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Updating and understanding Cirrus G2 SR22 Avionics and Navdata on a budget

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As proud owner of a Cirrus G2 SR22 that comes with all original avionics, it's likely your avionics are all out of date. This guide is intended to help owners understand these systems, how to upgrade, and what to upgrade.

3 main components

There are 3 components you care about.
  1. PFD
  2. MFD EX5000
  3. Garmin 430 #1 and #2
Each component comes with a specific firmware version. This is the software running on board the device. Somewhat like running an older or newer version of Windows.

The firmware for 1 & 2 come from Avidyne. The firmware for #3 come from Garmin. You'll have to contact each company separately to figure out details.

What versions do you have?

Go to the setup/info page of the PFD, MFD and take photos with your cellphone. Next, turn on the Garmins and take photos of boot up screen. You'll now have a record of all the important serial #s and versions. The avionics shops will need this to give you quotes. 

Register your MFD and PFD

When you get home, register your MFD and PFD by creating an account on avidyne.com. You'll need the serial #'s from photos you took. This will keep track of your version #'s.

Updating firmware

I've got bad news on this front. For all 3 components, there is no "software" update. The hardware units must be physically removed, dissembled, and an on-board memory chip replaced with a newer version. This needs to be done by a Garmin service center and Avidyne service center. They will charge $1000s.

Do I need to update my firmware?

You don't need to necessarily upgrade. This hardware was certified in 2004. Updates and bug fixes have happened since then, which are published via some service bulletins. But it works just as well today as it did in 2004.

Find a garmin/avidyne service center (preferably on that does both) and bring your plane there. They will upgrade it. Below are contacts for the manufacturers themselves, but they won't be able to help much.

My Recommendation

Save your money and headache of pulling out the panel (and risking them breaking it). Just update the navdata instead (see below).

Avidyne:  Brandon Chopko, bchopko@avidyne.com, 888.723.7592

Navdata in Garmin 430 and MFD 

The MFD and Garmin 430s have additional type of data called NAVDATA.  This includes data such as:
  • Airports (locations, runways, frequencies)
  • GPS waypoints
  • Airways, nav fixes
  • Approach plates
  • Terrain
  • US or worldwide approach plates
  • Terrain
  • Waypoints
You have to deal with a 3rd company for this, Jeppesen. Garmin and Avidyne have nothing to do with this. You'll need to call Jeppesen at 800-621-5377 and pay them money for a subscription and they will send you an update. If you're flying with nav data that is 10 years old, this is absolutely not ok. You should update immediately.

Note that navdata must be updated separately for each garmin unit and for the MFD. The update process is totally different for the two systems.

Updating Navdata in the MFD

If you have an older MFD (before version 6.0), bad news, you can't update with USB stick. You must buy a Zipdrive. The zipdrive will plug into the USB port. Yes, very annoying.

I bought a Iomega 750MB Zip Drive for amazon, used, for $60. It comes with one 750MB zip disc. Your MFD has a USB port in the upper right corner, covered with a rubber sleeve. Pull out the sleeve and insert usb cord from zip drive. Turn on the MFD and it will start the update process. The avidyne site has more info on how to do the update. You have to format the zip disk to FAT, not FAT32.

Updating Navdata in the Garmin

The Garmin units contain special memory cards. You'll pull them out, and update them with a laptop, and put them back in. You'll have to buy a $60 USB adapter from Jeppesen for these cards  Jeppesen has software that will download and copy the data around for you. You can do this all yourself, no need to have a shop do it.

Buying Jeppesen Nav data

The nav data is a complicated mess, I recommend calling Jeppesen at 800-621-5377 and they will explain. Briefly, here's how it breaks down:
  • You must create an account on https://jeppdirect.jeppesen.com first. The website is terrible. Spend as little time as possible on it and call tech support, they are helpful. Ask for Giovanni.
  • You can do yearly subscription online, or one time download. One time download is a lot cheaper.
  • You can buy US, Americas, or World charts.
  • They have a package deal for the dual garmins, but the MFD is totally separate purchase.
  • CMAX chart data for MFD requires a yearly subscription. But you can subscribe to just one state (say, Michigan) and then they let you do a one-time purchase of all the data. This can save you $1000s. But you'll technically be illegal after 30 days. Still, better to be 1 month out of date, than 10 years.
Costs
Garmin: One-time download for all Americas is $230. This includes Canada, US, Caribbean, Mexico, Central  America, South America. You're set.
MFD, no CMAX:  One time all Americas $80, or $235 for 1 yr subscription
MFD w/ CMAX: Subsvcribe to for 1 year Michigan ($105) then get one-time US ($315) one time Latin Americas ($205) one time Canada ($205). Or, one time whole world $4000.

Your cheapest deal if you fly Canada and central America is: $70 adapter, $80 MFD update and $235 dual G430 update.

I recorded this video showing a live update.


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