Garmin 196: Anyone else dissapointed in the actual ability to capture sats

I appreciate the attempts to cure the problem. Interestingly enough, the little cheapy is the one that had been off for weeks and
locked the first try in 30 seconds. The 196 had been on with a 3D fix a couple times for 15-30 minutes for sure.....

Any actual 196 users want to weigh in.

Mike Z

"Nathan Young" wrote in message ...
..stuff snipped

A better comparison would be to leave both GPSs on for several hours,
then switch the GPSs off, then try the lock time comparison.

-Nathan

When I put my stick antenna from my III Pilot on my 196 it locks much faster
and the signal strength of the satellites is almost double per satellite.
Time to lock is reduced to half of the original mfr provided stick.

External antenna works fine.

I intend to call Garmin before warranty runs out and return the original
antenna for a replacement.

Ron A.


"Mike Z." wrote in message
hlink.net...
I appreciate the attempts to cure the problem. Interestingly enough, the
little cheapy is the one that had been off for weeks and
locked the first try in 30 seconds. The 196 had been on with a 3D fix a
couple times for 15-30 minutes for sure.....

Any actual 196 users want to weigh in.

Mike Z

"Nathan Young" wrote in message
...
..stuff snipped

A better comparison would be to leave both GPSs on for several hours,
then switch the GPSs off, then try the lock time comparison.

-Nathan

Just a minor point... The "signal strength" bars are actually data
reliability indicators... So, a satellite that is relatively weak but the
signal is stable and you are getting a solid data stream recovery will show
a high "signal strength". A satellite that is stronger but having a lower
reliability of the data string for various reasons will show less "signal
strength"...

The only analogy I can think of at this moment is listening to someone
whispering to you from across a silent room, perfectly audible - versus a
rock concert where someone can scream at you from 2 feet away and still not
be understood...
denny

"Ron A." wrote in message
...
When I put my stick antenna from my III Pilot on my 196 it locks much
faster
and the signal strength of the satellites is almost double per satellite.

My tests were same physical location, same physical orientation of unit and
myself, and only alternately testing both stick antenna's.

The same satellites, view of sky, and obstructions were present. My test
was conducted multiple times and repeatable. I assume they are both passive
designs so current draw for amplification would not be an issue. My III
Pilot was purchased in 1998 so it wasn't new equipment by any means.

The reason I did this is because using the auto kit in my minivan, it would
take 5+ minutes to lock sometimes. I always use the external antenna when
flying. I get lock before I turn the corner on my block with the III Pilot
stick antenna.


I have also found another quirk. Only in our club's 172 (other planes are
fine) after flying for a while and only when I change the frequency to 119.4
to talk to tower, I lose all satellites until I park the plane and get fuel
after the radios cool down. I think I have solved that by not putting the
antenna over the center of the radio stack on the glareshield. Our A&P
looked at me like I was nuts. That is why I bought the 196, but it did it
with that also. It appears to be a Narco problem. I just thought the III
Pilot was getting old and unreliable when I needed it the most to line up
with the runway.

I have since sold my III Pilot.

Ron Anderson


"Dennis O'Connor" wrote in message
...
Just a minor point... The "signal strength" bars are actually data
reliability indicators... So, a satellite that is relatively weak but the
signal is stable and you are getting a solid data stream recovery will show
a high "signal strength". A satellite that is stronger but having a lower
reliability of the data string for various reasons will show less "signal
strength"...

The only analogy I can think of at this moment is listening to someone
whispering to you from across a silent room, perfectly audible - versus a
rock concert where someone can scream at you from 2 feet away and still not
be understood...
denny

"Ron A." wrote in message
...
When I put my stick antenna from my III Pilot on my 196 it locks much
faster
and the signal strength of the satellites is almost double per satellite.

On Fri, 27 Feb 2004 15:13:09 GMT, "Mike Z."
wrote:

I appreciate the attempts to cure the problem. Interestingly enough, the little cheapy is the one that had been off for weeks and
locked the first try in 30 seconds. The 196 had been on with a 3D fix a couple times for 15-30 minutes for sure.....

Any actual 196 users want to weigh in.


Almanacs are good for a few months, so the GPS II+ probably had a good
one.

FWIW, I start my G-295 shortly after engine start, and it locks
3D-WAAS in under a minute. However, this is with the remote antenna.

-Nathan

"Mike Z." wrote in message thlink.net...
I appreciate the attempts to cure the problem. Interestingly enough, the little cheapy is the one that had been off for weeks and
locked the first try in 30 seconds. The 196 had been on with a 3D fix a couple times for 15-30 minutes for sure.....

Any actual 196 users want to weigh in.

Mike Z

"Nathan Young" wrote in message ...
.stuff snipped

A better comparison would be to leave both GPSs on for several hours,
then switch the GPSs off, then try the lock time comparison.

-Nathan


I have had a 196 since the 3rd week they came out. I have had no
problems with sats or locking. I have it on the yoke of my Arrow, and
the only time I seem to loose sat signal strenth is banking such that
the ant. can't see the sats. or if the sats. are to the rear of the
plane.

I use it in my car on the dashboard without problems as well.

I bought the ProNav 100 the week it came out (had to wait until the show
ended at OSH, in order for the factory to hand it to me as it was their only
demo.)
I bought the 195 as soon as they came out...
I bought the 196 as soon as they came out...
I like both... The 196 beats the 195 hands down in lockup time, and most
everything else... 196 is on my yoke, the 195 is on the co-pilots yoke...
The ProNav (later Garmin 100) finally died, but it rode the glare shield all
those years...
denny

"Maurice Givens" wrote in message Any actual
196 users want to weigh in.