Handheld GPS

[jknight8907]

Does anyone have experience with these units:

Garmin 96C
Lowrance AirMap 600C
Lowrance AirMap 2000C

I'm looking to use this for VFR primary navigation, situational awareness in IFR.

So what do you think of handheld GPS in general, and these units if you've used them?

thanks!

 

[navigator72]

Garmin 90, a good basic entry level GPS system. Should be able to get one for $100 or so.

 

[falcon20driver]

The 90 is a JUNK, has a single channel engine which takes FOREVER to get a position, and they haven't made it since 1996.

The 92 replaced it in 1998, it has a 12 channel engine that gets a position quick even when you're flying, probably pick one up used on ebay for a couple hundred dollars.

Even better pick up the Garmin gps 12 brand new for a hundred bucks, it's the 12 channel 92 without the aviation database, holds up to 500 user waypoints, enough for every airport and all the intersections you need. I've had one since 1998 and it's still going strong.

 

[mtrv]

I prefer my Garmin 296 over the Lowrance 2000. It's screen is smaller, but resolution is a lot higher, and better color definition. But, it's cost is a lot more.

With XM weather, I would sure like to get the new Garmin 496, which has quite an extended data-base over last years 396. Quite expensive, though.

 

[Knob]

The garmin 296 is bulky and bounces around a lot on the yoke. The newest garmin with wx and xm radio is small ang great to use but is expensive. My personal favorite for the money is the anywheremap system used with a pda. The screen is great, has more features than the garmin, and costs a lot less.

 

[mtrv]

The garmin 296 is bulky and bounces around a lot on the yoke. The newest garmin with wx and xm radio is small ang great to use but is expensive. My personal favorite for the money is the anywheremap system used with a pda. The screen is great, has more features than the garmin, and costs a lot less.

The Garmin 296 is physically the same as the 396/496 which have the XM options. It's very light, and doesn't require inflight re-booting like those PDA's

You must be thinking of the 295

 

[agpilot34]

Unless you are just dead set on having a color screen, you might take a look at the Lowrance Airmap 1000. I use the 1000 anwhere from 4 to 11 hours a day, 5 days a week flying pipeline patrol, and it has performed flawlessly since day one. The screen has great resolution, it's large and easy to see, and the backlighting is WAY better than either of the two Garmin's I have had in the past. It's easy to navigate the menu pages, and it will do absolutely everything you need for VFR flying and IFR situational awareness purposes. Price is good to for what you get.