Garmin 196 or 296?

I'm following this with great interest as I have the pair, 195 / 196,
Garmins that reside on the yokes in Fat Albert...
Both databases need their annual refresh... It will cost $70 for the
196 to get the terrain and latest flight data, and $35 for the 195, for
$135 total...

Both the 195/196 screens do poorly in certain lighting situations -
which is annoying but not the end of the world...
The 296 looks good and is offered for $1495..

I can get probably $200 by selling the 195... So, $1495 - $200 + $70
(upgrade 196) = $1365

Or, I can get what? $500 for the 196, so $1495 - $500 + $35 (195
upgrade) = $1030


denny

Tried my 296 yesterday on a 3-leg, 1.5-hr flight around the area. We
were at 3500 feet MSL. It would draw the route, but shortly thereafter,
it would lose satellite reception. Did this 5 times. Finally gave up.
The airplane GPS worked fine the whole way.

Anyone else experience that with their 296? Antenna was up, simulation
mode was off, etc. I'm just learning how to use it and have no prior GPS
experience. Is this common?

??

You have to use the suction cup antenna and mount it high on the front
window.

K

"Shirley D." wrote in message
...
Tried my 296 yesterday on a 3-leg, 1.5-hr flight around the area. We
were at 3500 feet MSL. It would draw the route, but shortly thereafter,
it would lose satellite reception. Did this 5 times. Finally gave up.
The airplane GPS worked fine the whole way.

Anyone else experience that with their 296? Antenna was up, simulation
mode was off, etc. I'm just learning how to use it and have no prior GPS
experience. Is this common?

??

I always use the suction cup antenna, but I don't bother sticking it on - I
just slide it all the way down the dash until it hits the screen. I usually
have around 9 sats in view - and my understanding is that NZ isn't quite as
well covered as some areas.

I've never had a reception issue with either the 295 or 296 this way





"kage" wrote in message
...
You have to use the suction cup antenna and mount it high on the front
window.

K

"Shirley D." wrote in message
...
Tried my 296 yesterday on a 3-leg, 1.5-hr flight around the area. We
were at 3500 feet MSL. It would draw the route, but shortly thereafter,
it would lose satellite reception. Did this 5 times. Finally gave up.
The airplane GPS worked fine the whole way.

Anyone else experience that with their 296? Antenna was up, simulation
mode was off, etc. I'm just learning how to use it and have no prior GPS
experience. Is this common?

??

Ok, speaking of suction cup antennas for the 296...

Am I the only one who can't figure out how to "unsuck" the suction cups
from the windshield?? Everytime I try to take the thing down, I end up
yanking the two small suction cups right off the bracket and scraping
my thumb nail cuticle trying to pop the larger suction cup!! I'm better
off with duct tape!



kage wrote:
You have to use the suction cup antenna and mount it high on the
front
window.

Funny you bring this up, until a couple of weeks I never had to use my
external antenna. I have started to lose satelite reception traveling on a
northerly heading. I was thinking they were working on some of the
sateliltes.

"Ekim" wrote in message
oups.com...

Ok, speaking of suction cup antennas for the 296...

Am I the only one who can't figure out how to "unsuck" the suction cups
from the windshield?? Everytime I try to take the thing down, I end up
yanking the two small suction cups right off the bracket and scraping
my thumb nail cuticle trying to pop the larger suction cup!! I'm better
off with duct tape!



kage wrote:
You have to use the suction cup antenna and mount it high on the
front
window.

On Mon, 21 Mar 2005 06:46:19 -0700, "Shirley D."
wrote:

Is this common?

No, you should almost never lose signal. It happened a lot on my first
GPS, which I inherited from my daughter, but never on its successor
Garmin III Plus and never on the 296.



-- all the best, Dan Ford

email (put Cubdriver in subject line)

Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum: www.pipercubforum.com
the blog: www.danford.net

Denny wrote:
I'm following this with great interest as I have the pair, 195 / 196,
Garmins that reside on the yokes in Fat Albert...
Both databases need their annual refresh... It will cost $70 for the
196 to get the terrain and latest flight data, and $35 for the 195, for
$135 total...

Unless you do a lot of low-and-slow, skip the obstacle database and buy another
$35 worth of avgas. My advice, worth what you paid.

Dave