Garmin 695 - worth £2000?
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Garmin 695 - worth £2000?
Just seen the (I assume new) Garmin 695 on the Transair website; never purchased a GPS set before and only used one on several occasions but was vaguely thinking of getting one now that I'm doing some flying in Scotland.
Anyone have any thoughts on whether it's worth £2000?
Anyone have any thoughts on whether it's worth £2000?
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It looks like a nice bit of kit. At around £2K it's a lot of money. Based on the prices of the 296/496, I would say it will be down to about £1200 in a couple of years time
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I got to play with one at Sporty's last week, and wrote some notes on it.... These are based on how it compares to our EFBs, hence the references. All in all, its a fantastic gadget, but I'm not sure if you would be able to have the XM Weather in Europe & the UK? The 496 only came down by about $500 or $700 from the original price, and the Sporty's guy didn't think the price would change much. I think it is a fantastic GPS, if I had the money and could justify it, I would buy one.
Well, I just spent some time having an introduction to the G696. It beats the EFB's hands down in every way except one. When you have the approach plate on the screen, the aircraft position is not shown on the plate. It does show the position when you are on the ground and the airport diagram is on the screen, which the 496 also does. There is a way around the lack of aircraft position on the approach plates which I have used with the G496 and is not very complicated to do, so although this discovery was disappointing, it is not a disaster.
The screen is a good 6" x 4", approximately. Not very large, but the clarity, colours and brightness are so good that the size is absolutely not an issue. It has XM weather capability, terrain information, on screen basic 6 instrument indication (so if absolutely everything in the aeroplane fails, you have a back up), a strong 3hr battery, approach plates, VFR, en route high & low charts, AOPA airport info, including FBO information (so no need for an Acu-Kwik). I'm sure I have not listed everything, but I think thats the bulk of it. The Sporty's employee, Dug, who was showing me the GPS said that at the AOPA convention recently, everyone commented on this issue, and he thinks Garmin may bring out some sort of update, but he thinks that it would take the price up to the $5000 area. To me, if it had that capability, it would easily be worth $5000 and I said that to him. It is so much better than the EFBs.
Dug said that the FAA would require Pt 121 and Pt 135 operators to carry paper approach charts, but Pt 91 operators would not need to. We would all still need to carry paper enroute charts as the "en route chart" pages are not actual charts, but they give all the information that is shown on charts, both high and low altitude. I found them to be much clearer and less cluttered than the enroute charts on the EFB. When you put the cursor on a leg between one waypoint and the next, a pop up shows the distance, altitude and course. The 696 is not FAA approved for IFR flight! This is normal for all portable GPSs, but would not be an issue for us as it is not our primary IFR instrument.
The purchase price is $3295. Then you add on subscriptions for the charts, terrain information and XM weather, which totals about $1200 a year. You can have different subscriptions and the more information you require, the higher the subscription. For instance, the XM weather has 3 levels of subscription. $30, $50 and $100 a month. The best "bang for your buck" subscription is the $50 one. The updates are every 28 days, and it has a direct plug-in to a computer with a download from the internet, no data cards. When asking about the chance of Garmin improving the approach plate/position issue, I compared the upgrade, if they do decide to go ahead with it, to the cost of upgrading a normal 430 to a WAAS 430, which is in the region of $7000. A ridiculous price when a new 430 is $10,000. I think that the way they have set up the 696 with cable to a computer and a straight forward download may make things simpler for any upgrade. Hopefully!
It comes with RAM brackets so could be connected to the current brackets you have for the EFBs, and is less bulky overall than the EFBs, so would take up less space. It also comes with a 12 volt adapter, so would fit easily into the adapter already there.
Well, I just spent some time having an introduction to the G696. It beats the EFB's hands down in every way except one. When you have the approach plate on the screen, the aircraft position is not shown on the plate. It does show the position when you are on the ground and the airport diagram is on the screen, which the 496 also does. There is a way around the lack of aircraft position on the approach plates which I have used with the G496 and is not very complicated to do, so although this discovery was disappointing, it is not a disaster.
The screen is a good 6" x 4", approximately. Not very large, but the clarity, colours and brightness are so good that the size is absolutely not an issue. It has XM weather capability, terrain information, on screen basic 6 instrument indication (so if absolutely everything in the aeroplane fails, you have a back up), a strong 3hr battery, approach plates, VFR, en route high & low charts, AOPA airport info, including FBO information (so no need for an Acu-Kwik). I'm sure I have not listed everything, but I think thats the bulk of it. The Sporty's employee, Dug, who was showing me the GPS said that at the AOPA convention recently, everyone commented on this issue, and he thinks Garmin may bring out some sort of update, but he thinks that it would take the price up to the $5000 area. To me, if it had that capability, it would easily be worth $5000 and I said that to him. It is so much better than the EFBs.
Dug said that the FAA would require Pt 121 and Pt 135 operators to carry paper approach charts, but Pt 91 operators would not need to. We would all still need to carry paper enroute charts as the "en route chart" pages are not actual charts, but they give all the information that is shown on charts, both high and low altitude. I found them to be much clearer and less cluttered than the enroute charts on the EFB. When you put the cursor on a leg between one waypoint and the next, a pop up shows the distance, altitude and course. The 696 is not FAA approved for IFR flight! This is normal for all portable GPSs, but would not be an issue for us as it is not our primary IFR instrument.
The purchase price is $3295. Then you add on subscriptions for the charts, terrain information and XM weather, which totals about $1200 a year. You can have different subscriptions and the more information you require, the higher the subscription. For instance, the XM weather has 3 levels of subscription. $30, $50 and $100 a month. The best "bang for your buck" subscription is the $50 one. The updates are every 28 days, and it has a direct plug-in to a computer with a download from the internet, no data cards. When asking about the chance of Garmin improving the approach plate/position issue, I compared the upgrade, if they do decide to go ahead with it, to the cost of upgrading a normal 430 to a WAAS 430, which is in the region of $7000. A ridiculous price when a new 430 is $10,000. I think that the way they have set up the 696 with cable to a computer and a straight forward download may make things simpler for any upgrade. Hopefully!
It comes with RAM brackets so could be connected to the current brackets you have for the EFBs, and is less bulky overall than the EFBs, so would take up less space. It also comes with a 12 volt adapter, so would fit easily into the adapter already there.
Last edited by fernytickles; 26th Nov 2008 at 02:23.
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There are reviews in the last Loop and Flyer mags.
It seems very good - the best dedicated handheld GPS by a large margin.
The price is very high though............... if it was say £1500 then nobody would buy the Avmap EKP IV which is of a similar size.
Depends on the usage. Myself, if flying 99% UK-only and VFR, would do a lot better with a used LS800 tablet (with the View Anywhere LCD) from Ebay and Memory Map software. You then get the real 'printed' VFR charts which even the 696 doesn't have.
It seems very good - the best dedicated handheld GPS by a large margin.
The price is very high though............... if it was say £1500 then nobody would buy the Avmap EKP IV which is of a similar size.
Depends on the usage. Myself, if flying 99% UK-only and VFR, would do a lot better with a used LS800 tablet (with the View Anywhere LCD) from Ebay and Memory Map software. You then get the real 'printed' VFR charts which even the 696 doesn't have.
I thought from the reviews that it would be a nice bit of kit, but was sceptical about value for money.
Then there was one to play with at the Royal Institute of Navigation day at Cranfield last Saturday. Mind blowing is probably too strong a description, but way ahead of any of the alternative products.
The pilot standing next to me played with it, and commented that it effectively emulated the right hand side of his G1000, except the display was even better, albeit smaller. Now I'm working out who is able to afford one as the essential Christmas present.
Don't have a play with one if you know you can't afford it (like the rest of aviation, I guess).
Then there was one to play with at the Royal Institute of Navigation day at Cranfield last Saturday. Mind blowing is probably too strong a description, but way ahead of any of the alternative products.
The pilot standing next to me played with it, and commented that it effectively emulated the right hand side of his G1000, except the display was even better, albeit smaller. Now I'm working out who is able to afford one as the essential Christmas present.
Don't have a play with one if you know you can't afford it (like the rest of aviation, I guess).
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Not as functional in Europe
but I'm not sure if you would be able to have the XM Weather in Europe & the UK?
Pilot comment: "it effectively emulated the right hand side of his G1000"
You also have to be sure not to yoke mount the GPS as it is very difficult to keep level if your horizon reference is rotating with the bank inputs to the yoke (at least I found it very hard work !)By the way (just to sidetrack) - don't try to use the Garmin 196 or 296 on the panel page because the the turn indicator only updates once per second from the satellite which is NBG for maintaining level with even the slightest turbulence. The 695, 495/6 update the signal 5 times per second which is good enough to keep you out of trouble in an emergency (unless, as mentioned, it is v .rough).
The other spec items on the 695 that we don't get in the UK are airfield plates and approach charts. Perhaps Jeppesen will release these some time but there's no indication they will be along any time soon.
But we do get an 'obstacle' and VRP database which is very handy.
I want one
Drambuster
Just waiting for the back order(s) to clear, should be later next week
Pilot comment: "it effectively emulated the right hand side of his G1000"
. . . . . except in one critical way - the GPS derived attitude indicator on the 695 is only the equivalent of a turn co-ordinator and not a full artificial horizon with pitch ! It is useable in cloud, however, but I wouldn't be keen to try it in turbulent conditions though 
You also have to be sure not to yoke mount the GPS as it is very difficult to keep level if your horizon reference is rotating with the bank inputs to the yoke (at least I found it very hard work !)
You also have to be sure not to yoke mount the GPS as it is very difficult to keep level if your horizon reference is rotating with the bank inputs to the yoke (at least I found it very hard work !)
I would agree about not yoke mounting a 695, but because of its mass - a bit more than a Pilot III.
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My new best GPS ...
Echo comments by others - it's a good (great?) advance on the 495/496. Easy to operate (a bit like a cross between a 495 and GNS 430). Excellent screen size (about 2.5 times the 496) - as others say - stunning! As the Pacific base map is detail challenged, I'm planning adding the OzTopo maps (which I did for the 496). Light enough for knee placement but probably will be permanently mounted in the R44. Combined with the Zaon PCAS XRX it will probably replace the 495/496 as a (more readable) backup for the 430. I've tried the AvMap EKP-IV. I found it clunky, large and heavy compared to the 695. Added to that, the maps available in Oz were woeful (apparently not the case in the US).
It is worth it? I think so - a valued judgement, I must admit. Seems like it will work for me (PPLH VFR/NVFR - flying to lots of places I've never been before that frequently don't have airports but do have GPS coords).
It is worth it? I think so - a valued judgement, I must admit. Seems like it will work for me (PPLH VFR/NVFR - flying to lots of places I've never been before that frequently don't have airports but do have GPS coords).
