Monday, July 11, 2011
good product
by Niels from Indialantic FL USA 
Pros: user friendley. battery lif is good
Cons: none
Review: I fly in the gulf of mexico.  It is very user friendley.  It was a very good purchase.  No complaints.

Thursday, June 16, 2011
Consistently poor satellite reception
by Casey Alesso from Rosamond, CA 
Pros: worked for first few months
Cons: unusable due to poor satellite reception now
Review: My Garmin 96C is approximately 2.5 years old. At first I was happy because it worked perfectly. I put it away for about 8 months of no flying and tried it again to find I had poor satellite reception that rendered the gps unusable. I thought it needed updated so I updated the gps on Garmin's website; no change. I have never dropped or hit my 96c and it doesn't have a scratch on it. I live in Southern California.

Monday, September 20, 2010
by HAL from ANGIER NC USA 
Review: I am generally pleased with the 96C, I have had a 496 in the past which is really too cumbersome for a glider cockpit.  My only disappointment with the 96C is the screen is not as bright as I would have thought, and I have set it to maximum brightness..it is a pretty small screen also but does the job.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010
An amazing device with a huge number of capabilities.
by Nelson from Nashville TN USA 
Pros: Great capability, accuracy, durability, batt.life, small size
Cons: operational complexity,small rocker input button
Review: As an old pilot who last flew 45 yrs ago I wanted to monitor my commercial flights (position, altitude, flight time and direction.) When I am walking trails I want a plot (map) of where I went. This instrument does these remarkedly well and accurately. But,!!! because it is also a complete aviation navigational tool, as well as a marine one, it's huge capabilities complicate it's utilization. The instruction manual is 140 pages and takes much study and practice to learn how to use it. It's approach to all it can do is not well lattered nor segregated. Be ready to study extensively. Remote anntenna accessory is necessary.

Friday, July 23, 2010
I would buy this product again
by class of 69 pilot from nd usa 
Pros: very good for the airplane
Cons: lacks in the highway mode.
Review: Screen is small, but I knew it would be. I like that the batteries last more than 3 hrs. If the unit is being bought for highway use, you have to buy the extra software to have more than just very basic navigation.

Monday, July 19, 2010
Very good product. for my needs Could use an update in certain ways.
by Allan from Miami FL USA 
Pros: Excellent screen, battery life, maps, satellite reception.
Cons: Small size screen, a bit big for what it is., a little pricey.
Review: I use this GPS as a backup to the aircraft. I fly mostly as a CFI. The maps and obstacles and approaches are excellent. The color screen is excellent, day or night. The battery life is excellent, and I like the fact that you can just leave it in your flight bag with the AA batteries and not worry about whether it is charged. Also, the reception of satellites in the aircraft is very good, without an external antenna. It helped me a great deal the other night when I couldn't see the airport due to surrounding lights and led me right to it on the extended runway centerline. Wonderful. I wish it had a bit larger screen. I use the map display with the 4 items showing on the top, (bearing, distance, GS, ETE) and it takes up a great deal of space on the already small screen, and there is no way to reduce the size of those items. If you could just reduce their size, it would be better. Or have a slightly larger screen. I also think the unit should be a little smaller for the size of the screen, etc. although it fits in my flight bag ok. It is also a bit pricey, considering that you can get an AERA 500 for about $300 more (although I prefer the battery life on the 96C, that is why I bought it). The bottom line is it is very useful and does what it is supposed to do. For that I am very happy with it. But it has been on the market a number of years now, and I think it is time for an update.

Monday, April 26, 2010
May not be the latest and greatest, but it's one excellent GPS
by Nat from  
Pros: Easy to use, many features, long battery life, and excellent screen clarity
Cons: price!
Review: With today's technologically advanced portable GPS systems, I decided to buy a Garmin 96c. I could have chosen a touch screen GPS, such as the Garmin Aera, but I really wanted a GPS system that can soley run on alkaline batteries. This way, I can feel confident I will never run out of power. I can bring along as many AA batteries as I want on my flights. A set of AA batteries will last this unit about 30 hours. The 96C does more than you need as a VFR pilot. I fly using pilotage and dead reckoning and this unit can electronically replace all my navigating needs. However, being a good pilot, I always make it a habit to use pilotage and dead reckoning. I can assure you this little unit has more features than you can imagine. Also, the 96c is very user friendly. I quickly learned how to use this GPS by playing with it. This is a reason why I love garmin, for its intuitive system.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009
I would buy this product again
by Javier from San Juan PR USA 
Pros: all
Cons: the price
Review: Very good

Monday, November 09, 2009
Garmin GPS Don't take off without one!
by A Customer from Rochester, NY 
Pros: multiple features at a reasonable price
Cons: little tricky to set up
Review: I have found the Garmin 96C be an excellent entry GPS. I am very satisfied with the purchase.I added an available external antenna (suction cups attach to wind screen)and it improved its reception immesurably.I had a little difficulty with all the features at first but the Garmin Techs were extremely helpful. As a new pilot it also gave me a greater sense of confidence in my navigation ability.

Saturday, October 31, 2009
don't let the small size fool you
by A Customer from north of EMT 
Pros: nice battery life
Cons: small screen, but is still good.
Review: I bought this for my cross-country solos as a backup unit. The re-fresh rate is slow, but still can be used effectively flying small (slow) craft during VFR approaches to new airports. The extended centerlines are a HUGE help. The unit does not have terrain warnings, but it does have obstacles, which can be more meaningful flying in the SoCal area with its numerous antenna farms and things that generally stick out of the ground. It will warn you of vertical airspace incursions, which means you may still be above or below a particular airspace, but the unit says are you in the space. The vertical airspace limits are available with a keystroke. I feel this unit would work great either as a primary navigation or secondary to your human skills as a pilot.

Monday, June 22, 2009
Better than a Second Alternator
by Careful Diamond Pilot from Austin TX USA 
Pros: Easy to use and full of features
Cons: It's small
Review: The GPSMAP 96C is part of a "safety pack" that sits on the passenger seat in the event of a total electrical failure. It lives in a big rubber band with a battery powered nav/com, a spare pair of eye glasses and the quick start manuals for the two pieces of gear. If both panel gps and vor's go down, it is designed to help get us to the nearest appropriate field and for that purpose it is perfect. Easy to use and priced fairly reasonably for what you get--a small format but otherwise full service Garmin GPS. Any pilot who has worked Garmin navigators should consider finding the dough to buy this product for this purpose. With this little thing in the plane, the electrical system can fail, the essential bus can run out of juice and you are still not blind in the clag.  Reasonably priced piece of mind.

Monday, May 18, 2009
camparatively speaking, a good buy for the money
by David from Halifax MA USA 
Pros: Long Battry life - compact, easy to hold -
Cons: I wish to screen was a tad larger - looses satilites @ times
Review: Seems very acutate. Has many features that fulfill the average pilot's needs. I am certainly not sorry I bought it. I have used it on commercial flights too. Fun to see where you are, heading, air speed, altitude, etc.

Sunday, April 05, 2009
by javier suarez from Pachuca hidalgo mexico 
Review: It needs beter mexican maps.

Saturday, January 24, 2009
by Dan from Heathsville VA USA 
Review: I was looking for a good basic gps for airplane and boat. Works fine and is user-friendly. This GPS keeps track of battery time and uses alkaline AAs. Only 6 hrs of use so far but going strong. The unit may be submersed in water for up to 1/2 an hour but I won't try that test.

Monday, November 10, 2008
Excellent Product
by CAF Pilot from Smyrna GA USA 
Pros: Small, light, easy to use, cheap.
Cons: None
Review: Great GPS, I love it's price first off, and the color display and excellent features (too many to list), make it great for improved situational awareness. It almost has too many functions, it is hard to remember them all. I fly an MD-11 for a living, and this has better functions than the technology on the 11.

Sunday, August 24, 2008
Pretty good little gizmo
by Ben from Sugar Land TX USA 
Pros: great interface and easily to used
Cons: battery life seems not to be as advertised
Review: I really like my Garmin 96C. It has all the functions that I need as a pilot. The interface is really user friendly and easy to understand, as I have come to expect with Garmin, they do things right. One thing that I was disappointed with was there is no way to plan flights with the software that is included with your unit, it only for use in the automotive mode which I found to be lacking but that is not what I bought it for. And it takes a while to do that with the unit itself. It may also be that I have not used the software enough to like it. Also if you use Ni-Mh rechargeable batteries, the battery life seems to be about 18-20 while standard alkaline batteries seems to last 22-28 hours. I use the rechargeable ones and always have a spare set and never seem to have a problem. But for just under $500 USD you just can't ask for a better little gizmo to have in the cockpit to aid in your situational awareness at those busy airports

Sunday, July 27, 2008
As Advertised
by John from Arnold MD USA 
Pros: Slow battery discharge. Easy to read.
Cons: Complex setup due to availability of so many options. Does NOT include carrying case.
Review: Everything that I read, including a review from AOPA, said that the Garmin 96C was a great GPS navigator. They were right. The battery drain is very slow. The screen, although small, is easy to read. Setup is a little difficult, but only because there are so many options. The carrying case does not come with it, so you might want to get that, too. Get the Sanyo Eneloop Battery Charging Kit, for sure.

Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Love it
by Robert from Houston TX USA 
Review: I like everything about it including the excellent yoke mount. I was concerned about the small screen but have been pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to see. The graphics are clear and sharp. There's no need to use the back light during the day as the screen is bright and sharp. I've changed batteries for every flight but am probably wasting money. the meter has always indicated full charge.

Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Excellent Product
by Mike from St. Louis, MO 
Pros: Light Weight, Small, Great Battery Life, WAAS enabled, Once it has the satelites its locked on
Cons: Must manually enter every waypoint except for FAF and MAP on approaches
Review: I am a FAR Part 135 cargo pilot and used to fly without GPS on a regular basis. I have experience with the G1000 and extensive use of the GNS430 and I would not trade in my 96C for just about anything. It's small light weight and doesn't kill my two AA batteries. Very happy and would recommend this unit to anyone who is looking for something small but useful.

Friday, April 04, 2008
Good value
by A Customer from Milton WV USA 
Pros: Alot of info from such a small unit
Cons: Locked up a couple of times and had to remove batteries to restore
Review: Product works good I am a low hours pilot have flown three time with the unit about a total of 3 hours. Every time I have lost signal for a few minutes. This is no problem as I use the unit as a back up to the panel unit. I have used it in a high wing plane only with the yoke mount. A couple of time the unit locked up and had to remove batteries to get the unit to operate again. Bought the software for auto used and am very happy with the auto mode. The display is ok in sunlight could be brighter.

Friday, January 25, 2008
Good aircraft GPS
by Redge from Durango CO USA 
Pros: Easy to use with a lot of power in a small package
Cons: Small screen
Review: This is a backup GPS for my panel unit. I found the 96C easy to use & update, and I like the convenience of programming a flight plan at home. Airport, com, and airspace data are easy to access. The screen is small, but the color and good resolution make it readable. The included yoke mount was useless in my Van's RV8, but I canibalized the mounting to install the 96C on my kneeboard.

Monday, January 21, 2008
Great Value!!
by Michael from Iowa City, Iowa 
Pros: Small, light weight, many functions
Cons: none as of yet
Review: More than what I thought I would get from a lower priced GPS unit. It will take me weeks to learn all of the functions. The airplane/ automobile/ marine modes make this handy no matter how you travel. My flight instructor was also very impressed.

Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Great GPS
by John from Georgia 
Pros: easy to see, great features
Review: I got more than I expected with this unit. It is easy to use, very afordable and has many features similar to the installed units such as the 430. Great product.

Tuesday, February 06, 2007
by A Customer from SanJuaquin Valley, CA 
Pros: Battery life
Cons: Controls could be more user friendly
Review: This thing is great right out of the box. I took it flying on the yolk mount and it was a nobrainer. I mulled over all the handheld gps units for a long time. I am glad I choose this one. It's great for the money.

Friday, January 19, 2007
by Citation Ultra - Diver Driver from Santa Barbara, CA 
Pros: Versatile, Logical User Interface, Powerful
Cons: Small Screen, Not the Fastest Processor
Review: After investing in the Garmin City Navigator Software so I wouldn't get lost in the Car anymore I was very satisfied by how the unit adapts in Automotive mode. Storage memory is enough to contain almost the Entire State of California in City Navigator (automotive) In aviation mode it is also very good for situational awareness and backup GPS when flying cross country. I also use the unit for dropping skydivers and I would say that the best feature about that is the long battery life. Haven't used the Marine feature yet but it is probably just as useful if not more.

All of the Garmin units come with a recent navigation database already installed.  Plus, in the box there will be a coupon for one free navigation database update (downloadable from Garmin's website).  The database that is already pre-installed is usually very recent, but probably not THE most current version depending on how long it sat in Garmin's warehouse before shipping to us.  The databases are updated frequently (every 28 days), which is why Garmin includes one free update with each new unit.

You will be able to use the GPS, but you will not be able to use the Trip and Waypoint Manager software that is included.  It must be run on a computer with Microsoft Windows 98 or later.  It is not Mac compatible at this time.

The Trip and Waypoint Manager software is used to create waypoints and routes on a computer and then download them to a Garmin device. The program also transfer waypoints, routes and tracks from the GPS device to a computer .

Detailed maps cannot be loaded to any Garmin GPS device using this product. The map included in this software is only a basemap. It is used to give a visual reference of where waypoints, routes or tracks are located. The detail on this map is minimal.