Q&A
Please note, Aircraft Spruce's personnel are not certified aircraft mechanics and can only provide general support and ideas, which should not be relied upon or implemented in lieu of consulting an A&P or other qualified technician. Aircraft Spruce assumes no responsibility or liability for any issue or problem which may arise from any repair, modification or other work done from this knowledge base. Any product eligibility information provided here is based on general application guides and we recommend always referring to your specific aircraft parts manual, the parts manufacturer or consulting with a qualified mechanic.
Q: Do I still need an altitude encoder with this application?
Are all the connectors included?
Can you use the existing antenna cable?
Is the stratus receiver wireless?
Do I need additional accessory to connect to my iPad?
Yes, you still need an altitude encoder. These units come with all the required connector kits. The existing antenna cable should be compatible, but you will want to confirm that it is BNC male to BNC male. The Stratus 2S pairs wirelessly via Bluetooth so no other accessories are required.
Q: Would this pair via Bluetooth with an Avidyne IFD540 or even interface with one to allow the weather to overlay on the display?
No, per Appareo the ESGi unit is not compatible with the Avidyne 540 unit.
Q: I already have the ESG transponder. Can I buy just the Stratus 2i and the cables to convert my ESG to an ESGi?
Yes, part number 11-14857 will provide you with the 2i module, interface cable, power/data cable, and connectors.
Q: Does the Appareo Stratus ESGi transponder have to be installed by an approved dealer or can my A&P do it?
For certified aircraft installations, the unit will need to be purchased and installed by a certified avionics installer. We can only sell this unit for experimental aircraft installations at this time.
Q: Is there any difference between a certified and an experimental unit?
No, but, due to contractual arrangements with the manufacturer, we can only offer the ESGi unit to experimental aircraft operators.
Q: I've read that the Stratus ESG was designed to fit in the same panel opening as the classic KT76A transponder. Does it fit in the same tray as the KT76A or will the tray need to be replaced during installation?
The Stratus needs to be mounted using its own rack. The bezel dimensions are 6.38" wide, by 1.69" in height. The rack to be installed is 6.32" wide, and 1.65" tall.
Q: Can you specify which altitude encoder can be paired with this unit? Does the antennae/cables need to be purchased separate as this will be a whole new unit install to the aircraft? No pre existing transponder.
Thank you
We recommend the ACK or Trans-Cal encoders for this set up. This unit will accept either a parallel or RS232 altitude encoder input. A transponder antenna will be required such as a TED (pn: 11-17995) or RAMI (pn: av-22). Coax cables will be required to interface the transponder to your gps antenna (included with esgi) and transponder antennas, and a wiring harness to connect the unit to your aircraft power.
Q: Does the Stratus 2I provide any ADS-B IN data to a Garmin Aera 660? Either hardwired or via Bluetooth?
No, the Stratus 2i is designed for use with the Stratus ESG transponder.
Q: Does the 2i receive dual band IN- to show both traffic and weather?
Yes, it will show both weather and traffic.
Q: Is the ADS-B Out functionality compatible with Fltplan go?
At this time Appareo is not on the list of compatible ADS-B products.
Q: Many questions below are asking about the 2i and yet the ad is for the the ESG 3i so I'm a little confused by the answers. At any rate, I just purchased the ESGi with the 3i ADS-B receiver. In and Out ADS-B thru Foreflight on my iPad. My installer is convinced that I need the interface kit. Is that correct? Thanks.
Yes, you will need the interface kit.
Q: Can I get the GPS signal required from a Garmin GPSMAP 196 or aera 660 to be used with the ES model?
No, the GPS signal from these portable GPS units are not approved ADS-B WAAS GPS sources.
Q: In the “4 foot harness kit” how long is the coax cable between the transponder and antenna?
Coax cable is not included in the harness. That must be purchased separately. You can use our custom coax builder to request the connectors and length that you need for your installation.
Q: Will this unit ESGi be installed only on certified aircraft?
The items listed on this page are for use in experimental aircraft only. Please see Part# 11-16556 or Part# 11-16555 for certified aircraft applications.
Q: What are the circuit breaker requirements for this unit?
This unit uses a 5 amp breaker.
Q: What is actually in the box of the Appareo Stratus ESGi and 3i Kit? Antennas?
You will get the ESG transponder, WAAS GPS antenna, the Stratus 3I kit and a wiring harness.
Q: I have a older ACK A-30 encoder. will this work for this set up? Thanks
Yes the ACK encoder is compatible with this unit.