Garmin 496 Review

[Mike Granby]

So, idiot that I am, I just took delivery of a brand new 496 on the
basis that I can trade the 396 to JA Air for $1750 assuming I can
round-up all the bits. The first impressions are...

* The new XM antenna has the magnets removed! :)
* The GPS antenna is a new format with mounting cup.
* Voice prompt language is now selectable.
* Updates when scrolling are way faster.

More news as it comes and as I play with it...

[Mike Granby]

Other things...

* The update rate of 5Hz may apply to the data fields on the map page
and to the panel page, but the map update is only about twice the rate
it was. Panning and zooming on the map is noticably faster than on the
396, but not five times as fast.

* The taxiway feature is excellent. Zoom in towards an aiport, and a
white square appears showing the airport diagram. Get closer, and you
see the taxiways in detail complete with numbering. Should be very
useful at large airports eg. on AngelFlights.

* The preloaded city and highways data is a solid addition. On a couple
of occassions I forgot to load enough data into the map cartridge
before taking a trip and using the 396 in the car, and on one occasion
the lack of data lead me into The 'Hood. Having all the data in place
will be better -- and safer!!!

* The AOPA directory is nice, and when panning the cursor around you
get a little popup telling you if the airport has food, cars etc. What
I'd really like to see is a NEAREST FOOD feature on the Nearest page.
I'm not joking -- several times I've been trying to find an airport
with a restaurant nearby on a long wx, especially when kids are in tow,
and having the GPS help out would be a great addition.

So, overall, is it worth it? Probably not, to be honest, but if I had
more sense than money, I wouldn't own an airplane...

[[email protected]]

On the taxiway diagrams, do you get a cursor showing
your position on the chart?

Have to drive over to the airport to find out :-)

Bill Hale

Mike Granby wrote:
> Other things...
>
> * The update rate of 5Hz may apply to the data fields on the map page
> and to the panel page, but the map update is only about twice the rate
> it was. Panning and zooming on the map is noticably faster than on the
> 396, but not five times as fast.
>
> * The taxiway feature is excellent. Zoom in towards an aiport, and a
> white square appears showing the airport diagram. Get closer, and you
> see the taxiways in detail complete with numbering. Should be very
> useful at large airports eg. on AngelFlights.
>
> * The preloaded city and highways data is a solid addition. On a couple
> of occassions I forgot to load enough data into the map cartridge
> before taking a trip and using the 396 in the car, and on one occasion
> the lack of data lead me into The 'Hood. Having all the data in place
> will be better -- and safer!!!
>
> * The AOPA directory is nice, and when panning the cursor around you
> get a little popup telling you if the airport has food, cars etc. What
> I'd really like to see is a NEAREST FOOD feature on the Nearest page.
> I'm not joking -- several times I've been trying to find an airport
> with a restaurant nearby on a long wx, especially when kids are in tow,
> and having the GPS help out would be a great addition.
>
> So, overall, is it worth it? Probably not, to be honest, but if I had
> more sense than money, I wouldn't own an airplane...

[Mike Granby]

wrote:

> On the taxiway diagrams, do you get a cursor showing
> your position on the chart?

Yep. The taxiway map appears just like the rest of the mapping. It's
pretty well integreated. You can see where you are and which way you're
going.

[Thomas Borchert]

,

> On the taxiway diagrams, do you get a cursor showing
> your position on the chart?
>

Absolutely. Basically exactly the feature that Lowrance introduced
first a while ago and Garmin now replicated.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

[Jonathan Goodish]

In article >,
Thomas Borchert > wrote:
> > On the taxiway diagrams, do you get a cursor showing
> > your position on the chart?
> >
>
> Absolutely. Basically exactly the feature that Lowrance introduced
> first a while ago and Garmin now replicated.

Actually, I believe the PDA/Tablet software folks got there first. And
while Lowrance did add taxi diagrams before Garmin, I don't believe that
Lowrance provides anywhere near the airport coverage that Garmin
provides. The PDA/Tablet software folks provide far more coverage than
both, though those products have other problems.

It's pretty obvious that Garmin is responding--or "chasing," if that's
what you want to believe--the PDA/TabletPC software folks, and not
Lowrance. Lowrance doesn't pose much of a threat to Garmin, especially
in the XM weather space, which is where the 396/496 is targeted.



JKG

[Barney Rubble]

Can you prove that, where is the data to back-up your assertion?
;)

"Thomas Borchert" > wrote in message
...
> ,
>
>> On the taxiway diagrams, do you get a cursor showing
>> your position on the chart?
>>
>
> Absolutely. Basically exactly the feature that Lowrance introduced
> first a while ago and Garmin now replicated.
>
> --
> Thomas Borchert (EDDH)
>

[Thomas Borchert]

Barney,

> Can you prove that, where is the data to back-up your assertion?
>

On Lowrance's website, where the feature has been available for months
now. A free download.

Glad you're paying attention ;-)

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

[Dave[_1_]]

I also hope everyone is also paying attention to XM's financial,
marketing/subscriber (or lack of) problems..

Serious and getting worse...

Dave



On Thu, 27 Jul 2006 09:32:11 +0200, Thomas Borchert
> wrote:

>Barney,
>
>> Can you prove that, where is the data to back-up your assertion?
>>
>
>On Lowrance's website, where the feature has been available for months
>now. A free download.
>
>Glad you're paying attention ;-)

[Gig 601XL Builder]

The core of XMs problems right now are some problems (1) with the FCC and
that they are not going to hit the subscriber numbers (3) by the end of the
year that they had originally guesstimated.

The stock market over the last couple of days seems to think all the bad
news has passed and the stock has started to creep up.

(1) Something about the units that they sold that allow you to tune them on
your FM car radio isn't FCC compliant.

(2) They guesstiated 8.5 million by the end of the year. Looks like it will
me between 7.8 and 8.2.

Market capitalization is still huge on XM and the technology is sound. At
some point they are going to have to adjust there business model but with
the number of new car makers installing XM & Sirius at the factory I think
the companies are safe.

That said even if XM goes away the WX data that is being sent could be spun
off and transmitted by any number of other companies on any number of
satilites.

"Dave" > wrote in message
...
>I also hope everyone is also paying attention to XM's financial,
> marketing/subscriber (or lack of) problems..
>
> Serious and getting worse...
>
> Dave
>
>
>
> On Thu, 27 Jul 2006 09:32:11 +0200, Thomas Borchert
> > wrote:
>
>>Barney,
>>
>>> Can you prove that, where is the data to back-up your assertion?
>>>
>>
>>On Lowrance's website, where the feature has been available for months
>>now. A free download.
>>
>>Glad you're paying attention ;-)
>

[Maule Driver]

Gig 601XL Builder wrote:
> Market capitalization is still huge on XM and the technology is sound. At
> some point they are going to have to adjust there business model but with
> the number of new car makers installing XM & Sirius at the factory I think
> the companies are safe.

I'll bet XM is around longer than the companies expecting to sell seats
in VLJs

[Morgans[_3_]]

> > Market capitalization is still huge on XM and the technology is sound.
At
> > some point they are going to have to adjust there business model but
with
> > the number of new car makers installing XM & Sirius at the factory I
think
> > the companies are safe.
>
> I'll bet XM is around longer than the companies expecting to sell seats
> in VLJs

I t seems about once a year or so, the rumors about XM folding go around. I
wouldn't doubt that it was Sirrius trying to get people to come to their
camp.
--
Jim in NC

[Jay Honeck]

> I also hope everyone is also paying attention to XM's financial,
> marketing/subscriber (or lack of) problems..
>
> Serious and getting worse...

Well, they supposedly activated 300 - 500 new weather subscribers at
OSH, if the guy in the XM activation tent knew what he was talking
about.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[[email protected]]

I was so impressed with XM in my car and now Wx on my 396, I went out
and bought just a few $xxx worth of stock. What started at $26 is now
$12! :-(

I'm glad I leave my serious financial planning to a financial planner!
With some luck and prayer, it will creep back up.



Jay Honeck wrote:
> > I also hope everyone is also paying attention to XM's financial,
> > marketing/subscriber (or lack of) problems..
> >
> > Serious and getting worse...
>
> Well, they supposedly activated 300 - 500 new weather subscribers at
> OSH, if the guy in the XM activation tent knew what he was talking
> about.
> --
> Jay Honeck
> Iowa City, IA
> Pathfinder N56993
> www.AlexisParkInn.com
> "Your Aviation Destination"

[Mike Granby]

wrote:

> I was so impressed with XM in my car and now Wx on
> my 396, I went out and bought just a few $xxx worth of
> stock. What started at $26 is now $12! :-(

Should have bought Garmin a few years back. I know I'm kicking myself
for not getting some, knowing full well that I knew back then would a
good job they were doing and how they were moving further and further
ahead. Oh, well. Weep not for the past.