Garmin 695

[letpmar]

Does anyone have any real worl experiance of the Garmin 695 we want to replace our 495 with one and would like to know if its any better in direct sunlight first

Thanks

Pete

[Mark 1]

I've had one for the last 6 months and used it under a bubble canopy (RV-4), both on a RAM mount and on the kneepad mount.

It is probably the brightest display you are going to find under any similar unit and has never caused me any issues over viewing under direct sunlight.

Here's a picture taken in cockpit under a bright sky:
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t50/alberym/Oshkosh%202010/P1000155.jpg

[The Grim EPR]

Fantastic piece of kit. I had a 496 but upgraded to the 695 a year or so ago.

Great display, very bright. The extra space gives you better mapping.

I can't fault it. Very expensive, but for me, very worth it.

[flybymike]

B*gger the 695. I want a 180kt RV...

[IO540]

From what I have seen of it, it is a great unit - except for a battery life considerably shorter than the fuel endurance of just about any spamcan, so you are back to cigar lighter leads etc. However there is no GPS of that size (e.g. the new Avmap) whose battery life is any better.

[007helicopter]

First of all I can not directly compare to the 495 as I have not used one but have not had any problems with sunlight and the 695.

I like the size and functionality and even though I bought one and have no regrets I actually think it is over priced and I believe that the 495 has all the functions but just a smaller screen?

If I was in the US and could get the Nexrad weather then it would be truly awesome but this would also work on the 495, as it stands the only advantage between the 495 I know is screen size.

Battery life I think from experience 3 hours + and I generally leave plugged in so if the electrics failed (and I would be totally stuffed without a GPS) then there would be plenty of battery life to get somewhere.

[IO540]

IMHO you get a vastly better situational awareness from a big GPS screen.

I have a Garmin 496 mounted in the yoke (for nav backup and TAWS purposes) and would hate to have to fly with it as my only GPS. It is OK as a "DCT box" for flying a straight line to a specific waypoint, but the map is crap and - partly because you only ever see a small piece of it - difficult to use to see where you are in relation to the printed map. It has a very good battery life though.

[glider12000]

You can also get Jeppesen plates displayed on the 695 if you have a JeppView subscription too..

[IO540]

That is known as Chartview but I have never come across anybody who has got it working. The 695 needs a £300 "upgrade" firstly and then you pay for the charts which are a similar price (££££££££££££) to Jeppview charts in any other format.

[007helicopter]

You can also get Jeppesen plates displayed on the 695

As 10540 says a lot of agg which seems a rip off when allready having paid the Jepp subsciption, but they work more than adequately on the IPAD andit is free to add the app and works very well for plates.