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Garmin 695/696

Old 6th Dec 2008, 02:59
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Garmin 695/696

Today, we picked up a Garmin 696 that we had ordered as soon as they were announced. Turning the 696 on, we were absolutely blown away by the quality of the display. Much better than a Garmin 530 -- and somewhere between the G600 and G1000. We rigged it up in the helicopter, on a Panavise mount we use for a 496, and enjoyed flying home with it. A 496 looks very small and hard to read by comparison.

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Old 6th Dec 2008, 07:38
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Do you have the part number of that Panavise mount, or a close-up picture of it?


Here's a Demo on Youtube from AVweb.

Meet Garmin's 696 portable GPS, new, November, 2008. AVweb and Aviation Consumer's Paul Bertorelli walks you through the basic functionality of Garmin's latest GPSMAP showcased by Garmin at AOPA's Expo 2008 in San Jose, California.

YouTube - Garmin 696 Portable GPS Demo

Last edited by Runway101; 6th Dec 2008 at 07:53.
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Old 6th Dec 2008, 15:53
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I looked at the Panavise mount and didn't see a part number. Here is a photo of the Panavise mount in another ship with a cradle for a 496. One end of the Panavise mount attaches to the back of the G600 and attaches to the Panavise arm.

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Old 6th Dec 2008, 16:28
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Here is a G696 install in an Enstrom 480B. The mount attaches with thumb screws to an existing seat rail, with no new holes needed. The mount is assembled from standard RAM mount parts and can be removed within 30 sec. Had some initial problems with system crashes on the 696; downloading the latest system software (v2.40) seems to have corrected this.





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Old 7th Dec 2008, 13:56
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Damn, that's the most kitted out enstrom I've ever seen! Is that a personal machine?

Mike
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Old 7th Dec 2008, 14:12
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EN48, and others,

Just an fyi - we got our 696 last Monday, and its still in crash mode, even with the new 2.4 software. Seems to be caused by uploading the updated flitecharts. Initially it took so long, I had to unplug everything as my pax turned up and we had to leave. It now won't accept the charts and I am having my busiest ever week, so am not at home with a good computer when Garmin help is in the office. Hopefully later this week, meantime the 696 sits in its box

So, for those new purchasers, be cautious when uploading the flitecharts. Allow at least 2.5 hrs if using a laptop and wireless. I had to pull the plug at 1hr15 and 60% completed. Or take the manual route and put them on the computer first, then transfer them onto the 696.
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Old 7th Dec 2008, 15:19
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Is that a personal machine?
It is. When the helo was spec'd in late 2006, the Chelton EFIS/FMS did not support NEXRAD weather, and this led to the addition of the Garmin GMX200 for wx and other functions. The Chelton has a single GPS receiver and the 696 was added to provide backup nav capability. It all works very nicely except for th 696 crashes.
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Old 7th Dec 2008, 15:22
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Seems to be caused by uploading the updated flitecharts.
Havent tried this yet. I did successfully update the Jepp NavData and so far no crashes running v2.4.
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Old 9th Dec 2008, 02:13
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Flying in Alaska, we have downloaded the topo info onto our Garmin 396/496 units. The 696 also takes downloaded topo information. While this low res photo doesn't do it justice, the terrain detail is stunning on the 696.

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Old 16th Dec 2008, 07:33
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I love your 696 installation. Pretty ingenious to use the inner tracks. I move my seat to those tracks once in a while so that won't work for me.

I have scoped out all of the possible mounting places...from the floor, on the center column by the compass, replacing the flipcards, etc. I have finally decided to mount it on my left side using the windshield bolts. It is just in front of the pilot's door post, and to the left of my left thigh so it is out of the way of the cyclic and my legs. I have a friend who has a 496 mounted there and it works great. He makes all entries with his left hand which in turn keeps his right hand free for the cyclic.

I hope you like my cardboard box 696. <gr>

Chuck


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Old 16th Dec 2008, 12:20
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"The 696 also takes downloaded topo information"

Can you provide some guidance on how to do this. I took a quick look at the manusl and couldnt seem to find this.

Thanks.
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Old 16th Dec 2008, 21:43
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Does anyone know if the 696 will take flightplans and waypoints etc uploaded from a PC.? If so, which software is it?
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Old 17th Dec 2008, 01:05
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You need the Map Source topo program as a source for the data. You buy an SD card, choose the topo information in your area of interest, no more than 1,224 (about) maps, and transfer the data to the SD card inserted in the 696 with the provided cable. Now you have topo data displayed on your 696. You can customize the level of detail in "map set-up" on the 696.

There is a bug, whereby routes created on the Map Source program that come over as "map" waypoints don't act properly on the flight plan page of the 696, but work fine if you create user waypoints instead of "map" waypoints. We have been discussing this with Garmin.
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Old 17th Dec 2008, 07:16
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My 496 comes with standard topo information as well. Just out of curiosity, are you talking about better or more detailed topo info than the 496, or does the 696 come with NO topo at all if you don't do that transfer to the SD card? Slightly confused about this after you mentioned it.

I am currently flying in the alps with my 496, and topo comes in handy.
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Old 17th Dec 2008, 13:49
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and transfer the data to the SD card inserted in the 696 with the provided cable
Can the topo data be transferred to the SD card in a PC (and then move the SD card to the 696)?
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Old 17th Dec 2008, 14:54
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1) The Garmin 696 comes with quite a bit more map detail than, for example, a Garmin 530. The Map Source program gives you even more detail -- equivalent to a topo map.

2) On the 396/496 series, as well as the 696, I have always programmed the chip in the gps unit. I haven't tried doing it otherwise.
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Old 28th Dec 2008, 14:12
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The Map Source program gives you even more detail -- equivalent to a topo map.
George,

Can you identify more specifically the Map Source topo map(s) you use with the 696. The one that looks most relevant on the Garmin website is this one:

TOPO U.S. 2008

Part Number: 010-11001-01
Suggested Retail Price: $ 116.65 USD

however, the 696 is not shown as a compatible GPS on the Products tab (however, the 496 is listed, which makes me believe that it will work with the 696). I need Northeast US coverage.

Thanks for any guidance you might provide.
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Old 30th Dec 2008, 00:31
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George
Just to drift a bit. That course that shows up on your initial post is over some seriously cold water off the spit. Good Luck. Time for a Brandy and a beer at the Salty Dog.........
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Old 30th Dec 2008, 15:20
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Just bought a 695 unit.
Initial impressions are bloody excellent.
Not sure where it's going to go in my machine, but I'll upload some photos when it's done.

JJ - Not a bloody word from you please !!!!
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Old 31st Dec 2008, 17:04
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Updated flight charts

Does anyone know what happens if you don't update the flight charts? Will the Garmin 695 allow you to continue with the "out of date" charts?
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