Here are some actual screen shots and data from a flight we took on 8/31/2002 from N10 (Collegeville PA) to BDL (Hartford CT).

When we are 30nm SW of BDL at 5500 feet on top of a solid overcast, we call BDL approach and request an IFR clearance into BDL. We are given radar vectors to the ILS 6.  BDL issues a wake turbulence warning because of a landing 737 in front of us on the ILS. We are in IMC, but we are able to judge are spacing from the TCAS (Skywatch) target (small diamond left picture). The right photo is the UPS MX20 in terrain mode taken at about the same time as the display on the 530 (left picture) The yellow area is a terrain caution. The red area is terrain that is above our altitude and would constitute a hazard.  We break out at 1400 feet inside the outer marker and land.

Return Flight: BDL to N10 the following day 9/1/2002. BDL is 4500 scattered, PHL area has a low pressure moving into the area and the weather is forecast to deteriorate as the day goes on. PHL is now reporting 1200BKN 6nm in light rain. We file IFR and depart BDL.

We are enroute and request a Metar of PTW (nearest reporting to N10 about 6nm away). The Metar report states  few clouds 800, 1300 overcast visibility 8sm. As we proceed enroute, the clear sky we had departing BDL gives way to an overcast. We also request a Nexrad of 100nm from our present position (right photo). The Nexrad shows the initial part of our route (the white line) basically clear. But we will be heading into rain during the later part.

We request a Graphical metar (left picture). The graphical metar shows airports to our southwest (where we are headed) are reporting IFR. Airports around our present position are reporting VFR. The right picture is nav page 4 (weather only screen) on the 530. The area around our destination is showing level 1-3 rain (yellow area)

We are 30nm north of our destination in solid IFR and moderate rain. Since there were no thunderstorms forecast (and none present), our Wx1000 stormscope is showing no activity. This is an interesting comparison between the 530 nexrad product vs the Stormscope product.  We request another Metar for PTW (right screen). PTW is reporting 1100 overcast in light rain 8sm visibility. We shoot the GPS 9 approach into N10 and break out at 900 feet (the MDA is 760).

On this flight the weather was as forecast, but the GDL-49 helped us keep a current weather picture, and allowed us to verify our planned options if we could not get into our destination. After landing we downloaded a NWS nexrad image from the Fort Dix NJ nexrad site. Below is the image. The magenta line was our flightpath. (Note: The IFR route was not exactly the most direct path to our destination, but it was the preferred route for this trip). The GNS-530 photo on the right is the last nexrad we requested while in flight. Both the left and right nexrad photos are displaying the weather at the same point in time.

We depart N10 with clear skies and good visibility

* See the Garmin Website for up to date information on the GDL-49. See the Echoflight web site for rate structure and additional details. Copyright Penn Avionics, Inc. 2002. 610-409-0328. www.pennavionics.com

Enroute after the Sparta VOR the weather becomes a solid overcast. We are at 5500 feet VFR.

We use the GDL49 to request the current Metar at BDL. The upload takes about 5 minutes. The decoded report is on the 31st of the month at 1351Z, wind is 030 deg at 8 knots, visibility is 10sm. Sky overcast at 1600 feet. Temp is 18C, dew point 16C. Altimeter is 30.51. The remainder of the report is remarks.

We use the GDL49 to request a 100nm graphical metar (left photo), and a 100nm nexrad (right photo). The metar symbols are airports around our position. The horizontal line is visibility, the vertical line is ceiling.. Most are reporting VFR. The nexrad (right) shows nothing significant. The upload times takes 3-6 minutes