196 or 295?

[Evo]

Now the Garmin 296 is out, there seem to be a flood of people dumping their 196s and 295s second-hand. They seem to go for around the same price, so which is the better bit of kit? Colour would be very nice, but the 295 is old and has a reputation for eating batteries. The 196 is newer, slightly higher resolution but dull old black'n'white. I've never used either.

Thoughts?

[foxmoth]

To my mind, forget colour/B & W, which does the job best? The thing to look for with the display is which can be seen best with different lighting conditions (night/bright sun).

[Hersham Boy]

Evo - I have a 196 and have seen a colour model in use. Personally, I prefer the grayscale and find the display very easy to see in pretty glare-positive conditions...

Hersh

[bpilatus]

Eva I have the 196. Grayscales is good and clear for my own uses and would rcoommend this too any one

[FNG]

Blimey, I remember the lad Evo when he was charting galaxies. Now he's reduced to getting lost in the fog whilst he changes the batteries on his GPS. It's the strain of being a Moderator, I reckon.

[dmjw01]

I "ummed" and "arrred" a lot before eventually buying a 196. I preferred the slightly larger screen, and the speed of redraw is far better. Never regretted it.

[Evo]

Thanks, folks - had a play with a 196 the other day and it is a nice bit of kit, just need to get it past the finance committee (aka Mrs. Evo).

And charting galaxies? Never did that, old chap. As Ernest Rutherford said, all science is either Physics or stamp collecting, and charting galaxies certianly falls into the latter catagory.

[Hersham Boy]

Evo - when you buy, make sure you buy from the US... serious savings to be had (I'll PM you the place that I bought mine - and thanks to the PPRuNer that gave ME the advice in the first place!)

Hersh

[IMC1]

Save up and go for the Garmin296. Wonderful piece of kit. Absolutely no regrets and it is worth the difference over the 196. Anybody want to buy a 196? IMC1

[TonyR]

I'd also go for the 196, but please tell me where in the US you can buy cheaper, I never can.

Tony

[KCDW]

Cheaper in the US? Depends. If you go there regularly courtesy of work, yes. Take these for example:

http://www.sportys.com/gps/

The 196 is £571 (at rate of 1.75). While from Transair:

http://www.transair.co.uk/category.asp?SID=2&Category_ID=1390

It's £642.

But not a huge saving after shipping, taxes and worry if you get a dud unit.

BTW, the savings on the 295 look significantly better.

[54.98N]

Do not purchase a Garmin from the US unless you are assured it comes with the European base map (i.e. topgraphic features etc.). The US versions do not have this, and I understand it's rather difficult to get the European version in the US.

The Jeppesen Navdata is a different matter and can easily be changed via a simple download.

With regard to colour, having just purchased a Garmin 296 and having used a 196 (and a 195, 90, 95 and 55 before that) for about a year I can say there is NO comparison. The immediate distinction between airfield types, airspace classifications is much, much easier and the display is simply brilliant, with a much higher resolution than the Skymap IIIC (it's nearest equivalent competition). The terrain awareness feature is also well worth a premium when flying in unfamiliar terrain. Whether you are willing to pay the £500 price difference is another matter.

Regards,

54.98N

[Hersham Boy]

Valid warning from 54.98N... but I didn't find it difficult getting a European basemap version (in fact, I was offered a whole load of other Euro goodies like the Auto kit as well)...

I'll post the source of my unit as soon as I find it! They were down in Florida and mailed it to a hotel where I was staying on business.

With the exchange rate as good as it is right now, I would recommend a jolly to NYC for the purposes of shopping, anyway!

Hersh

[PhilD]

Transair were selling 196s at Aerofair for £599inc. Too good to pass up, so I bought one.

[bar shaker]

...and don't forget to add 10% import duty and 17.5% VAT to any GPS from the US.

196 all the way.

Unless you join Bose X and out blink all of us with a 296 ;)

[S-Works]

I can't help it if I like my toys!!! Just waiting on my terrain update for my GNS430 at the moment.....

Entering the debate here.... If not a 296 which has to be the most awesome piece of kit I have had since the 196 then the 196 has to be the must buy piece of kit. Forget the 295, it eats batteries and the display is not very clear as it is only 16 colours. I have been through the 295 route and sold it to buy the 196. The 296 is everything the 196 is and all of the bits I wish the 196 had, like colour and USB etc.

[Hersham Boy]

Good point, bar shaker...

You definately wouldn't just walk it through Customs...