New Garmin 696 released for the Dr.
 

Now keep it in your pants Dr. as exciting as it may be!

Garmin's Big News: Big Screen 696 Debuts at Expo

Nice piece of kit!

It's use as an EFB is unfortunately limited to their USA database, otherwise I'd place my order today.

Looking at the Garmin website, that doesn't appear to be the case!

Dr :8

:EHey I've got several better than that Garmin newby. I've got a 'moving' map that's mesures around 900X600. You see I take one std WAC & shake it up & down, now you have a 'moving map':E
Damn that Garmin is a smart looking piece of techno stuff. Dr:8 no doubt you shall be writing to CASA to have one or two of those installed in the Bo & therefore seeking a MTOW increase:}
Where will it all end?



CW

Hopefully the release of these new gadgets tested by us guinea-pigs is all part of the plan to release these eventually as TSO'ed units over time and thus enhance our safety with 3D terrain and the like.

Asus Eepc - $600.00, Haicom USB GPS - $95, Oziexplorer $140.00. Voila.

US$3200?

For that price, I assume they throw in Helga the Swedish backpacker!

Dr :8

gca.aero has it for $2700..

For Aus get the 695, no need (or use) for the xm wx. Much cheaper.

I wonder if the 696 can be updated for Aust database, or conversely the 695 can have XM Wx added at a later date (on the off chance that you go flying in the US, or even more unlikely if XM wx is introduced in Aust).... looks like you can buy the antenna as an add-on, but I wonder if there is more to it in the hardware/software....

I tried the Avmap - didn't like it at all - gave it to a pilot friend in the US where presumably the unit is better supported in terms of maps, etc.

Have had a 695 for about a week. Excellent upgrade from the 495/496. Great screen size. Easy to use.

Wrt upgrading, this is what I did with the 496. I purchased the Euro unit sans XM antenna (as noted you can buy that later, although probably the US unit (696) is the better one to buy as it will be setup for the US in terms of AOPA, SafeTaxi etc. data). Added a memory card and the Jeppesen Pacific Aviation and Terrain database. Add the OzTopo Road and 20m Contour maps. Voila! A 496/696 that works in Oz. I did this for the 496 only for them to come out with the 495. Drat! The OzTop maps have much greater detail (aka coastline, rivers) that the normal Garmin Pacific basemap (although not meant for aviation).

Been doing a bit on holiday reading on the 696/695.

As far as I can determine Garmin FliteCharts are not available for Australia (Can anyone confirm or deny this?) and the chart pages are not geo-referenced.

That kinda leaves you with a big screen 496/495, and its a signicant premium to pay for that. Maybe if you don't have a 296/396/496/5 it might be worth a look, but if you have one of the above I can't see any attraction in an upgrade.

I see they claim it qualifies as an EFB, but it would be a brave person who relied on this level of technology as their sole source of charts. I have the technology - and all the charts in a bag behind my seat.

Dr :8

the 696 mentions it is not able to be used in conjunction with street maps (which is fine) but does this mean you will not be able to add/change map as per seamoss on the 496? (and by change map i mean either pac database + terrain - and/or Oztop maps)


Anyone know if these gizmos 696/5 have things like fix pages with the ability to select reference airport/waypoint and add range rings to them?

The 696 looks amazing. I'm heading up north in the next couple of months, and I'm looking to buy a portable GPS, as they seem to be recommended equipment from what I've heard. Does anyone have any information they could share about what models I should be looking at (obviously not the 696, I wish!), how much I should be looking at spending, or any good places to buy them?

Garmin 196 (mono), 296 (colour) or 495 (also colour - but faster than the 296) is the way to go - if you can raise the $$. The 296 is still the best value for money IMHO.

Dr :8

Not sure if the Mods will allow this, but I have a 196 that I am looking to off load so if anyone wants one PM me

hogespa28, PM sent!