Garmin 596 Ideas

"Paul Tomblin" wrote in message
...
In a previous article, john smith said:
Here are a few suggestions for the future Garmin GPS-596...
- flat panel package, one-inch thick (max, including battery)
- replaceable Li-ion battery pack; optional AA battery pack
- a five-inch diagonal screen (as on the 530)
- landscape or portrait viewing select
- XM weather and radio
- higher resolution
- faster processor
- ability to download text (NOTAM's, weather)

- geo-referenced approach plates


Now this is getting exciting!
Jim

Paul Tomblin wrote:

- geo-referenced approach plates

I think the "electronic ink" technology I saw at Oshkosh will be the
solution for that problem. Much better than an active display, and
likely the be driven down in price by consumer volumes. I'm not sure
the tech is quite there yet, but it's not far off...

http://www.eflybook.com/

In article ,
(Paul Tomblin) wrote:

- geo-referenced approach plates

I don't understand this one.
Paul, please explain.

It means that with GPS input, the little airplane flys over the approach
plate that is displayed on the unit and it's actually in the correct
location. My FlightPrep/ChartCase program will do it on a notebook/laptop,
but it's windoze/hard drive based instead of solid state. Pretty cool and
dead on accurate when it works.
Jim

"john smith" wrote in message
...
In article ,
(Paul Tomblin) wrote:

- geo-referenced approach plates

I don't understand this one.
Paul, please explain.

The reality is that--while not perfect--the 396/496 are pretty darn good
already. Screen size would seem to be the most obvious improvement.

I've flown around 5 hours with the unit since OSH, and am extremely
happy with it. Every feature you could want (and a few I hadn't
considered) are there -- except for the screen size and the
landscape-only display.

Today I used it in "automotive" mode for the first time, and found it
to be absolutely the coolest thing I've seen. I selected my airport
(while sitting in the driveway at my home), and it gave me turn-by-turn
VERBAL instructions, complete with warnings 0.1 miles ahead of each
turn, right to the terminal building. Very slick and easy.

I now know why they use the dinky little screen on the 496 -- anything
bigger won't fit on the dashboard of most cars. Garmin is trying to
make the unit do double (or, with marine, triple) duty, to the
detriment of the aviation mode.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

In article .com,
"Mike Granby" wrote:

Paul Tomblin wrote:

- geo-referenced approach plates

I think the "electronic ink" technology I saw at Oshkosh will be the
solution for that problem. Much better than an active display, and
likely the be driven down in price by consumer volumes. I'm not sure
the tech is quite there yet, but it's not far off...


I don't know, it's really, really nice to have geo-reference plates with
your aircraft position plotted as you fly the approach. I had this
capability with PocketPlates (an AWM product), unfortunately, the
product wasn't stable enough to be usable... but the concept was
impressive.



JKG

In article . com,
"Jay Honeck" wrote:
I now know why they use the dinky little screen on the 496 -- anything
bigger won't fit on the dashboard of most cars. Garmin is trying to
make the unit do double (or, with marine, triple) duty, to the
detriment of the aviation mode.

I thought about that regarding the size. It is nice to be able to use
the unit in the car, where I appreciate the weather information just the
same. I get more use out of my investment (in both the GPS and XM) by
using it in the car in addition to the airplane.

I would think that the screen could still grow vertically and be usable
on all but the smallest of car dash boards. I don't know, I guess we'll
have to see how the product evolves. Even with the smaller screen,
there are plenty of ways that Garmin could enhanced the product.



JKG

Paul Tomblin wrote:
In a previous article, john smith said:
Here are a few suggestions for the future Garmin GPS-596...
- flat panel package, one-inch thick (max, including battery)
- replaceable Li-ion battery pack; optional AA battery pack
- a five-inch diagonal screen (as on the 530)
- landscape or portrait viewing select
- XM weather and radio
- higher resolution
- faster processor
- ability to download text (NOTAM's, weather)

- geo-referenced approach plates

--

The Garmin 430/530 already displays your position with respect to the
approach course, so I am not sure if georeferencing an actual approach
chart would be worth the extra trouble. What would be useful is to show
the stepdown altitude for each segment. Obviously this information is
available in the database, but I don't know why they chose not to
display it.

"Jay Honeck" wrote

I now know why they use the dinky little screen on the 496 -- anything
bigger won't fit on the dashboard of most cars. Garmin is trying to
make the unit do double (or, with marine, triple) duty, to the
detriment of the aviation mode.

I wonder if Garmin will come out with a new software, or if someone will
make a hack - to make it work in portrait mode, for aviation.
--
Jim in NC

In article ,
"Jim Burns" wrote:

It means that with GPS input, the little airplane flys over the approach
plate that is displayed on the unit and it's actually in the correct
location. My FlightPrep/ChartCase program will do it on a notebook/laptop,
but it's windoze/hard drive based instead of solid state. Pretty cool and
dead on accurate when it works.

Now I understand. I have flown approaches with an MX-20, but having the
approach plate overlayed would be a definite advantage.