Garmin 96C GPS

Flight_Watch

Flight_Watch

New Member
Anyone have an experience using the Garmin 96C for general aviation? I just picked myself up one and it is amazing how much info it contains. Of course GPS is no substitute for a good understanding of basic navigation. Anyway, it contains an updateable Jepp database and obstacle warnings.

Do most people use external antennas for these handhelds or do they work well enough under the plane's metal roof? It also came with a Yoke clip, which I haven't tried out yet.


Here are my thoughts so far:

Pros:
I know exactly how many miles I am out from any given airport.
List the closest airports at all time incase of an emergency landing is required.
Warns you before you enter controlled airspace.
Contains tower, ground frequencies for all airports.
VNav. but don't know how to use it yet.
Easy to use weight and balance feature
Records all flights including max speed, distance, landings, etc
Accuracy within 16 ft. and 40 hr. battery life
Good backup incase there is an electrical failure onboard

Cons:
Another instrument that takes your eyes away from traffic spotting
Must pay to upload the latest Jepp database
Kind of expensive but at least it is portable



grmin.jpg
 
Has anyone ever used the Garmin GPS Map 296???

I am looking to buy either a 96C or A 296 any feed back would be appreciated.

thanks,

Brian
 
[ QUOTE ]
Do most people use external antennas for these handhelds or do they work well enough under the plane's metal roof? It also came with a Yoke clip, which I haven't tried out yet.

[/ QUOTE ]

I have a GPSMap 76, same design as the 96 minus the aviation database. I had some reception problems once--as in, no reception at all--in one specific airplane due to some sort of electromechanical interference. I bought an external antenna, ran it to the back window where I made a little mount from parts found at Home Despot for the antenna and have had zero problems and great reception since (at altitude, with WAAS correction, I've seen position errors as low as 7 feet). I haven't seen the Garmin yoke mount, I picked up one from RAM Mounting Systems and it's the bomb.

One thing that's kinda fun about GPS is that you can use a program called GPS Trackmaker to create a map of your travels; it can download and store tracklogs from your Garmin. With a little more effort and a few other programs, you can overlay your ground track on digital approach plates to evaluate your performance. I'll post a pic of this later.
 
I guess I should probably look into an external antenna down the road. Right now since I fly different planes each day it would be a pain to set up an external antenna. If I had my own plane I would mount one on the roof.

I found a program called USA Maps that lets you download your tracks and lay them over satellite images. It is kind of cumbersome to do the whole process though. There is a photo of the results below. I will check out the GPS track maker you noted and see if it is any easier to use.

jan.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top