Garmin GpsMap 396 - First Impressions (long)

I stopped whining about the cost of things aviation a while ago. $5.00+
per gallon gas and Piper parts prices don't phase me anymore. I have
thought about this unit for a while now and compared it's value/function
to what other upgrades I could buy instead for the same money. So, I
find myself a bit uncomfortable that I do not truly appear to be "over
it" when it comes to aviation pricing.

Wincing in pain as I handed over the debit card, the JA Air Center rep
slid over the large box containing the latest aviation widget. Roughly
$2350 with tax plus another $100+ for the "Lite" subscription and
activation completed the financial aspects of the deal. After calling
the XM people with the numbers for the activation, a 10 minute wait
followed and then the GPS began to light up with subscription info.
Another 5 minutes or so and the pretty green and yellow patches started
to march across the screen.

The (very) good:
Yesterday was a typical Midwestern summer weather profile. 30% chance of
rain with isolated Tstorms. This is EXACTLY why I bought this unit.
Ordinarily, we would not venture off (especially with Pax) on a VFR
joyride with big puffy white building cumulus everywhere. Even if they
don't eventually bust open, the dark gray bottoms looming over our heads
are not confidence building. And, as FBOs continue to cut back or close,
weather info on the ground is becoming more scarce. So, when the little
dude began to paint green/yellow stripes and blobs marching out of the
Nowthwest, my buyer's remorse subsided quite a bit. I CAN ACTUALLY SEE
THE RAIN!!!! Oh yeah, that's what it is supposed to do.

When you think about it, I just bought RADAR for under $2500! Yes, it is
not airborne, tactical, real-time, weather penetration radar. But, it is
a pretty good WEATHER AVOIDANCE radar. Ground based, high power, 5
minute delay, with no attenuation like the on-board units. When you
think of it that way, the price may be easier to digest.

One thing I was worried about was the screen. I bought the Lowrance
GPSMAP 1000 because I wanted lots of screen real estate. All the
highways, rivers, lakes, terrain and other junk makes these things
impossible to see. We "vintage" folks have the added challenge that
everything on the planet is made for 20 years old eyes. The Garmin
screen is about 30-40% smaller than the Airmap. But, the Lowrance turned
out to be difficult to see and read, especially with Ray Bans on. The
Garmin's color screen is WAY easier to read. Color, a higher resolution,
and a KILLER backlight really helps. Oh yeah, Garmin also actually lets
you change the size of the various text on the screen. A real value
feature for the money.

It appears you can configure this thing 6 ways to Sunday. I really liked
the Lowrance map with the data strip on the left side. No Garmin
equivalent exists. However, the screen is so much easier to read that
the data being placed on the map looks like it will do.

The bad:
At JA, the display model was not set up with a subscription to see
"actual" weather. They had the thing in simulator mode. At these prices,
either Garmin or JA should have popped for the FULL package. I always
think "If you believe this thing/service is worth what you are charging,
why don't YOU buy it?".

Upon opening the box, I find a multitude of stuff. I had already
prepared myself that I was NOT going to like the yoke mount. I hated
every other mounting system (except my old Quik-Clamp) I have seen or
used. Yes, I especially dislike the RAM system. To my surprise, the
mount can be adjusted to put the thing RIGHT where I want it in the
Cherokee. However, my elation was short lived. With the external power
plugged in, it is a REAL bear to mount or dismount the unit. The power
plug was clearly misplaced right up against the mount. If you mount it
first and then plug it in, you have to do a bit of gymnastics to get all
3 plugs in there. The plug for the XM is the tiny USB and it is also
hard to locate once mounted.

One thing you will likely need to do with the mount. As shipped, the
mount puts the unit nearly up against the right Ram's horn on a Piper.
You need to disassemble the mount and reverse it. That centers the unit
nicely. Another modification, unscrew the ridiculous rubber plug cover
and put it right back in the box, forever. If you don't, you will
CONSTANTLY wrestle trying to plug everything in while getting past it.
You will see exactly what I mean when you look at the unit.

About the connectors. There are now 3 of them (power, external GPS
antenna, and XM radio/antenna). Unless you have a hangar and want to
leave the unit in the plane, that means you have to plug and unplug 6
times for a typical journey away from the tiedown. Unplug the beast at
the restaurant or overnight destination and you double it. Remember my
earlier comment about how difficult it it to do the plug/unplug
operation AND the mount/dismount because of the misplaced power
connector. This thing clearly needs a single multipin plug accessory
harness. While we are at it, the power plug is VERY tight. I swear I am
bunging the thing up putting it in an taking it out. I hope this gets
easier with time.

Another nit is the power cable. IT IS NOT LONG ENOUGH!!! $2300 for a GPS
and I have to go to Rat Shack for a 12v extension. HELLLLOOOOOO!!?? Even
Lowrance (the "value" leader) figured out how much distance there is
across the Piper panel.

Nitting away, Where is the COVER???? I expect a cover to snap on to keep
the sun off the screen when parked and to protect the screen while in
the flight bag. Again, even Lowrance figured this one out. $.18 worth of
plastic is surely in the retail price somewhere. Yes, they do include a
small bag, but I find those things to be useless. Lets's trade the bag
for a snap-on cover.

Final nit, it has a PROPRIETARY RECHARGEABLE BATTERY! It needs the
special charger to juice up. Opinions vary, but I prefer standard double
A's. I don't want to get fleeced for $200+ in a year or so when the
rechargeable craps out. Yes, I know it stays charged while on external
power, but I still don't like it. On the plus side, the battery will
last 6+ hours with a fairly high backlight on. Something like 16 hours
with the backlight off, but the unit is almost impossible to see with
the light off.

O.K. I promised that the last comment was the final nit. I lied. It
appears I now have to spend ANOTHER $300 FOR THE AUTO KIT!!!!!! For the
price, I should have received the car kit AND a year's subscription to
the full bore "Aviator" weather package. Competitors, Garmin, anyone
listening?

I must admit, if the price were around $1400 (where it belongs), these
shortfalls would be a LOT easier to take. It just grinds salt into a
pretty deep wound that the unit is not closer to perfection right out of
the box. But, as I said, it is RADAR! (At this point, I will tell myself
any lie to justify the cost).

So, today, I may take to the skies to see the thing in action. I'll
report back.

Mike