Garmin GPSMAP® 696 (Garmin 696) | GPSMAP® 695 (Garmin 695) Announcement

Garmin International introduced today (10/30/2008) their newest portable aviation navigator: Garmin GPSMAP 696.

The Garmin 696 has many new features, but most noticeably is its new look and size. The 696 is a tablet-style unit with a large 7-inch portrait display that is 3 times larger than its predecessor, the Garmin 496. The high-resolution screen can be read in sunlight and is large enough to fit an entire approach plate.

Garmin 696 Features

• 7-inch High Resolution Display
• Airways
• Electronic Charts
• Expanded Weather
• IFR Map Mode
• Garmin FliteCharts
• XM Weather - Now has PIREPs and icing forecast information

The Garmin 696 IFR map mode displays a map similar to a standard enroute chart that has important features like victor airways, jet routes, minimum enroute altitude (MEA) and leg distance. The 696's IFR map mode also offers more situational awareness than traditional charts because it subtlety displays major visual reference points like rivers, state boundaries, highways and railroad tracks from Garmin's built-in basemap.

The GPSMAP 696 also includes Garmin FliteCharts, an electronic version of the National Aeronautical Chart Office (NACO) U.S. Terminal Procedures Publication. With FliteCharts, pilots can quickly find and view all NACO departure procedures (DP), standard terminal arrival routes (STARs), approach charts and airport diagrams. If the current approach is known, the Garmin GPSMAP 696 automatically selects the correct chart based on the flight plan. FliteCharts are available every 28-days and will not be available on the Garmin 696 if they are not updated regularly. The Garmin GPSMAP 696 may be used in lieu of paper approach charts when used in accordance with AC 90-78.

The Garmin 696, like the 496 and 396 units, includes an XM radio and XM WX Satellite Weather (United States customers only) that gives next generation radar (NEXRAD), aviation routine weather reports (METARs), terminal aerodrome forecasts (TAFs), temporary flight restrictions (TFRs), lightning, winds aloft, turbulence forecasts, and several other important weather products. The Garmin 696 is also Garmin's first portable device with PIREPs and icing forecast information. The weather data may be laid directly over the unit's navigation and topographic map databases

Garmin 696 Additional Features

• Smart Airspace - automatically highlights airspace close to the pilot’s current altitude and de-emphasizes airspace away from the current altitude
• Safe Taxi - geo-referenced diagrams of over 850 U.S. airports that identify runways, taxiways and hangars, as well as the aircraft’s exact location on the field
• AOPA Airport Directory - electronic version of AOPA’s popular U.S. pilot guide that includes information for over 5,300 public-use airports and more than 7,000 FBOs, such as pilot services, ground transportation, lodging, restaurants, and local attractions.

Garmin 696 - What's in the box?

• Garmin GPSMAP 696 Unit
• Yoke Mount
• GXM 40 Smart Antenna
• Cigarette-lighter Adapter
• AC Adapter Cable
• USB-to-PC Interface Cable
• Low Profile Remote GPS Antenna
• Garmin 696 Unit Cover
• Free Jeppesen Update Certificate
• Garmin 696 Owners Manual and Quick Reference Guide

Garmin 696 Pricing and Availablity

Garmin plans to begin shipping Garmin GPSMAP 696 units on November 5th, 2008 at a price of $3,296.
Initial quantities will be limited so we strongly recommend pre-ordering.
Click Here to order yours today.

Garmin 695 Pricing and Availablity

Please Note: The Garmin 695 has the same features as the 696 with the exception of XM Weather.
Garmin plans to begin shipping Garmin GPSMAP 695 units on November 5th, 2008 at a price of $2,695.
Initial quantities will be limited so we strongly recommend pre-ordering.
Click Here to order yours today.

Comments

[Wes]

This looks like an incredible product. Well done. My question, however, is if this unit will overlay your aircraft's position on top of a selected approach chart. That would be the icing on the cake. Thanks!

[Chris - Tropic Aero]

I agree, that would be great. However, at this time neither the Garmin 696 or Garmin 695 does that.

[Bruce D. Sidlinger]

I received my 696 today from PCA. It's great, especially the tilt/twist/push joystick.

Three negatives so far:
1. Key backlights too dim. (Screen backlight is terrific, though.)
2. After partial initial charging, with the unit off and disconnected I removed the battery (to see the S/N) then reinstalled it. After that, the charge state memory was lost and the battery showed a low charge state.
3. When in the map setup menu the 696 crashed and rebooted, which took a while. Would not have been good had I been airborne and needing it.

More details later...

-Bruce

[Chris - Tropic Aero]

Bruce -

We had a customer who had a similar problem regarding the Garmin 696 powering off. When Garmin was contacted, they advised updating the unit to their most current and recently released software - version 2.30. We are recommending that everyone who receives a new unit to do this first.

Thank you for your comments and I look forward to hearing further reports.

[Jeff Eriksen]

Are there plans for the future availability of Jeppesen Chartview material? We're looking to replace our current EFB's, but we're also a Jeppesen only flight department. Our current EFB's allow for geo-referenced charts to display the aircraft if GPS position is provided.

[Pete - Tropic Aero]

At this time, there are no plans for Jeppesen Charts to be display on the new Garmin 696/695. Currently, it is the FAA charts, which is non moving chart to the GPS position of the aircraft, as it is different to the ones on IFR Glass Panel displays. Remember, all Garmin GPSMAP units are VFR only and if the 695/696 did the geo-referenced charts setup it will border on the IFR side of flying. Garmin is playing it safe for all aviators by leaving the new units VFR and having electronic charts helping to look at the chart for reference instead of using paper charts. The idea of the Jeppesen charts on the new units would be nice for the many, especially in corporate flying where Jeppesen charts are a must for pilots in that part of industry. Garmin is keeping in mind the GA pilots, who would benefit from them the most, perhaps they'll have an optional mode for Jeppesen charts later on. For now, let's see if the new units will take us closer to a full glass aircraft.

- Pete

[GSB]

We've recieved our new Garmin 696 and like everthing but the fact the XM weather takes at least 45 minutes to load. Anyone else having that problem??

[Chris - Tropic Aero]

GSB - We haven't encountered any problems with the Garmin 696 regarding the weather loading slowly. If you haven't done so already, I would recommend downloading and installing the latest software update from Garmin: Version 2.30. You can get it here: https://buy.garmin.com/shop/store/downloadsUpdates.jsp?product=010-00667-40&cID=156&pID=14859

Earlier this year I received a call regarding the weather loading slowly on a Garmin 496, but that ended up being due to an issue with the XM satellite.

- Chris

[Jeff]

Pete said - "Remember, all Garmin GPSMAP units are VFR only and if the 695/696 did the geo-referenced charts setup it will border on the IFR side of flying."

I don't care all that much about geo-referenced charts, but Garmin is already up to its neck in "the IFR side of flying" by advertising that the 696 qualifies as a Class 1 or 2 EFB.

Sorry to hear about the lack of plans for Chartview. In most of our aircraft, a 396 or 496 is a go/no go item. Our GDL 69 goes unused because we like the XM weather on the handheld better.

We'd probably buy 3-4 696's in a hearbeat if they had Jepp Charts available. Oh well.

Jeff

[Dave]

This has been the product I have been looking for. Almost. Features that are important to me are missing and they have been mentioned numerous times in various blogs that I have read.

The lack of features that are keeping from buying are overlay/Geo referenced charts, Charts no longer available for use if subcription expires, (a warning message would be the appropiate response).

I am not encouraged by the comments I am reading to have these important features to help with situational awarness. VFR or IFR.

Dave

[Francisco Lobo]

I don't care about the moving aircraft on Jeppesen charts, i just care about jeppesen charts period..

Why:

- We use them exclusively.
- We need Mexico coverage, and Jeppesen is the way to go to Mexico.

If you add this option (with an extra price even), we would at least buy 20 of this units for our company. Not to mention me and 2 more friends will get one to fly in our piston single 182, Bonanza....

Hope you don't take to long to add this feature!

[Mark Schwartz]

I am looking for a mounting solution in my Baron. The yoke mount that is supplied will not work on a beech yoke. The only way of mounting it that I can see would be close to the armrest and suspended at a 45 degree angle, for ease of operation and without interfering with fuel switching and auto pilot operation. Any ideas would surely be appreciated. Thanks, Mark

[Nick Lynch]

I'm a Lear 60 pilot that uses a Garmin 496 with XM. I echo some other posts. I would by this in a heartbeat if it had Jeppesen on board, as well as the ability to have GPS overlay on the approach plates. C'mon Garmin, where are the bells and whistles?

[Klaus Hildner]

We operate a flight school in Germany with 90% ab initio training all way through to ATP. With Jeppesen on board, this would be the ultimate paperless tool. We would buy 5 right away! I simply do not understand why Garmin is so reluctant to provide this opiton.

Klaus Hildner

[Stromberg]

Clearly there must be a very good reason for Garmin not to include the very very obvious Jeppesen approach plates. It would have been interresting to hear the true explanation (instead of the VFR/IFR excuse).

[Humberto Lugo]

Come on Garmin.. We need that Jeppesen plates.. Just do it.. It wont kill your g1000 sales!

[Martin Pauli]

I also agree, this is nuts! Why don't they just add the Jeppesen Chartview support to the unit? The G1000 can do it! and all, really all pilots would profit from it. Starting at small GA aircraft and going up to airliners. Hundreds, maybe thousands of additional units could be sold if they'd add this feature!
There is simply no logical explanation to it...! :(

I certainly won't buy one for my G1000 equipped aircraft unless this feature gets added!

Best regards
Martin

[Peter Deanthony]

Look... Just close your eyes and add the jepp charts feature, you will proffit from it.. Just do it boyz... You owe it to us and you wont regret it!

[fernando barreto]

I have a portable gpsmap695 and updated to "AMERICAS NAVDATA" garmin website, when i turn on, the database apear "ATLANTIC DATABASE" the correct is "AMERICAS DATABASE".Now i'm don´t know roolback to americas database!

[Pete - Tropic Aero]

Fernando -

You go to the www.fly.garmin.com website to verify the correct database that was installed on the website. You can re-install the database, if it is in the same database cycle for the AMERICAS Database.

[Ian Blair Fries, M.D.]

I have been using a Garmin 696 since AOPA Expo in Novemeber. I like the unit, but the following seem like relatively easy modifications:

Add enroute Victor and Jet airway holding patterns.

Allow the whole approach to be placed on map, not just FAF.

Add the capability to scroll though a list of airports at a given city at a distance from current location.

Jeppesen Charts - add my voice to the chorus.

Publish a price list for updates, single or subsctiption, and include dates of download availabilty, and dates of usage. I'm trying to add up the total cost - and it seems high.

I downloaded Atlantic coverage, and it erased all US coverage. This is not satifactory for my transatlantic flying.

As a customer pays more for a 696 than a 695, there should not be then a additional $75 activation fee for XM.

[abdul fatah]

can this garmin 696, use in Airbus Aircraft? my current garmin 396 is not compatible in airbus cockpit, no signal received. thx.

[Chris - Tropic Aero]

Mr. Fatah - If you cannot receive a signal with the 396, you will not get one with the 696 either. Have you tried placing the remote antenna on the side window? Antennas will not receive a signal if they're placed on windows that have heating elements in them.

[Corporate Pilot]

Add Jepp charts and we will buy one.

[darren robson]

hi there,
i have recently bought a 695, i have sorted everything apart from airspace alerts - it doesnt seem to be alerting anything.... all alters and smart airspace are on.
also the nearest airspace doesnt show anything even though the unit is within class d airspace sfc to 8500ft. it didnt even warn when i entered this airspace.
any ideas ????
MANY THANKS.