What's new
Van's Air Force

Don't miss anything! Register now for full access to the definitive RV support community.

Aera 796 vs 760

JKevin

Well Known Member
I have been using an Aera 796 for a couple of years as a backup to my glass panel. It works well and I am very comfortable with its use. I moved from a 696 to the 796 and the touch screen was a huge advantage.

I am flying in more than one plane on a regular basis and will need to purchase additional brackets/docks/cords. Before doing so, I would appreciate info on the desirability of just updating to the 760 and buying accessories for it instead.

Would appreciate input from people who have used both and can tell me the pros and cons of each and if the upgrade is a net gain. In the vast scheme of things regarding the cost of flying, the cost of the upgrade isn't that big a factor.

Thanks in advance
 
Hi Kevin,

I have used pretty much every Garmin portable since 1993, and the Aera 660 and the larger Aera 760 are by far my favorites.

The Aera 760 is quite a bit thinner (0.9" versus 1.5") and lighter (19.8 oz versus 26.4 oz) than the Aera 796.

The Aera 660/760 also have a WiFi interface which the Aera 796 doesn't have. This wireless interface can be used for downloading software and databases, and for receiving free weather from FlyGarmin to show NEXRAD and graphical/textual METARS for your planned route of flight when doing flight planning at home. The WiFi weather also populates the weather related fields on the Aera 760 like temperature, wind speed/direction, and baro pressure. I run an Aera 660/760 24/7 in my house to display temperature and NEXRAD weather and provide a quick check of the METARS for any of the area airports before I go flying.

The Aera 660 and Aera 760 can do something that no other portable or tablet in the world can do, which is listen to the MapMX RS-232 output from a Garmin navigator and display an accurate curved flight path for routes, SIDs, STARs, instrument approaches, and missed approaches - just as they are shown on the IFR navigator. These curved path depictions even include dynamically adjusted procedure turns and holding patterns as shown on the navigator.

ACtC-3cOBcigfE4Ot60T3J_utG39ITcZSHzc-XPrdAK6E1TIoda0uN5frFfBGoXOZMWAK-S2z9WJIp2dV6ZtSDHdnp8G7LYmbLLc_BjWnoQ2F37_MU2X6DeRNaAH-le4dCPvX8ERmMoM6jYAeW-C2lAu6yXN=w500


ACtC-3cfCYOPXTwxM7510Jv-pBi5XCBFYXufKSxS6m6nqk99KUEyZAGhYivbcmS92vEqGBzMeV2HrPKYvtcclaqRt_buFxZxM_WsQkbJIqIaeVuX6XoSWjoB8UNN4TYK-c8u2zLCbbJbCHL5rW7ajLPmtAOa=w500


The Aera 760 can also display MapMX overlaid over an approach chart integrated into the moving map. This is something that not even the Aera 660 can do.

ACtC-3dmcTPqBfaIV_hg6bP7cDORia6ab8uyMV0FAAmIkq27mTkGwRiCfQmMdeB205z7bOvRJkTe5epP6tOE1SlIDbUCF-IZN6fO3yO3eC18gvoQWZKBkMy2pBbHsRkIZbhaMG-ru0nR8j5xqK4opy8qTyvD=w500


I don't use this feature since I have a GNX 375 driving the Aera 760 in my plane, but if you don't have a compatible IFR navigator and want to create flight plans, including departures, arrivals, and approaches, and even airways, the Aera 760 will let you create these. This is something else you cannot do on an Aera 796.

ACtC-3eUJX0NAqhXAt9FECWuxC07fKArG59LmZjiLZrMhhl6-vh79s5CQea4JjIKwhdlmx-4qc3TXg0oinTsCr2-nDvuS90MvBLG05022DvQnBqIcpZvag2AQS5X1uWa1s8kRVhtbR7g0dGOA9z1CYO6pD8J=w500


ACtC-3fDc2KPFdyqmB9BlvlGArA99u-6wxAZ3OmTrWdBSH5rNOFzkFlaMC9wwBFT8f_odPsAVn8WnSk-jeV61RqXvLSJyzaep-hdN5oZi699l36vKwkOblHcn997AtQ3eaLVnBrYJO2Ccs7jcUqv7-A15omA=w500


ACtC-3cV9NXa6GzGnc2CzXnts0W58cVpcvF35KetL_hdyIPkK9VRhZPJAW7TXgvROrcPBEVfSofllbZNCkB7JAJ0TwqJT0UB3BDiGKsYcqgMgcU6ZJRSIMNcdE_CvoJxU6L8EABuPgFjkLv0wWURLVCefuHZ=w500


One of the big pluses for the Aera 760 is that its snap-in mount uses a 9 pin D-Sub connector that saves cost if you want to make installation specific wiring harnesses and use the Aera 760 in multiple planes, cars, homes. As you know, with the Aera 795, you have to buy a bare wire mount for each place you want to use it if you wire it into the plane.

ACtC-3cg8U-NN4TgRvtsO5fVbSNqR67c9782yZ8mYd_s95fxXtVk_gadINlqUVql4qSs5NN76Q4YsPfDjFZND7ZPbrNCkmpfertjeBIjhmr394HTLBE1coURx-vJT5VhyxPRj2FzAJQGR9qwIw5i0JI0M0er=w500


You can make your own wiring harnesses to plug into the Aera 760 mount, or buy these bare wire harnesses from Garmin and install in each place where you want to provide power and data to the Aera 760.

ACtC-3cJl2tyfO4Nrc7mGcUoofaeP7ebkGicdW3d7vGipiPqLbjBKD7ZTgXH1hjNSTZ63CH8XwAS21q4jHy6-rfu8g59LSb-vw1QxQnYoINrCoLP6uwKHYRUjHPQ6ylYOzdjM4ZZhFLhq42aZsKnYHPC3nNt=w500


I am probably leaving out some key differences, but I would encourage you to visit the Aera 760 web page and since you are so familiar with the Aera 796, I am sure you will readily recognize the many differences.

Steve
 
Last edited:
GDL 39 3D?

Thanks for all of the info!

I am leaning towards the upgrade.

The page for the 760 doesn't seem to have the "compatible devices" that is often seen on Garmin pages. Will I be able to use my GDL 39 3D or will I need to upgrade to a GDL 50 as well?

I have a GNS430W and 330ES that are serving me well so it doesn't make sense to upgrade my navigator or transponder to one with ADSB in.

Kevin
 
Thanks for all of the info!

I am leaning towards the upgrade.

The page for the 760 doesn't seem to have the "compatible devices" that is often seen on Garmin pages. Will I be able to use my GDL 39 3D or will I need to upgrade to a GDL 50 as well?

I have a GNS430W and 330ES that are serving me well so it doesn't make sense to upgrade my navigator or transponder to one with ADSB in.

Kevin
Hi Kevin,

Yes, your GDL 39 3D will work fine with the Aera 760. This is explained in the Aera 760 Pilot Guide.

The GNS 430W also interfaces with the Aera 760 using MapMX.

The Aera 760 has 2 RS-232 ports, so you can connect both of these devices.

Steve
 
One major feature missing from the 760 is an internal Sirius/XM receiver. The 796 has one and only requires the antenna.

A 760 requires a GDL 51 or 52 to receive XM weather. That adds considerable cost and install time, and is the single reason I haven’t upgraded.
 
Hi Kevin,

I have used pretty much every Garmin portable since 1993, and the Aera 660 and the larger Aera 760 are by far my favorites.

The Aera 760 can also display MapMX overlaid over an approach chart integrated into the moving map. This is something that not even the Aera 660 can do.


I don't use this feature since I have a GNX 375 driving the Aera 760 in my plane, but if you don't have a compatible IFR navigator and want to create flight plans, including departures, arrivals, and approaches, and even airways, the Aera 760 will let you create these. This is something else you cannot do on an Aera 796.



One of the big pluses for the Aera 760 is that its snap-in mount uses a 9 pin D-Sub connector that saves cost if you want to make installation specific wiring harnesses and use the Aera 760 in multiple planes, cars, homes. As you know, with the Aera 795, you have to buy a bare wire mount for each place you want to use it if you wire it into the plane.

You can make your own wiring harnesses to plug into the Aera 760 mount, or buy these bare wire harnesses from Garmin and install in each place where you want to provide power and data to the Aera 760.

Steve
Hey Steve, how do you like the 375? I am considering it to replace my 327, gdl39, and gdl82. I was going to interface it with the 796 but it sounds like a 760 upgrade is worth consideration. Do you use the 760 for viewing versus the 2 inch 375 screen?
Assuming the snap mount is on the back of the 760 my approach would essentially use the same panel space and setup I have now (796 landscape mode under the D100).
Still trying to get my head around the wiring of the 375 and how many antennas I would need.
Figs
 
One major feature missing from the 760 is an internal Sirius/XM receiver. The 796 has one and only requires the antenna.

A 760 requires a GDL 51 or 52 to receive XM weather. That adds considerable cost and install time, and is the single reason I haven’t upgraded.

Cannon,

The Aera 796 does not have a built-in SXM weather/music receiver. It has a special interface that works with the GXM 42 which provides an external SXM receiver and antenna and sells for $599.

The Aera 796 was released in 2011 before ADS-B really got going in the U.S. At that time weather only receivers (no traffic) like used on the Garmin 396 and 496 portables were still very popular. The 796 was indeed bundled with a GXM 40/42 SXM receiver, but it always cost extra (versus a 795 which was not bundled with a GXM 40/42).

In 2012, Garmin released the GDL 39 (and later GDL 39R remote mount) dual frequency (978/1090 Mhz) ADS-B traffic and weather receiver. It provided an RS-232 digital interface that worked with the Garmin Aera 5XX, GPSMap 695/696, and Aera 795/796 portables and G3X/G3X Touch systems. Now, customers had the option of using a single receiver that provided free ADS-B traffic and weather. This was a great option, but if you wanted both SXM weather/music and ADS-B traffic/weather, it required 2 separate receivers.

In 2017 Garmin released the GDL 52/52R which provides a single unit that includes both SXM and ADS-B receivers and antennas. This product provided a solution for customers wanting both SXM weather/music and ADS-B traffic/weather. In 2018 additional variants were released that provided ADS-B traffic/weather only (GDL 50/50R) and SXM weather/music only (GDL 51/51R).

To most of us, ADS-B traffic is just as important as weather (of either type), so it just made sense for Garmin to address this need and move away from offering only a single GXM 40/42 weather/music receiver which was the only option available when the Aera 796 was released.

I have a GDL 52R installed in my plane. Unlike the earlier GDL 39 units, the GDL 5X(R) units have 2 RS-232 interfaces for providing traffic and weather for portables and G3X Touch systems, so I have the GDL 52R wired to both my G3X Touch display and an Aera 760 display in the plane. The SXM music from the GDL 52R is wired into a music input on my GMA 245 audio panel. It is a fantastic solution which provides SXM weather/music and ADS-B traffic/weather to multiple displays and also has a Bluetooth interface to support an Aera 660 I have mounted in the back seat for passengers.

Steve
 
Hey Steve, how do you like the 375? I am considering it to replace my 327, gdl39, and gdl82. I was going to interface it with the 796 but it sounds like a 760 upgrade is worth consideration. Do you use the 760 for viewing versus the 2 inch 375 screen?
Assuming the snap mount is on the back of the 760 my approach would essentially use the same panel space and setup I have now (796 landscape mode under the D100).
Still trying to get my head around the wiring of the 375 and how many antennas I would need.
Figs
Hi Figs,

I love the GNX 375. The display is small on the GNX 375, but is more than adequate for flight planning and loading/activating approaches. I find it super easy to use and have flown over 50 practice approaches with it.

The Aera 760 is a WAY better display for traffic, weather, and flight plan/procedure display, so I seldom even look at the GNX 375.

If all you use is ADS-B traffic/weather (not SXM weather/music), the GNX 375 is even a better option with an Aera 760. Use one of the Aera 760 RS-232 interfaces for MapMX data, and the second Aera 760 RS-232 interface for ADS-B traffic/weather from the GNX 375. These two units make a great pair!

ACtC-3c7ABKd66l1P15qY6E4_kp2Ilr1L5JQ1bVeLNw3F98n9c1F5WsbrwFUzcaQQOQ7e2fLqBSYpq5Vp82hsLXTbq7uJ06aCSvpjbx5yl3achIWyc22LWos7pXLWaOyAsQZyL8Pd4WGOR-GRB0U-MJT4x9-=w640


ACtC-3d4caJJGYJJirGziHqVPNU7pfaub2_Sr6-v-nywRnpbwSVzos08IHkzXQo4Lf7Yrs5PihNtsvmlcwxsHOPe-0mG7NeulgntNzsSp99P4g5XYnE338OTJ3qx3nUTaZHNVjeY6onwQslSq6OTn3-bm0J5=w500


Steve
 
Hi Figs,

I love the GNX 375. The display is small on the GNX 375, but is more than adequate for flight planning and loading/activating approaches. I find it super easy to use and have flown over 50 practice approaches with it.

The Aera 760 is a WAY better display for traffic, weather, and flight plan/procedure display, so I seldom even look at the GNX 375.

If all you use is ADS-B traffic/weather (not SXM weather/music), the GNX 375 is even a better option with an Aera 760. Use one of the Aera 760 RS-232 interfaces for MapMX data, and the second Aera 760 RS-232 interface for ADS-B traffic/weather from the GNX 375. These two units make a great pair!


Steve

If hooked up this way I would lose the ability to auto upload frequencies to the SL30 correct (both rs232 ports used up)
Figs
 
If hooked up this way I would lose the ability to auto upload frequencies to the SL30 correct (both rs232 ports used up)
Figs

Hi Figs,

Yes, that is correct. If you want to use the 2 Aera 760 RS-232 ports for GNX 375 MapMx and SL30 frequency send, you would need to use a Bluetooth connection between the Aera 760 and GNX 375 for ADS-B traffic and weather.

Just something else to consider. If you installed a GDU 470, you could make all three of these connections with RS-232 (and more) since the GDU 470 has 6 RS-232 ports.

ACtC-3ePsHsGVRDLpqCUZMp-Nz9f0FH90_SBICBAPGMHgcHjgfJ6DjI_iwFVbCcRGVMdZBR9dydovhJPj6Kq58id8Q4RZqoOM1Bh6WzTWAXiTD2hLt5l0rgGih6-cDGVaUZWyAmQG4_48oI8MDfMUAQvdbXY=w640


ACtC-3fFNB92BwUatUU0eV71nq-uwhhXf-FrtagkMhGWv837F4ZnXHm_vbi6ORib8k3G7kxJQQ37nyvKtNzJwn51juZR3-mIgAJ2O2TrpRQMS4YVrXMiOH4UAk0V8DpydLuhD5na7ysyhn7GNs1nYl4xf4xZ=w640


Steve
 
760

One thing the 796 has that the 760 doesn't, is the ability to load custom made check lists. This is a feature I really enjoy in my 796.
 
Hi Figs,

Yes, that is correct. If you want to use the 2 Aera 760 RS-232 ports for GNX 375 MapMx and SL30 frequency send, you would need to use a Bluetooth connection between the Aera 760 and GNX 375 for ADS-B traffic and weather.



Steve
Steve
One quick question, with MapMx RS232 connection can the 760 control the 375? For example if I select "direct to" on the 760 does that relay to the 375 which would be driving the autopilot, same question for selecting a route or approach, or is the 760 just a display for the 375 when coupled.
Figs
 
Steve
One quick question, with MapMx RS232 connection can the 760 control the 375? For example if I select "direct to" on the 760 does that relay to the 375 which would be driving the autopilot, same question for selecting a route or approach, or is the 760 just a display for the 375 when coupled.
Figs

Hi Figs,

The Aera 760 receives and displays MapMX data from the GNX 375 by listening to that interface (single wire plus ground).

The Aera 760 does not control or send data to the GNX 375 in any way using the MapMX interface.

The Aera 760 is a very fine stand alone VFR navigator, but you would have to switch from External flight planning (listening to the GNX 375) to Internal flight planning if you wanted to flight plan on the Aera 760.

ACtC-3dRF0qPruSeRJaLzwJ3qnTTF6vEDtQrGACTCsctssrPy--S00LzEFjnNugWfPvAYiD6ZbqBPKK7PcZLNWXjnq6_-n1u6trjJPiBM_H_-D09kKeIUFD_sJN0_kAM7Ssoloe92oQtPrKsS86cbutEu4ff=w480


Steve
 
760 bare wire cable

Just switched out the 796 for the 760 as part of my GPS navigator upgrade. I bought the bare wire cable to connect everything and it is vey long probably to accommodate multiple installation types.
I decided to make my own much shorter cable for my panel mount location and while the documentation identifies the wire color codes and functions it does not appear to identify the actual DB-9 pinouts on the mount.
For those considering the same approach the DB-9 pin outs are as follows:
1. Audio Left
2. Audio Common
3. Audio Right
4. RS 232 RX 2
5. RS 232 TX 2
6. RS 232 TX 1
7. Power
8. RS 232 RX 1
9. Power/Data Ground.

All systems appear to be working as expected and no smoke :D
Pleased with the unit so far.
Hope this helps.
Figs
 
Figs,

That looks correct. Here is the pinout information that I use when making cables for the Aera 760.

ACtC-3fzPIxdgGdsOg2f5SliPAm0S-2xz__INFBmp3BR7QOOMmk1tm69MLjd-196hpv5MELcyStWixZx7vdOCGMMJ9tJ8W9lPmMEZzZ7fyMYPoGcU_6bqWQiWcHGdUm-FNY3N_isStJ4AzYTZ53LghrcVmOi=w640


I updated my previous posting which discusses the 9 pin connector to include this information as well.

Steve
 
Back
Top