Garmin 496

theduckhunter · Post by **theduckhunter** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 1:55 pm

Just got my 496 in the mail. Paying the expensive package monthly($50.00) to XM Radio. The power and ability of this little machine is ridiculous. There is no information that you can get from 800-WX-brief that you can't get from the 496 that was just updated 3 mins ago. Forcasts any airport in the country, winds aloft, current conditions, tops, radar. I was very hesitant about paying that much a month at first BUT I am now looking at it like insurance. If I'm flying around isolated T-storms in the summer like I often do, If I can avoid just one cell, it is worth it. Shucks, I pay more for my cell phone a month than this thing. If anybody has any questions I'd be glad to let them see my 496 in action. The difference is so stark between flying with this thing and without it, it is almost like living life with the Lord and living without Him.

Robbie Yeaman
N2980C

Post by **GAHorn** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 2:13 pm

Send it to me, Robbie, and let me give it a try!

trake · Post by **trake** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 10:05 pm

Robbie,
I hear it updates even faster than the 396. Ifyou lost your gyros inthe clouds could you keep it right side up with the panel page?
Im taking 93D to First Flight FFA tomorrow. About 1 hr 50 minutes
See you at the flyins
Tracy

Post by **GAHorn** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 10:19 pm

Tracey, assuming the 496 is similar to the panel on the 196, I feel confident that the panel would indeed be useful keeping the airplane rightside up in clouds. BUT.... it would be no more helpful than needle-ball-airspeed since that's essentially what it is....in HISTORY (due to very slight time lapse.) The gps actually only reports what the aircraft did in the very recent past (seemingly simultaneously, however)... and that is useful in fairly smooth air...
But just to illustrate the situation...if the unit were UPSIDE DOWN and travelling a course that changed from easterly to southerly...it would show the aircraft rightside up and banking to the right. Same thing with altitude...
The biggest error however is in using it as an airspeed indicator. It definitely has a 2-3 second lag...therefore is a bit tricky in turbulence if using it for pitch control.
Still...it's remarkably good and in a pinch might be a life-saver!

If THAT is a major reason for the purchase, however...the 196 is only $800, and if all you need is navigation, approaches, VNAV to the field, airport/runway info, nearest WX, ARTCC, AIRPORT info, obstacles, etc.... the (pretty good) grayscale 196 is a bargain compared the color $2500 496. (That wx display on the 496 is the REAL hot item, IMHO. But only if you intend to fly a 170 in wx regularly.)

lowNslow · Post by **lowNslow** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 10:44 pm

gahorn wrote: If THAT is a major reason for the purchase, however...the 196 is only $800, and if all you need is navigation, approaches, VNAV to the field, airport/runway info, nearest WX, ARTCC, AIRPORT info, obstacles, etc....

The Lowrance 2000C is color, has all the above plus terrain for $799 ($700 if you look around).

Post by **GAHorn** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 10:54 pm

There are a lot of exellent choices out there and a FREE avionics guide for 2007 is available at:
https://www.aea.net/Pilot/pilotform.asp ... otform.asp>

cessna170bdriver · Post by **cessna170bdriver** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 11:43 pm

gahorn wrote:The biggest error however is in using it as an airspeed indicator. It definitely has a 2-3 second lag...therefore is a bit tricky in turbulence if using it for pitch control.

I've experimented with my 296 using its vertical speed to control pitch, and it works quite well... much less delay than the VSI connected to the static system.

You would most likely be successful in using it as a backup panel as long as you know how it works and its limitations... just like the steam gauges in the panel: they're only useful if we understand their operation.

Miles

trake · Post by **trake** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 1:51 am

T he Lowrance looks good but I dont think it has a panel page with a "turn indicator"-correct me if Im wrong. I was thinking of a Garmin 196 in a "panel dock" installed where the glove box was- dont think it would be viewable from the pilots seat, however. Anybody have that setup?

theduckhunter · Post by **theduckhunter** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 4:55 am

I've been out today experimenting wtih the panel page, assuming that I lost electric power in the soup and maybe at night. The 496's processor is supposed to be 5 times faster than the 396 and thus update the panel page 5 times faster........so they say. I was very impressed with how quick the 496 responded and in a pinch I think it would keep the dirty side down and the shiny side up so that I could decend slowly through the ceiling or fly to an area of better weather. Shucks, maybe even fly a rough approach with vectors. It has a nice rechareable battery in it that keeps charged from the cigarette lighter plug and has about 3 hours of juice once the electric might go out.

For right now, having the NEXRAD returns in the cockpit is unbelieveable. Especially when going on a 2 hour plus trip when the weather is changing rapidly. I think in a few months I'll wonder how I ever did without.

I indeed do fly a lot in weather, but that is probably because I seem to fly all the time and use the plane for traveling whenever driving can be avoided.

I'll let yall know if I find any more great pluses or minuses in the 496. George, I'll stick the 496 in the mail just as soon as I can find your address!
Tracey, have a good ride to First Flight.

Post by **GAHorn** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 7:19 am

cessna170bdriver wrote:
gahorn wrote:The biggest error however is in using it as an airspeed indicator. It definitely has a 2-3 second lag...therefore is a bit tricky in turbulence if using it for pitch control.
I've experimented with my 296 using its vertical speed to control pitch, and it works quite well... much less delay than the VSI connected to the static system.

You would most likely be successful in using it as a backup panel as long as you know how it works and its limitations... just like the steam gauges in the panel: they're only useful if we understand their operation.

Miles

I was referring to Airspeed on the Garmin panel...not VSI (which would be subject to errors due to updrafts/downdrafts in clouds/storms, and therefore not a reliable pitch reference, in my opinion.)

futr_alaskaflyer · Post by **futr_alaskaflyer** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 10:14 am

trake wrote:T he Lowrance looks good but I dont think it has a panel page with a "turn indicator"-correct me if Im wrong. I was thinking of a Garmin 196 in a "panel dock" installed where the glove box was- dont think it would be viewable from the pilots seat, however. Anybody have that setup?

Wow, doubtful it would be viewable from the pilots seat from that far away, I have a hard enough time reaching over to change squawk codes.

It would be a minor mod to install the dock though (:twisted: )

The lowrance products don't have a "panel" page, and they suck (can I say that here?) for rural Canada and AK, crappy base imagery and no terrain. Plus no XM. Not that I get that either, being up here in AK

It's the 296 on a yoke mount for me.

flyguy · Post by **flyguy** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 10:59 am

Im taking 93D to First Flight FFA tomorrow. About 1 hr 50 minutes
See you at the flyins
Tracy
_________________
Tracy Ake
1955 cessna 170b
sn26936
N2993D

This is very spooky! As I was reading your post I was really startled to see your SN and N numbers in your profile. Our '52B (SN20845) carries N2693D and your SN has those same numbers. Now if we are ever in the pattern together I will have to announce "This is OLE GAR with OLE 93D" and you will have to identify yourself as "OLE TRACY with "newer 93D"! Awesome!

cessna170bdriver · Post by **cessna170bdriver** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 3:21 pm

gahorn wrote:I was referring to Airspeed on the Garmin panel...not VSI (which would be subject to errors due to updrafts/downdrafts in clouds/storms, and therefore not a reliable pitch reference, in my opinion.)

Sorry George, I didn't mean to seem contradictory. I was just offering an alternative way to use the panel page for pitch control (in some circumstances, at least

). I fully agree that groundspeed in not an adequate means.

Miles

lowNslow · Post by **lowNslow** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 4:50 pm

futr_alaskaflyer wrote:The lowrance products don't have a "panel" page, and they suck (can I say that here?) for rural Canada and AK, crappy base imagery and no terrain. Plus no XM. Not that I get that either, being up here in AK It's the 296 on a yoke mount for me.

Don't know which Lowrance you had but the 2000C has both a "panel page" in a glass cockpit format and an excellent terrian display. At half the price of the 296 it is a great GPS. You pay a hefty premium for that "Garmin" name tag on the front.

futr_alaskaflyer · Post by **futr_alaskaflyer** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 6:17 pm

lowNslow wrote:
futr_alaskaflyer wrote:The lowrance products don't have a "panel" page, and they suck (can I say that here?) for rural Canada and AK, crappy base imagery and no terrain. Plus no XM. Not that I get that either, being up here in AK It's the 296 on a yoke mount for me.
Don't know which Lowrance you had but the 2000C has both a "panel page" in a glass cockpit format and an excellent terrian display. At half the price of the 296 it is a great GPS. You pay a hefty premium for that "Garmin" name tag on the front.

Ever take it into Canada, or up to Alaska? It was the terrain imagery for those locations that I was describing.

And I saw the glass cockpit features when I "test drove" it a little while back, it was kind of neat but didn't have all the features of the Garmin's virtual panel.

For most people those two distinctions wouldn't matter, and I agree the price is enough to make the difference. If I flew in the lower 48 exclusively I might also have the Lowrance, but then again I doubt it because being the gear nerd that I am I would want the XM weather.

The International Cessna 170 Association

Garmin 496

Garmin 496

Just a little bit off subject