For those that have used both, would you upgrade from a 296 to a 496?

Are the differences worth it?

If you want XM WX & Radio there is only one choice, also I like the Taxi diagrams in the 496 (not sure if that is available in the 296).

The 496 processor seems much faster as well and that seemed like a big difference back when i had a 296. Still have 495 in our Cheiftains and we love em.

I loved my 496, but if you have the panel space, I would take a little bigger step and go for the 796. You may even be able to get some credit for your 296??? and maybe some deal for Xmas. I got mine from Sarasota Avionics. They offered the best deal at the time. I worked with Danial G and was very happy.
Gary

The panel in question has a Garmin mount in it already, so if I upgrade I need to stay 296 sized for the mount. I've flown with a buddies 795 and I do love that thing, but panel space is an issue.

There's a 496 for sale on here for what seems like a good price is why I'm asking

495/496 update at 5/sec versus 1/sec 296 not that you ever would, but in low vis around mountains that might count. The good thing about all those models that Garmin took away was the ability to put the marine chart chip in it. For seaplanes operating around the coast it is really really nice.

Nothing against Garmin (I have 2, the 430W in my panel and a 96C handheld), but the cost of keeping the software upgraded on the handhelds (and the panel mounts, too) is outrageous. Before I installed the 430W, I only upgraded the 96C software once a year, for that reason. To have an annual subscription was $295 for navigation, $195 for obstacle. I let the obstacle go altogether, and once a year just before the summer when my longer trips happened, I would get a single nav update for $49.95. That worked, since most of my navigation was either pilotage or with VORs.

The update cost for the 296 is $295 annually or $49.95 for a one time, for nav, and $195 annually or $49.95 for a one time, for obstacle. Terrain is only available for one time at $150. For the 496, the prices are the same, plus you can get "Safe Taxi" for $195 annually or $49.95 for one time. You can do the math to figure out what you would be spending, depending on what you want to do. That info comes from https://fly.garmin.com/fly-garmin/support/pricing.

Contrast all that with the cost of Foreflight Pro for $150/year, plus the cost of the appropriate iPad, which can be used for other things, too.

Cary

Why pay for updates on a VFR GPS? I've had my 496 for 4 years and haven't updated it once... Still gets me where I'm going. I do have an iPad with foreflight also though.

I upgraded from a 296 to a 496 last year.
Xm radio, weather, taxi diagrams and shows private airstrips.
Pacific Coast Aviontics will load thier prior to newest update for $10.00.

I saw the ad for the 496 and considered it also. I've had my current 196 for 6 or 7 years and like it. I'm not sure that I need or even want the upgraded features (faster processing, color display, terrain avoidance, and xmweather capability). I had a Garmin 3 Pilot for 8 or 9 years before the 196, and I'd have kept it except when I bought my C150TD it had a 196 dock and a buddy had a 196 that he sold me dirt cheap.
If I had any sense, and more importantly if I was a computer-type dude, I'd just keep the 196 for simple nav duty and buy an ipad with foreplay, errr foreflight and some other apps. One of my hangar neighbors was showing off his to me the other day and it seemed like that thing'll do everything except crawl under the airplane and clean the belly. But since I don't have any sense, I'll probably just keep the 196, period.

I updated a 396 to a 696 and have zero regrets.

The 496 has a LOT more capability than a 296, I think it's worth a few hundred bucks to make the switch. The addition of private fields is a huge plus around here. Also the 496/696 has the capability for XM or ADS-B, which I have found to be very useful as well.

I thought the 696 would be big and clunky, but I'm a huge fan of it now (paired to the 406 ELT, GDL-39 ADS-B, intercom for alerts, and FP-5(L)).

Isn't technology great.

For what it's worth, I remember reading something earlier this year that a new antenna or signal for XM weather is coming and only 796 and above would be supported. I remember this because the flying club I was in had just put in another 496 and I thought, "Uh-oh." The article, which I believe was in AOPA Pilot, said that eventually the antenna signal currently on the 496 would go away with no way to update to the new antenna/software.

It sounds like the upgrade isn't worth it. I already have an iPad and run foreflight. I'll save some money for avgas then!

I really relied on the XM weather when I was living across the lower 48. Wouldn't have made several trips if I didn't have its information. I use foreflight with ADS-B weather now. Doesn't seem nearly as reliable. The upgrade from 296 to either 396 or 496 to get XM weather is absolutely worth it in my opinion.

As far as updating the database, I thought the same as rob. That was, until I trusted the unit too much heading to Destin from Rucker. "Hello new Panama City airport."

Brett

I went from a 196 to a 496 and there is no comparison. The 496 is far superior to the 196. It is faster it has more detail and the color is really nice.

Isn't the 496 discontinued? I have an Aera 560. It is a good unit. I bought it when they were substantially more expensive than they are now. The first year of updates were free, but now it is very expensive. I will do a one time update this winter and do it every couple of years. Keeping it up to date all the time is prohibitively expensive. If you go that route you could buy a new unit every couple of years for the same price. Gouging.

If I had it to do over I would get an iPad. I would however not use my flight iPad for anything else. Using it for other things would increase the likelihood of having a glitch. They say that Macs are sort of immune to viruses but my own experience does not support that. They can get slow and have application problems. Not something you want to have happen during your flight.

I had problems with my ipad mini 32gb (1st gen verizon) slowing down when I started getting close to the storage capacity. I rarely had problems with foreflight but sometimes my music app would crash while running foreflight. Just upgraded to a refurbed 64gb ipad mini 2 AT&T (too cheap to buy the new 3) and all is well again. No more ORM issues when I'm raging around at 25 feet and mach 0.1 when Kenny Loggins "Danger Zone" shuts down.

Bender wrote:No more ORM issues when I'm raging around at 25 feet and mach 0.1 when Kenny Loggins "Danger Zone" shuts down.

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