Garmin 695/696

[GeorgeMandes]

My understanding is, just as happens with the approach plates on the Garmin G1000 EFIS installations, after six months approach plates "expire" and are unavailable.

[chopjock]

ok, so you are saying the approach plates don't work when they are "out of date", does that apply to the charts aswell? Will the charts stop working when they go out of date?

[GeorgeMandes]

To my knowledge, approach plates are the only thing on the 696 that will time out and become unavailable. Specifically, what other "charts" are you referring to?

[SeaMoss]

R44/695

Garmin 695 in an R44 - uses the mount shipped with the unit.

[chopjock]

Quote: Specifically, what other "charts" are you referring to?

I was refering to the chart displayed on the main map screen, the one that looks just like the paper charts (maps). The paper charts expire but you can still use them and buy new ones when you feel like it.
I was afraid that if I bought a Garmin 695 the maps would expire if I failed to subscribe or up-date them?

[Runway101]

SeaMoss, what do you think about getting your hand from the collective (around the cyclic post) to the 695? Is this working without problem for you? The most important buttons and the "joystick" is on the right side of the display. I thought about exact this position for my unit, but didn't buy one yet and was afraid that this position might be a bit trouble to reach.

How did you attach the included mount to the console? Screws, adhesive tape or suction? Is this a temporary or permanent installation? In other words, is this also possible with rented helicopters?

[500e]

So the plates go walkabout after 1. 2. 3. days, or weeks? I get in machines with GPS card out of date but paper maps up to date.
So I fly with paper & GPS go to approach plate GONE, great! Where is the # is Pooleys flight guide, moved the runways have they? magnetic heading changed by 90 deg? I paid for the information where is it? I know it is out of date but could be better than no plate.
Do they say don't use as primary nav source if so why the auto delete.
How does it inform you it is taking unilateral action ?
If I don't understand the info Approach is giving I can ask.
I would say 60% + of data on private GPS I have seen are at least two updates behind
It should be possible to put an overlay saying OUT OF DATE.
Is it only Garmin that do this? our SkyMaps don't They do tell you date of expiry of database on the 1st. screen.

[SeaMoss]

Runway101
I didn't have a problem reaching all the controls (perhaps I have a long left arm - aka a fiddler crab). I lean forward and reach over the collective bar. I've seen others mount 530's etc. here on a cross bar.
Wrt mount - it's permanent - bolted through the console with added internal bracing. The bottom left tip attached to the side of the console with some velcro to damp the vibrations at low RPM (during startup).
For rentals, I'd use the knee mount.

[EN48]

Can the topo data be transferred to the SD card in a PC (and then move the SD card to the 696)?

Yes - just received the US Topo DVD from Garmin and this works fine. See detailed instructions in the Map Source manual (on the Map Source CD).

[MarcK]

So the plates go walkabout after 1. 2. 3. days, or weeks?

According to the owners manual, the approach plates become unavailable 180 days after the expiration date of the plate (28 days after the cycle begins). So you would only have to update 2 or 3 times a year if you weren't using them as primary.

[500e]

Thanks MarcK

[malabo]

The built-in map detail level in the 695/696 is the same as the what comes in the Mapsource Worldmap CD. This is a lot more map detail than came with the older 296 which already had more than the panel-mount 530. You have to go to even better maps like the US or Canada Topo to gain any further detail by burning the map blocks to the SD card.

The IFR plates are for the US only. Anyone outside the US gets no benefit at all. They are called "FliteCharts" and appear to be some kind of .pdf copy of the National Aeronautical Charting Office (NACO) paper charts. They come from Garmin. Too bad the Jepps can't get in there for the rest of us.

[fernytickles]

I would be interested to hear how everyone is getting on with updating the FliteCharts? We are having huge issues with it. Every other section updates just fine, but the FliteCharts won't update without a Garmin tech taking over my computer and forcing the update, which is somewhat time consuming & inconvenient.

Garmin say they are working on this issue, and one person says "its only a couple of units which have this problem", while another says "its an issue with most of them, so an exchange won't make a difference".....

Hence putting the internet to use to find out how big an issue this is.

Thanks.

[Helinut]

Do you get plates on the Euroepean Versions? When I read the blurb it seemed like only the US database had plates with it.

[airotay]

FliteCharts

The first upload was no problem off of flygarmin.com. The second upload I had to manually upload which is an option on the right side of the screen if all else fails. I have the US TOPO's and they work great. I also bought the plug and play street maps on the SD card. The unit will not let me unlock the maps. I called Garmin the tech said I should have no problem since the SD maps were not lock. I received the second card and had the same problem. Anyone else out there with the street maps?

You can load the TOPO's through the unit itself or through your laptop via SD card. FliteCharts are taking me around 30 minutes to upload.

[500e]

Seems a nice bit of kit BUT why is the CUSTOMER doing field trials, these bugs should be sorted before the unit is marketed ? it is not as if it is a budget unit.

[airotay]

I completely agree. To be honest I have had problems with every Garmin I have ever bought. They have good support and handle the problems. It just seems there are lots of software issues. If you don't accessorize, and use the unit as is you'll have no problems.

[Heli-phile]

seamoss R44/G696 busy cockpit

Hi,
Im sure its only a momentary lapse but looking at your fine array of dispays it occurs to me you may well be spending a lot of time looking in the cockpit rather than out (its a vfr helicopter) Especially when you track along features like a coast. Remember the keep right rule??, It might be me coming the other way one day and I would be keeping right of the beach (right where you are!!)

Nice kit anyway

[Harry76]

Does anyone have any actual experience using the G696 with the knee mount kit? I have been told that it would be too heavy sitting on ones knee.

[JTobias]

I have been using it temporarily on my knee (not using a kit) until I have the mount fitted (tomorrow). I don't consider it to be too heavy, but I would be concerned about the battery becoming hot against your leg for long trips.

My reccomend would be to have it mounted, even if it were using suction mounts so that you can move it between ships if necessary.

It's a fantastic piece of kit!

Joel