ADS-B Out Comparison Chart
Prices and specs from the PilotMall catalog. Reviewed by pilots on staff.
Quick answer: what to buy
For most US certified aircraft flying below FL180, the uAvionix tailBeacon is the best overall 2020-compliant ADS-B Out: it replaces the rear position light, has built-in WAAS GPS, and adds a self-calibrating altitude encoder so no static-system plumbing is needed. The skyBeacon is the best value at $2,199, delivering the same 978 UAT ADS-B Out as a simple wingtip nav-light swap with no external GPS antenna, provided you keep a working Mode C transponder. If you fly worldwide or above 18,000 feet, the tailBeaconX ($2,499) is the standout, since it combines 1090ES ADS-B Out with an integrated Mode S transponder and WAAS GPS in one tail-mounted unit. The skySensor ($750) is the cheapest way to add certified dual-band ADS-B In traffic and weather; the AV-20-E, AV-30-E, and AV-30-C are panel displays, not ADS-B Out devices.
- Best overall ADS-B OuttailBeacon
- Best valueskyBeacon
- Best for worldwide / above FL180tailBeaconX
- Best ADS-B In add-onskySensor
- Best for experimental aircraftAV-30-E
- Best budget instrumentAV-20-E
| Model | Type | Install | ADS-B Out link | Built-in WAAS GPS | Transponder | TSO | Aircraft | Display | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 uAvionix AV-30-C |
EFIS / multi-function display (not an ADS-B Out device) | Standard 3-1/8 inch round instrument panel cutout | Not applicable (panel display, not an ADS-B Out transmitter) | No | Neither; primary attitude/directional multi-function display (14+ functions incl. AI, DG, MFD, CDI/HSI) | Yes; FAA certified, approved as primary Attitude Indicator or primary Directional Indicator | Type-certificated (certified) aircraft | 3-inch circular color display; 1000 cd/m2 brightness, 500:1 contrast; viewing angle 60 deg L/R | $2,499 | Certified aircraft owners replacing a legacy 3-1/8 inch vacuum attitude or directional gyro with one digital multi-function instrument; it is a display, not an ADS-B Out device. |
 uAvionix tailBeaconX |
ADS-B Out with integrated Mode S transponder | Rear tail position-light mount (direct replacement of existing rear position light) | 1090ES (1090 MHz Extended Squitter) | Yes; integrated certified SBAS/WAAS GPS receiver | Transponder; integrated Mode S with 1090ES ADS-B Out for worldwide travel and flight above FL180 | Yes (TSO) | Certified aircraft; qualified for worldwide operation and above FL180 (18,000 ft) | Not applicable (no display; Wi-Fi mobile-app setup) | $2,499 | Certified aircraft needing 1090ES ADS-B Out with an integrated Mode S transponder and WAAS GPS for worldwide flight above FL180, in a single tail-mounted unit. |
 uAvionix skyBeacon |
ADS-B Out (Class B1S UAT transmitter) | Wingtip LED position/nav light (direct replacement) | 978 UAT (978 MHz) | Yes; built-in WAAS GPS, no external GPS antenna or added wiring | Requires existing working Mode C transponder (not a transponder itself); uses patented power-transcoder over aircraft wiring | Yes; TSO-C154c Class B1S (plus TSO-C30c / TSO-C96a lighting) | US only, below FL180 (18,000 ft); approved model list covering hundreds of aircraft with wingtip adapters | Not applicable | $2,199 | Lowest-cost certified 2020 ADS-B Out for US aircraft flying below FL180 that keep an existing Mode C transponder; installs as a wingtip nav-light swap with no external GPS antenna. |
 uAvionix tailBeacon |
ADS-B Out (UAT transmitter, 14 CFR 91.227 compliant) | Rear tail position light (direct replacement) | 978 UAT (978 MHz) | Yes; TSO-certified truFYX WAAS GPS with RAIM (TSO-C145d Class Beta I) | Requires existing Mode C transponder; includes integrated self-calibrating altitude encoder (TSO-C88b, no static-system connection) | Yes; UAT TSO-C154c Class B1S, GPS TSO-C145d, encoder TSO-C88b, light TSO-C30 Type III | US only, below FL180 (18,000 ft); certified aircraft | Not applicable | $2,199 | Rule-compliant 978 UAT ADS-B Out via the rear position light for US aircraft below FL180 that keep an existing transponder; adds a self-calibrating altitude encoder needing no static-system plumbing. |
 uAvionix skySensor |
ADS-B In receiver (dual-band traffic and weather) | Wingtip nav-light replacement | Not applicable (ADS-B In only); receives on both 978 MHz and 1090 MHz | Yes; built-in GPS supporting WAAS, Galileo, GLONASS and BeiDou (tracks three constellations concurrently) | Monitor/receiver; delivers real-time traffic and weather to EFBs via GDL 90 protocol | Yes; TSO-C30C (Type II position light) and TSO-C96b (Class II anti-collision/strobe) | Certified aircraft (TSO-certified wingtip install) | Not applicable (data displayed on connected EFB) | $750 | Adds dual-band (978 and 1090 MHz) ADS-B In traffic and subscription-free weather to any GDL 90 EFB through a certified wingtip nav-light swap. |
 uAvionix AV-20-E |
EFIS / multi-function display (not an ADS-B Out device) | Standard 2-1/4 inch round panel cutout (~2 in deep) | Not applicable (panel display, not an ADS-B Out transmitter) | No | Neither; multi-function display that includes a Transponder Control function plus AoA, attitude, G-meter, clock, OAT, timers | No; experimental aircraft only (non-TSO) | Experimental / amateur-built aircraft only | 2.25-inch full-color display, 1.8 in diagonal; 1000 cd/m2, 500:1 contrast; auto-dimming light sensor; internal battery ~30 min | $895 | Budget experimental-only 2-1/4 inch instrument packing AoA, attitude, transponder control and 15+ functions with a 30-minute backup battery; not for certified aircraft. |
 uAvionix AV-30-E |
EFIS / digital multi-function primary flight display (not an ADS-B Out unit) | 3 1/8" round instrument hole (standard 3-inch panel cutout) | None (display/MFD, does not broadcast 978 UAT or 1090ES) | No (GPS signal must be supplied from an external source; not internal) | Monitor/display (primary flight display / MFD, not a transponder) | No (experimental-only version; the separate AV-30-C is the certified model) | Experimental amateur-built / exhibition aircraft only (not certified standard-category) | 3-inch circular digital display; attitude, DG/HSI, airspeed, altitude, AoA, G-meter, OAT/TAS/density altitude | $1,849 | Experimental-aircraft builders replacing a vacuum attitude indicator or DG with a digital 3-inch EFIS/MFD (with 2-hr internal battery backup); it is a display, not an ADS-B Out transponder. |
Current pricing is shown on each product page via the model links and is subject to change.
Frequently asked questions
Which of these products actually make my aircraft ADS-B Out compliant?
Four do: the skyBeacon (978 UAT wingtip), tailBeacon (978 UAT rear position light), and tailBeaconX (1090ES tail unit) all transmit ADS-B Out, and the skySensor is ADS-B In only. The AV-20-E, AV-30-E, and AV-30-C are panel displays, not ADS-B Out transmitters, and do not meet the 2020 mandate on their own.
What is the cheapest way to become ADS-B Out compliant?
The skyBeacon is the lowest-cost certified option here. It installs as a wingtip LED nav-light swap with built-in WAAS GPS and no external GPS antenna, but it requires an existing working Mode C transponder because it transmits on 978 UAT rather than being a transponder itself. Current pricing for each model is shown in the comparison table above.
Should I choose 978 UAT or 1090ES?
For US aircraft flying below FL180 (18,000 ft), 978 UAT is the standard path and is used by both the skyBeacon and tailBeacon. If you fly internationally or above FL180, you need 1090ES, which the tailBeaconX provides along with an integrated Mode S transponder.
What is the difference between the skyBeacon and the tailBeacon?
Both are similarly priced certified 978 UAT ADS-B Out units with built-in WAAS GPS for US operation below FL180. The skyBeacon replaces a wingtip nav light, while the tailBeacon replaces the rear tail position light and adds an integrated self-calibrating altitude encoder (TSO-C88b) so no static-system connection is required.
Can I use the AV-30-C to satisfy the ADS-B mandate?
No. The AV-30-C is an FAA-certified 3-inch electronic flight instrument that can serve as a primary attitude or directional indicator, but it is a display, not an ADS-B Out transmitter, and has no built-in WAAS GPS. Pair it with a separate ADS-B Out device such as the tailBeacon or tailBeaconX.
What does the skySensor add if I already have ADS-B Out?
The skySensor is a certified wingtip sensor that adds dual-band (978 and 1090 MHz) ADS-B In, feeding real-time traffic and subscription-free weather to any GDL 90 compatible electronic flight bag app. It does not transmit ADS-B Out.
ADS-B Out Comparison Chart
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