Garmin give you one free DB update that you must use within 90 days. We
have a GNS430 that we keep IFR current and we only want the 396 for the
XM weather. This being true we will probably only update the 396 one or
two times a year. I don't know how much Garmin charges for each update.

The XM weather is $29.95 per month for Aviator Light and $49.95 Full
Aviator.

Jon Kraus

Ross Richardson wrote:

Jon Kraus wrote:

We just bought a 396 two months ago. My partner and I discussed the
differences and I went back and read all the posts about the 396. We
already have a Garmin 430 in the panel so we only wanted the XM
weather capability.

In the end we decided that for the type of flying we do it was not
worth the extra price for the 496. So far, it seems that we have not
regretted our decision. I think we paid 2.2 AMU's for our 396 but I
think I just saw them for 2.1 AMU's somewhere. I am unsure if the 496
took a similar dip.

Jon Kraus
'79 Mooney 201
4443H @ UMP

mbremer216 wrote:

Any opinions on the differences between the two units. Other than
the faster updating and the better street atlas, what makes the newer
model worth $600 more?

Thanks

Mike

For those 396/496 owners, what is the annual cost to keep that thing
updated, GPS, EM Weather, etc.