Updating Garmin GNS530W and Aera 795

[Flyler]

I am a new Mooney owner and have these lovely Garmin 530W and Aera 795 devices.  Both have out of date databases, and I'm not too familiar with the world of Garmin.  Does anyone have any experience or suggestions with getting updates?  I would like to avoid buying an update for one device, only to find that there's a great "package deal" that I missed out on 

I have heard that the updates are very very expensive.

[LANCECASPER]

40 minutes ago, Flyler said:

I am a new Mooney owner and have these lovely Garmin 530W and Aera 795 devices.  Both have out of date databases, and I'm not too familiar with the world of Garmin.  Does anyone have any experience or suggestions with getting updates?  I would like to avoid buying an update for one device, only to find that there's a great "package deal" that I missed out on 

I have heard that the updates are very very expensive.

First you have to set up an account at flygarmin.com. Then make sure you have the serial numbers of all of your devices. 

I think just the Nav data alone per year on the GNS530 is $299. 

If I remember correctly nav, charts, plates and everything is $149 per year on the 795, but that may have gone up.

Look at the packages like the OnePak and see if you want more  than just NAV updates for the 530. The packages usually include everything Garmin in the panel plus a portable plus an upgrade from the basic to the premium version of Garmin Pilot. I think the basic OnePak is $669/year. (https://fly.garmin.com/fly-garmin/onepak/)

[Pinecone]

You can also call Garmin Aviation Support and talk to them.  They will help guide you to the best for YOU.

[Flyler]

Thank you LANCECASPER and Pinecone.  Those rates aren't nearly as much as I was fearing, so that is a relief!  I'll give Garmin a call too, glad to hear they are helpful.

[Ragsf15e]

22 minutes ago, Flyler said:

Thank you LANCECASPER and Pinecone.  Those rates aren't nearly as much as I was fearing, so that is a relief!  I'll give Garmin a call too, glad to hear they are helpful.

Well they are also salespeople… go in knowing what you need and what else you might want.  What you need to be legal ifr is the navdata in the 530 and legal charts (paper or digital) in the cockpit.  You don’t need the terrain, business/services, obstacle data, etc. Maybe some of that is helpful but it’s optional.  Terrain data and obstacles don’t change often, so maybe you don’t need a subscription with monthly updates?

We are all different, but i get the navdata only. I have everything else on my foreflight.  I do have a recent terrain and obstacle database from a year or so back.

[toto]

It’s hard to make the OnePak pencil out if you just have a single panel mount GPS and a portable. The only thing you need to be “legal” is the $299 for the GNS .. you can auto-renew that subscription and then just update the 795 occasionally.

The OnePak gets a lot more valuable when you have multiple panel-mount Garmin devices with databases, because it’s just a single annual fee for the whole panel, but ime doing it piecemeal will save some money if you have one certified unit and a portable.

If money isn’t a major concern, the OnePak is very convenient. You tell them which devices are in your aircraft and they provide download links every month for exactly the databases you need.

[Rmnpilot]

If you are planning to be at Oshkosh this year, there are typically deals on databases.   I’m not sure what they are or on which packages they work with but it’s something to consider. 

[KSMooniac]

I found out a couple of years ago that my trusty 496 was "too old" to get in on the bundle deals that update a portable.  But they were willing to sell me a 496 update for $150 or $200 separately.  I left and got Jepp nav data instead.  The 795 might have a similar status now, so make sure to ask!

[IvanP]

I think what matters most is what setup you are most comfortable with. Having a simple and convenient update process can, in my opinion, outweigh "saving" couple hundred bucks per year. If you fly often and your mission involves IFR flights, databases may not be the best place to skimp on.   

[Pinecone]

For my old panel GTN-650Xi and AERA760 and Garmin Pilot), the difference between a pack and doing the two GPSs separately was about $10 IIRC.

For my new panel, it is a no brainer, as I have multiple units so a One Pak makes the most sense.