ADS-B In/Out

After extensive research and thought, I have chosen the Stratus ESGi solution.

Click for detailed chart with features

I seriously considered staying with Garmin and going with the GTX345. Or the GTX335 with add on for ADS-B In. The deciding factors:

Foreflight on an iPad Mini4 seems like a great solution for ADS-B In. 

Stratus ESGi is designed for Foreflight and provides Synthetic Vision.

Avionics Exchange LLC at the York Airport is a Stratus Dealer.  I would have had to fly my plane to another airport for Garmin Dealer install.

Stratus was $2000 less expensive than the GTX345, installed.

Stratus provides a 5 year warranty if installed before 12/2018.   Present 10 year old Garmin GTX327 will require it's 24 month test/certification in 12/2018.  

Other considerations....Garmin does not recommend using the present stub transponder antenna.  Garmin recommends replacing present altitude encoder.  Changing to a blade antenna, according to CubCrafters would require changing location, which in turn would require relocation of the com antenna to the turtle deck. In other words, Garmin install would require reasonably serious if not major alterations to coax wiring and the aircraft structure.  The Appareo Stratus ESG would allow the same stub transponder antenna and therefore no change to the com antenna. The Stratus also uses the existing altitude encoder.  In essence a very "minor" replacement of a transponder. As a bonus, to get ADS-B in, rather than having to install a separate antenna and power supply, the Stratus 3i can be connected with no wires or devices other than direct connection to the ESG. In other words--the simplest, most elegant solution with little or no modifications to the airplane. 

Perhaps one reason Garmin is recommending a transponder antenna change is their transmit output power is listed as "200 watt min" where Appareo's Stratus ESG lists their output as "310 watt nominal".  The Stratus appears to have significantly higher output power, which I felt was an important consideration for a low flying aircraft like N998SC. 

I am surprised that CubCrafters has not issued a "fleet directive" regarding ADS-B installs (as the FAA encouraged all LSA manufacturers to do in 2015) but the Stratus ESG is "TC approved" by Certified Part 145 Repair Stations (especially a trained Stratus Dealer) which meets the Part 43 and 91.327.5 as "authorized person acceptable to FAA". 

In any case, Cubcrafters did provide a MRA (Major Repair and/or Alteration) Authorization for the ESGi replacement of the GTX327.   

Results have been very good. Perfect performance using the standard "stub" transponder antenna. 

ADS-In info on the IPad Mini4 using ForeFlight is awesome situational awareness.