Garmin 430/530 vs 196/296 - Page 2

rv8bldr · #11 03-14-2005, 11:11 AM

Hi guys,

I didn't flush mount my 196. I used one of the clip on type mounts that came in the box. I drilled a couple of large holes to allow the antenna and power/serial cables to come through and used nutplates to attach the clip on mount directly to the panel.

See http://rv8bldr.tripod.com/the_panel.html

The beauty of this arrangement is that I can take the GPS home with me after every flight and download its info into FlightBook. I can also download flight plans from Jepessen FlightStar into it. And when we are a trip to some place that we are unfamiliar with, we just take the GPS with the MapSource info in it and we are good to go.

I don't find it an issue that it is not flush mounted. In fact, I would probably be annoyed if I couldn't take it out for updating whenever I want.

Your mileage may vary,

SteinAir · #12 03-14-2005, 10:08 PM

Go to http://www.steinair.com, Click on "Panels", then scroll to the bottom of the page. I've got several photos of my panel mount 196.

Cheers,
Stein.

Davepar · #13 03-15-2005, 08:51 AM

Stein,

That's a nice looking mount. Do you have to reach behind the panel to release the GPS?

Also, (this is a bit off topic) the rocker switches on the Rocket panel are cool. Where did those come from? I don't see them listed on your site.

Dave

SteinAir · #14 03-15-2005, 09:03 PM

Actually, it pops out quite nicely from the front of the panel. If you look closely at my cutou, you'll see a small "notch" on the left side of the cutout. This allows me to insert a small flat object (such as the ignition key) or something like that and the thing will just pop out!

The rocker switches came from the customer. I may start carrying them at some point.

Cheers,
Stein.

Bill Dicus · #15 03-21-2005, 09:19 PM

Am building an RV-8 which will have a GNS430 and also a 296. I've used the 296 a lot in X-C in my Lance and locally in the Pitts. This unit is so impressive I can't believe all it does. It's only legal VFR as has been pointed out in the forums. It does great flight planning, is small and light, has super battery life, and does a fair job at TAWS. We've (at least two of us) found the pseudo panel can really be flown IFR and serves as an emergency back up totally independent of the aircraft and antennae. My friend Russ, a 5000 hour Navy pilot, found the 196 not useable as a primary IFR Attitute and altitude reference. We both can fly the 296 due to its rapid update (5x/sec) while under the hood, simulating IFR. What a great defense against total failure of your electrical system - which shouldn't happen if you build it according to R. Nuckolls, but I still worry. The display is not as bright as the 195 but still good. Don't know if I'm right to feel this way, but think Lycomings are so reliable that I look elsewhere for the first failure points. Anyway plan to fly IFR with 430, SL30, GTX 330, Dynon, TruTrak, steam gauges with TC and the 296 plus hand held com (hooked to aircraft antenna) as back up. Seems WAAS upgrade will come along for the 430 and if you have room, the 480 would be outstanding. Two of us have had failure of the power cable to the 296, which comes apart in the body of the connector to the unit (from 12V plug or AC). Garmin replaced them for both of us, but did so as a "customer courtesy" as opposed to warranty. We thought this should be covered under the warranty at less than one year of service. Our avionics guy said we could use the 296 to drive our autopilot, but it hasn't been done yet. It doesn't interface with your fuel flow to calculate endurance and fuel remain at next waypoint, at least ours hasn't. Bill

rv8ch · #16 03-23-2005, 01:13 PM

I fly VFR with the 196 and the 430, since all our club aircraft have the 430. Once airborne, I switch the 430 to the nearest airport screen and leave it there. I use the 196 for situational awareness.

We've got a lot of airspace where I fly, and a lot of little airports with guys jumping out of airplanes, so I need to switch frequencies a lot. The 430 is great for that.

I could never justify the 430 in my own airplane, or rather, the budget my wife gave me for the project won't allow it. I'll be using the icom ic-a200 in my 8, and my 196. Perhaps if I'm good, Santa will bring me a 296.