Zaon PCAS XRX to Garmin 396/496 Interface Cable

See what you've been missing! Get traffic information on your Garmin GPSMAP 396/496 straight from your Zaon XRX and without the need for TIS coverage. Zaon and Garmin have teamed up to provide highly-accurate traffic information overlayed on the same screen you've been looking at.

Available for both portable and hard-wired (experimental/homebuilts), hooking up an Zaon XRX to your 396/496 is simple and easy. The XRX has a built-in serial port and Garmin interface protocols that, when connected to the 396/496 serial port, provide traffic information that the Garmin can read and display on the moving map and in other ways.

TCAS-style Icons and Info
Similar to weather and terrain info and alerts, traffic information is overlayed directly on the moving map display. Garmin displays traffic position information in the form of white open diamonds (no threat) and yellow closed circles (threat). The traffic's relative altitude is also displayed next to the traffic icon. For example, an aircraft 400 feet above would be displayed as +04. The climb or descend trend is also displayed as either an up or down arrow.

Traffic Alert!
If traffic becomes a threat, as determined by the 396/496, several things happen. A traffic pop-up screen in the lower left corner of the display will appear, regardless of which screen you are looking at. This is helpful if you have switched to the glass panel screen and aren't looking at the moving map. In addition, a female voice from the 396/496 will announce "Traffic Alert" and the unit will beep. This is independent of the voice and beep alerts the XRX unit generates, which can be used as an alternative traffic alert source.

No, it's not TIS
If you are familiar with TIS information displayed on the 396/496, then what you'll see from XRX is similar, except you will never get the "Traffic not available" alert... you are always in XRX coverage! To receive TIS information, the Mode S transponder must be in a TIS broadcast environment, which is primarily around major metropolitan areas. Outside this area, TIS information is not available. The XRX Mode C-based system receives and processes information independently of any service and can send traffic information to the 396/496, even if you are not in TIS coverage.