Lutter
Active member
The title says it all, what's your guy's take on it?
iPad vs Garmin 496
- Thread starter Lutter
- Start date
People love their iPads for nav, but mine kept overheating and shutting down due to heat in the cockpit. I also found the iPad’s screen contrast was noticeably less than on a Garmin rig, so I went the latter route. Haven’t used a 496 much, as I went with the 796.
My experience wasn’t typical, else nobody would use iPads for nav.
Rick
My experience wasn’t typical, else nobody would use iPads for nav.
Rick
Bob Turner
Well-known member
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- Apr 4, 2018
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- 3,998
I use 295, 296, and 496. I found Foreflight harder to use than a chart, and the critical info - bearing and track - was in fine print.
I program the 296/496 with four data fields - distance, speed, track, bearing. I put them in a nice big column on the right. I shoot simulated ILS approaches with all three, including no gyro approaches - just airspeed, altimeter, the Garmin (which has a horizontal flight director) and the KN 53 ILS receiver.
So, for me, The iPad is in the way, and not very friendly. Most cannot fly without one.
I program the 296/496 with four data fields - distance, speed, track, bearing. I put them in a nice big column on the right. I shoot simulated ILS approaches with all three, including no gyro approaches - just airspeed, altimeter, the Garmin (which has a horizontal flight director) and the KN 53 ILS receiver.
So, for me, The iPad is in the way, and not very friendly. Most cannot fly without one.
Clifford Daly
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- Apr 12, 2018
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- 146
iPad with foreflight is definitely the easiest to keep up to date and literally has everything you need. I have auto updates on so when it hits WiFi it’s updating. It’s also nice that it works in every airplane I fly and easily goes on a kneeboard, a mount, or simply holding it. It also charges easily with a cigarette plug or portable battery pack.
I have recently found that I barely use my iPad and more use my phone (iPhone 8 plus) with the stratus. It’s big enough for what I need and sits up anywhere!
The synthetic vision, while very pointless for vfr flying, work amazing!
@Bob Turner everyone should fly with an iPad or iPhone. Even if you don’t use it on your flight, it’s literally EVERYTHING you could possibly need and it fits in my pocket.
I have recently found that I barely use my iPad and more use my phone (iPhone 8 plus) with the stratus. It’s big enough for what I need and sits up anywhere!
The synthetic vision, while very pointless for vfr flying, work amazing!
@Bob Turner everyone should fly with an iPad or iPhone. Even if you don’t use it on your flight, it’s literally EVERYTHING you could possibly need and it fits in my pocket.
JimParker256
1965 Champion 7ECA (O-200)
I fly with the iPad Mini 4 and an iPhone 7+ (big screen), and have never had either one shut down due to heat issues. I'm in Dallas, TX area, with summer temps of 105ºF on the ground being quite common. On rare occasions, I've had some glare issues, but usually a slight adjustment of the angle makes enough difference that I've had very little issue with it. Newer models (Pro models) are supposed to have much better anti-glare capability on their screens.
Personally, I don't like the 496 much (screen is too small and low resolution, and the device itself is strangely "bulky"). The cost of the updates seems criminal to me, but then it IS a Garmin product... The 696/796 are much nicer than the 496, but I just can't justify the price tag for "one trick pony" like that. The iPad is so flexible and useful away from aviation that it just makes sense to me.
Personally, I don't like the 496 much (screen is too small and low resolution, and the device itself is strangely "bulky"). The cost of the updates seems criminal to me, but then it IS a Garmin product... The 696/796 are much nicer than the 496, but I just can't justify the price tag for "one trick pony" like that. The iPad is so flexible and useful away from aviation that it just makes sense to me.
aftCG
Well-known member
My brother gave me his 696. Cool device, though it has a rather dated feel at this point. My main concern was the loss of useful load in the Citabria.
Damn thing is a brick.
Damn thing is a brick.
Lutter
Active member
I'm appreciating all the input guys.
Seems like a no brainer to me. The 496 is reliable, but old tech (out of production), bulky, and not changing any time soon. Half the research I've done online is a few years old, and iPad apps develop more and more all the time. There are cooling docks that both give you a mounting solution, and keep it cool (for those that have had issue).
Seems like a no brainer to me. The 496 is reliable, but old tech (out of production), bulky, and not changing any time soon. Half the research I've done online is a few years old, and iPad apps develop more and more all the time. There are cooling docks that both give you a mounting solution, and keep it cool (for those that have had issue).
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Bruce
Well-known member
My main concern was cost of staying current with the iPad mini I have fly Q about 5 years ago I bought a lifetime subscription both ifr and ifr for $500 that was a Black Friday sale. It's loaded on my I phone 6s plus as well so keep this in mind for your decision, I check updates before every flight very happy with decision
Bruce
Bruce
Does Foreflight work considerably better if the iPad is held vertically or horizontally? Is wi-fi or the cellular service used in flight or helpful to have on the ground?
Thanks
Thanks
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I use an iPad mini with Garmin Pilot and a GDL-50 for ADS-B in. I carry an Android phone for backup.
ADS-B in for real time weather and traffic is a game changer for XC. If you cannot do that with a 496 then IMO there is no comparison.
I had some problems with overheating early on, but not anymore. I believe Garmin made some software changes to reduce demand on the CPU, because I notice a significant difference in the heat my iPad generates at home. There used to be a very hot spot on the back as soon as I launched the map, but not anymore.
Heating due to sunlight should be manageable in our aircraft by mounting the device low and vertical. I may experiment with shade screens for the greenhouse roof this summer.
I also believe the device generates less heat when operated on external power vs drawing battery power, so a USB port on the panel helps.
Cell phone service is not a factor in the air, so the only real advantage is software and chart updates, and cross loading flight plans and trips if you use another device to plan. I tend to leave the ipad mini in my plane and flight plan on my phone. Part of my pre-flight routine for XC is turning on my cell phone hotspot and iPad Wi-Fi to allow Pilot to sync on the two devices. Takes about 2 minutes, then I shut down all connections except for Bluetooth to save power and reduce heat. Alternatively you can take the ipad with you to plan and update.
The only major negative factor I have found is the complexity of Garmin Pilot. It takes a while to learn, and can be confusing in the air. For example, I still do not understand how to access FIS-B winds aloft reliably on my iPad. I know it's in there, but half the time I can't get to it or the data is old. Frustrating and distracting to experience this while flying the plane.
ADS-B in for real time weather and traffic is a game changer for XC. If you cannot do that with a 496 then IMO there is no comparison.
I had some problems with overheating early on, but not anymore. I believe Garmin made some software changes to reduce demand on the CPU, because I notice a significant difference in the heat my iPad generates at home. There used to be a very hot spot on the back as soon as I launched the map, but not anymore.
Heating due to sunlight should be manageable in our aircraft by mounting the device low and vertical. I may experiment with shade screens for the greenhouse roof this summer.
I also believe the device generates less heat when operated on external power vs drawing battery power, so a USB port on the panel helps.
Cell phone service is not a factor in the air, so the only real advantage is software and chart updates, and cross loading flight plans and trips if you use another device to plan. I tend to leave the ipad mini in my plane and flight plan on my phone. Part of my pre-flight routine for XC is turning on my cell phone hotspot and iPad Wi-Fi to allow Pilot to sync on the two devices. Takes about 2 minutes, then I shut down all connections except for Bluetooth to save power and reduce heat. Alternatively you can take the ipad with you to plan and update.
The only major negative factor I have found is the complexity of Garmin Pilot. It takes a while to learn, and can be confusing in the air. For example, I still do not understand how to access FIS-B winds aloft reliably on my iPad. I know it's in there, but half the time I can't get to it or the data is old. Frustrating and distracting to experience this while flying the plane.
Thanks Ed! I know you travel with your Super D so I appreciate what you have to say about this stuff.
The situation I'm in is that my Super D project is going to need an electrical system and an instrument panel at some point in the future and I'm trying to stay ahead of things by planning when I have time. The panel is starting as a clean, uncut blank so I can do whatever I want and what I want is a moving map with traffic and maybe weather, upright in the center of the panel with analog airspeed and altitude at the 2 and 10 o'clock positions. The Guardian iPad mini mount wouldn't fit my panel blank in the upright position so I started thinking I'd need a Garmin 7" panel but just this morning I discovered the Airgizmos iPad 4/5 panel mount so I'm back to wondering if an iPad will cut it. I'm inclined to think it will.
But why do you use the Garmin app over Foreflight?
Thanks!
The situation I'm in is that my Super D project is going to need an electrical system and an instrument panel at some point in the future and I'm trying to stay ahead of things by planning when I have time. The panel is starting as a clean, uncut blank so I can do whatever I want and what I want is a moving map with traffic and maybe weather, upright in the center of the panel with analog airspeed and altitude at the 2 and 10 o'clock positions. The Guardian iPad mini mount wouldn't fit my panel blank in the upright position so I started thinking I'd need a Garmin 7" panel but just this morning I discovered the Airgizmos iPad 4/5 panel mount so I'm back to wondering if an iPad will cut it. I'm inclined to think it will.
But why do you use the Garmin app over Foreflight?
Thanks!
Yeah, I've been flogging the hell out of mine on XC. Probably have 150 hours of travel in the last 6 months.
I would not cut a panel to fit a mobile device. The rate of obsolescence is just too fast. What are you gonna do 3 years from now Apple decides the iPad 6 should be 1/2" wider, and they stop supporting the 4 and 5 with OS updates?
If I was starting from scratch I would probably do what the factory does: put a big MFD in the center and present everything there. Or go retro with steam gauges like mine, which I love.
I use Pilot because I previously owned a GDL-50 and don't want to buy a new ADS-B receiver. Also, I am an Android phone guy, and Foreflight only runs on iPhone. I read a bunch of reviews and concluded Pilot and Foreflight were essentially interchangeable on functionality.
I would not cut a panel to fit a mobile device. The rate of obsolescence is just too fast. What are you gonna do 3 years from now Apple decides the iPad 6 should be 1/2" wider, and they stop supporting the 4 and 5 with OS updates?
If I was starting from scratch I would probably do what the factory does: put a big MFD in the center and present everything there. Or go retro with steam gauges like mine, which I love.
I use Pilot because I previously owned a GDL-50 and don't want to buy a new ADS-B receiver. Also, I am an Android phone guy, and Foreflight only runs on iPhone. I read a bunch of reviews and concluded Pilot and Foreflight were essentially interchangeable on functionality.
Thanks Big Ed! As for the panel, Apple has been pretty consistent with the mini and the first three versions fit in the first panel mount. I might be completely wrong but I could buy fifty new instrument panels for what I'd be saving by going with the iPad over a Garmin flat panel. And I want to be able to mount or display an aerobatic sequence over the center panel so it can't have anything critical displayed on it.
last thing, you're saying that with Garmin pilot I can use it on the iPad and on my Android cell phone? that would ice it for me.
last thing, you're saying that with Garmin pilot I can use it on the iPad and on my Android cell phone? that would ice it for me.
answered my own question, it works on android and iPad.
buy.garmin.com
and with the GTX345 it brings AHRS, traffic, and GPS compatibility without having to depend on the iPad CPU to do all of the work. but it's gotten very expensive again! lol
buy.garmin.com
Garmin Pilot™ App
Garmin Pilot puts full-featured navigation — including our decades of experience with dynamic mapping, Synthetic Vision, aviation weather, and much more.
buy.garmin.com
and with the GTX345 it brings AHRS, traffic, and GPS compatibility without having to depend on the iPad CPU to do all of the work. but it's gotten very expensive again! lol
Garmin GTX™ 345 | ADS-B In/Out Transponder
buy.garmin.com
You won't need your iPad for acro. A RAM mount would let you pull it off and replace with your sequence holder.
My mini5 won't fit cases made for versions 1-3.
Yes, the main advantage of Pilot over FF is compatibility with Android. I tried several Android tablets but they all had terrible performance. Finally went with an iPad mini. The phone version is less computationally intensive and runs fine on my Pixel 3.
I find the ability to flight plan on my phone to be invaluable, especially when travelling.
right, but that real estate is perfect for the sequence card during acro and for the iPad the rest of the time. the AirGizmos mount combined with an iPad mini makes for a nice clean installation that is both affordable and certified so I'm planning to do that when the time comes. I put Garmin Pilot on my android phone and have been playing with it during the game. easy enough to use but wowsa, there are a lot of features in there!