Unparalleled Situational Awareness From the introduction of their first portable aviation GPS, Garmin has successfully harnessed the latest technology to provide ever-improving situational awareness for pilots. From simple LON/LAT information to moving map displays in 1993 to terrain information in the GPSMAP 296 last summer, this drive to increase aviation safety and reduce cockpit workloads has been a hallmark of their continuing march of product enhancements.

This march continues in 2005 with the addition of constantly-updated high-resolution weather information, now available in the new GPSMAP 396.

The GPSMAP 396 with XM WX Satellite Weather features Next Generation Radar (NEXRAD), Aviation Routine Weather Reports (METARs), Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs), Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs), Lightning and Winds Aloft, and several other important weather products to help pilots make informed navigational decisions. This new aviation handheld continues to reduce pilot workload by displaying Traffic Information Service (TIS) data when interfaced to the GTX 330, and can channel frequencies with the touch of a button when interfaced to the SL30 nav/comm radio.

The GPSMAP 396 is also capable of receiving XM Satellite Radios 130-plus channels of music, sports, news, talk, and entertainment programming through a subscription. Once on the ground, the unit continues to provide pilots with invaluable information in a car or boat via automotive or marine navigation modes.

Pilots can customize the map display to overlay XM WX data directly over the units Jeppesen and topographic map databases, or display individual weather products on the exclusive weather explorer page. In terrain mode, the GPSMAP 396 combines inputs from built-in terrain, obstacle, and electronic flight databases to give pilots a vivid depiction of proximity hazards that require their attention. Pilots can customize their own minimum-clearance limits to receive terrain cautions, which pop up as digital thumbnail images.

Viewing the display in any light is easy, thanks to the 256-color, high-resolution (480 x 320-pixel) TFT display. The unit also features USB data transfer, fast processing speed, and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack.

XM Satellite data and audio is delivered to the GPSMAP 396 through Garmins new GXM 30 smart antenna, which is included with the unit. The compact GXM 30 (roughly three inches in diameter) processes all weather information and sends the finished data to the GPSMAP 396 for display.

With the press of a button, the unit toggles into automotive or marine mode. When on the road, users can load the GPSMAP 396 with optional MapSource City Select software for voice-prompted turn-by-turn directions to addresses and points of interest. The optional auto kit includes a friction and dash mount, a cigarette-lighter adapter with speaker output, a 128-MB data card, and a MapSource City Select CD-ROM for detailed maps of the United States.

On the water, the GPSMAP 396 offers a worldwide marine database and U.S. tide data. When paired with MapSource BlueChart marine cartography, this waterproof unit displays information including depth contours, inter-tidal zones, spot soundings, wrecks, navaids, port plans, restricted areas, cable areas, and anchorages.

GPSMAP 396 Features:

• Terrain/obstacle display with pop-up warnings
• Built-in basemap with automatic routing and turn-by-turn directions
• Provides voice-prompt road guidance when the power/speaker
  cable is connected
• Project your position on the map with the configurable complex
  heading line

Combining color moving map and terrain alerting features with the latest in satellite datalink graphical weather, Garmins new GPSMAP 396 is one amazing flight visualization tool. With its integrated GXM 30 Smart Antenna and built-in satellite receiver, the GPSMAP 396 lets you track the same near-real-time weather picture in the cockpit that your favorite meteorologist is watching on the ground. Crisp, high-resolution color graphics bring you detailed NEXRAD radar imaging and METARs, as well as current reports on precipitation, lightning, winds aloft, airport terminal forecasts and more. You can even connect the GPSMAP 396 to your Garmin Mode S transponder for display of TIS traffic targets and information.

The units built-in Jeppesen database provides detailed moving map views of your flight route, displayed over realistic topography. And for added safety, a database-driven terrain advisory feature offers TAWS-like color coding and pop-up alerts when possible obstructions or ground proximity conflicts loom ahead. There's even an inflight entertainment option, with XM Satellite Radio bringing you over 150 channels of music, news, sports, and more - for output through your cabin audio system.

The Garmin GPSMAP 396: For big picture navigation in a portable format, nothing else even comes close.