Diff between Garmin and Jeppessen Maps

[McMooney]

long story short, due to failure i now have a gnc355 instead of a gns480.

what's the diff betwen garmin and jeppessen maps/navdata ?  are they the same?  does it matter?

so i have about half a year with jeppessen left from the 480, which if i signup for the 355 i get money refunded.  Garmin seems to have more stuff, for a few bucks more, but do i really need safetaxi on the nav unit ?

someone knowledgeable please fill me in.  ELI5

Edited August 14, 2024 by McMooney

[TheAv8r]

The NavData is essentially the same. Jeppesen's data, IMO, is higher-fidelity but both are certified to be used for IFR. I'd go with Jepp if you have a credit with them. 

Garmin's NavData does not have anything more than Jepps does.

[McMooney]

11 minutes ago, TheAv8r said:

The NavData is essentially the same. Jeppesen's data, IMO, is higher-fidelity but both are certified to be used for IFR. I'd go with Jepp if you have a credit with them. 

Garmin's NavData does not have anything more than Jepps does.

so jepp just says navdata while garmin says : Including Garmin Navigation, Obstacles, SafeTaxi, and Terrain databases.

is navdata all i need?  yeah i can understand skipping safetaxi, you can actually see it on the unit but i already have a tablet i use .

what about obstacle and terrain ?

[LANCECASPER]

18 minutes ago, McMooney said:

so jepp just says navdata while garmin says : Including Garmin Navigation, Obstacles, SafeTaxi, and Terrain databases.

is navdata all i need?  yeah i can understand skipping safetaxi, you can actually see it on the unit but i already have a tablet i use .

what about obstacle and terrain ?

It will have the current obstacles and terrain. Terrain should remain constant and obstacles don't change very often. I would use up the credit on Jepp Nav Data then decide.

[PeteMc]

I don't think you'll find any difference with the Jepp data for the GNC.  There are no Charts, so everything else is basically the same data. 

And I've never used the Safe Taxi on my GTN or GNC, the Apt Diagram comes up in my ForeFlight and is MUCH easier to see.   

Terrain hardly ever changes, so that could be once every time they update it.  But you might consider the Obstacle data.  So that puts you at $494 ($299 + 195) so even though you don't need Terrain & Safe Taxi, you might just as well get the Bundle at $499.  Then whenever anything is updated, you'll get it. 

 

[midlifeflyer]

Maps and nav data are two different things.

You will not find any significant difference in the nav data. 

What maps are you talking about?

[McMooney]

11 hours ago, LANCECASPER said:

It will have the current obstacles and terrain. Terrain should remain constant and obstacles don't change very often. I would use up the credit on Jepp Nav Data then decide.

getting the credit requires i sign up for another year of jepp, which from what's been posted, isn't horrible

[TheAv8r]

13 hours ago, McMooney said:

so jepp just says navdata while garmin says : Including Garmin Navigation, Obstacles, SafeTaxi, and Terrain databases.

is navdata all i need?  yeah i can understand skipping safetaxi, you can actually see it on the unit but i already have a tablet i use .

what about obstacle and terrain ?

Those are separate databases - Obstacles, SafeTaxi and Terrain are Garmin databases that are separate from NavData. Garmin just bundles them in into 1 package, but TBH they're not really needed... obstacles and terrain do not change that often and I don't use my GPS to reference those things, I use ForeFlight and ForeFlight includes Obstacles and Terrain databases with my subscription

[201Mooniac]

I'm not sure of the details of packages and such but I use Jepp as I prefer their charts and get terrain, obstacles, safetaxi, and airport data for all my panel mount equipment as well so you might be able to use your credit and still have all the same information..

[Ragsf15e]

Maybe it’s different for different units or packages, but I’ve found that Garmin is cheaper for an entire North American nav database for my 430w.  

[PeteMc]

8 hours ago, midlifeflyer said:

What maps are you talking about?

Is there really any significant difference in the map for any GPS panel mount?  I figured they'd pretty much be the same. 

 

[midlifeflyer]

4 minutes ago, PeteMc said:

Is there really any significant difference in the map for any GPS panel mount?  I figured they'd pretty much be the same. 

 

Pretty much. Details deem a bit on what company’s system (hardware) you are using. For example, using a Jepp vs Garmin database is going to have the same basic map on a GTN. That’s why I asked. 

[PeteMc]

4 hours ago, midlifeflyer said:

For example, using a Jepp vs Garmin database is going to have the same basic map on a GTN.

He's asking for a GNC355, per the OP.  And that's why I asked my questions.    

Unlikely there'd be a difference in the details or even the visual presentation. 

 

[EricJ]

The download processes to get the data in a card for update are very different between the two.   Jeppesen is pretty trivial compared to Garmin.    Neither are awful, but I find Jeppesen much easier and faster.

 

[midlifeflyer]

18 hours ago, PeteMc said:

He's asking for a GNC355, per the OP.  And that's why I asked my questions.    

Unlikely there'd be a difference in the details or even the visual presentation. 

 

Same. The Garmin touchscreen navigators are basically the same except for size. Obviously no Flite Charts  

I once made a comment to someone that all the Garmin units from the early handhelds forward are basically all the same in basic feel and flow (there are obvious difference in functionality). Looked at me like I had three heads., but I really see them that way, so maybe I do have three heads.

[Pinecone]

38 minutes ago, midlifeflyer said:

Same. The Garmin touchscreen navigators are basically the same except for size. Obviously no Flite Charts  

I once made a comment to someone that all the Garmin units from the early handhelds forward are basically all the same in basic feel and flow (there are obvious difference in functionality). Looked at me like I had three heads., but I really see them that way, so maybe I do have three heads.

I have flown Garmin 400, 430, G-1000, GTN-650, GTN-650Xi, GTN-750Xi, and G3X Touch

I totally agree with you.  The basic logic and processes are quite similar.  It is just figuring out where something is and how to get to it with the lease button pushes.

[McMooney]

21 minutes ago, Pinecone said:

I have flown Garmin 400, 430, G-1000, GTN-650, GTN-650Xi, GTN-750Xi, and G3X Touch

I totally agree with you.  The basic logic and processes are quite similar.  It is just figuring out where something is and how to get to it with the lease button pushes.

I'll third this, i was almost immediately comfortable with the 355 coming from the 480 and Garmin Pilot.