Garmin 296

[small penguin]

Im looking at buying one for cross-countries. All I have now for navigation is a compass and DG. I have a hand held "hikers" GPS unit (Garmin eTrex Legend) but Im kinda looking to upgrade.

Does anyone have any pros/cons from personal use of the 296?

Thanks,

[wannabatp]

At the risk of sounding like the Garmin/Lightspeed ra-ra club.

You can't go wrong with the 296. The only con I've found with it (and presumably the 396/496/496) is the power/serial cable plug gets wedged in too tight. I've already pulled the plug from the cable twice. If you leave it plugged in, not a problem. I use it in the car as well as the plane.

You might also consider the 196, which is black and white and quite a bit slower and doesn't have some features like terrain, but works pretty well too for half the money.

Hope that helps, PM if you want more info.

Cheers!

[small penguin]

Yea I realize the 296 does have a fair bit (half?) of the features I wouldnt really use, at least in the beginning. My reason for the 296 over the 196 is for a few reasons, some practical, some not:

colour screen
higher resolution
Li-Ion battery over AAs

But also as my understanding is the 196 doesnt have a computer hookup.

Its a pitty though, that teh 296 is double the price.

Curious, if you've used both, are the screens good in direct sunlight? Do they ruin your night vision?

[B-rad]

.

[Lost Lake]

Depending on the type of flying you intend to do airport to airport, etc, I have a 76C. It has been a life saver in bush flying. Remote towns are not always where they should be but terrain is dead on. It is great in daylight and night time. I love it over a lot of older aviation GPS units. I use rechargeables, with back up spares. They usually last 12 hr day and nite flying (driving) time. You can also take it on your car and boat. Topo charts and marine charts are also available.
Suction cup mount works great
Price is reasonable

My 2 cents worth

[West Coast Swell]

Coastal flying in reduced weather with the 296 is amazing. Add the marine and topo chip and it rocks even more. I've flown long enough to have experienced the traditional nav aid navigation method... the numbered Loran system and early GPS numbered technology with low res blocky moving map features ... and now finally the 296 in colour. The enhanced topo with moving map and marine depth data is awesome. The 296 is an excellent product which makes for safer, safest VFR nav possible. IMHO .... the 296 rocks and I suffer everyday when I have to fly the old monocrome 196.

P.S. If you are looking to purchase a 196 PM me because Pasco is replacing all there 196's in the Grumman Gooses with 296's and I'd imagine the old GPS's are being selved and could be purchased for a fair price.

[small penguin]

I took my first flight with a 296 on Sunday. Gotta say I was pretty impressed with it. I was even able to use it at the lowest backlight setting in direct sunlight. It made me think of the old Gameboy Colour screens where when the sun was on it, the screen would become brilliant.

I played around with a few of the features, and love how it stores flights. Being able to see a track on my PC was great also

One concern I have is with the yoke mount. The clam to hold onto the yoke is as small as it can go and isnt very tight on the rod. Makes me wonder what the heck Garmin was thinking. I'll have to add some tape or something to make it thicker. As well on the yoke mount, while the bracket to hold the 296 is centered on the yoke, the bracket doesnt hold the 296 completely centered, so the 296 interferes slightly if I want to hold the yoke with my right hand.

Still Im very pleased with the unit and Im looking forward to my next cross country even more so now

[HuD 91gt]

Quick question about your Etrex Legend. Looking to get one if my 530/430 were to shit the bed in the worst of times. Would one of these take me home?

[wannabatp]

I dont use the yoke mount anymore. Personally, I use the bean bag thing and simply put it on top of the dash. Allows other passengers/crew to see whats going on as well and stays put. Mostly.

If in doubt, you probably shouldn't be staring at the GPS anyway, but if your still not comfortable with it sitting up there unsecured, you can use a couple of those big black paperclips to secure it to the edge of the dash.

Hope that helps,

Cheers!

[Big Pistons Forever]

Is the extra money for the 495 over the 296, worth it ? Anybody got any expereince using both units ?

[small penguin]

HuD the eTrex will get you home, provided "home" is a city/town name. Being a "hickers'" GPS, it has no info on airports, and barely any info on roads. But it'll get you back home. I used to interface it with my laptop running Microsoft Streets and Trips (since MS S&T doesnt lock you to roads) I'd get a nice 15.4inch colour moving map with a very visible track line. The only downside to that technique was no airspace/airport info, and the fact that I'd have the lappy on the co-pilot seat.

BPF - look at this and decide for yourself Being that I've only used an aviation GPS once, my experience is null, but looking at that chart I say no. But... different flying. Im GA, and I have absolutely no need for XM, and airport taxi info which seem to be the two major contenders.

[Big Pistons Forever]

My understanding is the 495 is a downmarket 496 without the XM weather and a few other features. However it is supposed to have the faster processor and better map of the 496. I was hoping someone had used both and had an opinion on wether the extra performance was worth the money.

[small penguin]

Oops I mis-read your post! The faster proc might only be advantageous for the moving map. Allowing for smoother moving in pan mode, and perhaps a faster redraw rate at other times. But without comparing the units, I cant say for certain. Probably that with the additional features of the 496/495, the faster processor was also required.