Hand Held GPS's

[170C]

Since my Magellan Skynav 5000's data base can no longer be updated, I am in the market for something new. I have narrowed my list to 3 units. Bendix/King SkyMap IIIc; Lowrance 2000C & Avmap EKP-IV. All offer a lot of bang for the buck with color moving maps, portable or panel mount capabilities, etc. I know several folks with the Skymap IIIc & all seem satisfied. Likewise the Lowrance 2000C owners I have talked to seem OK and you get a lot of extras thrown in that the others charge extra for. I haven't talked to anyone who has used the Avmap EKP-IV. Anyone out there know anything about this unit or how it compares to the others or how any of the 3 compare to one another? I sure need input before I bust the budget.

[mvivion]

Have you checked with Jeppesen reference database updates? I got a new card from them for my 5000 last fall.

Magellan isn't supporting this stuff any more, but Jeppesen may be.

Mike Vivion

[170C]

I checked with Jeppesen several weeks ago and they advised they do not have updates for that model anymore. I suspect that once a mfg. stops supporting their product Jeppesen stops developing updates for that product also. Strange thing is I saw a unit like mine advertised by one of the retail places on line that sells vrs avaition items. I was surprised to see it. Guess I should have asked them about updates, but didn't think to do so.

[Dave Clark]

Sure like my Lowrance 2000. It WILL run a 1Gig SD card!

[zero.one.victor]

The only GPS I've ever had or used is my little garmin pilot 3. I bought it for about $600 (a "show special" at Arlington) when it was the latest thing back in 1998. They're discontinued now, & selling for $380. Such a deal.
If I was to buy a new one, I think I'd go for the Garmin 196, they're selling for about $800 nowadays. No color, but a lot of good features, and still compact enough to tuck into an out-of-the-way mounting location.
I don't know about the other brands mentioned, but Garmin just seems to be getting bigger & better-- looks like they'll be around & supporting their products for a long time.

Eric

[rudymantel]

I've always liked Garmin, ever since I flew a Dornier DO-28 from Munich to Fort Lauderdale back in 1989 - a very early model and it worked great. For the past four years I've used a Garmin 295 and love it.
It cost around $1,400 but now are around $1,000. Garmin gives excellent support and are very nice to deal with.
I flew with a guy who had a Garmin 296 and that is really a slick unit, I think it sells for around $1,600.
Lots of memory for routes, favorites, etc. and very quick screen refresh. Also shows terrain, obstructions. That would be my choice, budget permitting.
Rudy

[jmbrwn]

I bought the little Lowrance handheld...I think it's the 500...and it does a great job...does everything I want for less than Garmin handheld and a few extra's thrown in.

[zero.one.victor]

I like how Garmin introduces a new hot-stuff GPS every couple of years, and immediately discounts the previous new hot-stuff GPS by several hundred dollars. Like the 196 started out at what- 1200? now it's 800.

Eric

[N2540V]

If you are looking at the Garmin 296, they just dropped the price $200 last week. Still a bit spendy.
Jim

[GAHorn]

I like how Garmin introduces a new hot-stuff GPS every couple of years, and immediately discounts the previous new hot-stuff GPS by several hundred dollars. Like the 196 started out at what- 1200? now it's 800.

Eric

The 196 has held it's price for about two years. I bought mine at the end of the Wilmington convention in 2003 and paid $800 for it then with all the accys. I've updated the database (via internet dial-up) for $35, and Garmin gives software updates for free. I like the 3 modes, aviation/land/marine too as I use all 3. We had both 530's quit during a non-precision approach in the Citation I fly, and becaue I also always use my 196 (it automatically keeps my logbooks) it was already fired up and tracking, resting on the cockpit side-console. I simply hit the "Select Approach" option, and we didn't even tell approach control about it. Shot the approach from outside the IAF and broke out of the clouds on final at 400' and landed using the built-in IFR approach in the database. (It'll even generate a 3-degree glide-path if you like down to 1000', and display it on the built-in HSI.) If you don't need color ($1400 for the 296) the 196 is the cat's meow. My 2 cents.

[Dave Clark]

Garmin definately has good products but I think there is better value with the Lowrance. A person should really check them out to see if it has the features desired. I like the very large screen in my 2000. I would never buy anything other than color anymore. The difference in readability is staggering especially with sunglasses on. BTW, Lowrance uses the SD card, $35 online Jepp database update, and free software upgrades. You can build your own map background and a 1 gig card holds 2/3rds of the USA in high detail. It'll even tell you where the McDonalds fly thru is for the ice cream stop

Mine early release last Setember with no terrain awareness was $850 and for $175 or so I can update to Terrain Awareness but I won't because all I have to do is look out the window for that.

[theduckhunter]

If you call around in tradeaplane and work the price down you can now get a Garmin 295 for $ 950. I'd like to have the 296 if it didn't cost any more money but all that you really get more than the 295 is a faster updating screen and some dinky terrain. Good luck in your search.

[N170CT]

Don't mean to be too negative re Garmin, but I personally have and use a Garmin 190 GPS/Com (Handheld) which has been returned to the OEM five (5) times for problems not caused by misuse. However, this unit may be an anomaly. FWIW, Chuck

[n3833v]

I have a 195 that has done me well with updates and I just bought the 196. I didn't want the color for slower updated per second and the 196 has more features for my ifr usage. I love the Garmin due to the easy to use modes.

John

[GAHorn]

Robbie, you might be overlooking some interesting features of the 296 over the 295. Battery life is much better in the 296 (important for use in other than aircraft, hiking, survival use, etc.), and the Terrain Avoidance Warning feature of the 296 is a valuable feature for the pilot who scud runs or gets caught in the soup unexpectedly.
Lowrance has better radio tower charting...if you can believe the database to be up to date/accurate. George Courtney, one of our float-equipped members truly misses that feature, but if anyone looks at the FDC and local notams they'd be shocked to find how may towers go up each month that are unlighted and uncharted. The uncharted towers are also not in the Lowrance database even if you have the latest data. I've reported 6 towers up to 600' AGL within the 5 mile radius/flight pattern at AUS almost a year ago and they're still not charted in any of the databases. I think it's disgraceful how the FAA and the FCC let corporations get away with merely issueing a Notam about unlighted towers, and that's all they have to do. They can operate for years like that due to lax enforcement. Money talks.
Trivia: If you're ever lost don't forget to watch out for the prolific uncharted cell-phone twrs which now go up to 300' + AGL,...but notice that no radio towers ever have their guy-wires cross over a paved road. (Stay directly over the centerline if really flying low.)