Address (globally unique airframe code)
- Position (latitude/longitude)
- Position integrity/accuracy (GPS horizontal protection limit)
- Barometric and Geometric Altitudes
- Vertical Rate (rate of climb/descent)
- Track Angle and Ground Speed (velocity)
- Emergency indication (when emergency code selected)
- Special position identification (when IDENT selected)
The ability of a ground station to receive a signal depends on altitude, distance from the site and obstructing terrain. The maximum range of each ground station can exceed 250 nautical miles. In airspace immediately surrounding each ground station, surveillance coverage extends to near the surface.
Compatibility
|
DISPLAY |
ADS-B Traffic & Weather |
SiriusXM® Weather & Audio Control |
Connection |
TargetTrend™ Capable |
GPS & Attitude Information |
| Garmin Pilot App | Yes | Yes | Bluetooth® | Yes | Yes |
| G3X Touch™ Flight Displays |
Yes | Yes | Bluetooth® or Cable | Yes | N/A |
| aera 796/795 | Yes | Yes | Bluetooth® or Cable | Yes | Attitude Only (aera 796/795 will use internal GPS) |
| aera 760 | Yes | Yes | Bluetooth® | Yes | Attitude Only (aera 760 will use internal GPS) |
| aera 660 | Yes | Yes | Bluetooth® or Cable | Yes | Attitude Only (aera 660 will use internal GPS) |
| FltPlan Go | Yes | No | Bluetooth® | No | Yes |
| ForeFlight Mobile | Yes | Weather Only | Bluetooth® | No | Yes |
Physical
| Unit Dimensions (W x H x D) | 4.9" x 1.3" x 3.4" (12.44 x 3.30 x 8.64 cm) |
| Weight | 0.34 kg (0.75 lbs) |
| Anti-slip Mat (bottom of unit only) |
Performance
| 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 | 8 hours |
Connections
| Connections |
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In The Box:
- GDL 50 portable receiver
- Suction cup for cable placement
- Mounting bracket
- Trial subscription to Garmin Pilot™ app
- Vehicle power cable
- Documentation
