Garmin 596 Ideas [Archive]

john smith

August 3rd 06, 07:38 PM

Here are a few suggestions for the future Garmin GPS-596...
- flat panel package, one-inch thick (max, including battery)
- replaceable Li-ion battery pack; optional AA battery pack
- a five-inch diagonal screen (as on the 530)
- landscape or portrait viewing select
- XM weather and radio
- higher resolution
- faster processor
- ability to download text (NOTAM's, weather)

Dan[_1_]

August 3rd 06, 07:59 PM

....and traffic....

john smith wrote:
> Here are a few suggestions for the future Garmin GPS-596...
> - flat panel package, one-inch thick (max, including battery)
> - replaceable Li-ion battery pack; optional AA battery pack
> - a five-inch diagonal screen (as on the 530)
> - landscape or portrait viewing select
> - XM weather and radio
> - higher resolution
> - faster processor
> - ability to download text (NOTAM's, weather)

Gig 601XL Builder

August 3rd 06, 08:32 PM

Isn't Traffic already available if tied into a Garmin 330 Transponder?

"Dan" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> ...and traffic....
>
>
> john smith wrote:
>> Here are a few suggestions for the future Garmin GPS-596...
>> - flat panel package, one-inch thick (max, including battery)
>> - replaceable Li-ion battery pack; optional AA battery pack
>> - a five-inch diagonal screen (as on the 530)
>> - landscape or portrait viewing select
>> - XM weather and radio
>> - higher resolution
>> - faster processor
>> - ability to download text (NOTAM's, weather)
>

Dan[_1_]

August 3rd 06, 09:54 PM

I meant as a truly "portable", self-contained device for those who
don't own their own aircraft.

--Dan

Gig 601XL Builder wrote:
> Isn't Traffic already available if tied into a Garmin 330 Transponder?
>
>
> "Dan" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> > ...and traffic....
> >
> >
> > john smith wrote:
> >> Here are a few suggestions for the future Garmin GPS-596...
> >> - flat panel package, one-inch thick (max, including battery)
> >> - replaceable Li-ion battery pack; optional AA battery pack
> >> - a five-inch diagonal screen (as on the 530)
> >> - landscape or portrait viewing select
> >> - XM weather and radio
> >> - higher resolution
> >> - faster processor
> >> - ability to download text (NOTAM's, weather)
> >

Dan[_1_]

August 3rd 06, 09:54 PM

Jonathan Goodish

August 3rd 06, 10:56 PM

In article
>,
john smith > wrote:

> Here are a few suggestions for the future Garmin GPS-596...
> - flat panel package, one-inch thick (max, including battery)
> - replaceable Li-ion battery pack; optional AA battery pack
> - a five-inch diagonal screen (as on the 530)
> - landscape or portrait viewing select
> - XM weather and radio
> - higher resolution
> - faster processor
> - ability to download text (NOTAM's, weather)

I agree, a screen the size of the 530 would be nice.

With a screen the size of the 530, landscape or portrait would be moot,
in my opinion.

The 396/496 screen already provides fairly impressive resolution. A
higher-resolution screen will not make the weather look any better, if
that's what you're after.

No AA battery pack. Not practical in this unit. The 396/496 have a
replaceable Lion battery pack that is only slightly larger than 2 AA
batteries; there is no way that 2 AA batteries would power the unit for
any reasonable length of time.

NOTAMs (other than TFRs) would be nice, but I'm not sure what weather
text you're looking for that isn't already there. Perhaps area
forecasts, but that isn't a service provided by XM at this time. The
396/496 already provides text for METAR, TAF, TFR, AIRMET, SIGMET, etc.

JKG

john smith

August 3rd 06, 11:30 PM

Jonathan Goodish

August 3rd 06, 11:43 PM

In article
>,
john smith > wrote:
> - traffic (independent feed; patch from 330? ADSB? over the XM?)

You can already display TIS traffic from the 330 on the 396/496. As
others have suggested, an independent (probably passive) traffic
capability might be nice, but I doubt we'll see it anytime soon.

As for traffic over XM, there are multiple issues that make that idea
impractical, the obvious being the non-real time nature of the XM data
feed.

> - single power, XM, GPS antenna cable connector leading to a molded
> "strip" connector for individual antennas?)

Bad idea on the "connector strip." Not only does it provide a single
point of failure, it adds complexity for no good reason. The last thing
I want is to be forced into using a "connector strip" instead of
flipping up the stick antenna, or have to haul around a "connector
strip" when I want to run off of battery in my car. Now, I do think
that they need to re-engineer some of the connectors, but the ala carte
system on the unit is about as good as you're going to get, IMO. The
power/data port already provides power, data, and monaural audio from
one port, over one cable.

The reality is that--while not perfect--the 396/496 are pretty darn good
already. Screen size would seem to be the most obvious improvement.

JKG

Paul Tomblin

August 4th 06, 12:58 AM

In a previous article, john smith > said:
>Here are a few suggestions for the future Garmin GPS-596...
>- flat panel package, one-inch thick (max, including battery)
>- replaceable Li-ion battery pack; optional AA battery pack
>- a five-inch diagonal screen (as on the 530)
>- landscape or portrait viewing select
>- XM weather and radio
>- higher resolution
>- faster processor
>- ability to download text (NOTAM's, weather)

- geo-referenced approach plates

--
Paul Tomblin > http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/
"It's just a cardboard model. Fake security"
"Jeez, that's a first for Microsoft"
- User Friendly

.Blueskies.

August 4th 06, 02:04 AM

"john smith" > wrote in message
...
: Here are a few suggestions for the future Garmin GPS-596...
: - flat panel package, one-inch thick (max, including battery)
: - replaceable Li-ion battery pack; optional AA battery pack
: - a five-inch diagonal screen (as on the 530)
: - landscape or portrait viewing select
: - XM weather and radio
: - higher resolution
: - faster processor
: - ability to download text (NOTAM's, weather)

And a $1000 (1 AMU) price tag with weather for $15 a month...

Jim Burns

August 4th 06, 02:14 AM

"Paul Tomblin" > wrote in message
...
> In a previous article, john smith > said:
>>Here are a few suggestions for the future Garmin GPS-596...
>>- flat panel package, one-inch thick (max, including battery)
>>- replaceable Li-ion battery pack; optional AA battery pack
>>- a five-inch diagonal screen (as on the 530)
>>- landscape or portrait viewing select
>>- XM weather and radio
>>- higher resolution
>>- faster processor
>>- ability to download text (NOTAM's, weather)
>
> - geo-referenced approach plates

Now this is getting exciting! ;)
Jim

Mike Granby

August 4th 06, 03:04 AM

Paul Tomblin wrote:

> - geo-referenced approach plates

I think the "electronic ink" technology I saw at Oshkosh will be the
solution for that problem. Much better than an active display, and
likely the be driven down in price by consumer volumes. I'm not sure
the tech is quite there yet, but it's not far off...

http://www.eflybook.com/

john smith

August 4th 06, 03:19 AM

In article >,
(Paul Tomblin) wrote:

> - geo-referenced approach plates

I don't understand this one.
Paul, please explain.

Jim Burns

August 4th 06, 03:55 AM

It means that with GPS input, the little airplane flys over the approach
plate that is displayed on the unit and it's actually in the correct
location. My FlightPrep/ChartCase program will do it on a notebook/laptop,
but it's windoze/hard drive based instead of solid state. Pretty cool and
dead on accurate when it works.
Jim

"john smith" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> (Paul Tomblin) wrote:
>
>> - geo-referenced approach plates
>
> I don't understand this one.
> Paul, please explain.

Jay Honeck

August 4th 06, 03:57 AM

> The reality is that--while not perfect--the 396/496 are pretty darn good
> already. Screen size would seem to be the most obvious improvement.

I've flown around 5 hours with the unit since OSH, and am extremely
happy with it. Every feature you could want (and a few I hadn't
considered) are there -- except for the screen size and the
landscape-only display.

Today I used it in "automotive" mode for the first time, and found it
to be absolutely the coolest thing I've seen. I selected my airport
(while sitting in the driveway at my home), and it gave me turn-by-turn
VERBAL instructions, complete with warnings 0.1 miles ahead of each
turn, right to the terminal building. Very slick and easy.

I now know why they use the dinky little screen on the 496 -- anything
bigger won't fit on the dashboard of most cars. Garmin is trying to
make the unit do double (or, with marine, triple) duty, to the
detriment of the aviation mode.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jonathan Goodish

August 4th 06, 04:03 AM

In article . com>,
"Mike Granby" > wrote:

> Paul Tomblin wrote:
>
> > - geo-referenced approach plates
>
> I think the "electronic ink" technology I saw at Oshkosh will be the
> solution for that problem. Much better than an active display, and
> likely the be driven down in price by consumer volumes. I'm not sure
> the tech is quite there yet, but it's not far off...

I don't know, it's really, really nice to have geo-reference plates with
your aircraft position plotted as you fly the approach. I had this
capability with PocketPlates (an AWM product), unfortunately, the
product wasn't stable enough to be usable... but the concept was
impressive.

JKG

Jonathan Goodish

August 4th 06, 04:07 AM

In article om>,
"Jay Honeck" > wrote:
> I now know why they use the dinky little screen on the 496 -- anything
> bigger won't fit on the dashboard of most cars. Garmin is trying to
> make the unit do double (or, with marine, triple) duty, to the
> detriment of the aviation mode.

I thought about that regarding the size. It is nice to be able to use
the unit in the car, where I appreciate the weather information just the
same. I get more use out of my investment (in both the GPS and XM) by
using it in the car in addition to the airplane.

I would think that the screen could still grow vertically and be usable
on all but the smallest of car dash boards. I don't know, I guess we'll
have to see how the product evolves. Even with the smaller screen,
there are plenty of ways that Garmin could enhanced the product.

JKG

Andrew Sarangan[_1_]

August 4th 06, 04:22 AM

Paul Tomblin wrote:
> In a previous article, john smith > said:
> >Here are a few suggestions for the future Garmin GPS-596...
> >- flat panel package, one-inch thick (max, including battery)
> >- replaceable Li-ion battery pack; optional AA battery pack
> >- a five-inch diagonal screen (as on the 530)
> >- landscape or portrait viewing select
> >- XM weather and radio
> >- higher resolution
> >- faster processor
> >- ability to download text (NOTAM's, weather)
>
> - geo-referenced approach plates
>
> --

The Garmin 430/530 already displays your position with respect to the
approach course, so I am not sure if georeferencing an actual approach
chart would be worth the extra trouble. What would be useful is to show
the stepdown altitude for each segment. Obviously this information is
available in the database, but I don't know why they chose not to
display it.

Morgans[_3_]

August 4th 06, 05:41 AM

"Jay Honeck" > wrote

> I now know why they use the dinky little screen on the 496 -- anything
> bigger won't fit on the dashboard of most cars. Garmin is trying to
> make the unit do double (or, with marine, triple) duty, to the
> detriment of the aviation mode.

I wonder if Garmin will come out with a new software, or if someone will
make a hack - to make it work in portrait mode, for aviation.
--
Jim in NC

john smith

August 4th 06, 02:19 PM

In article >,
"Jim Burns" > wrote:

> It means that with GPS input, the little airplane flys over the approach
> plate that is displayed on the unit and it's actually in the correct
> location. My FlightPrep/ChartCase program will do it on a notebook/laptop,
> but it's windoze/hard drive based instead of solid state. Pretty cool and
> dead on accurate when it works.

Now I understand. I have flown approaches with an MX-20, but having the
approach plate overlayed would be a definite advantage.

Jon Woellhaf

August 4th 06, 05:51 PM

I can't believe no one has mentioned airways -- or did I just miss it.

And I can't believe Jay hasn't complained about the lack of airways on his
496.

Jim Burns[_1_]

August 4th 06, 07:24 PM

The last time I used an airway was when there was a radar outage... guess
where? Just north east of Jay's!
Jim

"Jon Woellhaf" > wrote in message
...
> I can't believe no one has mentioned airways -- or did I just miss it.
>
> And I can't believe Jay hasn't complained about the lack of airways on his
> 496.
>
>

john smith

August 4th 06, 07:50 PM

In article >,
"Jon Woellhaf" > wrote:

> I can't believe no one has mentioned airways -- or did I just miss it.
> And I can't believe Jay hasn't complained about the lack of airways on his
> 496.

Jay doesn't fly instruments, so he has no use for airways.

Al[_1_]

August 4th 06, 08:53 PM

"john smith" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> "Jim Burns" > wrote:
>
>> It means that with GPS input, the little airplane flys over the approach
>> plate that is displayed on the unit and it's actually in the correct
>> location. My FlightPrep/ChartCase program will do it on a
>> notebook/laptop,
>> but it's windoze/hard drive based instead of solid state. Pretty cool
>> and
>> dead on accurate when it works.
>
> Now I understand. I have flown approaches with an MX-20, but having the
> approach plate overlayed would be a definite advantage.

It would be nice to have the vertical portion as well. Step down
altitudes and vertical Nav. Not available in the panel mount Garmins.

Al G

Al[_1_]

August 4th 06, 09:00 PM

"Andrew Sarangan" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Paul Tomblin wrote:
>> In a previous article, john smith > said:
>> >Here are a few suggestions for the future Garmin GPS-596...
>> >- flat panel package, one-inch thick (max, including battery)
>> >- replaceable Li-ion battery pack; optional AA battery pack
>> >- a five-inch diagonal screen (as on the 530)
>> >- landscape or portrait viewing select
>> >- XM weather and radio
>> >- higher resolution
>> >- faster processor
>> >- ability to download text (NOTAM's, weather)
>>
>> - geo-referenced approach plates
>>
>> --
>
> The Garmin 430/530 already displays your position with respect to the
> approach course, so I am not sure if georeferencing an actual approach
> chart would be worth the extra trouble. What would be useful is to show
> the stepdown altitude for each segment. Obviously this information is
> available in the database, but I don't know why they chose not to
> display it.
>
This had something to do with lack of WAAS approval.

Al G

Maule Driver

August 4th 06, 10:11 PM

The car is one thing - very nice. But this Mauledriver definitely
appreciates that small screen and overall footprint in the aircraft. I
really struggled to find a place to mount it where it didn't block
anything and yet fell in my natural scan (and didn't require a major
refocus of these aging eyeballs when going from panel mount to
portable). A tall order in the Maule. I finally used a RAM mount on
the LH horizontal ledge and it works great.

How do you guys use or envision using a larger footprint device? I just
don't get it.

PS - I really love this thing!

Jay Honeck wrote:
>
> I now know why they use the dinky little screen on the 496 -- anything
> bigger won't fit on the dashboard of most cars. Garmin is trying to
> make the unit do double (or, with marine, triple) duty, to the
> detriment of the aviation mode.
> --
> Jay Honeck
> Iowa City, IA
> Pathfinder N56993
> www.AlexisParkInn.com
> "Your Aviation Destination"
>

john smith

August 5th 06, 02:33 AM

Check out the Garmin Streetpilot 7500.
7-inch diagonal display already in their product line with XM capability.

john smith

August 5th 06, 02:36 AM

> How do you guys use or envision using a larger footprint device? I just
> don't get it.

RAM mount off to the side of the windscreen, hung from the top of the
windscreen, over the yolk, strapped to my knee...
There are many different ways and places to attach the device.

Jon Woellhaf

August 5th 06, 02:36 AM

"john smith" > wrote in message
...
> Jay doesn't fly instruments, so he has no use for airways.

Ah, yes. That explains it.

Jonathan Goodish

August 5th 06, 02:45 AM

In article
>,
john smith > wrote:

> Check out the Garmin Streetpilot 7500.
> 7-inch diagonal display already in their product line with XM capability.

Which happens to have pretty lousy resolution, and is likely (yuck) a
touch screen.

JKG

Kyle Boatright

August 5th 06, 03:09 AM

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
ups.com...
>> The reality is that--while not perfect--the 396/496 are pretty darn good
>> already. Screen size would seem to be the most obvious improvement.
>
> I've flown around 5 hours with the unit since OSH, and am extremely
> happy with it. Every feature you could want (and a few I hadn't
> considered) are there -- except for the screen size and the
> landscape-only display.
>
> Today I used it in "automotive" mode for the first time, and found it
> to be absolutely the coolest thing I've seen. I selected my airport
> (while sitting in the driveway at my home), and it gave me turn-by-turn
> VERBAL instructions, complete with warnings 0.1 miles ahead of each
> turn, right to the terminal building. Very slick and easy.
>

Speaking of automotive use, a really neat feature would be live traffic
updates, showing traffic jams and suggesting alternate routes. This could
really help commuters in the larger cities which have active traffic
management systems. Also, it would be a safety feature because it would
alert you to traffic jams before you ran up on them doing 80 on the
interstate...

KB

> I now know why they use the dinky little screen on the 496 -- anything
> bigger won't fit on the dashboard of most cars. Garmin is trying to
> make the unit do double (or, with marine, triple) duty, to the
> detriment of the aviation mode.
> --
> Jay Honeck
> Iowa City, IA
> Pathfinder N56993
> www.AlexisParkInn.com
> "Your Aviation Destination"
>

Dan Luke

August 5th 06, 03:09 AM

"john smith" wrote:

>> How do you guys use or envision using a larger footprint device? I just
>> don't get it.
>
> RAM mount off to the side of the windscreen, hung from the top of the
> windscreen, over the yolk, strapped to my knee...
> There are many different ways and places to attach the device.

I've tried 'em all except hung from the top of the windscreen.

If it doesn't mount on the yoke without hiding any of the flight
instruments, it doesn't work for me.

--
Dan
C172RG at BFM

Jonathan Goodish

August 5th 06, 01:32 PM

In article >,
"Kyle Boatright" > wrote:
> Speaking of automotive use, a really neat feature would be live traffic
> updates, showing traffic jams and suggesting alternate routes. This could
> really help commuters in the larger cities which have active traffic
> management systems. Also, it would be a safety feature because it would
> alert you to traffic jams before you ran up on them doing 80 on the
> interstate...

Garmin supports XM NavTraffic in some of their automotive units. Not
sure why they aren't supporting it on the 396/496, other than the fact
that those units are intended primarily as aviation units.

JKG