Garmin Aera 500.

[Lood]

Does anybody here have any experience on these? Here in SA, quite a few guys have jumped at the opertunity to upgrade their old GPS's with the Aera 500 and you can now kick out a Garmin 296 from behind every second bush. Does the fact that the G296 has been discontinued make it a bad choice? The reason I'm asking is that brand new in the box 296's can now be had for less than an Aera 500 and my Mooney is wired for a G196 which means that a 296 would fit perfectly. Also, I don't like a touch screen - specially in an airplane. I've also heard that the Aera is taken from the Nuvi and that the screen resolution might not be that good.

[podair]

Hi

I ve just upgraded my 196 for an Aera. Fantastic piece of kit, but don't think there is actually much difference in screen resolution with the 296/496 but it is at least as good as the 296. Backlit colour is a huge improvement from the 196 (which I liked a lot already), so either 296 or Aera is a great upgrade. I think the refresh rate might be quicker in the Aera than the 296.

I have a metal plate instead of the M20F yoke clock and had a 196 cradle there so was looking at the 296 too initially, hoping for a 495. In the end, drilled four little holes in the metal plate and fixed the Aera cradle there. I like the fact that the Aera is much thinner. The screen is great and I m ok with the touchscreen. I get perfect sat reception with the built in antenna from the yoke, something I didnt get with the 196. 

Another plus is the Aera dock (rather than buy another one I simply unscrewed the one from the yoke mount) is very convenient, has power built in, and  clips nicely into and out of place whereas with the 196 I had to undo the power cable and antenna every time I took it off. The Aera also accepts inputs from tcas devices like the Zaon , which I don t think the 296 does (but the 495 does). I do miss the toggle buttons however, but pretty sure I ll get used to the screen quickly.

Pity we don't get XM weather in Europe or SA, so anything more than the 500 is of no real use for us in the Aera series.

I'd say if you can get a 296 for at least 25% less than a new Aera so (so $200 off or so) , it might be a good deal, but otherwise go for the new!

Anyone want a nice 196 with the auto kit? I still have my old GPS90 for backup!