does it have to be positioned vertically or can you turn it so that its sideways and keep the map orientation correct?

No it only works in portrait (vertical) mode.

At first I though this might be a limitation but the screen is large enough to cope with various scales of mapping and it doesn't impede the situational over view at all.

Joel

G-Force Mount
 

Good mount for all Garmins. They have a new one for the 696/695.

G-Force Mount

I'm having my 695 fitted and as promised here are a few pictures of it (mid-installation). Once it's finished I'll put the final pictures on line.

http://i551.photobucket.com/albums/i...tposition1.jpg

http://i551.photobucket.com/albums/i...tposition2.jpg

http://i551.photobucket.com/albums/i...tposition1.jpg

http://i551.photobucket.com/albums/i...tposition2.jpg

Final Install
 

Here's the final photos

http://i551.photobucket.com/albums/i...5/DSCF0211.jpg

http://i551.photobucket.com/albums/i...5/DSCF0213.jpg

http://i551.photobucket.com/albums/i...5/DSCF0214.jpg

http://i551.photobucket.com/albums/i.../DSCF0214a.jpg

Does anyone who has upgraded to a 696 have a 496 for sale? I'm considering buying one this week so please get in touch.

errrrr sorry, but I did, but I've just shipped it to the new owner.
sold it on e-bay!!

Joel

Guess i'm a few days too late then JT. Out of interest how much did it go for? Would you say the 496 is easy to use if it's used as a mobile unit and not attached to a yoke mount etc? Is the extra expense justified over the 296?

496 for sale
 

Saw your question on the 496. I just bought a 696 and so will be selling my 496. If my friend decides not to buy it, it will again be on the market. I'm asking $1800 plus shipping. The 496 is a BIG upgrade from the 296, weather, XM radio, airport diagrams, roadmap and way faster refresh and processor (it will show heading changes as you walk with it.) Handy size too!

Hi Fling,
With the pound taking a severe beating against the $ i'm better off buying a 496 unit from the UK. Thanks for you swift response in any event.

Has anyone successfully mounted a 696 into an R44 in the UK?

my understanding is that the CAA rules preclude any kind of permanent fixing (no holes can be drilled) and power must be from the existing supply at the rear two seats. Maintenance organisation has said all evidence of its installation must be completely removed before they will sign off any service on the R44 (helpful).

I'm interested in supplementing an existing 420 unit in the main console with something I can remove to program outside the machine (can take an age to load a plan into a 420).

Love to have something with moving CAA 250 or 500mil maps, but with Flymap L now a non-starter, that seems unlikely.

Lafite.

Zigsta,

The 496 is a big improvement over the 296 - I used to have one of those too. The screen refreshes much faster, VRP's are shown clearly too. It's a great unit.
It's perfectly capable of being used without being mounted, but I would still suggest that you did.

You could purchase the suction mounts that will allow it to be removed easily if you didn't want a permanent fix.

It sold for £450 - but I think I let it go too cheaply!!

61 Lafite - I'm not a maintenance engineer and I definateley don't know the rules, but there must be a way to mount the 696 in the R44. I think your maintenance organisation are interpreting the rules too strictly.Try talking to an Avionics company, they may be able to sign it off. The 696 is a portable device and there should be absoluteley no reason that you can't have it installed.

Failing that, I have recently seen, a suction mount specifically designed for the Garmin 695 and the Avidyne. That would probably do the trick.

Hi JT,
Could you suggest a suitable suction mount for the 496? I've been looking online and couldn't find anything suitable. Thanks (and yes you sold the 496 real cheap :-p )

Zigsta

I know - too cheap.
But never mind.
Have you had a look at the RAM mounts - RAM Mounting Systems UK

If you can't see the one you want, let me know and I'll take a look through their catalogue and let you know which one I bought.

Joel

Thanks JT will do :ok:

Zigista

It was suggested by airotay near the top of page 3 that G Force Mount was of benefit, just incase you missed it.

MD :ok:

MD Explorer

Thanks for finding the link for the G- Force Mount. I've been looking for it all evening!!!!!!!!!!:ok:

JT is the G force mount more robust than the ram mounting you suggested? Will the G mount connect with the 496 cradle supplied by Garmin?

Zigsta,

It definateley looks as though it will be, but I haven't seen one in the flesh, however with three suction cups it must be. Also, I do not know what fitting is supplied with the G-Force mount although I suspect that what ever it comes with you will be able to purchase an apropriate coupling for the 496.

The single suction cup RAM mount for the 496 is reasonably robust, but I did find that on ocassion it would fall free, which is not ideal. If I recall correctly, RAM also do a double suction cup version and it may be more apropriate to purchase this one.

What machine are you planning on installing it into?

JT,
I do mostly self fly hire (on 22's 44's) so hence i purchased the 496. Used it today and was very impressed with it's performance and functionality, the 696 comparitively must be incredible.

I'll look to get the 2 or 3 suction G mount although i couldnt find this model from the website.