Garmin 596 Ideas

In article
,
john smith wrote:
- traffic (independent feed; patch from 330? ADSB? over the XM?)

You can already display TIS traffic from the 330 on the 396/496. As
others have suggested, an independent (probably passive) traffic
capability might be nice, but I doubt we'll see it anytime soon.

As for traffic over XM, there are multiple issues that make that idea
impractical, the obvious being the non-real time nature of the XM data
feed.


- single power, XM, GPS antenna cable connector leading to a molded
"strip" connector for individual antennas?)

Bad idea on the "connector strip." Not only does it provide a single
point of failure, it adds complexity for no good reason. The last thing
I want is to be forced into using a "connector strip" instead of
flipping up the stick antenna, or have to haul around a "connector
strip" when I want to run off of battery in my car. Now, I do think
that they need to re-engineer some of the connectors, but the ala carte
system on the unit is about as good as you're going to get, IMO. The
power/data port already provides power, data, and monaural audio from
one port, over one cable.

The reality is that--while not perfect--the 396/496 are pretty darn good
already. Screen size would seem to be the most obvious improvement.


JKG

The reality is that--while not perfect--the 396/496 are pretty darn good
already. Screen size would seem to be the most obvious improvement.

I've flown around 5 hours with the unit since OSH, and am extremely
happy with it. Every feature you could want (and a few I hadn't
considered) are there -- except for the screen size and the
landscape-only display.

Today I used it in "automotive" mode for the first time, and found it
to be absolutely the coolest thing I've seen. I selected my airport
(while sitting in the driveway at my home), and it gave me turn-by-turn
VERBAL instructions, complete with warnings 0.1 miles ahead of each
turn, right to the terminal building. Very slick and easy.

I now know why they use the dinky little screen on the 496 -- anything
bigger won't fit on the dashboard of most cars. Garmin is trying to
make the unit do double (or, with marine, triple) duty, to the
detriment of the aviation mode.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

In article . com,
"Jay Honeck" wrote:
I now know why they use the dinky little screen on the 496 -- anything
bigger won't fit on the dashboard of most cars. Garmin is trying to
make the unit do double (or, with marine, triple) duty, to the
detriment of the aviation mode.

I thought about that regarding the size. It is nice to be able to use
the unit in the car, where I appreciate the weather information just the
same. I get more use out of my investment (in both the GPS and XM) by
using it in the car in addition to the airplane.

I would think that the screen could still grow vertically and be usable
on all but the smallest of car dash boards. I don't know, I guess we'll
have to see how the product evolves. Even with the smaller screen,
there are plenty of ways that Garmin could enhanced the product.



JKG

"Jay Honeck" wrote

I now know why they use the dinky little screen on the 496 -- anything
bigger won't fit on the dashboard of most cars. Garmin is trying to
make the unit do double (or, with marine, triple) duty, to the
detriment of the aviation mode.

I wonder if Garmin will come out with a new software, or if someone will
make a hack - to make it work in portrait mode, for aviation.
--
Jim in NC

The car is one thing - very nice. But this Mauledriver definitely
appreciates that small screen and overall footprint in the aircraft. I
really struggled to find a place to mount it where it didn't block
anything and yet fell in my natural scan (and didn't require a major
refocus of these aging eyeballs when going from panel mount to
portable). A tall order in the Maule. I finally used a RAM mount on
the LH horizontal ledge and it works great.

How do you guys use or envision using a larger footprint device? I just
don't get it.

PS - I really love this thing!

Jay Honeck wrote:

I now know why they use the dinky little screen on the 496 -- anything
bigger won't fit on the dashboard of most cars. Garmin is trying to
make the unit do double (or, with marine, triple) duty, to the
detriment of the aviation mode.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Check out the Garmin Streetpilot 7500.
7-inch diagonal display already in their product line with XM capability.

In article
,
john smith wrote:

Check out the Garmin Streetpilot 7500.
7-inch diagonal display already in their product line with XM capability.

Which happens to have pretty lousy resolution, and is likely (yuck) a
touch screen.


JKG

How do you guys use or envision using a larger footprint device? I just
don't get it.

RAM mount off to the side of the windscreen, hung from the top of the
windscreen, over the yolk, strapped to my knee...
There are many different ways and places to attach the device.

"john smith" wrote:

How do you guys use or envision using a larger footprint device? I just
don't get it.

RAM mount off to the side of the windscreen, hung from the top of the
windscreen, over the yolk, strapped to my knee...
There are many different ways and places to attach the device.

I've tried 'em all except hung from the top of the windscreen.

If it doesn't mount on the yoke without hiding any of the flight
instruments, it doesn't work for me.

--
Dan
C172RG at BFM

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
ups.com...
The reality is that--while not perfect--the 396/496 are pretty darn good
already. Screen size would seem to be the most obvious improvement.

I've flown around 5 hours with the unit since OSH, and am extremely
happy with it. Every feature you could want (and a few I hadn't
considered) are there -- except for the screen size and the
landscape-only display.

Today I used it in "automotive" mode for the first time, and found it
to be absolutely the coolest thing I've seen. I selected my airport
(while sitting in the driveway at my home), and it gave me turn-by-turn
VERBAL instructions, complete with warnings 0.1 miles ahead of each
turn, right to the terminal building. Very slick and easy.


Speaking of automotive use, a really neat feature would be live traffic
updates, showing traffic jams and suggesting alternate routes. This could
really help commuters in the larger cities which have active traffic
management systems. Also, it would be a safety feature because it would
alert you to traffic jams before you ran up on them doing 80 on the
interstate...

KB


I now know why they use the dinky little screen on the 496 -- anything
bigger won't fit on the dashboard of most cars. Garmin is trying to
make the unit do double (or, with marine, triple) duty, to the
detriment of the aviation mode.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"