Which GPS to buy?

[goldie]

Hi,
Can I get some advise on which GPS to buy. I need a unit that is user friendly,an easy to read display and one that does not require a full day instruction course!
Thanks
Mike
079 467 9906
Hekpoort

[Stephan van Tonder]

All GPS's take some sort of getting used to or instruction and at least reading the user manual. Which one you would like is a purely personal question and also depends on what you are used to. If you always had garmin units then changing to another garmin makes it easy to get used to. I personally have a 276(road going version of the 296) and have always liked garmin. The school plane has the Lowrance (600 I think) and it's also easy to work and MUCH bigger screen than the germin range which is great for older eyes. Basically a case of having to try them on for yourself.
Oh yes - the lowrance also has a bigger angle of where the screen stays visible. The garmin pretty much disappears if you not looking at it straight on.
Then there is also the little issue of the budget...

[Pat Two]

Hi Mike,

Couple of choices...

Lowrance Airmap 600c - Full colour display, nice big screen and terrain warning. Very nice unit but it takes some getting used to.
Lowrance Airmap 500 - B/W display so not as nice. Also no terrain warning. Pretty good value for your money.

Garmin GPSMAP 96 - B/W display - about th size of a large scientific calculator. Typical solid Garmin product. No real drawbacks - Cloud use an external antennae.
Garmin GPSMAP 96C - Colour display, basically the same as the 96.
Garmin GPSMAP 196 - Nice large b/w screen with big buttons. Solid and reliable..good choice.
Garmin GPSMAP 296 - The "Mac Daddy" of GPS AFAIK...Nice large colour screen, terrain awareness and lots & lots of features...
Garmin GPSMAP 496 - Don't go here, it has more functions than the 296, BUT you cannot use the Wx upload feature that it has. it is also considerably more expensive than the 296.

Money no object - GPSMAP 296 by Garmin without a doubt.

Any other advice (headsets / gps'ses, etc etc) drop me a PM...

PS I have about 1.5 years experience in GPS / headsets etc etc.. More than happy to help. Not in the game any longer so I'm not going to try and flog you anything..

Cheers,
Jaco

[Grumpy]

Jaco, I'm not exactly technically challenged, but these gadgets are a new thing to most of us. So, your explanation is spot on. From what you have said it is easy to make a reasonably informed decision. And thats always nice. Well done

[Trikenut]

Garmin 296 or 196 WITHOUT a doubt!
The garmin 296 has a full colour screen and great features!
The 196 also has great features but it only has a B & W screen!
Both are user friendly!
Check out http://www.cometaviationsupplies.co.za and go to thier GPS range!

[old no 7]

296. without a doubt.

[RV4ker (RIP)]

Depends what you want to use it for. I have 196 & 296. If you can afford it or find a bargain (like I did) then 296 is the way to go. If not do not discount the Garmin III if budet is tight.

King Bendix also have a nice new product on the way which may be worth waiting for...
http://www.cometaviationsupplies.co.za/ ... d=yes&Db=1


PS
The 296 is a crap car navigator... Ratehr go for 196 and a Nuvi than 296...

PPS
If money is no object get 1 of these....
GPSMAP® 695

[Slabfish]

RV ,I would like to see garmin produce a Nuvi type gps for aviation use. Entering way points and names with the rocker or curser really sucks once you get use to the Nuvi`s.

[ZULU1]

I have seen these posts before..

If you are a student pilot, first learn to fly, then communicate, then navigate with a real map using dead reckoning. By this time you will have enough on your plate. Then buy a etrex, or other simple low budget GPS..(good back up later) so you get the basics. Then decide what GPS you want AFTER you have got your licence. So much work load that the added pressures of work, family, study and compounded with radio licence and so on. Why make it worse with a 296?.

Incidentally we developed our Vee Antennas as a result of many forum members collecting radio interference from the 296. Now its sorted but they do give out a rf interference to some radios. As well as sending some interference down its feed cable.

If qualified then skip above ..I like the 96 as its compact for a trike...but having said that the Pilot 3 was brilliant but obsolete.
I have fitted hundreds to trikes, what do I use ? a etrex vista. Dont need terrain avoidance, fly VFR, I like to know where I am (with a map) and all the GPS tells me is ground speed. Distance to destination !! Uses a simple handlebar mount on the pod. I had a GPS 12 before I swopped it for a helmet!

Many choices and many hours to decide. This thread will keep you busy with thousands of ideas..

Fly safe.

Zulu1

[Z-MRP]

Zulu 1 you have hit the nail on the head, if you are starting up start with something simple and VERY user friendly, I have a Lowerance airmap 100 and to start with used it in the car to get used to it and when I did my first two flights with it I got SOOOO messed up in selecting views menu pages I had to switch it off and fly on dead reckoning and knowing the lie of the land. When I got home and went thru my mess up I couldnt believe how easily I got confused as back on the ground I got all the functions done correctly first time. So ya be warned about extra pressure when trying to fly blah blah now after some time I find the same gps so friendly just laugh how I got mixed up in the early days with this unit.
Remember a GPS is for secondry use only,know where you are on the map coz if GPS looses signal and they DO then you need to know where the hell you are.

[Old, Fat and Hairy]

Which GPS?

None. It's day VFR FFS....

[slysi]

Which GPS?

None. It's day VFR FFS....

Hmmmmmm..............so there you are

[Andries303]

Hi Fellow Microflyers:

During July 2008 I bought a secondhand Aquilla 582 silver top. Part of the package was a Garmin GPS map 96. However, the manual for the GPS got lost somehow. Although I have an Garmin E trax GPS and therefore have knowledge to operate the basic functions of the GPS map 96, I would like to have the manual to fully operate it. Is there anybody who could possibly assist with a copy of the manual?

I would really appreciate it.

Regards

Andries

[Rudix]

Hi Fellow Microflyers:

During July 2008 I bought a secondhand Aquilla 582 silver top. Part of the package was a Garmin GPS map 96. However, the manual for the GPS got lost somehow. Although I have an Garmin E trax GPS and therefore have knowledge to operate the basic functions of the GPS map 96, I would like to have the manual to fully operate it. Is there anybody who could possibly assist with a copy of the manual?

I would really appreciate it.

Regards

Andries

Hi Andries,

You can download all the GPSMAP 96 manuals for here:

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/store/manua ... 56&pID=276

Fly safe,
Rudi

[Nkwazi]

Me, I use a straightforward Garmin Quest - shows me speed, time to next, distance to next, altitude and direction. What more do you need on a trike and when finished flying pop it onto the car mount and you have a great street navigator.