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Dan,
Attached photo shows the Garmin proprietary data card. The 512 holds all of New England and most of the mid-Atlantic states. It does take a long time for the data to transfer.

Mark

You can go in the settings and have it ask you if you want the route recalculated instead of doing it automatically when you deviate from it. That was kind of annoying when it did it automatically. Find setup in the main menu and go to the guidance tab (if you have the latest software update).

It is awesome on the road, especially when travelling, but I already had a Streetpilot 2610 when I got the 296. I originally was planning to sell it on Ebay, but I'd rather the 2610 was stolen or damaged while on the motorcycle instead of the expensive 296, so I kept both. They are quite similar when the 296 is in automotive mode. If the bike ever was to go (NEVER happen), then the 296 would be enough for everything.

Mark, thanks for the photo...any idea what Garmin wants for one of those 512 cards?

Also, doesn't it seem a little annoying that after a guy pays $1500-1600 for a GPS you then have to buy the Auto kit EXTRA? I really dislike Garmin as a company because of the way they do things like that (a proprietary memory card, nearly $200 for a Flybuddy GPS update, etc..give me a break)...BUT: they sure make some great GPS units!!

Quite true. Also a word of caution...if you buy a used auto kit, the unlock code is not transferrable. That probably eliminates the savings, unless you already have either City Select or City Navigator for another GPS. Then you can typically unlock it for a second GPS for no charge.

As for the proprietary data card, the 2610 uses a standard compact flash card, but they don't hold as much Garmin map data as they are rated for. The factory cards for the 296 will hold the1r full rated capacity. That still doesn't seem to justify the high price.

Amen!

You can get a 512mb card for around $140 from gpsCity.

The 276/296 (and works with the 396 too) car-kit comes with a 128mb memory card, the maps/software, beanbag mount, sticky-mount, and cigarette-lighter speaker cable. The software lists for $139, the 128mb card can be ordered for about $68. All things considered, the car-kit isn't a bad price (after you get over having bought the GPS in the first place of course).

My 196 will only use up to the 128mb card I have. I'm driving a trip next week and have one card loaded up with most of the northern half of Florida, central/eastern Georgia, eastern SC, and eastern NC. I have another card loaded with most of Virginia, DC, Maryland, and a good portion of Pennsylvania. You can also load a lot more raw mapping information if you tell the software not to load the address information (but then you can't find the hotels, iHops, etc, unless you create your own waypoints to those location).

The best route is to buy either a good used or refurbed 296, then go buy the car kit. I paid $999 for a refurbed 296 from Marv Golden (no longer available), and added the car kit. It is a lot of money even so, and I look sometimes at the investment and hang my head, but man is the unit sweet to use. I am thinking about an AirGizmo once we pull my ADF out this winter. But truthfully, it is pretty nice mounted on the yoke too.

One weakness to be careful of is the power cords. They sometimes seperate where the connector to the unit goes into the cable strain relief (rubber cover). I complained to Garmin and they are sending me a new one.....but I was able to rebuild the old one so will have a spare. Pretty good service considering I expected to pay for it.

Dan,

A 128MB card comes w/ the auto kit, but I wanted to hold more data for longer auto trips, hence I got the 512 MB card...from 4x4books in Nebraska for $150 + S&H.

I had been using the 195 since 1996 and the recent transition to the 296 bowled me over by it's functionality, speed, and elegance. Sure, it'd be nice if it were cheaper. When you think about it, you are getting a state of the art unit that'll serve you well in your boat, plane and car. Now that's value!

Mark

I agree. The price of my 396 was enough to make me gag. But I use the thing every time I fly, and anytime I am driving to some place new, or that I am unfamiliar with.

I can offer some theories as to why they cost so much.
1) Ruggedness - Think about this, it is a device that can take the vibrations found in piston driven aircraft, and keep functioning.
2) On-going support. Think about it, updates to the software (not the databases) are free as part of Garmin's continuing customer support.
3) Development costs. Need I say more.

Roy,
I have the FlightCom Denali ANR Headset, the music sounds great. To change Channels, I go to the Xm Page, and scroll down to the channel I want. The Unit Is not touch screen, You use the four arrow toggle to scroll to the music channel, once on the Xm Page.. My Intercom mutes the music, when the planes Comm radio Is active.
I think since you are already a Xm Subcriber, you then get a family plan discount for the monthly music fee. XM, has all of the MLB Games this year, so no more listening In on the Crackly ADF
Dont Forget, With the 396, you also can look up any airport info along with the current Metar. Crazy technolgy and all In my A150K !!

When I bought my first GPS, A Trimble FLightmate way back in 1990, my dad about fell over backwards, thinking the Trimble was crazy technology for a Cherokee 140. My father retired flying corportate jets all over the world, but some of his best flying adventures were back in the late 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, flying DC-3, Twin Bonanza Excaliburs all over the US. He said he wished he had GPS technology back then, when flying over the Rocky Mountains, at night, during Winter... Shortly before my dad passed away, I bought a Garmin 196... My dad then said, I wish I had that technology back in the 1970s when flying the Grumman G-2... It only had inertial nav and he was flying that jet into Russia and other European airports (at night, in Winter, in snow and bad weather) but the 196 impressed the heck out of Pop.

Man, if he could have seen the Garmin 396, he peobably would have though he had died and gone to Heaven... Since my dad is there now, he's probably hollering at me very hard saying "Hey, you ain't seen nothing yet!"

I will probably get the 396 since I can get the family plan on XM with my current subscription.

Thanks for the information.

Roy,
5TA6, San Antonio Sectional