Garmin GWX User Manual

GWX™ 68 digital color weather radar

Garmin technology brings

sweeping improvement

to weather avoidance.

GWX™ 68 weather radar specifications

Bringing 4-color storm cell tracking to your compatible Garmin multifunction
display (MFD), the GWX 68 digital radar is a powerful weather avoidance tool.

It’s designed to interface with the Garmin MX 20 and GMX 200 panel-mount
displays, as well as the G1000 and G600/G500/G500H series of glass
cockpit MFDs. Excellent range and adjustable scanning profiles combine
with high-definition radar target display to bring you reliable, easy-to-interpret,
real-time weather analysis.

Available with either a 10-inch or 12-inch phased array antenna,
the GWX 68 fits a wide variety of aircraft radome configurations. The compact,
all-in-one antenna/receiver/transmitter unit saves space and simplifies
installation. Also, to keep your weather picture tracking smoothly during
climbs or turns, the system offers full radar stabilization to 30 degrees of pitch
and roll (when interfaced with your aircraft’s analog gyro or AHRS system.)

To focus radar scanning on the areas you want to watch, the GWX 68 offers
pilot-adjustable horizontal scan angles of up to 90 degrees. What’s more,
the system also includes a vertical scanning function to help you analyze
storm tops, gradients and cell buildup activity at various altitudes.

General

Operational Mode: Weather (WX): Green, Yellow, Red, Magenta

Mapping (MAP): Cyan, Yellow, Magenta, Blue

Display Ranges: Selectable 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160, and 320 nm

(MX 20; GMX 200).

Selectable 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 160,

240 and 320 nm (G1000, G600/G500/G500H).

Performance Index: 12-Inch Antenna: 217 dB (Nominal per DO-173)
10-Inch Antenna: 214 dB (Nominal per DO-173)

Weather Avoidance
Range: 12-Inch Antenna: 305 nm max.

10-Inch Antenna: 270 nm max.

Rx Sensitivity: -110 dBm MDS

Manual Gain: +12 to - 64 dB (G1000; G600/G500/G500H)

+3.5 to - 28 dB (MX 20; GMX 200)

Antenna Beamwidth: 12-Inch Antenna: 7.8 degrees
10-Inch Antenna: 9.0 degrees

Horizontal Scan
Angle: Pilot adjustable; 20, 40, 60 or 90 degrees

(G1000; G600/G500/G500H);
20 or 90 degrees (MX 20; GMX 200)

Scan Centerline: Pilot adjustable

Scan Rate: 12 looks per minute

Manual Tilt: +/- 15 degrees

Vertical Scan Angle: 60 degrees (G1000; G600/G500/G500H);

10 – 60 degrees (MX 20, GMX 200)

Other helpful technologies include Sensitivity Time Control (or STC) logic that
digitally integrates weather attenuation and distance compensation, so cells
don’t suddenly appear to loom larger as they get closer.

In addition, all display configurations offer Garmin’s WATCH™ (Weather
Attenuated Color Highlight) feature which identifies the “shadowing” effects
of short-range cell activity – highlighting areas where radar signals are
weakened, or attenuated, by intense precipitation (or large areas of lesser
precipitation) and that may not fully reflect the “storm behind the storm.”
There’s also an automatic Target Alert feature for the G1000 and G600/G500/
G500H lineup that looks ahead for intense cell activity in the 80 to 320 nm
range, whether you’re monitoring those range displays onscreen or not.

With 6,500 watts of pure magnetron muscle, this unit has more than enough
power output to penetrate serious weather. So, as a pilot, you’re equipped
to make smarter decisions sooner. The Garmin GWX 68: When it comes to
steering clear of the ugly stuff, this is the “see and avoid” system you want.

Antenna/Receiver/Transmitter

Mechanical
Size: Width: 10.0 in. (25.4 cm.) diameter at base

Depth: 6.3 in. (16.0 cm.)
Antenna: 10 in. or 12 in. diameter flat-plate

Unit Weight: 12-Inch Antenna: 9.1 lbs. (4.13 kg)
10-Inch Antenna: 9.0 lbs. (4.08 kg)

Environmental
Operating
temperature range: -55 Degrees C to +70 Degrees C

Humidity: 95% non-condensing

Altitude Range: -1,500 feet to 50,000 feet

TSO Compliance: C63c, Class 7

Environmental
Category: RTCA DO-160C

Electrical

Power requirements: 28 VDC; 2.0 amps

Magnetron Power: 6.5 kW nominal, 5.0 kW minimum

Output Frequency
Range: X-Band

Pulse Width: 4 Microseconds (nominal)

STC Logic: Effective to 80 nm

Extended STC: 80 nm to 320 nm (Modifies targets from end of STC

Stabilization: +/- 30 Degrees combined pitch, roll and manual tilt

Max. Altitude: 50,000 feet (unpressurized)

Target Alert: (G1000 and G600/G500/G500H only) Annunciates

Interface: Garmin HSDB (G1000 and G600/G500/G500H

to maximum range)

targets (between 80 and 320 nm) that are beyond
displayed range on radar screen

installations); ARINC 429/453 (MX 20, GMX 200
installations)

Weather data from the GWX 68 digital

radar is displayed on compatible Garmin

MFDs via ARINC 429/453 interface.

A vertical scanning function on the

GWX 68 lets pilots analyze cloud tops

and storm gradients to see a more

complete weather picture.

Garmin International, Inc. 1200 East 151st Street, Olathe, Kansas, 66062, U.S.A. p: 913.397.8200 f: 913.397.8282
Garmin (Europe) Ltd., Liberty House, Hounsdown Business Park, Southampton, Hampshire, S040 9LR, U.K. 44.2380.524101 fax [phone]
Garmin (Asia) Corporation, No. 68, Jangshu 2nd Rd., Sijhih, Taipei County, Taiwan 886.2.2642.9199 fax [phone]

www.garmin.com

©2010 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries

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M02-10127-00