Is anyone familiar with an OLD Garmin handheld transceiver called the GPSCOM 190. I'm looking for feedback.










It has a fully functional 760 channel aviation transceiver and an upgradeable internal Jeppesen Database for GPS and other NAV functions. ( *** Updated Correction: Opposite what I had read on a recent post on another website, I called both Garmin and Jeppesen today, and the unit is NOT upgradeable re the database. What ya have is what you have. *** ) Think pre Garmin 196. The units appear to be very high quality, just antiques. Think Bendix King KX-99 or Terra TPX720 transceivers and you are in the same era. Maybe nothing is as tough as the Terra TPX720 which rumor has it can be used as a bucking bar on rivets or as a wheel chalk during Alaskan winters

I can rebuild the battery packs which, although currently holding a charge, may go dead at any time. A yoke mounting, wall charger, dc power cord, headset and mic adapter, etc were also included. I had been looking for a used Transceiver along the line of a KX-99 or a Sporty's SP200, but this Garmin set actually can load up a 2016 Jeppesen data set, has GPS Nav functions, E6B capabilities, etc.

Anyway, any really experienced old souls out there remember this Garmin unit? Any comments?

Too late to get my $$$ back I am committed, ahem, in more ways than one.

I am LMAO because I thought I was the only one with these old units laying around. I picked up a Kitfox IV for my son last year and included with it was a new-in-the-box Garmin GPS 95XL. I doubt it was ever turned on. Stickers are still on it dated 4/24/98. I should hook it up and see how it works one of these days.

I still have my old Garmin 90 GPS.

Rock solid GPS, and if I'm flying into a new to me metro area it's running up on the glareshield. My 396 gets hammered quite frequently in big city areas by what we think is tv broadcast stations and becomes a useless brick. The 90, nothing bothers it.

Gump

Have one of those in the bag as back up!

Here is an older non-electric Champ with the very latest in glass panel technology.

Notice the Garmin GPSCOM 190 proudly mounted front and center

I've got one of those! It was a great unit. Mine didn't get a whole lot of use and is still like new. The battery won't hold a charge though and I didn't think a data base update was possible. Even without the gps, I would have loved to use it for a backup radio. Now that Santa brought me a new handheld, I doubt I'll never do anything with it. So if you need spare parts, drop me a line.

That is the biggie...the batteries. They are basically unavailable. I am going to do battery surgery when I get the units. I have read ALL the boards, including the Bonanza forums. No help. I plan to crack the cases open and give it a go, or build a home-brew pack. Ill let you know how it goes. I am going to order some nicads. I thought about NiMH but there are some distinct charging characteristics that make me want to go with the older less powerful nicads.

I think this is one of those units that if you have the skill set and patience to monkey around with it, it will be okay. The killer is that right now for example you can buy a Yaesu FTA550A with NiMH for 189. If you are veteran you can get it for 10% off, and right now in addition Yaesu has a rebate of $20 off on the unit. So figure a modern Yaesu/Vertex with GPS and NiMH for $ 150. Ugh. I wish I could get a "do-over" .



Anyway..look, if I have any success at this I'll give you a shout. I am not a professional, so heck, happy to give it a whirl.

I'm kinda surprised that no one has come up with a aviation com app for the iPhone, bluetoothed to a remote antenna that you throw up on the glareshield. You tech guys, feels free to take this idea and run with it.

I know I am almost 2 years late to chime in in this thread. But just in case.
My Garmin 190 has died. The problem is the contact where the battery slides into the unit and the terminals on the battery touch on two spring loaded contacts. One of those contacts has broken off. So no electrons are able to make their way to the transistors and things inside.
I'm trying to find a dead 190 that someone would be willing to part with. Hopefully I could salvage the bit I need to get mine up and running.