Unparalleled Situational Awareness

The GPSMAP 396 with XM WX Satellite Weather(TM) features Next Generation Radar (NEXRAD), Aviation Routine Weather Reports (METARs), Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs), Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs), Lightning and Winds Aloft, and several other important weather products to help pilots make informed navigational decisions. This new aviation handheld continues to reduce pilot workload by displaying Traffic Information Service (TIS) data when interfaced to the GTX 330, and can channel frequencies with the touch of a button when interfaced to the SL30 nav/comm radio. The GPSMAP 396 is also capable of receiving XM Satellite Radio's 130-plus channels of music, sports, news, talk, and entertainment programming through a subscription. Once on the ground, the unit continues to provide pilots with invaluable information in a car or boat via automotive or marine navigation modes.

Pilots can customize the map display to overlay XM WX data directly over the unit's Jeppesen and topographic map databases, or display individual weather products on the exclusive weather explorer(TM) page. In terrain mode, the GPSMAP 396 combines inputs from built-in terrain, obstacle, and electronic flight databases to give pilots a vivid depiction of proximity hazards that require their attention. Pilots can customize their own minimum-clearance limits to receive terrain cautions, which pop up as digital thumbnail images.

Viewing the display in any light is easy, thanks to the device's 256-color, high-resolution (480 x 320-pixel) TFT display. The unit also features USB data transfer, fast processing speed, and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack.

XM Satellite data and audio is delivered to the GPSMAP 396 through Garmin's new GXM 30 smart antenna, which is included with the unit. The compact GXM 30 (roughly three inches in diameter) processes all weather information and sends the finished data to the GPSMAP 396 for display.

With the press of a button, the unit toggles into automotive or marine mode. When on the road, users can load the GPSMAP 396 with optional MapSource(R) City Select(R) software for voice-prompted turn-by-turn directions to addresses and points of interest. The optional auto kit includes a friction and dash mount, a cigarette-lighter adapter with speaker output, a 128-MB data card, and a MapSource City Select CD-ROM for detailed maps of the United States.

On the water, the GPSMAP 396 offers a worldwide marine database and U.S. tide data. When paired with MapSource BlueChart(R) marine cartography, this waterproof unit displays information including depth contours, inter-tidal zones, spot soundings, wrecks, navaids, port plans, restricted areas, cable areas, and anchorages.

An automatic logbook also calculates your flight time and automatically records departure and arrival locations. When used with Garmin's free logbook software—FlightBook—this feature makes light work of maintaining your logbook. Your flight information will be stored in the unit and can be downloaded to this exclusive Flightbook software at any time.

Package Includes:

• GPSMAP 396
• GXM(TM) 30 smart antenna
• Yoke mount
• Cigarette-lighter adapter
• AC adapter cable
• USB-to-PC interface cable
• Low-profile remote GPS antenna
• Carrying case
• Free Jeppesen(R) update certificate
• Trip & Waypoint Manager software
• Owner's manual
• Quick-reference guide

GPSMAP 396 Feautures:

• WAAS-enabled, 12 parallel channel GPS receiver
• Adjustable quad-helix receiving antenna with remote antenna capability
• Display Size: 3.8" Diagonal, 480 x 320 pixels
• Display: 256-color, sunlight readable TFT with adjustable backlight
• Unit Dimensions: 5.7" W x 3.2" H x 1.9" D
• Adjustable yoke mount
• GXM 30 Smart Antenna for XM Satellite Radio Services (subscription necessary)
• GA 26C remote antenna
• Terrain/obstacle display with pop-up warnings
• Accepts standard Garmin data cards and pre-programmed data cards
• Built-in basemap with automatic routing and turn-by-turn directions
• Provides voice-prompt road guidance when the power/speaker cable is connected
• The basemap shows cities, interstates, coastline detail, and U.S. tide stations
• Rechargeable lithium-ion battery offers 5 to 15 hours of use depending on backlight settings
• Provides separate serial and USB interfaces
• One RS-232 serial ports
• 3,000 user waypoints with an expanded list of waypoint symbols
• 50 reversible routes with 300 waypoints per route
• 10,000 point automatic track log; 15 saved tracks, 1,000 saved track points each
• Project your position on the map with the configurable complex heading line
• Water resistant, IEC 60529 IPX7 standards (submersible to 1 meter for 30 minutes)
• Package includes MapSource Trip & Waypoint Manager CD-ROM

Garmin part number: 010-00425-00

Our Price:  $1,495.00

Other Helpful Documents:

• Garmin GPSMAP 396 Pilot's Guide
• Garmin GPSMAP 396 Quick Reference Guide

Related Shopping Areas:
GPS >  Aviation GPS Units

More Items Labeled:  garmin 396

Lowest Price Guaranteed: If you find a better price elsewhere on this product we will match that price and beat it by 10% of the difference. Buy With Confidence!  Purchase today and you can return it in the original condition through Monday, December 21, 2009!  Our return policy. Have a question about Garmin GPSMAP 396 (Americas)?  Ask your question and see previous Q & A about this product.

Customers who bought this were also interested in:   Garmin GPSMAP 496 (Americas) $1,999.00 Garmin GPSMAP 396 / 496 Lithium Ion Battery Pack $54.95 Garmin GPSmap 396 Pilot-Friendly GPS Manual $36.50 Garmin Deluxe Carrying Case (196, 295, 296, 396) $32.00 ASA VFR Kneeboard $14.95 David Clark H10-13.4 Headset $289.95

 

Customer Reviews For Garmin GPSMAP 396 (Americas): Write a review

Thursday, July 30, 2009 A vast improvement over flying without a moving map GPS by John from Iowa City IA USA  Pros: it makes cross-country flying much better, especially with XM weather Cons: The database does not include some private airports, including my home base. You have to add these yourself, manually, one at a time as waypoints. Review: I didn't use a GPS during my PPL training. Then I flew some trainers with a simple older GPS with a display that indicated only the heading and distance to your destination or waypoint. These older GPS receivers were tricky to program with a route, because you interact with them only by looking at a line or two of text. After that experience, I bought the Garmin 396, and yoke mounted it on the rental planes I fly. It is so much easier to program and to interpret what I should do while navigating, in comparison to the older GPS receivers. The XM weather is terrific for cross-country flying. Besides avoiding bad weather, it's good for checking METARS for your destination airport or airports along your route. The 396 comes with your choice of the internal antenna (a stubby thing that fits on the back of the receiver or an external antenna that you can put on the dashboard). The external antenna is connected by removing the internal antenna, which is easy to do. For one of the rental planes I fly, a Cherokee, I found that it was necessary to use the external antenna because, when flying southbound, I didn't get a signal from enough satellites when using only the internal antenna. On other planes the internal antenna received enough satellites. It just depends on the windshield/cockpit layout I suppose. Monday, November 26, 2007 The ultimate headache remedy by Michael from Lexington KY USA  Pros: Automatic weather updating, vertical descent profiles and vectors to final approach Cons: No autopilot linkup, some feedback when listening to XM Radio Review: It's obvious at first glance that, as far as a pilot's tools go, the GPSmap 396 is an outstanding piece of machinery. But, at least in my experience, it stands out not just in the crowded field of aviation electronics, but above most other GPSs. The thing that strikes me most about this piece is the attention to detail in its execution. The menus and functions are mapped out so that you're never more than three button-presses away from any piece of information you could want. It may be bad practice, but I've all but done away with charts and my trusty E6B after getting one. You're calling up Approach and want to tell them where you are? Press the NRST button, a standard function of almost all GPS devices. On the GPSmap 396, it spits out a laundry list of the nearest airfields, navaids, weather stations, cities and more, with distance, bearing and frequency on the first visible page. Bam, I'm 1-6 miles south-southwest of Meridian. No relevant information is left out. No longer do I have to hunt all over a Class B on a sectional to find the floor and ceiling for a small chunk of it. Scroll the cursor over any highlighted zone (MOA, terminal airspace, even TFRs) on the map, and it hits you with floor, ceiling, controlling agency and frequencies. The GPSmap 396 is more than just a navaid though. It makes physically flying a lot simpler by cutting out the paperwork and the VFR calculations. While it doesn't grab the controls and fly the direct line for you like an in-panel GPS, for a fraction of the price, I would settle for this any day. It shows me an azimuth to fly straight into any runway with a vertical speed to match to land right on the numbers. It warns me well in advance of encroaching on forbidden airspace. And like many GPSs these days, it replaces half the instrument panel by reading altitude, heading, ground speed, and more. Granted, I would never advocate relying primarily on the GPS for instrumentation purposes, but it provides a good backup when it's not an emergency situation. Far and away my favorite part of the whole package, though, is the XM Wx service. If you pay for the weather subscription, the GPS gets everything from national NEXRAD weather to cloud cover, storm cells, AIRMETS, SIGMETS and more from an overhead satellite. As you fly it automatically picks up the METAR from the nearest reporting station and feeds it to you. Never again am I changing from one tiny airport's AWOS to another while I'm flying for three hours through the most barren parts of Kentucky. Want the local altimeter setting? It's one page away from your map. It helps you divert around invisible weather on those dreary overcast days and stay well clear of clouds to meet those VFR minimums. As far as visual flight rules are concerned, it's a godsend. As I understand, the only thing the 396 lacks over the more expensive 496 is taxiway information. I'm not yet too proud to ask for progressive taxiing, I'd much rather save myself the extra pocket change. In conclusion, I would recommend the Garmin GPSmap 396 to any pilot. It's saved my butt on more than one occasion, and it frees you up to look outside and enjoy the flight much more often. Thursday, October 04, 2007 by peter from surrey b.c. canada  Review: very good,does what it says.

 

 

Previous Customer Questions For Garmin GPSMAP 396 (Americas): Ask Your Own Question

On Tuesday, October 13, 2009 a customer asked: Q: What's the annual cost for the aviation database for the 396? And the one time cost? A: For the Jeppesen Aviation Database a single update is $49.95 and the annual service is $295.00. On Monday, May 18, 2009 a customer asked: Q: I've got the XM subscription, but want to add the XM radio. How does the unit need to be wired to allow that sound to come into the intercom system. Obviously the external speaker isn't going to cut it inflight. (flying to Alaska from Alabama). A: If your headset does not have music input, you can get the CD / MP3 Headset Adapter or the CD / MP3 Intercom Adapter or The Muse to hook up to the Garmin 396.  On Friday, May 01, 2009 a customer asked: Q: Can the 396 recieve and process XM weather with the standard remote XM radio antenna or is the GXM(TM) smart antenna required to recieve and process XM weather? A: What do you mean by "standard remote XM radio antenna"?  One that you already have installed from another XM product?  Or, are you talking about the antenna that is attached to the back side (upper right) of the Garmin 396?  If you are talking about the Garmin 396 antenna, this will not work for the XM weather.  You also need to have the GXM 30 smart antenna (look like a small hockey puck).  The Garmin 396 antenna is only used for getting GPS satellite information and is not able to communicate with the XM satellites in any way. On Tuesday, May 27, 2008 a customer asked: Q: What is the extra cost of XM weather on the 396 and 496? A: The current prices for XM WX Satellite Weather are $29.99 for the Lite and $49.99 for the full weather feed plus a $75.00 activiation fee for either. The Lite version does not contain High Resolution Canadian Radar, Canadian Weather Warnings, Echo Tops, AIRMETs, Lightning, Freezing Levels, Winds Aloft (at altitude), SIGMETs, Severe Weather Storm Tracks, Satellite Mosaic, or Surface Analysis. For a comparision of the services, please visit: http://www.xmradio.com/weather/av_service_pricing.xmc On Wednesday, March 12, 2008 a customer asked: Q: can i buy an ac adaptor/charging cord for a garmin 396.. How much.? Ordering info please. A: The Garmin 396 includes an AC power adapter (charger) for the rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack (also included).  It also includes a cigarette lighter adapter for use in the aircraft. On Sunday, January 28, 2007 a customer asked: Q: Read where the 496 has greater resolution than the 396 although the LCD reads to be the same. Does this meant that it is software dependent or what. I would like to purchase the 396 because of cost but can one upgrade the software? I don't need the weather of the XM but would like to have high resolution and good data on airports, etc. A: Additional features offered by the new 496 include: Garmin’s SafeTaxi airport diagrams for over 650 airports; AOPA’s Airport Directory data; Garmin’s altitude sensitive Smart Airspace alerts; enhanced high-resolution terrain; private airports and heliports; faster 5 hertz GPS update rate; and pre-loaded automotive maps of North America or Europe. The near real-time Panel Page, with its accelerated GPS update rate, is worth the upgrade alone. XM WX Satellite Weather™ and audio entertainment packages are optionally available. Plus, the unit’s built-in turn-by-turn automotive database makes it an all-purpose, go-anywhere navigator for the dashboard as well as the cockpit. The 396 cannot be upgraded to include the 496 features.