New Garmin 396

His destination and all options only have GPS instrument approaches, or all
his other IFR instruments crapped out.

If all the other IFR instruments crapped out, something is seriously
wrong that needs fixing. Go to the VFR alternate. If, once VFR, the
weather at the destination allows VFR flying, then fly VFR to the
destination (assuming it is unlikely that the rest of the airplane will
fall apart, leaving the pilot clutching the 396 and an empty yoke, like
in the cartoons.

What he is thinking of doing, is not telling anyone that his other stuff
crapped out, and go ahead shooting a GPS approach to high minimums, and if
the weather does not let him decide early to go visual, go missed.

Yes, I figured. That would be an emergency procedure. This isn't an
emergency yet. Don't make it one.

Yes, it's likely that the 396 will do fine. But it may be "less than
fine" in a surprising way, since it hasn't been tested in ways the FAA
considers sufficient. I have issues with the FAA sometimes, but they
also have their good points.

Jose
--
Nothing takes longer than a shortcut.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

"Dan Luke" wrote in message

Is that so? A WxWorx person on the phone led me to believe it is
something to do with the XM system.

I have certainly heard and read that if you do not use an XM receiver for 90
days then it needs to be re-activated. There is no doubt that is an "XM"
issue.

I have not heard of any such deactivation issue for a unit used more often
than every 90 days; if that is the case, that is certainly not common to XM
receivers overall.

The Bluetooth situation you describe is indeed an excellent example of why a
solution like the 396 is more appealing than a PDA solution. The less
potential in-flight issues to diagnose the better. I love tinkering with
computers but not while I am flying.


--------------------
Richard Kaplan

www.flyimc.com

"Jose" wrote in message . ..
I have issues with the FAA sometimes, but they
also have their good points.

Yeah sarcasmRIGHT/sarcasm... Tell that to all the trees that they've
directly or indirectly killed in their mountains of paperwork over the
years...

In article 1121262944.2f06222670a0bc3f220fd5b432f1d014@teran ews,
"Richard Kaplan" wrote:
I have not heard of any such deactivation issue for a unit used more often
than every 90 days; if that is the case, that is certainly not common to XM
receivers overall.

Richard,

It is common to the XM receivers used by WxWorx, and it is fairly well
known. It doesn't matter whether you're using those receivers with a PC
or PDA, or whose software you're running. I am not sure whether they've
found a resolution in the newer receivers, but as I stated, I haven't
had a problem with this issue.


JKG

In article ,
"Dan Luke" wrote:
Everything seemed to be working fine at last, but I failed to make a
critical test before I put it all in the airplane: I did not do a cold
start of the whole system. Upon starting everything up in the airplane,
I found that WxWorx could not communicate with the GPS. Nothing I tried
worked until I deleted the GPS from Bluetooth devices in the Windows
Control Panel and added it back again. Then, everything worked fine
until I cold started again, whereupon WxWorx again could not find the
GPS.


I haven't had any of these issues on the PDA, so it makes me wonder if
the Bluetooth issues are related to WindowsXP. I know that I can't get
my WindowsXP laptop to maintain a steady WiFi connection no matter what
I do... it's good for a random period of time, and then it drops and
resets. Have no such problem with WiFi on the iPaq or with my
Apple-branded laptop.



JKG

In this thread you mention syncing the 430 to the 396. I can not find
any documentation or installer who is aware this can be done. Can you
point me in the right direction for some info?

Thanks,

Mike Burrill


Richard Kaplan wrote:
"Jonathan Goodish" wrote

For a portable weather system--no question about it. However, if you're
an aircraft owner and never move the weather system, it's a moot point.

Less significant, yes. Moot, no. It is still a piece of equipment which
needs either a quasi-permanent power connection to ship's power or else
regular recharging or replacing of batteries.

None of this is relevant for renter pilots. If I'm considering a 396
primarily for weather, why wouldn't I use a small TabletPC, which has a
superior display and orientation compared with the 396, and WxWorx on
Wings software, which provides a superior weather display? Throw a
small Bluetooth GPS on the glare shield and you can see where you are in

It is relevant to renter pilots in particular because it is by far the
easiest way to put both GPS navigation and weather in a rental airplane.
Sure you can set up an XM receiver, Bluetooth GPS, and PDA whenever you rent
a plane, but that is a lot more work then plugging in a 396

relation to the weather. Entering a flight plan into a Tablet or PDA
isn't a big deal

Yes it is if you are talking about an IFR situation when you need to enter
flight plan or navaid info into panel-mount IFR equipment and then duplicate
it in a portable GPS and then reprogram both when you receive changes in
routings or approach clearances enroute. For VFR flight this is not a huge
issue; for IFR flight the convenience from the crossfed data is HUGE.

and I probably wouldn't hesitate to use the Tablet or
PDA for primary enroute navigation if I had a panel mount that wasn't
doing anything other than navigation anyway.

That is fine for VFR but not IFR.


sure how that would be much different for VNAV guidance than using a
Garmin portable--unless you're referring to specific software features
in the Garmin.

Yes, I am referring to the "Vertical Speed to Target" feature of the Garmin
portables (and some Lowrance units as well). This is a highly desirable
feature for executing a deadstick landing when VFR or especially IFR or at
night.


I'm not saying there aren't advantages to the Garmin portables, but if I
had an IFR panel mount, I'm not sure that I'd run out and drop $2500 on
a Garmin portable just so that it can sync my flight plan.

If you had a Garmin 430 or 530 in your panel, it would be downright silly
not to add a Garmin portable GPS given the advantages it offers.. it could
be any portable model since the 195. Once it is a given that you add a
Garmin portable, then it does not make much sense to have a Garmin portable
GPS for backup nav and a separate portable weather system. The realistic
options at that point are either a Garmin 396 or else an older Garmin
portable GPS plus panel-mount weather.


renter pilot, the 396 would be an ideal system due to its easy
portability. If I was an owner serious about certified weather uplink
and features not available on the 430/530, I think I'd investigate
selling the 430/530 and buying another certified system that can better
serve my needs.

There is no such thing as certified weather uplink -- it is easier panel or
portable.

Weather on the 430/530 themselves are marginal.

The apparent best IFR panel weather datalink options at this point are
either a Garmin 430/530 coupled to panel-mount EX500 multi-function display
for weather (an expensive option) or else a Garmin 430 coupled to a 396
portable for weather and terrain.

no obstacles, terrain, or weather capability, so it has been relegated
to storage.

That is one of the key points... the terrain feature of the 296 is
stupendous and ought to be considered the Product of the Year -- in many
ways its terrain implementation is superior to that on much more expensive
panel solutions such as an MX20 or an EX500.

--------------------
Richard Kaplan

www.flyimc.com

Morgans wrote:
What he is thinking of doing, is not telling anyone that his other stuff
crapped out, and go ahead shooting a GPS approach to high minimums, and if
the weather does not let him decide early to go visual, go missed.

The handheld doesn't have RAIM.
Shooting the GPS approach with the handheld is an invitation to disaster.

The Garmin 430/530 installation manual documents a connection from the
430/530 serial output to the 195/295/296/396/196 serial input. Set the
430/530 to "Aviation Out" and the handheld to "Aviation In" and use the
combined data/power cable available from Garmin. It should take less than 2
hours of avionics tech time and under $100 of parts.

--------------------
Richard Kaplan

www.flyimc.com

The finished install with the permanent data/power cable looks like this:


www.flyimc.com/newpanel.html


--------------------
Richard Kaplan

www.flyimc.com

"Jose" wrote

Yes, I figured. That would be an emergency procedure. This isn't an
emergency yet. Don't make it one.

Yes, it's likely that the 396 will do fine. But it may be "less than
fine" in a surprising way, since it hasn't been tested in ways the FAA
considers sufficient. I have issues with the FAA sometimes, but they
also have their good points.

In my hypothetical situation, since his destination was 1000 and 1 mile, I
was fishing for who would (at those rather high minimums) go take a look,
and if not visual by that time, then go elsewhere.

No take-rs, I see.
--
Jim in NC