Garmin 396 'installation' in the Maule

Jonathan Goodish wrote:

In article , xyzzy
wrote:

I wonder why the GXM-30 has to have view of the sky? The WxWorx antenna
that comes with the ControlVision solution works fine in the side pocket
of a Cherokee. I may try my GXM-30 there just to see what happens.



I'm sorry, but I just don't believe that the XM antenna works while
stowed in the side pocket. I have a difficult time getting a good
signal for weather even when it's on the glare shield, unless it's in
just the right spot.

Are you sure that you aren't getting the antenna and receiver confused?
With the Control Vision solution, they are separate, but the receiver
and antenna are integrated into one unit with the 396.


Followup:

I got reception on the GXM-30 weather antenna with it sitting on my
dining room table, probably 15-20 feet from the nearest window. I
wasn't really expecting it to work; I was sitting there playing with it
and programming in my flight plan for the next day, and to my surprise
weather data started coming in.

In flight I haven't tried sticking the GXM30 into the side pocket of the
Warrior because when I put it on the glareshield (on the far left side,
where the glareshield slopes down sharply so there's probably actually a
good amount of stuff between it and the w-compass -- located there the
top of it was probably pointing out the left side more than up) I got
good reception and it didn't seem to have a noticeable effect on the
w-compass.

With the GPSMAP396 on the yoke mount of a Warrior, I got good GPS
reception without needing to use the external antenna. I hooked it up
and turned it on early in my preflight, by the time I started up it had
full reception and wx data downloaded.

Battery life seems excellent so far, I had it on for about three hours
without plugging it in, and the battery meter still showed at least 7/8
charge

I'm glad I waited to buy until this one came out, and glad I bought it.
Great box!

xyzzy wrote:

I got reception on the GXM-30 weather antenna with it sitting on my
dining room table, probably 15-20 feet from the nearest window. I
wasn't really expecting it to work; I was sitting there playing with it
and programming in my flight plan for the next day, and to my surprise
weather data started coming in.

Ditto for my dining room table. :-) I was surprised that it also was able to get
a GPS position on the dining room table. My Garmin 196 was unable to get a
position with the two of them sitting side-by-side. The 396 seems to have more
sensitive GPS receivers.


In flight I haven't tried sticking the GXM30 into the side pocket of the
Warrior because when I put it on the glareshield (on the far left side,
where the glareshield slopes down sharply so there's probably actually a
good amount of stuff between it and the w-compass -- located there the
top of it was probably pointing out the left side more than up) I got
good reception and it didn't seem to have a noticeable effect on the
w-compass.

Good news. Thanks for that report. I haven't been able to fly with mine yet.

With the GPSMAP396 on the yoke mount of a Warrior, I got good GPS
reception without needing to use the external antenna. I hooked it up
and turned it on early in my preflight, by the time I started up it had
full reception and wx data downloaded.

More good news! My 196 wouldn't work on the yoke of the Mooney without the
external antenna. I'll try out the 396 as soon as I get the plane back from
Sparkchasers.

Battery life seems excellent so far, I had it on for about three hours
without plugging it in, and the battery meter still showed at least 7/8
charge

Now that's really good news. I was concerned about the number of wires. If the
GPS reception is good on the yoke, and the battery life is good enough to leave
it unplugged, then life will indeed be good.


I'm glad I waited to buy until this one came out, and glad I bought it.
Great box!

I agree. Haven't flown with it yet, but it's great for watching Katrina on the
dining room table (that's the hurricane, wise guys).

DGB