New Garmin 396

So... just got an email from Sportys about the new Garmin GPSMAP 396.

It looks pretty cool! A handheld with weather and terrain!

Also interesting are the interface features to get TIS from a GTX330
and to be able to change channels on an SL30. This could make the 396
an interesting cheapie option with almost all the functionality minus
IFR cert. for people with their own A/C and don't want to plonk down
the cash for a 430/530 installation. Hmm.

I wonder, though, will it really be able to download from the
satellites with the little antenna? I currently own a 196 and with the
built-in antenna it often has a hard time getting a lock on the GPS. I
might guess that the requirements to download the weather data (which
is a lot more data than GPS) would be higher.

$2,500 for a handheld GPS is a lot, though. Their are PDA solutions
that already do most of this stuff, albeit with a lot more wires around
the cockpit. As a renter, I think the compactness of this solution is
attractive. Heck, if they added an AI feature with an electronic gyro
that was built into the cigarette lighter plug (and thereby strapped
down apon being plugged in) (or something simple like that) I think I'd
buy it for $1k more.

Ah, but alas, products like this make me yearn for IFR approaches in a
handheld. If only....

-- dave j

wrote:

$2,500 for a handheld GPS is a lot, though. Their are PDA solutions
that already do most of this stuff, albeit with a lot more wires around
the cockpit. As a renter, I think the compactness of this solution is
attractive. Heck, if they added an AI feature with an electronic gyro
that was built into the cigarette lighter plug (and thereby strapped
down apon being plugged in) (or something simple like that) I think I'd
buy it for $1k more.

I don't believe I'd be interested in a portable solution unless it could
serve as a backup to the vacuum instruments. That's available from several
other vendors, so - absent that "AI feature" you've mentioned - this is
just not an option for me.

- Andrew

On 6 Jul 2005 14:58:14 -0700, wrote in
. com::


So... just got an email from Sportys about the new Garmin GPSMAP 396.

Here's the Garmin link: http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsmap396/

Larry Dighera wrote:
On 6 Jul 2005 14:58:14 -0700, wrote in
. com::


So... just got an email from Sportys about the new Garmin GPSMAP 396.


Here's the Garmin link: http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsmap396/


Damn! $2500 bucks!? That's insane.

Does anyone know how much the subscription to the XM weather costs?

wrote in news:1120687094.746136.17990
@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:

(snipped)
I wonder, though, will it really be able to download from the
satellites with the little antenna? I currently own a 196 and with the
built-in antenna it often has a hard time getting a lock on the GPS. I
might guess that the requirements to download the weather data (which
is a lot more data than GPS) would be higher.

(snipped)


Dave,

The signal from the two XM satellites is quite strong. I have a small
external antenna on my van and rarely lose signal at all (I have even
picked it up in the basement of the Nashville Convention Center, although
they may have a repeater installed).I suspect that reception would be even
better when airborne, since you would have no physical obstructions between
you and the two satellites and you would also be closer to the signal
source.

I notice on the pdf spec sheet available on the Garmin website that they
list the GXM-30 smart antenna under "Standard Accessories". The webpage for
the product also states that the antenna is "roughly three inches in
diameter", which leads me to believe that this is an external antenna that
is separate from the small antenna built into the unit.

This looks like a very comprehensive package in a handheld. There's even an
output jack for XM Radio (audio).

Steve DeMoss

Thats a pretty nice unit.
wrote in message
ups.com...

So... just got an email from Sportys about the new Garmin GPSMAP 396.

It looks pretty cool! A handheld with weather and terrain!

Also interesting are the interface features to get TIS from a GTX330
and to be able to change channels on an SL30. This could make the 396
an interesting cheapie option with almost all the functionality minus
IFR cert. for people with their own A/C and don't want to plonk down
the cash for a 430/530 installation. Hmm.

I wonder, though, will it really be able to download from the
satellites with the little antenna? I currently own a 196 and with the
built-in antenna it often has a hard time getting a lock on the GPS. I
might guess that the requirements to download the weather data (which
is a lot more data than GPS) would be higher.

$2,500 for a handheld GPS is a lot, though. Their are PDA solutions
that already do most of this stuff, albeit with a lot more wires around
the cockpit. As a renter, I think the compactness of this solution is
attractive. Heck, if they added an AI feature with an electronic gyro
that was built into the cigarette lighter plug (and thereby strapped
down apon being plugged in) (or something simple like that) I think I'd
buy it for $1k more.

Ah, but alas, products like this make me yearn for IFR approaches in a
handheld. If only....

-- dave j

On Thu, 07 Jul 2005 00:23:34 GMT, "Jimmy B."
wrote in
. net::

Does anyone know how much the subscription to the XM weather costs?

Here's a link to XM's WX Service and Pricing for Aviation:
http://www.xmradio.com/weather/av_service_pricing.html

It's not clear if the music and other radio content is included in the
WX service for aviation.

On Thu, 07 Jul 2005 00:23:34 GMT, "Jimmy B."
wrote:

Larry Dighera wrote:
On 6 Jul 2005 14:58:14 -0700, wrote in
. com::


So... just got an email from Sportys about the new Garmin GPSMAP 396.


Here's the Garmin link: http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsmap396/


Damn! $2500 bucks!? That's insane.

Does anyone know how much the subscription to the XM weather costs?

I have a WxWorx system in my plane and it is $29 or $49 for the
service packages...

http://www.wxworx.com/aviation/service_pricing.php

Not sure if this translates to Garmin...

-Nathan

"Larry Dighera" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 07 Jul 2005 00:23:34 GMT, "Jimmy B."
wrote in
. net::

Does anyone know how much the subscription to the XM weather costs?

Here's a link to XM's WX Service and Pricing for Aviation:
http://www.xmradio.com/weather/av_service_pricing.html

It's not clear if the music and other radio content is included in the
WX service for aviation.

It's not. It'll cost you the standard $12.95/mo additional.

Gerry

As Chris Rock would say,
" GOOD LORD THAT'S ALOT OF MONEY!!!!!!!" How bout I give you $1.50 and you
just point me in the general direction!

Patrick
student SPL
aircraft structural mech


wrote in message
ups.com...

So... just got an email from Sportys about the new Garmin GPSMAP 396.

..

$2,500 for a handheld GPS is a lot, though.
-- dave j