"Mike W." wrote in message
...
I know I am a couple of models behind as far as the portables go, I would
LOVE to buy a 396 but just can't justify it right now.
I rent from a flying club where every plane has a different combination of
ADF/VOR/LORAN/GPS , and they all work differently, no manuals for the GPS
or
LORAN units (if they are working at all that day) so I never know what I
will have available for VFR navigation.
SO, I thought it might be a good investment. For anyone that has owned or
used one of these, what are the opinions out there? Easy to use? Reliable?
What don't you like about it? Is the 296 worth twice the cash for VFR
flight
in the Midwest (no mountains)?


I bought one this summer off Ebay for around $500 used. I also fly at an
aero club and use it for VFR flying. It rocks. I would recommend one to
anyone. Make sure the database is updated before you buy a used one.

I would not pay more for the 296. If you're VFR, you shouldn't need a
handheld GPS to tell you where the rocks are. If you want to use it as an
IFR backup in the mountians, that's a different story. I might consider it
then. But I don't fly much in the mountains. I wish they offered the w/x
downlink into the 196, then it'd be a perfect machine. I would pay extra to
have the w/x overlayed ontop of my gps map, but that will be my next
purchase in a couple of years when the price comes down.