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GPS databases - buy from Garmin or buy from Jeppesen?

Hi all,

I have searched this and other forums but had no luck finding any recent answers.

Regarding Garmin avionics, there are several subscription options from both Garmin and Jeppesen. Since we need a subscription for GTN 750 + GI 275 + GNC 255, I am looking at the OnePak and PilotPak options offered by Garmin. I preffer Garmin bundles because those also include the GNC 255 DB updates. It is probably not supported by Jeppesen.

The difference between the two Garmin options is that OnePak includes Garmin Nav DB while PilotPak includes Jeppesen Nav DB. VFR and IFR temrnial charts as well as IFR/VFR sectional charts are separate options and have nothing to do with the Navigation DB.

Can anyone advice me which Nav DB is better for Europe? The plane will be used for mixed VFR and IFR operations around Europe.

Thanks a lot!
Michal

@svecmisa post moved to existing thread.

Last Edited by svecmisa at 18 Sep 07:59
Czech Republic

Hi! There is no difference between the Jeppesen and the Garmin databases.
I believe your choice between the packs of the 2 providers depends on your needs: do you want the Jepp charts? Is it important to have the GNC 255 database as part of the one pack? But from a data perspective there’s no difference.

As you said, the GNC 255 is not part of the Jeppesen packs so it will require a separate Garmin (or Jepp) subscription if you want to have that frequency database up to date.

On the other end, the most important consideration in my opinion is the charts: if you want to use the Jepp charts on the GTN 750, and if you use an app like Garmin Pilot or ForeFlight, you might want to consider the Jepp pack that includes the charts, because it will enable you to load the charts on your avionics and on 4 mobile devices running FF or GP, all of that for a price lower than the Garmin database subscription plus a separate Jepp chart subscription.
This is what I did for my aircraft, I have the Jepp pack with European VFR+IFR charts (that I use also in ForeFlight), for my G500 TXi, GI 275 and GTN 650 Xi, but it comes with the “hassle” of having a separate Garmin subscription for the GNC 255 database (GNC 255 Garmin subscription is much cheaper than the Jepp one).

EHLE LIMB, Netherlands

Thanks a lot, NicoKM! Very informative post in deed. I was not aware that a single Jepp Pack subscription can be used on multiple devices which also includes mobile devices. This is a great advantage compared to Garmin deals.

Michal

Czech Republic

Historically a Jepp sub gave you codes for four devices. The idea was that a reasonably busy bizjet needed four pilots to have constant availability.

This was priced at €2000/year for “political Europe”.

About 10 years ago they introduced a single-device sub for about €900/year.

Later, with GA avionics displaying Jepp terminal charts, this changed around and got more complicated because you could have had say two devices displaying the data – one panel mounted and one Ipad – and the price was something in between the above. I have not followed it for years but I am sure somebody can give you the price.

OTOH not many European pilots are buying all of “political Europe”. Many buy just Western Europe, for example.

Administrator
Shoreham EGKA, United Kingdom

I just checked the Jepp web shop and noticed they have changed the way you purchase, as they don’t sell anymore the Pilot Pak. You now have to select the database coverage and the charts coverage you want (basically you build your own bundle instead of selecting a pre-packaged Pilot Pak).
It doesn’t say anywhere anymore that you can use the charts on 4 mobile devices, on top of the avionics, although I would expect so given the prices are basically the same as before.

Last Edited by NicoKM at 20 Sep 21:15
EHLE LIMB, Netherlands

NicoKM wrote:

There is no difference between the Jeppesen and the Garmin databases.

Garmin and Jeppesen database standards are different although for the most part they create the same result. I notice the major areas of difference show up in SIDs, but this may be a US issue.

KUZA, United States

I did my LPC/OPC this week and even here i have found differences between databases.
We use Jeppessen while the sims in the LH training center use Lido.
The difference we found was the naming of fix at the end of the missed approach.
Our charts had names but the fmc had a code XXXYY but all the tracks were exactly the same.

EBZW, Belgium

Peter wrote:

Historically a Jepp sub gave you codes for four devices. The idea was that a reasonably busy bizjet needed four pilots to have constant availability.

I have just checked with FRAJepp and this is their response:
“That’s correct – if you buy charts for your Garmin avionics it will also allow 4 installations on applications such as Garmin Pilot or ForeFlight.”

This is a really good deal. It seems that nobody can really compare the Garmin and Jeppesen Nav DBs. I will just assume they are both the same with minor cosmetic differences.

Czech Republic

Again, historically, there were no Ipads so the four devices might have been

  • a PC in the jet charter office, probably running Flitestar
  • three tablets running Windows and Jeppview – these were 800×600 which is why Jepp plates are so very readable, unlike AIP plates in < A4 size

I have not followed this scene (for a start I have no fixed avionics which can display Jepp terminal charts) but I got the impression that in today’s mainly-Ipad world the pricing was slightly cheaper per device than the old €2k/four.

Yes the 4-device is not a bad deal if you can share out the cost between four people (yielding €500 for all of Europe, including the very important “VFR Europe” data), which you can do, but IIRC Jepp’s one-time small print disapproved of it One challenge was finding four people all willing to pay for this coverage, if some of them flew only in say 2 or 3 countries…

The enroute chart presentations differ, yes. A lot of history there…

Administrator
Shoreham EGKA, United Kingdom

I also checked with ForeFlight so if anyone is interested, their consolidated asnwer is:

Jeppesen avionics subscriptions can be linked to a ForeFlight account. Each Jeppesen avionics subscription has 4 seats. ForeFlight Mobile EFB requires one seat and ForeFlight On The Web requires another seat. ForeFlight subscription must be purchased separate. All ForeFlight subscription options include Mobile EFB and On The Web features.

Last Edited by svecmisa at 26 Sep 15:15
Czech Republic
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