GARMIN 295 GPS
fly...@banet.net
GPS.
The reviews I've read on it were all very positive. Any feedback would
be appreciated. Thanks.
Larry Dighera
>I'm looking for some feedback(positive or negative) on the Garmin 295
>GPS.
Although the screen is smaller than that of the Garmin GPSMAP-195, it
is at least as legible, and it seems able to display more information.
Ryan Ferguson
Ryan
fly...@banet.net wrote:
> I'm looking for some feedback(positive or negative) on the Garmin 295
> GPS.
Christian L. Claborne
the best review I have seen on it is on a link from avionicswest.com.
I don't have the ground map installed yet but I clicked on my exit on
the freeway (in San Diego) and it gave me all of the gas stations,
resturants, and hotels in the area. The capabilities,
flexibility/personalization is fantastic. I can't wait to get in the
air.
2
-- C --
Happy Dog
> I'm looking for some feedback(positive or negative) on the Garmin 295
> GPS.
> The reviews I've read on it were all very positive. Any feedback would
> be appreciated. Thanks.
I have a 195 and a 295. No contest. The 295 rocks.
erf
Wally Roberts
ago. Not only is the 295 in color, which makes it easier to distingish
SUA, etc., it is always backlit. Plus, the optional road maps make it very
useful in an automobile.
EChauza
and I wouldn't be without it. When IFR and 40-50 mi from a VOR, I noticed that
I was off the centerline of the airway (maybe a mile) per the GPS even though
the VOR needles were centered. I recentered the A/C based on the GPS and the
needles didn't even budge. The accuracy is unreal.
I also used it in the car and it was great as you could see when you were going
to turn so you could be in the correct lane. I also used the track to get me
back home at nite.
The only negative comment I have is that I wish you could put a Flt Plan in by
just pointing the cursor on the map and clicking rather than putting in each
identifier.
If you fly around class "B" & "C" airspace, it will tell you the tops &
bottoms. Sure beats having maps all over.
I had a GPS195 also and it was very good but the GPS295 is even better.
Ed Chauza
Larry Dighera
>If you fly around class "B" & "C" airspace, it will tell you the tops &
>bottoms. Sure beats having maps all over.
Can you tell if the '295 will inform you of the altitudes of the
"holes" within the San Deigo class B airspace? San Diego is unique
among class B SUA as far as I am aware. It contains class E "tunnels"
through the class B SUA. The GPSMAP Wasn't able to display that.
Kevin Black
2.5 hours compared to the 195 of 8-10 hours. Other than switching batteries
mid flight or having the cigarette lighter adapter, are there any battery
packs with a bit more longevity (6 xAA batteries every 2-2.5 hrs seems a bit
on the expensive side).
Kevin
<fly...@banet.net> wrote in message news:3946D189...@banet.net...
karl l gruber
months<<
I played with one yesterday that my Super Cub friend, Sam Bennett, just
bought. It was light years easier to read than my III Pilot. I believe
you can increase the detail with some CD data.
BTW, Wally, I've been using the Jeppesen "Skybound Datawriter" to update
my IFR GPS 155XL data from the internet. Great system and cuts cost of
subscription almost in half.
Karl
N185KG
Ron Rapp
<kevin...@megabit.com.au> wrote:
>I note that (according to Garmin Web site) the battery life of the 295 is
>2.5 hours compared to the 195 of 8-10 hours. Other than switching batteries
>mid flight or having the cigarette lighter adapter, are there any battery
>packs with a bit more longevity (6 xAA batteries every 2-2.5 hrs seems a bit
>on the expensive side).
That's the only thing keeping me from getting a 295 (I have a GPSMAP
195 now).
--Ron
k8...@pop3.concentric.net
switch is off on the plane it eats the internal batteries... Just lunched
another set last week...
Denny
Kevin Black wrote:
> I note that (according to Garmin Web site) the battery life of the 295 is
> 2.5 hours compared to the 195 of 8-10 hours. Other than switching batteries
> mid flight or having the cigarette lighter adapter, are there any battery
> packs with a bit more longevity (6 xAA batteries every 2-2.5 hrs seems a bit
> on the expensive side).
>
Larry Dighera
>The 195 needs an auto off battery feature... If I forget, once the master
>switch is off on the plane it eats the internal batteries... Just lunched
>another set last week...
>
>Denny
Is that a bug, or a feature? :-)
Avi
tail during very marginal VFR between Crystal River and Cedar key about a
month ago when a freak squall appeared which cut Florida right in half. I
was about 5 or 6 miles from the coast and couldn't see a thing. When the GPS
said Cedar Key was 30 seconds ahead of me, it was and I landed OK. I have
found it to be a faily easy device to master and it does a whole bunch of
neat stuff. There is one complaint I have and that is the short span it can
run on the internal batteries. I took a small gelcell and rigged it up with
a cigarette lighter socket and now I can run for about 10 hours on a charge.
I plan all my long flights with it and cross check the numbers with the
charts. It's a pleasure to use once you get used to it.
Avi Zamites
PPL-ASEL
sriram....@technologist.com
wrote:
Wally,
Haven't heard from you in a while. Welcome back to the aviation
newsgroups...
I have owned a GPS-195 since '94 I think. Works quite well, except for
some poor mechanical components in the yoke mount.
Sriram Narayan
>I have had a 195 since they came out, and I got a 295 about two months
>ago. Not only is the 295 in color, which makes it easier to distingish
>SUA, etc., it is always backlit. Plus, the optional road maps make it very
>useful in an automobile.
>
>fly...@banet.net wrote:
>
Kernie Brashier
I do have a question here that I hope someone can
answer. How do I select (enable) a previously stored
route. I select route then cycle through the one I want
and press enter, but when I change pages the
route disappears.
Aaron Kiley
route is active and you scroll to a fix and hit goto, I think it doesn't
kill you route, it just temporarily goes to that fix, then continues with
the route. Also, sometimes the first leg doesn't show on a route. Not sure
why this is so.
Make sure you hit activate from the menu when the route is first selected.
You can also hit the re-evalute button. ... Aaron
Kernie Brashier wrote in message <3w425.9514$9M2....@news2.atl>...
Aaron Kiley
wiring problem that rendered it unusable. It's happened to quite a few of
these units. Garmin fixed it in 5 days and updated my DB free! Also,
yesterday, I had it lock up on an instrument approach. Had to take the
batteries out, then back in to fix it. I'll depend on it less in the
future!
It IS kind of nice to set it to your approach and use it as guidance backup
and for situational awareness.
I also wish it had point and click route capability as my last Lowrance did.
Garmin has had a lot of requests for this to be added in a future software
update.
Battery short life solution: I just got a 12 volt portable battery from
Target. It's cheap and comes with a little handle and two cigarette
sockets. I would also highly recommend getting AA rechargeable nickel-metal
hydride batteries. Saves a ton of money in the long run and they have very
good longevity in the 295.
I really like the horizontal format of the 295. I made an adapter so it
sits on the front edge of the glare screen on the 182 I fly. I can see over
the top and under it. Almost a HUD! It works very well in a car this way
too.
Practice a lot with the thing in simulator mode. You learn all the nuances
and get fast at using it which is handy when you're in the air.
... Aaron
fly...@banet.net wrote in message <3946D189...@banet.net>...
Aaron Kiley
>I also used it in the car and it was great as you could see when you were
going
>to turn so you could be in the correct lane. I also used the track to get
me
back home at nite.
Keep in mind that in Automobile mode the software "snaps to roads" But with
SA turned off in aviation mode you can tell with trails, which side of the
road you're on! Also, on the ground, by altitudes repeatable down to plus
or minus no more than 20 feet. Somone said that the altitude can be farther
off when flying. Not sure if this is true or not.
The optional city streets CD/ram-card has every street down to driveways in
some cases. BUT you can only put about 2 states in the 16meg ram card at a
time. Without the CD you get quite a lot of the major roads too. ... Aaron
Aaron Kiley
Shack are very nice. Saves tons of money on new AAs. These newer style
batteries are MUCH better than the nicads of yesterday IMHO. Also Target
sells a 12v portable battery (7"x7"x3") with two cigarette lighter sockets.
It just fits in the side pocket on the passenger side of the Skylane I rent.
Probably will run the 295 all day, but I haven't tested it beyond 6 hours.
Garmin should have made the battery compartment a little box you can snap in
and out so you can have fresh batteries preloaded. ... Aaron
k8...@pop3.concentric.net wrote in message
<3947E870...@pop3.concentric.net>...
>The 195 needs an auto off battery feature... If I forget, once the master
>switch is off on the plane it eats the internal batteries... Just lunched
>another set last week...
>
>Denny
>
>Kevin Black wrote:
>
>> I note that (according to Garmin Web site) the battery life of the 295 is
>> 2.5 hours compared to the 195 of 8-10 hours. Other than switching
batteries
>> mid flight or having the cigarette lighter adapter, are there any battery
>> packs with a bit more longevity (6 xAA batteries every 2-2.5 hrs seems a
bit
>> on the expensive side).
>>
>> Kevin
>> <fly...@banet.net> wrote in message news:3946D189...@banet.net...
Benton Holzwarth
"Aaron Kiley" <aaron...@mediaone.net> writes:
> The nickel metal hydride rechargeables you can get from places like Radio
> Shack are very nice. Saves tons of money on new AAs. These newer style
> batteries are MUCH better than the nicads of yesterday IMHO.
I bought a set of 'hi capacity' NiCads at Costco. 1100mAh, vs. the
standard 600mAh,, 4 pcs plus a charger for ~ $12. They also had
larger bricks of cells w/o charger, at the time.
An advantage of NiMH cells is is fewer problems with 'charging
memory' -- loss of capacity from partial discharge/charge -- but I
think that's also better with current NiCads as well.
Benton 15jun00
--
BC&G Holzwarth
bc...@teleport.com
Jay Dawson
r.a.misc and sci.geo.satellite-nav about the Garmin 295. They mainly
were about the supposed land navigation capability (not) and some
other minor nits. I don't know how other GPSs are but I wouldn't
consider the 295 perfect. A significant lack w.r.t. to some
competition is no obstacle database; other brands do have this. Also
the 295 rolls over on a flat surface, expect to use the yoke mount.
The provided surface mount is very nice but is rather permanent. You
can get a bean-bag thing with velcro to make a portable surface mount
but it doesn't work real well. So if you have an airplane with a
stick, and can't use the surface mount device (e.g. rental aircraft),
expect to spend some time futzing around devising something.
The GPS display and functions are quite nice, the color display is a
useful step forward, but it eats batteries. So you really should have
a working cigarette lighter.
To summarize: a nice unit but I wish I had looked harder at the
competition. I've seen too many posts along the lines of "the Garmin
295 is totally awesome and nothing else compares", hmmm, I don't think
so. Maybe I would still have selected the 295; but obstacle databases,
long battery lives, ability to sit upright on a flat surface, those
are important too.
--
Jay Dawson j...@jps.net
Jay Dawson
> Plus, the optional road maps make it very
> useful in an automobile.
Can't agree with this statement. This is one of the reasons I got the
295; I thought it could serve for car use too. Not!
The fundamental problem is it does not generate or issue turn-by-turn
instructions. Yes, with the optional (extra-cost) MetroGuide memory
cartridge + optional (extra-cost) MetroGuide CD, it knows the location
of every Taco Bell and gas station around, plus residential
addresses. But, neither the GPS nor the MetroGuide software will
generate turn-by-turn instructions. Try driving in a strange area
using freeways and surface streets with nothing but knowing that your
destination is bearing 301 degrees and 23.5 sm away. No way. You
need accurate instructions to exit the XYZ offramp in 200 feet, turn
right at next intersection, etc. For comparison, trying using Hertz's
NeverLost system; much better though still not ideal.
Now some will say that the optional (extra-cost) StreetAtlas software
generates turn-by-turn instructions. Indeed it does, but the 295
can't use them. Furthermore at least in my area the SA map seems
10-15 years out of date in many cases.
I contacted Garmin about this. They said that generating turn-by-turn
instructions requires a much better (more power-hungry) CPU. No
doubt, but please don't advertise that land navigation is useful.
Personally I think they should junk the land navigation, since it's
useless, and use the memory for taxiway/airport diagrams and terrain
(obstacle) info. Now THAT would be useful. THAT would blow away the
competition.
--
Jay Dawson j...@jps.net
Rod Madsen
select "menu" and then "activate".
Rod
Happy Dog
news:78qya46...@user2.teleport.com...
> An advantage of NiMH cells is is fewer problems with 'charging
> memory' -- loss of capacity from partial discharge/charge -- but I
> think that's also better with current NiCads as well.
I thought so to. But according to www.batteriesamerica.com this isn't the
case any more. Newer NiCADs don't suffer from memory effects:
Sir:
First of all, batteries that have been sold in the last ten to fifteen years
have been "memory free"!!! It is an old wives tale - that lives on like
an urban myth - repeated with no facts. You could top off your nicad with
no problems. Years ago, batteries exhibited that problem - but technology
changed all that ten/fifteen years ago. Many times people did not want to
buy another battery and consequently always attributed battery age to
"memory" - you do have to replace a battery - they do wear out. The
advantage of the NiMH batteries is that they have a lot more capacity for
their size. Yes, our charger will work with that battery - but so will your
old charger - what charger do you have???
Mary
So she said...
arf
Happy Dog
> Personally I think they should junk the land navigation, since it's
> useless, and use the memory for taxiway/airport diagrams and terrain
> (obstacle) info. Now THAT would be useful. THAT would blow away the
> competition.
Hell yes. Airport diagrams would be so nice for those who fly into
unfamiliar international airports. Especially at night. It's embarassing
having to ask for a progressive and still get confused. A pull up runway
diagram oriented track up would be great too. Again, at unfamiliar busy
airports with three runways the extra degree of confirmation would be nice.
Other than that, it's a gem. I had a small display (vertical lines)
problem. Garmin just sent me a new unit.
erf
Aaron Kiley
>First of all, batteries that have been sold in the last ten to fifteen
years
>have been "memory free
I've had video camcorder for years and never saw any difference in life of
the battery with "cycling" them. Even had an automobile lightbulb attached
to discharge them. I've been telling people this for years and no one will
believe you.
I bought both Radio Shack and Nexcell AA Nickle-metal Hy batteries. The
radio shack ones seem to last longer even with the lower mAh rating. What
have you had good luck with?
I'm also looking for an external battery for the 295 that is smaller than
the Target battery (Power Source) that's 7"x7". The Target battery has two
cigarette lighter sockets which is nice. ... Aaron
Wally Roberts
Mike Dillon
very surprised to find that the 295 battery life is about 2 hours longer
than the Airmap 300. I expected the color display to eat batteries faster.
I am getting 5-6 hours on the 295 and about 4 hours on the Airmap 300. I
use the Kirkland batteries from Costco. A review rated them along with the
#1 brand name (can't remember the name) and suggested they are the same
battery - but much cheaper.
I agree about the obstruction database - I miss that on the 295 and it
should have been included.
Mike
Jay Dawson wrote in message ...
David Petri
Happy Dog <happ...@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:xei25.70758$dK2.1...@news20.bellglobal.com...
Have you guys downscaled the display over the airport yet? Or were you
looking for something more in the way of airport diagrams? Yeah, a taxiway
diagram would be helpful...
Aaron Kiley
Avi wrote in message ...
>. I took a small gelcell and rigged it up with
>a cigarette lighter socket and now I can run for about 10 hours on a
charge.
What gelcell did you get from where and how big is it? Thanks ... Aaron
Mike & Lee Anne
sucker for night flight, or is it not that bright a screen?
Mike
Wally Roberts wrote:
> I have had a 195 since they came out, and I got a 295 about two months
> ago. Not only is the 295 in color, which makes it easier to distingish
> SUA, etc., it is always backlit. Plus, the optional road maps make it very
> useful in an automobile.
Mike & Lee Anne
King) Skymap IIIc? I'm still shopping, and the Skymap is the only thing
I've found that seems to be in the "same class" as the 295. Their price
WAS higher, but seems to now be in the same range as the 295 (amazing what
competition will do....).
Thoughts?
Mike
Paul M. Anton
date
of their 295 back and back and back.
What I like BIG display, fast refresh, intuitive software.
What could be construed as disadvantages. No internal batteries,
No available software to download trips and information to the unit from
your PC, no database available to use it in your auto, and no ability
to have CDI and map mode displayed simultaneously.
All in all if I were buying the GPS today I think I'd stick with the
Skymap IIIC
Cheers:
Paul Anton
N2273H
Happy Dog
news:394B5805...@sympatico.ca...
> Which might mean you can help answer a question for me. How do you dim
the
> sucker for night flight, or is it not that bright a screen?
Press the on / off button and use the cursor key to adjust. It
automatically switches to a black background at subset.
erf
Charles Oppermann
dim
> > the sucker for night flight, or is it not that bright a screen?
>
> Press the on / off button and use the cursor key to adjust. It
> automatically switches to a black background at subset.
Also, if you just press and release the power button, the Brightness and
Contrast screen displays. If you press and release the power button
again, it'll switch to the next brightness setting - low, medium or
bright.
It is a very bright unit in my opinion.
Ben Tristem
(http://www.series5mx.com/welcome.html) running Palmtop's Street Planner
(http://www.series5mx.com/welcome.html)
This combination offers cheap in-car nav, the world's best PDA and dynamic
routing down to street level. With GPS being up to 10m accuracy now, it's
amazing. I've never even got close to lost with it!
Regards
Ben
"Jay Dawson" <j...@jps.net> wrote in message news:wkem5yz...@jps.net...
> Wally Roberts <te...@home.com> writes:
>
> > Plus, the optional road maps make it very
> > useful in an automobile.
>
> Can't agree with this statement. This is one of the reasons I got the
> 295; I thought it could serve for car use too. Not!
>
> The fundamental problem is it does not generate or issue turn-by-turn
> instructions. Yes, with the optional (extra-cost) MetroGuide memory
> cartridge + optional (extra-cost) MetroGuide CD, it knows the location
> of every Taco Bell and gas station around, plus residential
> addresses. But, neither the GPS nor the MetroGuide software will
> generate turn-by-turn instructions. Try driving in a strange area
> using freeways and surface streets with nothing but knowing that your
> destination is bearing 301 degrees and 23.5 sm away. No way. You
> need accurate instructions to exit the XYZ offramp in 200 feet, turn
> right at next intersection, etc. For comparison, trying using Hertz's
> NeverLost system; much better though still not ideal.
>
> Now some will say that the optional (extra-cost) StreetAtlas software
> generates turn-by-turn instructions. Indeed it does, but the 295
> can't use them. Furthermore at least in my area the SA map seems
> 10-15 years out of date in many cases.
>
> I contacted Garmin about this. They said that generating turn-by-turn
> instructions requires a much better (more power-hungry) CPU. No
> doubt, but please don't advertise that land navigation is useful.
>
> Personally I think they should junk the land navigation, since it's
> useless, and use the memory for taxiway/airport diagrams and terrain
> (obstacle) info. Now THAT would be useful. THAT would blow away the
> competition.
> --
> Jay Dawson j...@jps.net
Jay Dawson
> I'm also looking for an external battery for the 295 that is smaller than
> the Target battery (Power Source) that's 7"x7". The Target battery has two
> cigarette lighter sockets which is nice. ... Aaron
After you posted about the Target battery, I went out and found they
had something with one socket, and smaller, maybe exactly what you
want. I charged it and tried it with the 295; I got 4.5 hours at 1/2
screen intensity, before it started beeping about switching to
internal battery. If needed it would run longer than 4.5 hours,
because it oscillates between the external and internal power sources:
when the Target pack voltage drops and the 295 switches to internal,
then of course the external voltage, no longer having a load, jumps
up, the 295 switches back to external, draws down the voltage,....ends
up oscillating every few seconds.
--
Jay Dawson j...@jps.net
Aaron Kiley
then run on your internal batteries. I found a few web sites that have
similar batteries.
http://www.kilwell.co.nz/Prod03.htm
http://www.1cache.com/1cache/whispp1000ac.html
http://www.coido.com/power.htm
http://www.autocharger.com/
... Aaron
Jay Dawson wrote in message ...
Walt Corey
VFR tunnels through class B airspace are common.
Walt Corey
"Larry Dighera" <LDig...@socal.rr.com> wrote in message
news:P8M15.61083$WS3.5...@typhoon.we.rr.com...
> On 14 Jun 2000 13:21:18 GMT, ech...@aol.com (EChauza) wrote:
>
>
> >If you fly around class "B" & "C" airspace, it will tell you the tops &
> >bottoms. Sure beats having maps all over.
>
> Can you tell if the '295 will inform you of the altitudes of the
> "holes" within the San Deigo class B airspace? San Diego is unique
> among class B SUA as far as I am aware. It contains class E "tunnels"
> through the class B SUA. The GPSMAP Wasn't able to display that.
Walt Corey
hrs on a cross country. I believe they even advertised it as such. I've
never seen 8-10.
Walt Corey
"Kevin Black" <kevin...@megabit.com.au> wrote in message
news:3947...@news.iprimus.com.au...
> I note that (according to Garmin Web site) the battery life of the 295 is
> 2.5 hours compared to the 195 of 8-10 hours. Other than switching
batteries
> mid flight or having the cigarette lighter adapter, are there any battery
> packs with a bit more longevity (6 xAA batteries every 2-2.5 hrs seems a
bit
> on the expensive side).
>
> Kevin
> <fly...@banet.net> wrote in message news:3946D189...@banet.net...
Dan Larsen
aren't common and are being phased out, but flyways, which extend to the
surface, are common.
--Dan
jgalban
>I have owned a 195 for about 3 yrs now and those 6 AA's were
worth about 3
>hrs on a cross country. I believe they even advertised it as
such. I've
>never seen 8-10.
>
I've been getting 7-8 hrs. from a set of batteries in my 195.
I've had it a just over a year. Maybe later models have more
efficient innards. Battery life will also be lower if you're
using the backlight.
John Galban=====>N4BQ (PA28-180)
Got questions? Get answers over the phone at Keen.com.
Up to 100 minutes free!
http://www.keen.com
Ron Rapp
wrote:
>I have owned a 195 for about 3 yrs now and those 6 AA's were worth about 3
>hrs on a cross country. I believe they even advertised it as such. I've
>never seen 8-10.
That seems awfully low. Perhaps you're using a different brand of
battery than I am. You might want to double check to make sure the
backlighting isn't on during the day, because that can decimate your
battery life. Even at night, choose the lowest backlight setting if
you can. Without backlighting I usually get 10 hours from a set of
double-As.
--Ron
Christopher J Campbell
sunlight, especially if the unit is running on batteries (the screen dims
when on battery power to conserve battery life). The GPS can "hang" and take
a long time to lock on to satellites if you are moving when you turn it on,
though this seems to be a characteristic of every handheld GPS I've ever
seen. I've also seen it suddenly hang up in flight, though this was in the
vicinity of areas NOTAMed for GPS interference. Lesson: check your NOTAMs
before relying on your GPS.
Even though the screen dims when on batteries, battery life is insufficient,
especially if you are using rechargeable NiMh batteries. I get less than 2
hours on a set of rechargeable batteries. Alkaline batteries seem to last
much longer. If you are using external power (a cigarette lighter, for
instance) you get much better performance and display. But if this power is
interrupted for even a second, the GPS switches to battery power. It *might*
give you a warning before doing this, but it does not always seem to do it,
and you might miss the warning anyway. It does not automatically switch back
to external power after it comes back on, either. So it could be running
down the batteries even though you think you have it plugged in. Still, this
is better than the 195s, many of which have a bug that causes them to use
battery power in preference to external power as long as the batteries are
in them -- despite assertions in the manual to the contrary (this bug is
supposed to be "fixed", now, but it was never fixed in mine despite three
trips back to the factory).
I would like an EFIS display. Even GPS software for Pocket Windows devices
has EFIS, why not the much more expensive 295? Or maybe what I am saying is
that a Cassiopea Pocket Windows device with a cheap GPS and software might
provide more bang for the buck. A holding pattern calculator would be nice,
too. And as long as we are talking about putting airport diagrams in the
machine, how about complete approaches as well? Sure, you couldn't use them
for primary nav in IFR, but they would sure improve situational awareness.
Besides, if the approach plates were kept current, it might cut down on
cockpit clutter, though the screen is probably too small to be useful as a
replacement for paper plates. The final approach segments that are included
are tantalizing, and even useful in VFR, but they are only a glimpse of what
really could be done.
PC software for the 295 is clunky and outdated. Only COM ports 1 thru 4 are
recognized (and, as we all know, they are not available on many computers,
especially notebooks which use the COM ports for internal modems, infrared
ports, and the like). There are no USB cables available for Garmin GPSs. And
why couldn't these things have an infrared port? Error handling is
atrocious. It often takes me several tries and a complete set of batteries
to update my database. After each failed try you have to start all over
again, and the first try erases the entire database. Garmin has no
explanation for this, other than to suggest I use a different computer. I
have the same problems with MapSource CD ROMS, but at least with these I can
set the transfer rate to try to get a little more reliable connection.
Memory is too small. It is also poorly utilized. You are given every
frequency for Oakland tower, for example, but no clue as to which one to
use. Class D airspace is depicted, but not hours of operation, nor are
non-standard characteristics. Why couldn't it at least tell you the ceiling
of the airspace? I would rather have these than the difficult to use and
rather incomplete E6B functions.
The optional memory cards are also too small. They will hold enough
MapSource data for one metropolitan area, for example, but not enough for
two areas: departure and destination. You could use two memory cards, but
they are awfully expensive to use that way. I doubt that you could load
enough topo information onto one of these cards to be useful for a flight of
any length.The optional memory cards are difficult to find; you would have
to order one from Garmin in all probability. I have heard that the SteetMap
comes with a memory card included. Couldn't Garmin have included one with
the 295?
The menu system also needs improvement. And you can't create a route by
"drawing" it on the screen the way you could with the 195. There is a bug in
the software that causes the GPS to somehow default to the last GOTO you
flew if you don't have a route selected, and I can never seem to cancel this
GOTO -- it just won't go away no matter how often I select "Cancel GOTO" on
the menu (and finding this item is difficult anyway). Deleting a large
number of user waypoints can be a pain in the neck (and routes downloaded
from programs like FliteStar are composed entirely of user waypoints as far
as the GPS is concerned -- giving you OAK the VOR in the GPS database,
complete with frequency information, and OAK the VOR the user waypoint
downloaded from FliteStar without any associated information). And I don't
like having to press "Enter" a couple of times (once for any cartridge
installed in the GPS, and once to agree to the license) to page through
warning and copyright screens when I first turn it on. Fortunately, it
doesn't wait for you to get around to doing that before it starts looking
for satellites.
Although the 295 seems less prone to radio interference than the 195,
aircraft radios (and automobile radios) still interfere with it. The
external antenna helps, but is not a complete cure. There is a noticeable
drop in satellite signal strength when you turn on a radio in the vicinity
of the GPS, depending on the frequency. And heaven help you if you lose one
of those little suction cups on the antenna -- replacements are not
available.
But, you know, I really like the Garmin 295. The display was beautiful to
begin with, and was improved with version 2.03 of the software (downloadable
from Garmin). I grant that a lot of my complaints are really a wish list of
additional features. My favorite features of the 295 are the one-button
screen decluttering, the HSI/map split display, and the GOTO function
(hardly unique, I know, but I like it anyway). The screen updates MUCH more
quickly than the 195, especially when panning. The beeper seems louder,
which I like -- you can actually hear this one over the motor noise through
your headset well enough for it to attract your attention. The horizontal
format is more convenient than the vertical format of the 195. You can clip
the 295 to your yoke and still have room for your timer clip with the
approach plates above it. On the downside, however, the yoke clip seems to
position the GPS a little low for good visibility, especially if you have a
stomach that tends to get in the way. Although the buttons seem small, there
is no problem using them when things get a little choppy. Although I am a
lefty, I don't have a problem using either hand to push the buttons. On the
195, I couldn't use any buttons without obscuring the screen with my hand
and arm, a real nuisance.
The land information can be surprisingly useful when reporting your position
in unfamiliar areas. Neither Albuquerque Center nor Phoenix Approach seemed
to know where AVONAL was, even though it is a reporting point on a low level
airway. But they know where Avondale is, and it is included in the land
database. But unless you live near Phoenix, you would probably never know
what that town between Goodyear and Glendale is called.
I have also found that the GPS goes a long way toward making passengers feel
at ease. Once I have programmed in the route, I sometimes let my passengers
operate the GPS while I rely on the radios for navigation. They really like
this, and they especially love identifying ground features with the GPS.
They start asking questions about airspace, etc., and I believe that the GPS
could spark an interest in learning to fly. I am beginning to believe that
one of the major reasons people don't like to fly in small airplanes is that
they get lost almost as soon as they leave the ground, and it makes them unc
omfortable (probably everyone but me knew this already, but I am not noted
for my knowledge of human nature). Give them a way to keep track of where
they are, and suddenly flying becomes a lot more fun.
Rich Raine
all your software that you have accumulated to use with your 195 to be
obsolete. Wouldn't it have been more friendly to make a software option to
choose 1-old GARMIN protocol 2-New GARMIN protocol.
--
Rich Raine
ra...@attglobal.net
http://www.bitsinc.net/raine
"Christopher J Campbell" <cjca...@home.com> wrote in message
news:I3i35.5775$3D1.1...@news1.frmt1.sfba.home.com...
Larry Dighera
I'm not talking about VFR Special Flight Rules Corridors (as exists
over LAX). If they are so common, can you cite a few examples.
The question still stands: Does the '295 display the vertical
dimensions of the multi-level class B sectors (with a key to the
appropriate ATC frequency)?
On Sun, 18 Jun 2000 15:26:35 -0400, "Walt Corey" <wco...@charter.net>
wrote:
>No Larry,
Dan Luke
>Jay Dawson wrote:
>A significant lack w.r.t. to some
> competition is no obstacle database; other brands do have this. Also
> the 295 rolls over on a flat surface, expect to use the yoke mount.
Jay:
Those are two of my gripes about the 295-no obstacle database being the most
serious . Another is the inability to use the RMI feature in aviation mode.
Otherwise a very fine product that's well ahead of the competition, for now.
What I'd like to see in my next portable is a faster processor. A 295 that
updated every .5 seconds instead of every second would be a better backup in
a no-gyro situation, substituting for the heading indicator.
Dan
N9387D@BFM
Happy Dog
a map in front of you. I've found a couple of errors in the database.
Today, for instance, I was booting about the Niagara Falls area and I
noticed that my 295 indicated a control zone around Grimsby Airpark ('lil
tar / gravel place) instead of nearby St. Catherines (pretty big), where it
belonged. For someone unfamiliar with the area, they could easily stray
into controlled airspace if they were relying on their 295. I wonder what
the certified units say? There are also many small private airstrips not
included that are on the VNC. Maybe their not on the Jeppesen maps. They
should be though. It deserves a complaint.
erf
Dan Luke
>Happy Dog wrote:
>I've found a couple of errors in the database.
Database errors are Jepp's fault and will appear in any GPS navigators using
a Jepp database, i.e., all of them.
Dan
N9387D@BFM
Dan Luke
>...And as long as we are talking about putting airport diagrams in the
> machine, how about complete approaches as well? ...
Amen.
>...It often takes me several tries and a complete set of batteries
> to update my database...Garmin has no
> explanation for this, other than to suggest I use a different computer...
I've never had this problem. Garmin might be right about your computer, as
some have weird serial UARTs that misbehave on some protocols. BTW, Sporty's
has a 120vac/12v cigarette lighter plug power supply that is great when
you're loading DBs or planning routes at home.
>..I can never seem to cancel this
> GOTO -- it just won't go away no matter how often I select "Cancel GOTO"
on
> the menu (and finding this item is difficult anyway)...
Go to the Routes page and deactivate the route. If you select Direct to an
airport and then select an approach, it automatically becomes a route. This
is something of a pain, as you then can't just hit the Direct button to
change the active waypoint.
>...And heaven help you if you lose one
> of those little suction cups on the antenna -- replacements are not
> available.
And they don't stick worth a crap, either. Someboby on the Cessna Pilots'
Assn. member forum gave me the great idea of velcroing the antenna to the
back side of the pilot's visor. Turn down the visor and the antenna gets a
great view of the sat's.
Dan
N9387D@BFM
Aaron Kiley
an item as you described. Could you tell me what mfg/model and what
department it came from?
Aaron Kiley
>airport and then select an approach, it automatically becomes a route. This
>is something of a pain, as you then can't just hit the Direct button to
>change the active waypoint.
I've noticed that if you have a saved route that's active, then hit a goto
by pointing to it on the map view, it temporarily does the goto, then when
you deactivate it, the original route automatically comes back up.
The manual really need to be written as play by play scenarios. Like you're
enroute, ATC gives you a new intermediate fix, this is how you deal with
that situation.
I've been pondering another question. What if you're IMC with a 800 foot
ceiling. You have an engine failure at 7000 feet. You could hit the
nearest button and GOTO, the point the airplane in the correct direction.
Get best glide speed, then look at the the 295's VST readout (vertical speed
to target) to see if you're going to make it or not. It may suggest gliding
to another airport farther away but with more tailwind.
This could be refined if you had the altitude. You could conceivable get a
steep glide angle going that would take you right to the runway. By
referencing the VST and the OBS you could make your own ILS.
... Aaron
Jay Dawson
It was the automotive dept; manufacturer seems to be "Vector", model
is "Pocket Power Junior". It offers only 12vdc, not 110vac like some
larger ones. It's heavy but has a belt loop. It is a sealed
lead-acid battery, not NiCd.
--
Jay Dawson j...@jps.net
Pete
-I'd still like one too Pete
"Aaron Kiley" <aaron...@mediaone.net> wrote in message
news:IsL35.1670$j92.1...@typhoon.mw.mediaone.net...
snip...
Dan Luke
Aaron Kiley wrote:
>...You could hit the
> nearest button and GOTO, the point the airplane in the correct direction.
> Get best glide speed, then look at the the 295's VST readout (vertical
speed
> to target) to see if you're going to make it or not. It may suggest
gliding
> to another airport farther away but with more tailwind.
Aaron:
I like this idea. Would you want to preset your VNAV parameters to 100'
above the airport at 0 miles? Then you wouldn't have to think about it in
the stress of an emergency. Just hit direct nearest and watch the VNAV bar
after you turn to the airport and set best glide, as you suggest. If it's
below center, great; if it's above center, hello Farmer Brown's bean field.
> This could be refined if you had the altitude. You could conceivable get
a
> steep glide angle going that would take you right to the runway. By
> referencing the VST and the OBS you could make your own ILS.
You'd want to be damned sure of terrain/obstacle clearance if IMC.
Dan
N9387D@BFM
Aaron Kiley
Maybe with flaps at 1100 fpm in a Skylane. This would help clear terrain
and give you some play if the surface winds were much different than the
winds aloft.
I've been playing with this in MS FlightSim. One of the hardest things is
arriving at the airport high and trying to hit the reference point opposite
the touchdown point at 1000 to 1500 AGL as flight training manuals suggests.
This is assuming the overcast is too low to do this visual.
The other thing with the 295 is that you are descending to the airport
reference aria, not the runway end. At small airports the GPS doesn't tell
you where the end of the runway is.
I'm not sure if I believe it's a good idea to try to make a straight-in
glide to the airport. Might be better to do best glide to the airport aria,
then do a circling descent. Even if IMC. ... Aaron
Warren
295 may not be worth the extra money over the 195. I have a 195 and have
been wondering if I should go for the 295. Battery life is a real issue to
me. 2.5 hours bat life is a real design flaw.
Information that I have not seen in any of the posts is direct comparison
of features available in each model (195 - 295). If color and split screen
capability is only difference, it hardly seems worth the extra money to
me. If anyone has a feature to feature comparison between the two models,
please post. Thanks.
Dan Luke
> After reading all the posts on this subject to date, seems to me that the
Warren:
Well, "worth" is purely subjective. I will say that I am happy I sold my 195
and bought a 295. Two of the biggest reasons: (1) I can see the display a
lot better in all conditions, and (2) it mounts horizontally on the yoke and
doesn't hide the HI.
>2.5 hours bat life is a real design flaw
Not really a design flaw, just another price you pay for that great color
visibility. That said, I must agree that it is impractical to use the unit
on internal batteries. If the aircraft you fly don't have "cigarette
lighter" power outlets, rechargeable sealed batteries with female plugs for
the 295's power cord can be found at Target.
Dan
N9387D@BFM
James J. Foster
think it was exactly a feature by feature comparison, but you may want to check
it to see if it had the sort of info you're looking for. I don't save the
magazines or I'd quote from the article. What I do remember is that they felt
the 295 was substantially better than the 1.
Regards,
JJF
Warren wrote:
> After reading all the posts on this subject to date, seems to me that the
esw...@my-deja.com
Check Tom Roger's review of the GPSMAP 295 at the Avionics West web
site (www.avionicswest.com). Tom did some informal testing of battery
life in the GPSMAP 295 using several different kinds of batteries and
reports 5-6 hours of battery life, or more, depending on the type of
battery. He speculates that the low battery life estimate was made with
the display at maximum brightness and says that it dims a bit when
running on batteries. There's a separate article covering the battery
testing. (FWIW, I haven't compare AW's prices for NiMH batteries and
charger to Radio Shack's.)
My SO's unit has been run on batteries for just over an hour, when I
was playing with it at the airport. The battery power indicator shows a
lot more than half power left. In the plane, the unit runs from the
cigarette lighter. At the house, it runs on AC current using an $8 AC-
>DC converter that I found at Radio Shack. The cigarette lighter
adapter plugs right into the transformer "brick", which plugs directly
into the wall socket -- much handier than the ones that I've seen that
had a cord between the power plug and cigarette lighter socket.
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Larry Dighera
http://www.avionicswest.com/batterylife.html#Life
Eric W. Seelig
> How about when you're flying north? It would seem to me that a Cessna
> on a northbound heading would lose the sats unless the antennae was
> mounted on top of the wing.
Probably true if the SATS were geosynchronous, but they're not. They
circle in various different orbits at an alt of something like 11k ft.
If your gps has the option, take a look at the "sky view" screen. There
will typically be satellites in all parts of the sky!
Eric
Benton Holzwarth
"Eric W. Seelig" <ese...@nwu.edu> writes:
>
> They
> circle in various different orbits at an alt of something like 11k ft.
Yikes.
Benton 3jul00
--
BC&G Holzwarth
bc...@teleport.com
Eric W. Seelig
A little brain fart there...obviously that should be 11k MILES, not
ft. I suppose if it were 11k ft, we would need antennae mounted both
top and bottom! ;)
Can you imagine the traffic report?
"460, you have traffic 12 o'clock and 10 miles, a GPS satellite,
airspeed indicates 17,000...never mind, traffic not a factor."
Eric
Dan Luke
<ear...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> How about when you're flying north? It would seem to me that a Cessna
> on a northbound heading would lose the sats unless the antennae was
> mounted on top of the wing.
Mount it on the very edge of the visor. When you flip the visor all the way
against the windshield, the antenna has a good, clear view. Sat's. are all
around the sky, so the direction you're flying doesn't matter.
Dan
N9387D@BFM
Jack
> The 195 needs an auto off battery feature... If I forget, once the master
> switch is off on the plane it eats the internal batteries... Just lunched
> another set last week...
What happens if you forget the Master switch (the double-As will be the least of
your problems)?
Maybe you should add the -195 to your shut-down checklist.
You know you'd be even more frustrated if it shut down unexpectedly enroute,
w/auto-off.
--
Jack
MAIL: < mailto:bar...@earthlink.net >
HOME: < http://home.earthlink.net/~baron58/index.html >
AERODROME: < http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/mettetalairport1D2 >
suma...@my-deja.com
computers such as PocketPC. I hear they just updated their maps to
include controlled airspace, enhanced frequency information, and
worldwide airports with controlled airspace. www.teletype.com/gps/uses