Garmin 396 satisfaction/questions/In-flight XM wx photo

[Tandem46]

Build9A wrote:
"I have a question concerning the Garmin 396. Advertising pictures that I have seen show the GPS in terrain mode and the clarity does not look so good. So, I am interested in the opinions of experienced users of the 396 as to your satisfaction with the clarity of maps in various modes of operation and satisfaction with the various functions of the unit. thanks, jack"
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RV9A N489JE - Flying
Gainesville, Florida
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Tobin wrote:

Here's a photo from tonight over Alabama. You can see the wx in west Texas, both clouds and storms. The more I fly with it, the more I love it. Worth the high price.

[L.Adamson]

Thanks for the pic. I have the Garmin 296, and it's great to see some in flight pictures, other than those on the Garmin site.

Of course, I'm already convinced, that I want one!

Besides, a 296 on the right, and a 396 on the left, is good for GPS redundency!

L.Adamson

[RV_7A]

I just bought one as well and this thing rocks! I've only used mine while flying commercial jets but that in itself is pretty awesome. Flying from Austin to Atlanta we had a top speed of 607mhp @ 39K. I can't wait to get my plane done so I can use it then. Worth every penny. Heres a few pics while sitting out back.





Heres a few others... http://jeffsrv-7a.com/GARMIN396/

-Jeff

[Davepar]

Nice pictures.

Can anybody write a comparision of the 296/396 to a Garmin 430? Compare ease of use, screen resolution, whatever. I know it's a bit of an apples to oranges (or certified to non-certified) comparision. I'm trying to decide between going with the 430 or getting a low-end certified like the 155XL or 300XL and augmenting with the 296 or 396.

Thanks,
Dave

[Vern]

I had been holding out for a 430 also, but the local radio shop and an engineer from Garmin convinced me that the actual usable information you can get from a 430 would not be as good and would cost really big $ to get.

I attended a Garmin event this week also and was further convinced of the 396 value. Some of the 430/530 owners in attendance were awed by the little 396.

So, my new plan is my new 396 plus an SL30 displaying the CDI info on the Grand Rapids EFIS. I will not need a 106A indicator by doing so and the SL30 nav makes IFR legal.

[Scott Will]

Vern,

What you just wrote is my plan exactly. Here's my setup:

dual screen GRT system, SL-30, GMA-340 (for marker beacon) and of course transponder. Now I've recently added the airgizmos dock for the 296 or 396. Still debating whether I want weather on GRT or Garmin unit.


Now that's a different story all together - my wife (who stays out of the GA world all toghther) wonders why we need WX in the cockpit (VFR or IFR) and why we need traffic info. She said if you're VFR shouldn't you be looking outside anyway and staying clear of WX. Plus she said to check before you fly, call flight service, blah, blah blah... still trying to tell her why it's all great to have in flight - but that's another battle.

Scott
RV-7A
LZU hangar E-10

[dan]

Not happy with Garmin's photos? Well, here are some of mine -- the photos themselves aren't so hot, but they show how cool the 396 is:

http://www.rvproject.com/20051028.html

I haven't written any text to go along with it yet, but the pictures should be pretty self-explanatory!! By the way, those photos are mostly just the weather browser stuff. I haven't even touched on all the variations on the "map" map and all of its customizations, zoom levels, clutter, etc.

Terrain mode works great imho...and we have a fair amount of terrain around here (SoCal).

)_( Dan
RV-7 N714D
http://www.rvproject.com

[Thermos]

If you're talking about the terrain avoidance display, the terrain database in the Garmin 296 isn't super-high resolution, it's just there to help keep you out of the dirt. I haven't used the 396, but I'd assume it uses the same data.

For what it's worth, the multi-kilobuck TAWS and EGPWS terrain displays in most bizjets aren't significantly better.

Dave

[Tandem46]

Jack,
To specifically answer your question of clarity in terrain mode, you must understand that you don't see much in terrrain mode in the first place. Anything that is not a factor (user defined in terms of clearance) is blacked out. Only when terrain/obstacles start to become a factor do they change color to yellow and red. As an example, while on the ground and on terrain page, everything is red because I obviously have no clearance with the ground. So, you either have black, yellow, or red. Really no "clarity" issue.

Now on the map page, that's another story. If you zoom way out, both topographical features and the clouds look pretty clear, you can see a photo I took of the US in flight on the link from Jeff below your post. As you zoom in, you do lose some of the clarity or "crispness", but not to the point (in my opinion) of making it less asthetically pleasing to the eye. I've flown with mine on two long trips and I absolutely love it so far.

Tobin

[Build9A]

Thanks to all, for the replys and links. Good info. Jack