Anyone using a Garmin 95?

[Hawkeyenfo]

All,

I've been offered a GARMIN 95 w/ a yoke mount. Does anyone still use this GPS? Any idea how much it would be worth? Worth buying? Thoughts?

Thanks!

[N2255D]

I still use a 95Xl, as a back up for my KLX 135A panel mount, and like it . Bought it at Oshkosh '94 and have been using it ever since. Not the fancy stuff they have now but it does everthing I need. I'd just like to have a database update. Don't have any idea what they are worth but I don't think I could get enough to make it worth selling.

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

I use to have a 95 XL. The key pad to be honest I feel is superior to the rocker switches newer units use. The keyboard is probably the pro to this unit.

The cons are it will go through a set of batteries in about 3 hours. It only tracks 8 satellites.

It will still work and you can get lots of life from it if you understand the limitations of the old database and willing to through batteries at it. I gave mine to a buddy to use on his sand rail in the Arizona desert.

If I was willing to pay for one I wouldn't pay much more that $50 for it.

So if it's free or nearly so go for it. Otherwise I'd spend my money say not more than $100 for a GPS92. This unit tracks 12 satellites and goes about 8-10 hours on a set of batteries.

Another choice is the PilotIII which is what I use for a moving map display tied to my panel mount Garmin 155 which is IFR. The Pilot III tracks 12 satellites is easy on batteries and can be used either horizontally or vertically. I might pay $150 for one but only because I can tie it to my Garmin 155. which can't be done with all models.

Databases are available for all the units above for $35 an update. You will need a data cable and a PC to update it. The PC will probably need to have an RS422 (or RS232) serial port as well which are becoming harder to find these days. I've made my own cables for about $15 with the special plugs that are required and available on line or you can buy the cable already made but that will probably be about $50

If you get the 95 that plug is not available so it's important that you get the plugs that came with it. They came with 2, a power plug and a plug that could be made into a data cable as well as a power plug. The second is more important than the first.

If I was really shopping for a cheap handheld I'd look for a 196.

Do I sound like I know what I'm talking about. I've owned a GPS95XL, a GPS 90, a GPS 92 and a Pilot III. We use a 196 and two 496s at work.

I can't wait till the 496 drops to about $1000

[iowa]

wow, you have owned a lot of gps's
i have yet to own a single one.
but you know, us guys from iowa
if the 496 would drop to 1000
i might consider
d

[GAHorn]

The most bang-for-the-buck (of the Garmins) is still probably the 196, either new with all the goodies (includes the mounts, data cable, pwr cables, etc etc) for $800 or used in the $500-$600 range (make sure it includes the accy's.) It is grey-scale (not color) but is very visible even in sunlight and it does most of what the 296/396/496's do for navigation. (It doesn't do weather, but for personal flying I'd not likely subscribe to the wx-services anyway.)
I don't use the yoke mount, but the one Garmin supplies is better than the after-markets, in my opinion. (I don't like the addt'l weight on my yoke, as it strains the yoke, adds momentum to the controls affecting the feel, and looks ugly/unfinished.) I use wide velcro on top of the dash and use the Garmin auto-mount which swivels/tilts. It looks good, almost as good as a HUD (heads-up display), but that might not work as well for those with compasses mounted on top of the dash.

[dacker]

George... I think this may have been discussed before... but doesn't the GPS affect your mag compass being up on the dash? My GPS Pilot III pulls the compass about 20 degrees no matter where I put it up there. I, like you, hate the thought of having it on my yoke. Instead I put it on the tab where the hand mike mounts. It is down low, but still easily readable, and I don't particularly want it in my line of site of the outside view anyhow.
David

[cessna170bdriver]

My 296 doesn't affect my compass if it's more than about 6-8 inches away. I ususally put it on the passenger side and angle it toward the left to keep it out of the way for when I really need to maximize forward visibility during takeoff and landing.

BTW, instead of velcro, I use the automotive dash mount on my vinyl (Schroers) glareshield. It has a weighted base with a high-friction foam rubber bottom, and it's always stayed put, even in some very uncomfortable turbulence.

Miles

[GAHorn]

My 296 has no effect on my panel-mounted magnetic compass.

[iowa]

196 for 800 eh
little more inticing
dave

[N2865C]

Even more enticing.... an Airmap 1000 for $700. http://www.marvgolden.com/gps/lowrance2000c.htm
I have a 196 I would rate it as OK. The Lowrance has lots more features for less $$ I have owned Lowrance gps's before and like them allot.

[JJH55]

Prices are still dropping on the Lowrance 2000c , $629 at the following link:

http://www.pilotshop.com/airmap-2000c-p ... 70b3e217fb

Just off the phone with them trying to find out what the catch is. This price is for a new (NOT Refurbished) unit, shipping is free and they have numerous units in stock.

Am I missing something? How could I go with Garmin 196 or 296 at this price?
JJH55

[170C]

I have previously commented on the 2000C, but this price of $600 + is a real bargain if it includes all the normal accessories. Just over 2 yrs ago they were selling most places for $999 w/o the terrain feature. I purchased on at a pilot shop in Fort Worth for $875 (thanks Paul!), but months later when the terrain feature became available I had to purchase it. It (the terrain feature) works well, but I rarely use it since living in TX it is mostly not needed (I don't fly at night much.) and I don't care for the RED background that shows up until you are in the air. On a convention trip to Canada we used it, but even then we could see the mountains so it really wasn't needed. The unit comes with most accessories needed except for a $30 AC pwr supply. A lot of other GPS's charge for everything other than the unit itself. The 2000C had much more capability than its current operator (ME ) can use. Moving map is nice, and the unit is easy to read even in the sunlight. As is with all units, there are +'s & -'s compared to other units. For the $$ I would buy it again vs any Garmin in its price range ($1000). You have to get accustomed to any unit, but I recently fly right seat for 12 hours behind a Garmin 530 and while it has loads of data available and overall is a superior unit to the 2000C, for my type of flying, I would have preferred the 2000C. Just my honest opinion and you know what Bruce says about opinions

[iowa]

well....
i finally broke down and got one
i still follow the section tho
dave

[trake]

For reasons of simplicy I run my portable GPSs [lowrance 1000 and garmin 196] on batteries only. I understand the color units really eat batteries.

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

The first generation color units eat through batteries just as the first generation B&W models did. But they've gotten much better. The 496 comes with rechargable lithium-ion (i think) batteries. When we first got them at work I was amazed to find we were getting nearly 10 hours of use when we used the standard stub antenna and no xm.

The active XM antenna eats through the battery charge cutting the life to about 4 hours as I recall.