Garmin 296 and FliteStar

"C J Campbell" wrote:
The manual that Garmin wrote for this unit is
despicable. You can't find anything in it. The
manual also contains several inaccuracies.

My big complaint is that I cannot slew the map pointer to an airport and
create a user waypoint on a runway as I could with the 295. If I try,
the 296 will simply create another waypoint at the airport datum point.
One of my favorite tricks with the 295 was creating a waypoint at the
approach end of a runway, selecting "direct" to the point and setting
the GPS OBS for runway heading. This gave me an extended runway
centerline that was helpful with visual approaches. Can't do it with
the 296 unless I'm sitting on the runway.

Another thing: the flight recorder feature has a bug in it that causes
it to record spurious landings. For example, when I flew from Mobile to
Pinckneyville, IL it said I made 10 landings enroute. On almost every
flight it has recorded phantom landings. Garmin says this is due to
momentary loss of satellite reception, but I doubt it. I've kept a
watch on the GPS status page and never seen fewer than six strong
satellites.
--
Dan
C172RG at BFM