What would you rather have? A free 296 or a 496 for $1,000. Just to confuse the issue, assume you already have XM WX in your EFB, but it's not really that portable, so the XM wouldn't be used in the 496. I couldn't afford two subscriptions. Near as I can tell the difference is the AOPA database, altitude sensitive airspace alerts and I guess airport diagrams? I haven't seen any of this, so I don't know how useful any of it is.
So 496 for a grand or a free 296?

a64,

I have a 396. If you are determined that you won't use the full functionality of the 496 (and you're nuts not to), then it's a no brainer--get the 296.

But...to have the subscription to XM weather and not be able to use it in the cockpit is just plane insane, if that's what I understand you to be saying.

I'd dump whatever else I'm using XM on, get the 496 and not even consider any other options.

I have used the XM weather EVERY time I've flown any distance at all since I got the 396, and I wouldn't give it up for anything.

The reason I got the 396 instead of the 496 is cause I don't think all those other databases (you forgot the 496 works as a road map as well) are less than useful to me. But that's me.

MTV

MTV,
This GPS will be a back up for either a 396 when I'm flying for the company that has the XM subscription or for my motion tablet running chart case pro with XM WX when I'm in the Maule. With the EFB, imagine a 12" diagonal screen 396 that does all your flight planning, filing flight plans etc. and has all charts both IFR and VFR, approaches etc. and updates all charts and approaches over the internet or a monthly DVD subscription. It just flat blows away anything the Garmin can do, but it runs on windows, so it's not as reliable as the Garmin. Nothing that runs on windows can be in my opinion. Either way I'll have XM WX on board. I do some over water flying down to South America and I won't go with only one navigation system. For some reason my old 295 is getting to where you can't see the screen in bright sunlight anymore. So this new GPS will be a backup, just wondering if the 496 is worth a grand more than the 296 if XM isn't considered. I've not used either, but am very familiar with both the 295 and 396.

Ahh, So,

In that case, I'd stick with the 296. Try to get a late model one, or one that's been upgraded with the new (same as the 396/496) screen, though. The early 296 screens were not very viewable in daylight, but the newer screens are same as the 396.

MTV

I've been looking at the upgrade from my 196 to a newer X96.

Since I no longer travel for business, the ground maps are not as important - right now.

The 496 has a faster refresh rate and the difference between the 396 and the 496 seems to be about what the ground kit costs.

I'm still not sure which one I'm going to get before my next long X-C.

Don

I have the 496, and so far the instant TFR feature has saved my butt twice. Both times was perfect weather, where I didn't check, my fault of course. Once flying the shoreline around Chicago I would have flown right through a major airshow. Don't know what the other one was, but the extra cost was less then the fines would have been. JG

PS: ...another 496 feature besides the weather and radio, that I use on almost every flight, is the winds aloft to see how high to fly. Over time, the fuel savings would go a long way toward the costs. JG

a64pilot wrote:What would you rather have? A free 296 or a 496 for $1,000. Just to confuse the issue, assume you already have XM WX in your EFB, but it's not really that portable, so the XM wouldn't be used in the 496. I couldn't afford two subscriptions. Near as I can tell the difference is the AOPA database, altitude sensitive airspace alerts and I guess airport diagrams? I haven't seen any of this, so I don't know how useful any of it is.
So 496 for a grand or a free 296?

You'll have to make up your own mind on spending the money but here's the differences. I sold my 296 a few months ago to get a 496. The 496's screen is several steps brighter than the 296/396. Those two are marginal at best in bright sunlight, the 496 is perfectly readable in direct sunlight. 496 has a faster processor and you will notice it. I personally don't see much use in the AOPA database but it is there if you want it. Why would you have to have two subscriptions? Cancel the other. The smart airspace is useful for flying around class B airspace but not in C or D in my opinion. The Smart Taxi is helpful if you get to big airports, not anything you will normally use if you don't. The built in roads for the driving are great. I have used several programs on PDA's and the Garmin software is one of the best. Plus I have used the driving program on a trip from Denver back home. I had the XM fired up and could see what parts of the trip would be in the rain and snow. Plus I had the METARS displayed as well so I could see what the wind and temp were doing ahead of us.

BM,

The latest Garmin 296/396/496 all come equipped with the identical screens. The 396 and 496 have always had the same screens. It may SEEM that the 496 has a better screen, simply because it has greater RESOLUTION, but that's the machine, not the screen.

I agree with your logic on the features.

MTV

Haveing access to both I would recomend the 496 for the reasons stated above, here in the canyons it makes a huge difference and at what sounds like half the cost if you don't want it I'll take it

I ordered the 296 this morning, what with having to pay the tax man (property) $6,000 or so, and Christmas, I just couldn't see another $1,000 for a GPS. Besides I've really been wanting a set of those 10" wheels from AK bushwheels to put the 29x11-10 tires on. I've even got a cut across my nose right at eye level from walking into the flap in a darkened hangAr How much does the big tires raise the trailing edge of the wing?
Hey, Wup, would you guy's at AK bushwheel consider a Backcountry pilot discount or maybe even a group buy? Zane, I hope I didn't break any rules for asking that, but hey I'm a cheap guy and have no shame.

Congrats on the 296. Youll love it

For those that might have wondered. I have flown for more than a year with a 396. As far as I can tell the 296 is identical except of course for the XM stuff. Same screen, same interface etc.

496/396/296/196 are nice to have in the aircraft but beware of the FAA/NTSB. Had a buddy who had a landing accident. He landed hot and long and ended up trashing the airplane. No injuries, just a bruised ego. After the FAA/NTSB interview he was asked if he had a portable GPS on board. Being truthful he said, “Yes I had a 396 on-board”. We’ll the NTSB inspector requested that he send them the GPS so that they could download the telemetry data. Of course the GPS doesn’t lie. And that information will flow through the hands of the feds and end up in your insurance companies hands for review to determine liability. A word of warning, these units are great and give us unbelievable weather and nav capability but they can give information to be used against you in an unfortunate situation.

We’ll the NTSB inspector requested that he send them the GPS so that they could download the telemetry data. Of course the GPS doesn’t lie.

I could be wrong here but my understanding is that the garmin units store track and message information [optional] and these can be deleted leaving no history...

I have the 396 in addition to my Garmin 300XL. The Nexrad weather is great as well as the TFR database. I am hooked on it. It is an awesome unit

bluesideup wrote: Of course the GPS doesn’t lie. And that information will flow through the hands of the feds and end up in your insurance companies hands for review to determine liability. A word of warning, these units are great and give us unbelievable weather and nav capability but they can give information to be used against you in an unfortunate situation.

On the flip side of the coin, it can also save your butt by proving that you were legal in the event that a witness claims you weren't. It can just as easily help you as hurt you.

I'd just recommend knowing your unit well so you can quickly delete the track data and claim that you have track data recording disabled.

I'm not sure your deleting the data as much as your allowing the space to be used for something else. OK computer geeks when you delete something from a computer is it always really gone, or is it sometimes still there until overwritten by something else?

1SeventyZ wrote:

bluesideup wrote: Of course the GPS doesn’t lie. And that information will flow through the hands of the feds and end up in your insurance companies hands for review to determine liability. A word of warning, these units are great and give us unbelievable weather and nav capability but they can give information to be used against you in an unfortunate situation.

On the flip side of the coin, it can also save your butt by proving that you were legal in the event that a witness claims you weren't. It can just as easily help you as hurt you.

I'd just recommend knowing your unit well so you can quickly delete the track data and claim that you have track data recording disabled.

The unit could have a malfunction after the unfortunate situation

Good Grief!!!!

How about we all just do our best NOT to fly anywhere we shouldn't be and as Zane says, we won't have to worry about the negatives????



MTV