Satellite weather downloads in Europe

When I was studying for my instrument rating in Orlando, I flew an SR-22 that had the ability to receive weather information in the air. It displayed a radar picture on the multi-function display and TAFs/METARs for airports. It was very cool and a valuable safety system for longer flights. Unfortunately, this option is not available in Europe.

Timm Preusser rigged up a system using a pocket computer and a Globalstar satellite phone to do the same thing. However, Globalstar has some problems with their satellites and his approach - though effective - seemed a bit Heath Robinson (that’s Rube Goldberg for my American readers.)

Avidyne recently announced the MLX-770 Two-way Datalink Receiver. Instead of using satellite radio broadcasts, it uses the Iridium satellite phone system and integrates into the Cirrus’s avionics.

It downloads a radar mosaic for most of western Europe (the same display you get from Meteox, from the looks of things) and METARs/TAFs. You can also send and receive text messages in the air, which might be useful.

In short, I want it.  Actually, I think I’d rather have this than the new Garmin avionics from Cirrus.