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Garmin handheld

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lyleedda(at)telus.net
Guest

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 9:24 am Post subject: Garmin handheld

Hi Listers,

                    I would like to ask for your opinions on choosing a Garmin 196 or a color 296, for any of you who may own or use either of these.

I do realize the difference in cost and color, but what I want to know is how many users feel the cost and color diffference would affect your choice ?

     I sense that the display of the 196 appears larger, but is that just how the promo photos appear ?

         I imagine the functions are about the same, are they not ?

Anyway, I guess it mostly comes down to whether the extra cost of color is worth it ?

    Many thanks for any who care to add to this.

Austin.

do not archive

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Tony Marshall

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 11
Location: Polson, MT

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 10:18 am Post subject: Garmin handheld

Have been using the 196 for a number of years and am quite satisfied with 

it....good screen visibility....low battery use....easy to update.



The 296 has a 'terrain' feature that would be nice, and the screen is very 

nice.  I think the cost of the nice bright color screen is battery life 

though.  I have thought about making the change myself, but am presently 

satisfied with what I have in the 196....and they are pretty reasonably 

priced.



tony marshall

rv6

polson, mt



---

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_________________
Tony Marshall
RV6
Polson, MT

Rick Galati

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 91
Location: Lake St. Louis MO.

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 12:21 pm Post subject: Re: Garmin handheld

 	  lyleedda(at)telus.net wrote: 	
		  .... opinions on choosing a Garmin 196 or a color 296, for any of you who may own or use either of these..... I want to know is how many users feel the cost and color diffference would affect your choice?.....I imagine the functions are about the same, are they not ?

Austin. 	




I am pleased with the upgrade I made to the 296 from the quite capable 196 which I happily owned for 3 years or so, but it took significant Garmin discounting (prior to its 396 debut) for me to opt for the change.  The surface display area and the intuitive user operations are pretty much the same between the units. The redraw rate is a bit faster in the 296 but as a practical matter, that doesn't mean a whole lot. However, the clear and sharp color display is much more sexy and appealing.  But more important than the pretty colors is the nifty terrain avoidance feature. This is where the color display is essential and really comes into its potentially lifesaving own.  I have intentionally aimed my airplane directly towards an obstruction, usually a communications tower straight ahead and watch the 296 unerringly warn of its presence.  Climbing or decending towards the conflict object (or elevated terrain) produces a yellow background on the display which indicates marginal clearance and turns to red to indicate a sure collision if a course (or altitude) correction is not made.  One page shows this avoidance feature exclusively. However, Garmin convieniently thought to include its terrain warning feature as a "pop up' window on the main moving map page if a potential conflict suddenly arises. For my purposes, battery life is a non-issue since I keep it plugged into my RV's 12V power receptacle.  In practice, I find myself referring to the 296 much more often than the permanently installed 430's display.  The only thing I actually preferred in the 196 compared to the 296 was its vertical navigation function.  The 296 will guide you down well enough but is programmed to shut down the guidance several miles from the destination target.  My guess is Garmin rethought the function and altered it to better discourage stupid pilot tricks like being tempted to program in and shoot a casual, highly illegal approach!  As a bonus and as the photo illustrates, I have a handy place to hang my headset too.  All in all, I am well pleased with the 296 but unlike my less than satisfying experience with add-ons in the past, I will not be sucked into purchasing the optional automotive kit as I did with the 196.  But that is as they say, another story.

http://img367.imageshack.us/img367/4584/pairofgarmins412au.jpg

Rick Galati  RV-6A  "Darla"

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jeffpoint

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 72
Location: MKE

Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2006 12:50 am Post subject: Garmin handheld

The 196 had a software update last year which gives it the same terrain 

functions, ie. depicts the towers and their heights and warns you when 

you're about to smack one.



Jeff Point

RV-6 w/ 196

Milwaukee



Tony Marshall wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		  The 296 has a 'terrain' feature that would be nice, and the screen is very 

nice.

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Jeff Point
RV-6
Milwaukee WI

Jim Anglin

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 47
Location: Independence, OR (7S5 Airpark)

Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2006 8:10 am Post subject: Garmin handheld

I owned a Garmin GPS Pilot III and a 295.  They were both outstanding but I much preferred the 295 just because of the color.  It is much easier to see in any light, and the contrasting colors make it easier to read.  If money is a real issue, get the 295 instead of the 296.  Otherwise the 296 is the choice for me.  I have a panel mount GNC300XL IFR  and a GPS PILOT III for a backup (and back seater) and if it wasn't for the IFR issue I would have gotten a 296.

Jim Anglin

HR II N144HR

DO NOT ARCHIVE

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Jim Anglin
HR II N144HR

Robin Marks

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 24
Location: San Luis Obispo, CA

Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2006 8:28 am Post subject: Garmin handheld

IMHO I would only get the color unit. I find the 296 to be the most

useful device in my cockpit (other than the urine bottle) and being that

I am so dependant on it I prefer the better image definition you get

with the color display. Also keep in mind that if you ever choose to

upgrade by selling your color unit you will get more for the 296 than

the 196 to the actual cost is less than the purchase price difference

between the two units. I have found (personally) that when I go with the

cheaper "value" purchase I always wish I had purchased the upgraded

version. A friend of mine has a saying that "the most expensive thing he

ever did was try and save money." 

Note the above is only my opinion and part of the reason I am known as

the great justifier! I can justify just about anything to myself. 



Robin

RV-6A 250 hours (Pivot Panel Mounted 296)

RV-4 Sold (Air Gizmo Mounted 296) http://www.painttheweb.com/rv-4/

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RV-6A 0-360 - C/S Flying

rv8ch

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 250
Location: Switzerland

Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2006 8:58 am Post subject: Garmin handheld

I'm currently flying with a 196 and I like it.  However, if I were

flying in the US, I'd try to get a 396.  The weather

part of that box looks really great, and could be a bacon-saver.

Sure, it costs a lot, but if you amortize over three years,

assume you can sell it in three years for 1000, it only costs

about 400 a year, plus subscription.



"When you buy the best, you only cry once."



-- 

Mickey Coggins

http://www.rv8.ch/

#82007 finishing

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Mickey Coggins
http://www.rv8.ch/

Jerry Cochran

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 111
Location: Wilsonville, OR

Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2006 10:03 am Post subject: Garmin handheld

Hi Austin,

 

You can buy a used 296 on ebay because lots of folk are going to the  396, 

which run around $1000, and sell your 196 for about $500, that's what  I did. 

Got a nice clean unit and like it much better. Redraws faster, easier to  read 

because of the color, and I like the terrain feature a lot, for those pesky  

radio towers when the ceiling is down. 

A feature I like is the 8 hour ( tested it) battery life. We haven't  

bothered to wire it to the ship yet, just take it home keep it charged up. For  ease 

of use, I think these beat the certified panel mounts. HTH...

 

Jerry Cochran

Wilsonville, OR



From:  "lyle" <lyleedda(at)telus.net>

Subject: Garmin  handheld






Hi Listers,

I would like to ask for your  opinions on choosing a Garmin

196 or a color 296, for any of you who may  own or use either of these.

I do realize the difference in cost and color,  but what I want to know is 

how many

users feel the cost and color  diffference would affect your choice ?

I sense that the  display of the 196 appears larger, but is that just how the

promo photos  appear ?

I imagine the functions are  about the same, are they not ?

Anyway, I guess it mostly comes down to  whether the extra cost of color is 

worth

it ?

Many thanks  for any who care to add to this.

Austin.

do not  archive

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jclarkmail(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2006 7:50 pm Post subject: Garmin handheld

As background, I have had just about every handheld aviation Garmin has made

over the years (can you say 55AVD, 95XL etc.??).



When I got the 196, it was GREAT (still a nice product).



When I upgraded to the 296, I did not EXPECT to but to me there is no

comparison of monchrome vs color. The color is FAR superior. The 196 now has

some of the terrain features of the 296.



I sold my 296 (upgraded to 396) to a friend who was CONSIDERING the 196 (he

has a 195), but when he saw the 296 up close and personal, he was hooked.



Go with the 296, you will not regret it. It has a "special" battery that

lasts a LONG time. Do not let the battery shortness of the 295 make you

think this one is not great.



In any case, you will love either.



James

On 2/17/06, lyle <lyleedda(at)telus.net> wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  

 



 Hi Listers,

                     I would like to ask for your opinions on choosing a

 Garmin 196 or a color 296, for any of you who may own or use either of

 these.

 I do realize the difference in cost and color, but what I want to know is

 how many users feel the cost and color diffference would affect your choice

 ?

      I sense that the display of the 196 appears larger, but is that just

 how the promo photos appear ?

          I imagine the functions are about the same, are they not ?

 Anyway, I guess it mostly comes down to whether the extra cost of color is

 worth it ?

     Many thanks for any who care to add to this.

 Austin.

 do not archive








	




--

This is an alternate email. Please continue to email me at

james(at)nextupventures.com .

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