Re: Garmin GpsMap 396 - First Impressions (long)
- From: Maule Driver <MX7180aDriver@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 02 Jul 2006 16:38:17 GMT
Mike Spera wrote:
The (very) good:Oh yeah. Two weeks ago I flew with my 396 from Durham NC to New Orleans basically because the weather was so favorable. But within 50 miles of Lakefront, the ceilings were 1900MSL with build-ups and haze. Is there a cell over Lakefront? How do I best plot a course in? There's little visibility underneath on such a day. The 396 pays for itself everytime it lights that picture up. Not a drop hit me coming or going despite much requiired zigging and zagging. It was clear on several occassions that my eyeballs not only couldn't pick the right path, but rather would have picked the wrong the one.
...I CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE RAIN!!!! Oh yeah, that's what it is supposed to do.
When you think about it, I just bought RADAR for under $2500! Yes, it is not airborne, tactical, real-time, weather penetration radar. But, it is a pretty good WEATHER AVOIDANCE radar. Ground based, high power, 5 minute delay, with no attenuation like the on-board units. When you think of it that way, the price may be easier to digest.Often it seems better than on-board. It was clear on one of my first flights that I had a better picture of conditions than the jets when circumnavigating a complicated cell cluster. The controller was telling them what I could already see. But I'm guessing that most of those guys carry one around with them by this time if they don't have panel mounted equivalents.
The bad:
...I was NOT going to like the yoke mount. I hated every other mounting system (except my old Quik-Clamp) I have seen or used. Yes, I especially dislike the RAM system.
The Garmin yoke mount and my Maule hate each other. I fabricated a small bracket to hang it below the panel but finally used a RAM mount which was perfect
About the connectors. There are now 3 of them (power, external GPS antenna, and XM radio/antenna).4 of them if you plug in the music - music is a wonderful side bene
> Unless you have a hangar and want to
leave the unit in the plane, that means you have to plug and unplug 6 times for a typical journey away from the tiedown. Unplug the beast at the restaurant or overnight destination and you double it.Mine is parked in my backyard but I end up taking it out each time anyway just because I want to use it in the car at at my desk.
Remember my
earlier comment about how difficult it it to do the plug/unplug operation AND the mount/dismount because of the misplaced power connector. This thing clearly needs a single multipin plug accessory harness.3 of my 4 wires go in different directions right at the unit. Too many plugs but it's not clear a single plug and harness would be optimal in my setup. Bluetooth?
While we are at it, the power plug is VERY tight. I swear I am
bunging the thing up putting it in an taking it out. I hope this gets easier with time.
It sucks and it doesnt' get better.
Another nit is the power cable. IT IS NOT LONG ENOUGH!!! $2300 for a GPS and I have to go to Rat Shack for a 12v extension. HELLLLOOOOOO!!?? Even Lowrance (the "value" leader) figured out how much distance there is across the Piper panel.They got it right for mine but 3 more inches and *##$%. 12 more inches and I would have $$%#@ too.
Great idea. The bag sucks.
Nitting away, Where is the COVER???? I expect a cover to snap on to keep the sun off the screen when parked and to protect the screen while in the flight bag. Again, even Lowrance figured this one out. $.18 worth of plastic is surely in the retail price somewhere. Yes, they do include a small bag, but I find those things to be useless. Lets's trade the bag for a snap-on cover.
Final nit, it has a PROPRIETARY RECHARGEABLE BATTERY! It needs the special charger to juice up. Opinions vary, but I prefer standard double A's. I don't want to get fleeced for $200+ in a year or so when the rechargeable craps out. Yes, I know it stays charged while on external power, but I still don't like it. On the plus side, the battery will last 6+ hours with a fairly high backlight on. Something like 16 hours with the backlight off, but the unit is almost impossible to see with the light off.I like it. It's light weight makes the entire unit pleasant to handle, less subject to trauma, and it runs forever (i.e. so I don't have to think about it.
My problem is the hum I get when listening to XM Music while the unit is plugged in. I end up keeping it unplugged for most of most flights.
O.K. I promised that the last comment was the final nit. I lied. It appears I now have to spend ANOTHER $300 FOR THE AUTO KIT!!!!!! For the price, I should have received the car kit AND a year's subscription to the full bore "Aviator" weather package. Competitors, Garmin, anyone listening?Sounds like they stopped the free autokit promotion concurrent with the $300 price drop. Nothing for nothing, price is the same it seems. I feel better.
I must admit, if the price were around $1400 (where it belongs), these shortfalls would be a LOT easier to take. It just grinds salt into a pretty deep wound that the unit is not closer to perfection right out of the box. But, as I said, it is RADAR! (At this point, I will tell myself any lie to justify the cost).It strikes me as so good I want to slap myself! Imperfections, yes. But it's just an outstanding product. My honeymoon will be over when a better, cheaper product is available....
.
- References:
- Garmin GpsMap 396 - First Impressions (long)
- From: Mike Spera
- Garmin GpsMap 396 - First Impressions (long)
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