Impressions of the Garmin 496?

eternalhold · Post by **eternalhold** » Thu May 31, 2007 4:45 pm

Just wondering how many of you G196-396 users have had a chance to try one of these out? Is the price tag worth the added features even though the wx info and xm radio still aren't available here?

The Other Kind · Post by **The Other Kind** » Thu May 31, 2007 5:44 pm

Wx is available here now...

86583 · Post by **86583** » Thu May 31, 2007 5:47 pm

got one about 5 months ago and used it on a delivery flight to south america...I upgraded to the 496 from a 296...recomend you don't buy a 296, the display is not that bright...my 295 had more brightness than the 296 does..I recently sent my 296 back to garmin for a repair and asked them about the display at that time, they ageed the display had issue's and said it would be upgraded as part of the repair..consequently they sent me a complete new unit on their flat rate repair (200 US) but I found marginal improvement in display brightness...the 496 wx and xm radio will work if your in the southern area's of canada, I just found the 50 bucks a month subscription cost a tad excessive...the 496 is really a 396 take away the wx and radio, the talking street pilot is part of the 496 package...the only really noticable difference in operation between the 396/496 is the 496 has a faster processor so when your on the PFD page the turn coordinator and HSI functions functions are seamless, more like the real thing, not jerky like the 296/396

Hedley · Post by **Hedley** » Thu May 31, 2007 5:52 pm

I've used a G496, the xm nexrad was pretty neat. Display was good.

If you've got the money, the 496 is great. But if you're cheap, a 196 is still a pretty darned good unit.

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Thu May 31, 2007 6:01 pm

I'm kind of partial to the displays in the A320.