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rleffler
01-02-2011, 05:53 AM
Assuming a pair of 4500s as primary displays, if I add a third MFD display does it have to be a 4500 MFD? Would a 3400 MFD work? Would there be able functions not be able to be displayed on the 3400 MFD? The reason I was looking at the 3400 MFD was it's size and looking to put something on the right side on the Aerosport panel.

shuttle
01-02-2011, 10:53 AM
Hi Bob,

As I understand things AFS, you can interconnect (ethernet) all the units they currently produce, i.e. 5600/4500/3500/3400 but not 2500. (Remember that 3 units require an ethernet hub/switch.) An MFD is an MFD regardless of whether it is a 4500, 3500 or 3400.

I believe the characterists of the various AFS systems are as follows:

New 'S'-cpu vs old 'non-S'-cpu - all new units from AFS have S-cpu that supports SV. Also has 16x the memory of non-S cpu boards.
New screens are brighter, lower power LED back-lit: 5600 will be 1500nit, 4500 has 1200nit matte screen. Older screens on 3500/3400 has 1000nit glossy screen (I think) and previously had 800nit screens.
As you know, screen sizes vary: 5600 will be biggest (web site doesn't say how big) and have highest resolution (1024x768), 4500 & 3500 are 8.4" screens, 3400 have 6.5" screens.

The biggest difference is in the user interface:
5600 - 18 buttons, 3 knobs of which one is a joystick, least menus,
4500 - 5 buttons, 2 knobs of which one is a joystick, more menus,
3500/3400 - 5 buttons, 1 knob (no joystick), more menus again.

So, in your position, looking at a 3400s-MFD vs a 4500s-MFD, the 3400 obviously has a smaller screen, hence may fit better, the screen is also less bright and has a glossy surface, the absence of joystick capability makes it more difflicult to use with mapping displays. But, the 3400-MFD would be your third screen ( :-) ) so you perhaps could dedicate it to full screen engine data display which it will easily handle and drop the engine data display from your two 4500's giving increased space for flight info/SV and mapping. You'll have engine parameter alarm thresholds set so if anything needs looking at the alarm will help bring it to your attention. The real beauty of the setup you are looking at is that whatever data display arrangement you initially go for, if you want to change it you can. Personally, I've gone for a pair of 3500's plus a Garmin 695 which I think will be just fine. Initially I only bought one 3500 - an EE version - but then decided to have a second box so added a 3500-MFD. I'm in the UK so the slow delivery of international mapping was a factor in my decision making, as was the absence of multi-waypoint flight plans. I am now planning on upgrading the 3500's to 4500's.

I think it would be handy if AFS were to published this sort of info in a tabular model comparison matrix.

Hope this is of some use. Trevor will no doubt put me right if I've erred.

Trevor Conroy
01-04-2011, 09:52 AM
Steve hit the nail on the head. One point of correction though. We have a new screen for the AF-3400 units. It has the same anti-reflective coating as the AF-3500/4500 displays, so has no gloss. You can have any unit as an MFD though, 3400, 3500, and 4500. The differences are basically size and the extra functionality the joystick gives you on an AF-4500.