Garmin 696

Post by **Spike** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 12:54 pm

Has anyone done any investigation to find out what it is going to cost to keep the databases current on a 696?

Post by **bullojm1** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 1:56 pm

http://garmin.blogs.com/my_weblog/2008/ ... ur-69.html

"The FliteCharts database is $95 for single update and $395 for an annual subscription."

Somewhere else I read the NavData is $49.95 for a single update or $295 for an annual subscription.

Post by **Spike** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 2:16 pm

So $700 yearly if you want IFR charts and navData. Dang on, put a panel mount GPS on top of that and you have $1K year in db subscriptions. Thats just rough.

Post by **bullojm1** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 2:35 pm

Yeah, I agree its a complete rip off. It makes paper sectionals seem pretty cheap! And last time I checked the government IFR charts are free. Does the 696 use the Jeppeson charts of the government charts?

Post by **Spike** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 3:02 pm

Gov for approaches and I *think* gov for IFR. My latest thought was to use a 696 for an MFD in conjunction with the next release of AFS's Advanced Deck EFIS. That gives great redundancy between the AHRS in the Flight Deck and the seperate GPS reciever/psuedo instruments of the 696. Add in a seperate wing leveler / altitude hold and I think I could get comfy without a vacuum system.

The 696 was very attractive because of the enroute chart capability. Knowing exactly where you are on the chart while flying a 100nm+ direct routing would be much easier with that rather than constantly trying to triangulate location, etc.

Spicer

Post by **bullojm1** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 9:52 pm

Someone on the VAF forums broke down all of the 696 reoccurring costs today:

Nav Data $49.95 one time $295 Annual
Flight Charts $95.00 one time $395 Annual
AOPA $49.95/3 months $95 Annual
Terrain $150 (no time frame shown)
Obstacle $49.95 /2 month $195 Annual
Safe Taxi $49.95 single $195 Annual

Total that works out to be $1325 annually, if you keep everything updated. I heard that the flight charts won't work if the database if over 180 days old (nice way to guarantee income Garmin!).

This seems totally unreasonable. Flying is expensive enough with the price of fuel. Garmin just seems to think that all pilots must have money. They are just propagating the stereotype that you have to be loaded to fly.

Post by **Spike** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 8:14 am

Thats stupid enough that I might have to consider something else. Sheesh that is ridiculous. Every 3 years you could buy a new unit.

svanarts · Post by **svanarts** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 11:02 am

You can buy LIFETIME updates from Anywhere Map for $395. At least that was the promotion they were running at Christmas.

On Sat, Jan 10, 2009 at 5:14 AM, RB Lists - Avionics <support@rivetbangers.com (support@rivetbangers.com)> wrote:

Thats stupid enough that I might have to consider something else. Sheesh that is ridiculous. Every 3 years you could buy a new unit.

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