Cub Driver wrote:

I use a Garmin III Plus, civilian model. See
www.pipercubforum.com/garmin.htm

Thanks for the link. I have had a 3+ for many years and a 3 Pilot (came
with a recent 172 purchase) and you've provided a method to get more
aviation use out of it (the 3+). The primary for our plane(s) has been
the Lowrance Airmap 1000, we're on our second one (2000c wasn't
available yet). I do however have a Magellan 315 that always has the
most current airport database information, its available for free from he

http://home.stny.rr.com/bkw/315

The 315's are by far the cheapest thing I've found out there. I picked
mine up for $125 and that included the power adapter, serial interface
and Datasend software (required for POI transfers). Reception has been
excellent, even back inside the cabin mounted on the yoke. I have
however seen more satellites at the same time, on the 3+. The 315 will
hold around 18,000 POI's (Points of Interest), which allows me to do all
of the 48 states, VFR/ILS and NDB approaches and Seaplane bases. You
have to be careful to not overload it, Datasend will state that you are
under the limit, but actually you do exceed it and it will fault during
the transfer. A drawback of this unit over the others, is that it
doesn't display roads. On the road I use a notebook with mapping
software that gives visual/audible turn by turn instructions though...

Sometimes I hanker for a 196, sometimes for a 296. Meanwhile the plain
vanilla version gets me where I'm going and is marvelously thrifty
with batteries.

I use rechargeables in the 3+ and assumed that they were replenished
with external power. A recent trip to/from Ohio showed that they aren't...

One downfall of the 315 is that it has an internal backup battery that
cannot be user replaced. It is normally recharged by the 2 AA batteries
and if it geaux's south, it'll eat those overnight. Otherwise a good 5
hours or more is likely with battery only operation from Alkaline or
rechareables. Much more I assume if the internal battery is still good.
Downside of pulling the batteries after every use is the need to
reinitialize each time you fire it up...