Garmin 296

[Newps]

I'm going to buy a 296 this week. Is there any reason not to buy a used
unit from these discount houses like JA Air Center? Did Garmin
improve the processor or make any changes that would make a new unit
preferable to a used unit?

[Dan Luke]

"Newps" wrote:

> I'm going to buy a 296 this week. Is there any reason not to buy a used
> unit from these discount houses like JA Air Center? Did Garmin
> improve the processor or make any changes that would make a new unit
> preferable to a used unit?

Nah. After you get it, go to Garmin's website and download the Web Updater.
Install that, connect the 296 to your pc and the WU will check for the latest
firmware and update your 296 if needed.

--
Dan
C-172RG at BFM

[Newps]

Dan Luke wrote:

> "Newps" wrote:
>
>
>>I'm going to buy a 296 this week. Is there any reason not to buy a used
>>unit from these discount houses like JA Air Center? Did Garmin
>>improve the processor or make any changes that would make a new unit
>>preferable to a used unit?
>
>
> Nah. After you get it, go to Garmin's website and download the Web Updater.
> Install that, connect the 296 to your pc and the WU will check for the latest
> firmware and update your 296 if needed.




I thought I heard they put the same processor in the 296 as the 496,
economy of scale, but maybe not.

[karl gruber[_1_]]

The 496's processor is faster by about 5 times.



"Newps" > wrote in message
. ..
>
>
> Dan Luke wrote:
>
>> "Newps" wrote:
>>
>>
>>>I'm going to buy a 296 this week. Is there any reason not to buy a used
>>>unit from these discount houses like JA Air Center? Did Garmin
>>>improve the processor or make any changes that would make a new unit
>>>preferable to a used unit?
>>
>>
>> Nah. After you get it, go to Garmin's website and download the Web
>> Updater. Install that, connect the 296 to your pc and the WU will check
>> for the latest firmware and update your 296 if needed.
>
>
>
>
> I thought I heard they put the same processor in the 296 as the 496,
> economy of scale, but maybe not.

[Robert M. Gary]

On Mar 19, 8:01 am, Newps > wrote:
> I'm going to buy a 296 this week. Is there any reason not to buy a used
> unit from these discount houses like JA Air Center? Did Garmin
> improve the processor or make any changes that would make a new unit
> preferable to a used unit?

To me, the 296 seems faster. The 396 may have a faster processor but
its got most stuff to process as well. The differences are small (XM
really), so the 296 is a good value.

-Robert

[Gig 601XL Builder]

Robert M. Gary wrote:
> On Mar 19, 8:01 am, Newps > wrote:
>> I'm going to buy a 296 this week. Is there any reason not to buy a
>> used unit from these discount houses like JA Air Center? Did Garmin
>> improve the processor or make any changes that would make a new unit
>> preferable to a used unit?
>
> To me, the 296 seems faster. The 396 may have a faster processor but
> its got most stuff to process as well. The differences are small (XM
> really), so the 296 is a good value.
>
> -Robert

I think the 296 and 396 have the same processer. It is the 496 that has the
procesor that is 5 times faster.

[tony roberts]

In article >,
Newps > wrote:

> I'm going to buy a 296 this week. Is there any reason not to buy a used
> unit from these discount houses like JA Air Center? Did Garmin
> improve the processor or make any changes that would make a new unit
> preferable to a used unit?


I suggest that you try out a Lowrance 2000c before making any commitment.

Tony
--

Tony Roberts
PP-ASEL
VFR OTT
Night
Cessna 172H C-GICE

[Paul Tomblin]

In a previous article, Newps > said:
>I'm going to buy a 296 this week. Is there any reason not to buy a used
>unit from these discount houses like JA Air Center? Did Garmin
>improve the processor or make any changes that would make a new unit
>preferable to a used unit?

I bought a 296 on eBay a few weeks before the 496 came out. At the time,
Aircraft Spruce and Specialty had a page saying they had used 296s for
sale, but it wasn't until after you placed the order that they admitted
that they really meant that there was some possibility they might get one
as a trade in at some time in the future, and if they did, they would
definitely keep you in mind if you were first in line. I was pretty damn
****ed that they didn't make that clear before you placed the order. I
cancelled the order and bought on eBay.


--
Paul Tomblin > http://blog.xcski.com/
I'd sooner volunteer to admin every Windows box at $ORKPLACE (and it's a
biiiig place) than think for one second that I could understand the thought
process of a teenage female. -- David P. Murphy

[Newps]

tony roberts wrote:
> In article >,
> Newps > wrote:
>
>
>>I'm going to buy a 296 this week. Is there any reason not to buy a used
>>unit from these discount houses like JA Air Center? Did Garmin
>>improve the processor or make any changes that would make a new unit
>>preferable to a used unit?
>
>
>
> I suggest that you try out a Lowrance 2000c before making any commitment.

Nah, I'm a Garmin guy.

[Newps]

I actually placed an order for a 296 from JA Aircenter. They don't have
any, supposed to get one in this week to send to me. Then today I had a
guy from the Beech list who was going to trade his in to JA Aircenter
send me an email. End result is JA loses a sale and I get a 296 for
$1000 instead of the $1300 they charge.




Paul Tomblin wrote:

> In a previous article, Newps > said:
>
>>I'm going to buy a 296 this week. Is there any reason not to buy a used
>>unit from these discount houses like JA Air Center? Did Garmin
>>improve the processor or make any changes that would make a new unit
>>preferable to a used unit?
>
>
> I bought a 296 on eBay a few weeks before the 496 came out. At the time,
> Aircraft Spruce and Specialty had a page saying they had used 296s for
> sale, but it wasn't until after you placed the order that they admitted
> that they really meant that there was some possibility they might get one
> as a trade in at some time in the future, and if they did, they would
> definitely keep you in mind if you were first in line. I was pretty damn
> ****ed that they didn't make that clear before you placed the order. I
> cancelled the order and bought on eBay.
>
>

[KevinBlack]

"Newps" > wrote in message
...
>I actually placed an order for a 296 from JA Aircenter. They don't have
>any, supposed to get one in this week to send to me. Then today I had a
>guy from the Beech list who was going to trade his in to JA Aircenter send
>me an email. End result is JA loses a sale and I get a 296 for $1000
>instead of the $1300 they charge.
>
>
>
>
> Paul Tomblin wrote:
>
>> In a previous article, Newps > said:
>>
>>>I'm going to buy a 296 this week. Is there any reason not to buy a used
>>>unit from these discount houses like JA Air Center? Did Garmin
>>>improve the processor or make any changes that would make a new unit
>>>preferable to a used unit?
>>
>>
>> I bought a 296 on eBay a few weeks before the 496 came out. At the time,
>> Aircraft Spruce and Specialty had a page saying they had used 296s for
>> sale, but it wasn't until after you placed the order that they admitted
>> that they really meant that there was some possibility they might get one
>> as a trade in at some time in the future, and if they did, they would
>> definitely keep you in mind if you were first in line. I was pretty damn
>> ****ed that they didn't make that clear before you placed the order. I
>> cancelled the order and bought on eBay.
>>

Understand you are a Garmin guy, but a new Lowrance 2000C can be had from
Avionics West for $689, seems like a good deal to me when a second hand G296
is $1000.

Just a thought.

Kevin

[Gilbert Smith]

Newps > wrote:

>I'm going to buy a 296 this week. Is there any reason not to buy a used
>unit from these discount houses like JA Air Center? Did Garmin
>improve the processor or make any changes that would make a new unit
>preferable to a used unit?

They changed the LCD panel about April 06 on the 276C, did the same
happen on the 296 (same hardware). The new one is much brighter. They
made no noise about this, and you can only tell by the MPN. For a 276C
this is 010-00331-01 for the old one, and 010-00331-51 for the new.

[Newps]

I guess we'll see. Mine will be here on Monday.



Gilbert Smith wrote:
> Newps > wrote:
>
>
>>I'm going to buy a 296 this week. Is there any reason not to buy a used
>>unit from these discount houses like JA Air Center? Did Garmin
>>improve the processor or make any changes that would make a new unit
>>preferable to a used unit?
>
>
> They changed the LCD panel about April 06 on the 276C, did the same
> happen on the 296 (same hardware). The new one is much brighter. They
> made no noise about this, and you can only tell by the MPN. For a 276C
> this is 010-00331-01 for the old one, and 010-00331-51 for the new.