Garmin AutoSquawk Technology: Simple ADS-B Installation & Pilot Operation

Each aircraft owner has his or her own set of requirements for satisfying ADS-B requirements. Some are focused on capability while others are focused on price. One person may seek the added ADS-B benefits while another may want nothing more than to be compliant. As the market for ADS-B solutions continues to grow, it’s important to look at the price and capabilities but also the installation requirements and the pilot’s additional operational requirements to find the right solution. One specific feature in a our GDL 84 and GDL 88 solutions is Garmin’s patented AutoSquawk technology – which will markedly affect both the ADS-B installation process, and the subsequent pilot’s requirements. Let’s talk about what AutoSquawk is and why it’s so important.

Garmin’s patented AutoSquawk technology is a groundbreaking feature in the GDL 84 and GDL 88 ADS-B solutions that allow the Universal Access Transceiver to communicate with existing Mode C and Mode S transponders (even third-party transponders!) without an upgrade. Why is this important to aircraft owners and pilots?

With AutoSquawk it is a single unit installation: Many ADS-B solutions on the market require installation of more than one component for a single solution. The first component is the transceiver, which sends the “out” signal to air traffic control and, if equipped, receives the “in” signal with FIS-B weather and TIS-B traffic. An additional component is the “control unit”, which is installed in the panel and requires the manual input of the same squawk code your transponder is transmitting. With our AutoSquawk solutions, there is no need for a separate control unit on the panel, just the transceiver itself. The GDL 84 & GDL 88 solutions will automatically “talk” to your existing transponder, if compatible, and transmit the same squawk code to ATC.

With AutoSquawk there is no additional pilot input: One factor that is often overlooked with ADS-B solutions requiring a panel “control unit”, is the added task of inputting to squawk code twice. Not only is this a time consuming burden to the pilot, but it also opens the door for transmitting two separate squawk codes. If the code on the transponder and the code on the ADS-B “control unit” are not identical, ATC will see two separate targets in the same position. AutoSquawk technology eliminates this burden and risk. The GDL 84 or GDL 88 transceivers read the squawk code from the aircraft’s transponder and relay it to ATC without requiring any extra steps from the pilot.

For additional information about Garmin’s Vantage ADS-B solutions, visit our installation planner/ADS-B Academy or contact us at aviation.support@garmin.com.

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