Garmin 396

[h25b]

I was wondering if anyone has any experience with this new unit and its XM Weather functions. I am specifically curious if anyone knows for a fact if this thing could work in a Lear 31A with the gold heated windshields.

All of the avionics guys basically give me the answer of, "Maybe."

I'm looking for a simple and relatively inexpensive way to get satellite weather in the cockpit before I start getting serious about the higher dollar routes.

Any other way is going to involve hard wiring a line out of the FMS, mounting another antenna for the XM signal, and then piping it all in to a tablet pc of some sort.

 

[Huggyu2]

Also, if anyone can chime in on what they pay for the subscription to XM satellite weather.

 

[fokkerjet]

Maybe this helps, but I've used the Garmin 196 in a couple of our aircraft; stuck the antenna on the unheated side window, and it worked fine. I have a XM radio that I've tried to use inflight and it did not work at all; no signal. (With XM radio, you need an unobstructed view of the south inorder to receive a signal) My luck with XM (portable model here) is that the antennas suck. I'm assuming that with the 396, the XM uses the Garmin antenna???

Ever thought of borrowing the 396 to see if it works in the Lear?

 

[h25b]

I think I am going to have to buy one and see if it works... If it doesn't just return it. The problem with the Lear 31A is that the whole windshield is heated.

 

[cptsesso]

We have a 396 with wx and it is awesome. We bought it right when they came out to use in a Westwind 2, as we fly coast to coast a lot. It is real nice having current weather and nexrad radar, among many things, right at your fingertips. The display is the best I have seen.

I don't know if the Lear window will block the signal. Our Westwind heat elements do not bother the signal. The antenna is separate from the unit, so it is possible to move the antenna somewhere else beside the windscreen if needed. It is a circular antenna about three inch diameter or so.

As far as the subscription price, we got the full package (Aviator) with XM Radio. I think it runs like $50.00 a month with an activation fee. I don't recall the exact price because we paid for a full year.

Id say it would be the cheapest, easiest way to get the current wx in the cockpit. You would be amazed at the display quality and information you will have at your fingertips.

 

[satpak77]

We have a 396 with wx and it is awesome. We bought it right when they came out to use in a Westwind 2, as we fly coast to coast a lot. It is real nice having current weather and nexrad radar, among many things, right at your fingertips. The display is the best I have seen.

I don't know if the Lear window will block the signal. Our Westwind heat elements do not bother the signal. The antenna is separate from the unit, so it is possible to move the antenna somewhere else beside the windscreen if needed. It is a circular antenna about three inch diameter or so.

As far as the subscription price, we got the full package (Aviator) with XM Radio. I think it runs like $50.00 a month with an activation fee. I don't recall the exact price because we paid for a full year.

Id say it would be the cheapest, easiest way to get the current wx in the cockpit. You would be amazed at the display quality and information you will have at your fingertips.

FYI

I also am researching the 376 and it looks like a good unit. I am even going to use it in the car

 

[jet35a]

The XM works in our LR45 with the antenna located at the edges of the heated portion of the windshield, weak signal if facing north, strong signal facing south. Good for current radar images, tops, etc.

 

[Freightdog99]

Are you limited to where you can get the radar for? For example can you get radar in the US, Canada, and Mexico?

 

[satpak77]

Are you limited to where you can get the radar for? For example can you get radar in the US, Canada, and Mexico?

NEXRAD is a US thing.

no NEXRAD sites in Mexico for sure, I know this for a confirmed fact.

Unknown about Canada, but the XM package is for US weather.

 

[cptsesso]

Ya, you are only able to get US wx info.

Again, great little unit. I wish I had one years ago flying freight. I would probably have a lot fewer gray hairs and a few more years of longevity on my life.

 

[SabreFlyR]

Ya, you are only able to get US wx info.

I talked to the folks at Wx Worx a few months ago, they are supposedly looking into expanding the service coverage, no time frame was mentioned though.

 

[Diesel]

I currently operate a king air with anywhere xmwx on my tablet with my jepp plates. I think the whole thing cost me under 1k. That was with a bluetooth GPS which is up on the windshield (heated of course) and xm antenna (wired on the windshield) still heated.

I'm going to switch over to WXWorx software tomorrow because anywhere map suuuucks.

I've got the xm router in the back of the plane giving my tablet information via bluetooth. I've also got the gps giving info bluetooth. Works awsome especially picking my way through a line of thunderstorms yesterday on my trip back.

I don't care what they say but the info they give you is pretty close to realtime. 10 right due to xmwx says to.

 

[h25b]

I am going to give the thing a whirl.. Thanks Diesel, sorry to hear of your loss. Take care....

 

[SabreFlyR]

I currently operate a king air with anywhere xmwx on my tablet with my jepp plates. I think the whole thing cost me under 1k. That was with a bluetooth GPS which is up on the windshield (heated of course) and xm antenna (wired on the windshield) still heated.

I'm going to switch over to WXWorx software tomorrow because anywhere map suuuucks.

I've got the xm router in the back of the plane giving my tablet information via bluetooth. I've also got the gps giving info bluetooth. Works awsome especially picking my way through a line of thunderstorms yesterday on my trip back.

I don't care what they say but the info they give you is pretty close to realtime. 10 right due to xmwx says to.

We're using the bluetooth XM receiver and gps, works great in the beechjet. I did put an external antenna on though, when we are in the Northeast it was tough to get a signal without moving the portable ant. all over the glareshield. I probably wouldn't have done it except we were already getting another ant. put on so the cost was minimal.

 

[Diesel]

Sabre- I was going to have the avionics shop install an external antenna but things got complicated these last couple of months and i forgot to call them.

You're right though in the NE the signal quality isn't so good because we're headed north and it needs to see the southern sky.

XMWX is a great product though. Coming through the storms yesterday i could get a much better track and figure out what I was seeing in the big picture.

Plus i was able to get an idea of the weather at destination hours away and watch the storms go through.

 

[cands]

We have be using the 396 XM Weather in are lear 36, it works great.
dont have the gold heated windshields.

 

[scubabri]

I currently operate a king air with anywhere xmwx on my tablet with my jepp plates. I think the whole thing cost me under 1k. That was with a bluetooth GPS which is up on the windshield (heated of course) and xm antenna (wired on the windshield) still heated.

I'm going to switch over to WXWorx software tomorrow because anywhere map suuuucks.

I've got the xm router in the back of the plane giving my tablet information via bluetooth. I've also got the gps giving info bluetooth. Works awsome especially picking my way through a line of thunderstorms yesterday on my trip back.

I don't care what they say but the info they give you is pretty close to realtime. 10 right due to xmwx says to.

Does the WXWORX antenna require external power?

sb

 

[SabreFlyR]

Does the WXWORX antenna require external power?

sb

The Wx Worx receiver is about the size of a cd case and we just throw it under a seat in the cockpit. It requires 12-28 volts and we use a power cord plugged into a cigarette lighter type receptical. The antenna itself requires no power, it just connects to the receiver.