Garmin handheld GPS's
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: At home
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Garmin handheld GPS's
Gday
I'm about to purchase a handheld GPS & can't decide between the cheaper Garmin 96C or the top of the range (expensive) Garmin 296.
If anyone owns one or both of these and can list the pros & cons of each it would be much appreciated!
Cheers
O&G
I'm about to purchase a handheld GPS & can't decide between the cheaper Garmin 96C or the top of the range (expensive) Garmin 296.
If anyone owns one or both of these and can list the pros & cons of each it would be much appreciated!
Cheers
O&G
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: back in the land of OZ
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Try the Garmin 196, middle of the price range, can do most things the the 296 can do just not colour! You can pick up a used one on Ebay here in the USA cheap!
I used mine when I was flying checks, saved my a$$ many times!
It has a good size screen, good for situational awareness, not colour so lasts a long time running on batteries only. Very easy to use!
http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsmap196/
I used mine when I was flying checks, saved my a$$ many times!
It has a good size screen, good for situational awareness, not colour so lasts a long time running on batteries only. Very easy to use!
http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsmap196/
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Crookwell
Posts: 333
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Here here on the Garmin 96. Worth its weight in gold!
Getting the 96C would just be for show, since it does the same only in colour!
I remember one particular Kimberley wet season charter flight where it paid for itself right then and there 
...disco
Getting the 96C would just be for show, since it does the same only in colour!
I remember one particular Kimberley wet season charter flight where it paid for itself right then and there
...disco
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Australia
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just been through all of that. Both 196 and 296 are fantastic - choice basically depends on how badly you want colour, terrain and rechargeable batteries. (All are worth having but cost much more). Have been a confirmed Garmin person for 10 years + ....but have just bought a Lowrance 2000c (because it was much cheaper than a 296) - Does everything the Garmins do and more, has big LCD sunlight readable screen - but its not a Garmin and so has taken a lot of getting used to as the operating system is quite different(!) - The big screen eats batteries so you need the power adaptor in the aircraft and just use batteriies for back-up. (It comes with all of that, including data card writer for updates and any other maps you may care to download) remote aerial, various RAM mountings etc etc.) It really is a much better value package and (now) it makes the Garmins seem overpriced.
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Usually Oz
Posts: 732
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Pocket FMS
Get a PDA if you don't already have one [a multitude of uses], a bluetooth GPS and download PocketFMS. Streets in front and the PDA can even be a phone these days.
Having said that, I love the GPS III Pilot and can see why they discontinued it!!
G'day
Having said that, I love the GPS III Pilot and can see why they discontinued it!!
G'day
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 626
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just a thought
Get a PDA???......think about it, it runs on a MS operating system, do you want your ar$e in Uncle Bills hands.....yeah I know VFR and all but really, get a real GPS just in case you realy need it one day.
Buy the 296..... best thing we did, installed permanently in our dash! Yeah the other option of a 196 is ok, but its only money!!!
By the way the CTA steps from the Jepps boys are not all that accurately mapped.....proven.....so a few miles between friends I hear you say....YES!!
And the terrain warnings...they are only good in VFR, maybe 99% are correct but I know one significant lump of ground which is not in the database, so really its useless in Aust where the base map is more limited. Having said that, if you were caught in a low vis situation and it gave a warning, I would believe it, it does work.....but ts not and IFR tool is all I want to stress!
Cheers
J
Buy the 296..... best thing we did, installed permanently in our dash! Yeah the other option of a 196 is ok, but its only money!!!
By the way the CTA steps from the Jepps boys are not all that accurately mapped.....proven.....so a few miles between friends I hear you say....YES!!
And the terrain warnings...they are only good in VFR, maybe 99% are correct but I know one significant lump of ground which is not in the database, so really its useless in Aust where the base map is more limited. Having said that, if you were caught in a low vis situation and it gave a warning, I would believe it, it does work.....but ts not and IFR tool is all I want to stress!
Cheers
J
Just a word, Its worth carrying an old garmin Etrex or a little Fortrex 201 as a backup if you are using GPS and have the route loaded into both of them.
I still religiously mark my paper charts with routes and times, and calculate winds etc. as taught because even if you have a backup GPS and paper charts, nothing gets your attention like a GPS failure at a critical point in flight.... Trust me on this.
I still religiously mark my paper charts with routes and times, and calculate winds etc. as taught because even if you have a backup GPS and paper charts, nothing gets your attention like a GPS failure at a critical point in flight.... Trust me on this.
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: At my computer
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hey have a look at the Lowrance Airmap 600C which is just new. I have just got rid of my garmin 96 for it and it is just fantastic. More features, easier to use, colour and TERRAIN !! Is about the equiv of the garmin 96C but cheaper and better. They also have the Airmap 2000 which is equiv of the 296. Got mine from wade air www.wadeair.com.au although I don't think it is on the website yet but is about $890ish au.
http://www.lowrance.com/Aviation/Products/AM600C.asp
http://www.lowrance.com/Aviation/Products/AM600C.asp
