The Garmin 496...a teenager's review

On Sat, 07 Jul 2007 06:43:43 -0700, Jay Honeck wrote:

But I truly hope they eventually do something about the screen refresh
rate, cuz all of us -- Mary, me, and now Joe -- want to punch the panel
while we're waiting for that stupid screen to refresh after slewing the
cursor to the next METAR reporting station... --

Refresh rate relates directly to power. Ideally, the box would offer
options (ie. rapid refresh, more power consumption vs. slow refresh,
longer battery life). That may be a "didn't think of it", I suppose, but
I'd be surprised since this is standard in laptops.

But I believe that inertia weighs heavily at Garmin. I asked once whether
they'd ever have the IFR-friendly flight plan entry of the 480 on the
430/530 line. I was told that they'd probably not do this as it was
considered "more difficult".

Another place where having an option (ie. waypoint entry or airway entry)
would be a Good Thing.

Still, I'm suspicious that none of the other vendors have leaped past
Garmin. That suggests that there's a part of this equation I'm missing.
Perhaps the development costs to "get it completely right" would render
the unit too expensive given the small audience?

I presume that all those little game-box things sell well more than
aviation GPS units.

- Andrew

Refresh rate relates directly to power. Ideally, the box would offer
options (ie. rapid refresh, more power consumption vs. slow refresh,
longer battery life). That may be a "didn't think of it", I suppose, but
I'd be surprised since this is standard in laptops.

What's especially sad is that every, single one of the "way cool"
aviation features of the 496 are impacted by this problem. Here's how
it goes:

1. You're cruising along on a 100 mile x-country flight. This is
typical for us.

2. You've got the screen zoomed into the 30 mile range, so that you
can see any details at all (like towers) on the little screen.

3. You want to check the runways at your destination airport, which is
NOT displayed. (Remember, you're zoomed in so that you can see stuff.)
The 496 has the runways stored in its database -- all you have to do
is put your cursor on the desired airport and hit "enter" to see them
all.

4. In order to click on the desired airport, you must "slew" the
cursor off the edge of the screen in order to find it. This means
hold the arrow button down, slew to the edge of the screen -- wait
three seconds while the screen disappears and reappears -- and
continue.

The REALLY bad thing is that the cursor doesn't stop moving when the
screen disappears, so that in those three seconds you can easily WAY
over-shoot your target airport. (I've even ended up in a different
state during the time it's blank.)

5. Repeat ad nauseum.

This process must be performed in order to see ANY of the good stuff,
including accessing the AOPA restaurant/hotel guide, radio
frequencies, field elevation, airport diagrams, METAR and TAF weather
-- you name it, you've got to put your cursor on the airport and push
"enter" to activate it -- which means slewing.

My son just laughed when he first used it...until I told him it cost
$3,000.00.

Then he just laughed at *me*... (Until he figured out that it had come
from his future inheritance...)

;-)

Still, I'm suspicious that none of the other vendors have leaped past
Garmin. That suggests that there's a part of this equation I'm missing.
Perhaps the development costs to "get it completely right" would render
the unit too expensive given the small audience?

Yep, me too. Lowrance -- the world leader in nautical GPS -- has been
"promising" weather for over two years -- and STILL nothing. It must
be a lot harder than we think it is...
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
oups.com...
Refresh rate relates directly to power. Ideally, the box would offer
options (ie. rapid refresh, more power consumption vs. slow refresh,
longer battery life). That may be a "didn't think of it", I suppose, but
I'd be surprised since this is standard in laptops.

What's especially sad is that every, single one of the "way cool"
aviation features of the 496 are impacted by this problem. Here's how
it goes:

1. You're cruising along on a 100 mile x-country flight. This is
typical for us.

2. You've got the screen zoomed into the 30 mile range, so that you
can see any details at all (like towers) on the little screen.

3. You want to check the runways at your destination airport, which is
NOT displayed. (Remember, you're zoomed in so that you can see stuff.)
The 496 has the runways stored in its database -- all you have to do
is put your cursor on the desired airport and hit "enter" to see them
all.

4. In order to click on the desired airport, you must "slew" the
cursor off the edge of the screen in order to find it. This means
hold the arrow button down, slew to the edge of the screen -- wait
three seconds while the screen disappears and reappears -- and
continue.

The REALLY bad thing is that the cursor doesn't stop moving when the
screen disappears, so that in those three seconds you can easily WAY
over-shoot your target airport. (I've even ended up in a different
state during the time it's blank.)

5. Repeat ad nauseum.

This process must be performed in order to see ANY of the good stuff,
including accessing the AOPA restaurant/hotel guide, radio
frequencies, field elevation, airport diagrams, METAR and TAF weather
-- you name it, you've got to put your cursor on the airport and push
"enter" to activate it -- which means slewing.

My son just laughed when he first used it...until I told him it cost
$3,000.00.

Then he just laughed at *me*... (Until he figured out that it had come
from his future inheritance...)

;-)

Still, I'm suspicious that none of the other vendors have leaped past
Garmin. That suggests that there's a part of this equation I'm missing.
Perhaps the development costs to "get it completely right" would render
the unit too expensive given the small audience?

Yep, me too. Lowrance -- the world leader in nautical GPS -- has been
"promising" weather for over two years -- and STILL nothing. It must
be a lot harder than we think it is...

It is a priority thing with Lowrance. They were purchased by a company that
is completely marine based. The new parent company had Lowrance pull
resources from developing XM for aviation so those resources could fill in
some percieved holes in the marine product line.

So, now they have a hole in their aviation product line. I am told that
Lowrance will correct this omission, the only question is when? This year
at Osh or next year at SnF?


--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Yep, me too. Lowrance -- the world leader in nautical GPS -- has been
"promising" weather for over two years -- and STILL nothing. It must
be a lot harder than we think it is...

It is a priority thing with Lowrance. They were purchased by a company that
is completely marine based. The new parent company had Lowrance pull
resources from developing XM for aviation so those resources could fill in
some percieved holes in the marine product line.

Okay, I'll buy that -- but isn't downloadable, "live" XM weather
something that boaters want, too?

It would seem like a great thing for the marine crowd?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
ps.com...
Yep, me too. Lowrance -- the world leader in nautical GPS -- has been
"promising" weather for over two years -- and STILL nothing. It must
be a lot harder than we think it is...

It is a priority thing with Lowrance. They were purchased by a company
that
is completely marine based. The new parent company had Lowrance pull
resources from developing XM for aviation so those resources could fill
in
some percieved holes in the marine product line.

Okay, I'll buy that -- but isn't downloadable, "live" XM weather
something that boaters want, too?

It would seem like a great thing for the marine crowd?

Out of curiosity, I was looking at Lowrances marine product line yesterday.
Some of their units include XM weather as a feature. So, lowrance has the
institutional knowledge. The question is when will they come out with the
product.

For my sake, I hope they don't limit XM to their larger platforms. Those are
a bit big for my cockpit.

--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Out of curiosity, I was looking at Lowrances marine product line yesterday.
Some of their units include XM weather as a feature. So, lowrance has the
institutional knowledge. The question is when will they come out with the
product.

That's incredible. They've already GOT weather, and can't figure out
how to get it into an aviation box?

I can't wait to hear their excuses at OSH *this* year!

;-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
ups.com...
Out of curiosity, I was looking at Lowrances marine product line
yesterday.
Some of their units include XM weather as a feature. So, lowrance has
the
institutional knowledge. The question is when will they come out with
the
product.

That's incredible. They've already GOT weather, and can't figure out
how to get it into an aviation box?

I think I spoke too soon. Another review of Lowrances product line doesn't
show any XM products. It was Garmin's marine line that had XM.

Sorry for the tease!


I can't wait to hear their excuses at OSH *this* year!

;-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay,

I only know the 430, but with that unit, slewing to a map item to get
the info on it would be the worst way to do it, since there is a
dedicated waypoint page showing info for a desired waypoint - and a
page showing the info on the destination waypoint. I'd be surprised if
the 496 doesn't have that.

As a German saying goes: There are many roads going to Rome - but only
one is the shortest.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

I only know the 430, but with that unit, slewing to a map item to get
the info on it would be the worst way to do it, since there is a
dedicated waypoint page showing info for a desired waypoint - and a
page showing the info on the destination waypoint. I'd be surprised if
the 496 doesn't have that.

As a German saying goes: There are many roads going to Rome - but only
one is the shortest.

Yep, I've been told that by other Garmin users. To me, that's just a
kludge work-around of a problem that shouldn't exist.

Being able to simply click on the airport to see ALL information is
the single coolest thing about the 496 (besides weather). Heck, my
Lowrance has the same feature (although you stupidly must press TWO
buttons simultaneously to bring up the info -- difficult in
turbulence), and there is none of this "slew, pause" crap.

A friend has suggested checking some of the map settings, to make sure
that it's not always loading the "road" detail (that the unit uses
when in driving mode). This could significantly slow the unit down,
so I'm hopeful that I will find this feature turned on, and can simply
turn it off and enjoy improved performance.

I'll report back if it does.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay,

Being able to simply click on the airport to see ALL information is
the single coolest thing about the 496


Well, if it's so cool, why are you complaining about it? gd&r

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)