Is the Garmin 196 old technology?

Now that the 196 weighs in at $799, or a bit less with the AOPA
discount, it is suddenly light enough to fit in the Cub. I am really
tempted to put my III+ on eBay and buy the 196.

Or am I too late to the party? Will I hate myself next year because I
don't have a color screen?

I run the GPS on most flights, typically an hour a week, on the AA
batteries. Will I notice a shorter battery life? Garmin over the years
seems to have claimed anywhere from 24 to 36 hours batt life for the
III+. I surely don't get that much--I change batts more than twice a
year!

Thanks!

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

The Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
Expedition sailboat charters www.expeditionsail.com

Cub,

if you want small and light, have a look at the Lowrance Airmap 500,
too.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

I may be a minority here, but I still use my Garmin 12 for flying. It is
compact, great battery life and costs a little over $100. I bought it 5
years ago, and I still prefer it over most other newer handhelds. I use
a 430 if I want to file /G. For everything else all I need is heading
and groundspeed, which any GPS can provide.


Cub Driver wrote in
:


Now that the 196 weighs in at $799, or a bit less with the AOPA
discount, it is suddenly light enough to fit in the Cub. I am really
tempted to put my III+ on eBay and buy the 196.

Or am I too late to the party? Will I hate myself next year because I
don't have a color screen?

I run the GPS on most flights, typically an hour a week, on the AA
batteries. Will I notice a shorter battery life? Garmin over the years
seems to have claimed anywhere from 24 to 36 hours batt life for the
III+. I surely don't get that much--I change batts more than twice a
year!

Thanks!

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

The Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
Expedition sailboat charters www.expeditionsail.com

"Thomas Borchert" wrote in message
...
Cub,

if you want small and light, have a look at the Lowrance Airmap 500,
too.

Or consider the Garmin 96/96C that are coming out during OSH.
http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsmap96c/

Cub Driver wrote:
Or am I too late to the party? Will I hate myself next year because I
don't have a color screen?
I run the GPS on most flights, typically an hour a week, on the AA
batteries. Will I notice a shorter battery life?

I don't think so Dan.
The 16-levels of gray on the 196 provide sufficient contrast for your
useage. Color sucks the life out of batteries. If you just do local
flying, consider two sets of high capacity, rechargeable NiMH batteries.
They can be purchased in 2200mHr or 2500mHr.
I have a 195 and I only use disposable alkaline when I am travelling.
You might consider the 195. Prices for the 195 are down in the $300-$400
range. For your use in the Cub, you don't really need all the features
of the 196, do you?
In the flying clubs I belong to, I fly everything from a Champ to a
Bonanza. The 195 meets all my needs.

No matter what you buy, it is already obsolete.