I've had my Garmin GPSMAP 195 for about 10 years now. I think it's time
to get something newer - I've been looking at the 196, 296 and 396 and
trying to decide which one to get.

I find the 195's screen very easy to read - I have no objections to it at
all. So I figure the 196's screen should be the same. But I have
questions about the readability of the 296 and 396 colour screens - are
they as good in bright sunlight? Can their backlights be dimmed right
down when flying at night?

Also, I can't find anything in the 296 and 396 screen shots showing a
split screen with a map and a HSI, only an arc overlayed on the map. Is
that the only option? Those of you who've used it, is the arc overlay
as easy to use as an HSI? Does the arc stand out from the ground
features?

Another thing I can find in 196 screen shots that I can't find on the 296
and 396 is extended runway center lines. Do they not do that?

Finally, if I were to NOT get the XM weather subscription right away, is
there any point to the 396 over the 296, or is the XM the only real
difference between them?

And here's the real obscure question: At one time, Garmin was advertising
a link that would let you use your 195 as a moving map for one of their
non-moving map panel GPSes. Have they ever done something similar for
their newer GPSes?

--
Paul Tomblin http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/
I have a feeling the auditors haven't looked at crontab yet, but I'm
curious to see if they deem a reference to "yogurt sucking maggots" a
security risk as well. -- Paul Fenwick