Garmin 195 vs 295 hand helds

Guest Discussion
#1

Which to buy? I am looking to purchase one.

The main differences as I see them are that one has color and the other has longer battery life. There was an article in the Cessna owner’s mag this week praising the 195. I would be using it for in my present Cardinal as well as a carry over to the Cirrus.

Right now we use an in panel Fly Buddy Loran. That could be replaced with an in panel Garmin 2500. I know pilots on this site have lots of experience with these devices and with their usefulness in flying VFR or IFR. I’m just starting IFR training. the Cardinal is IRF equipped and none of these choices are relevant to that as I understand it.

Advantages/disadvantages? As a low hours pilot, it’s a confusing world. PLEASE HELP.

#2

Which to buy? I am looking to purchase one.

The main differences as I see them are that one has color and the other has longer battery life. There was an article in the Cessna owner’s mag this week praising the 195. I would be using it for in my present Cardinal as well as a carry over to the Cirrus.

PLEASE HELP.

Joe,

I’ve used both. IMHO, there’s no contest - the 295 is a clear winner, if you can afford the extra $$. In addition, the software in it is remarkably similar to the GNS430 “look and feel”; enough so to make it almost worthwhile for that reason alone. [Hopefully, with two on-board GPSs on the Cirrus, you’ll be able to leave the 295 stowed for emergency-only use anyway].

In addition, to me, the color adds so much clarity that it would be hard to go back to the 195. As for battery life, I’ve always used ship’s power whenever I use a handheld; the batteries serve only as backup.

Just one opinion - they’re both great GPSs; you’ll enjoy whichever one you get.

Mike.

#3

Which to buy? I am looking to purchase one.

If you already have a panel mounted IFR RNAV, I would recommend Airmap 100. Less than half the price of the 295, 50% less than the 195. Better battery life than either. It is also lighter and smaller than either. I am getting the SR20-C. If the GNS430 dies, I still have another one. If the I lose the electric system, I pull out my handheld and battery life becomes important. The rest of the time when I just carry it incase, weight and size are important.

#4

I’ve had both. Go for the 295 if you can. The biggest reason: the 195’s display is -a lot- harder to read in daylight, especially if you are wearing sunglasses. I got tired of hiking my sunglasses up every time I wanted to read the 195. The 295’s color display is much brighter and is easy to read in any light.

Also, the 295 has a screen where you can view the HSI and moving map simultaneously. On the 195 I was often manually switching back and forth between them.

Both are functionally and ergonomically excellent.

Gordon

re:

Which to buy? I am looking to purchase one.

#5

I have a 295 and it’s just great! One more thing that may differentiate it from the 195 is that with the 295 you can call up and display IFR final approach segment waypoints, which are appended automatically to the end of your flight plan when activated.

I don’t know if the 195 has that capability.

Joe

#6

Okay, this is becoming a dead horse that we are beating to “graveyard dead” status. However, here is my 2 cents worth.

I fly with the 195 as a backup. I have owned it for a few years and love it. If I was buying new and new I would not be using it as my primary GPS in a year or less, I would choose the Pilot III for the economy and the fact that it works well sitting on the dash.

If you plan to use the unit as a backup, the Pilot III would be better because you can stick it up on the dash and still read it. The 195 will need to sit in your lap which will probably require that you attach the remote antenna. All while dealing with the “emergency”. The Pilot III’s attached antenna works well if you sit the thing on the dashboard (same for the 295).

Also, the 195 is designed to be yoke mounted abd comes with a yoke mount. Only problem is the sr20 style side controls are not suitable for this type of mounting. Some other mounting device is possible but will probably be clumsy at best.

Therefore, buy the Garmin pilot III (better economically if it is going to be a backup soon)or if you want to splurge and own the best, the 295 and enjoy it until the SR20 is in your garage.

After that delivery I suspect you will never use it again unless some maintenance delays cause you to have to rent a spam can.

Mark

Which to buy? I am looking to purchase one.

The main differences as I see them are that one has color and the other has longer battery life. There was an article in the Cessna owner’s mag this week praising the 195. I would be using it for in my present Cardinal as well as a carry over to the Cirrus.

Right now we use an in panel Fly Buddy Loran. That could be replaced with an in panel Garmin 2500. I know pilots on this site have lots of experience with these devices and with their usefulness in flying VFR or IFR. I’m just starting IFR training. the Cardinal is IRF equipped and none of these choices are relevant to that as I understand it.

Advantages/disadvantages? As a low hours pilot, it’s a confusing world. PLEASE HELP.

#7

Just one opinion - they’re both great GPSs; you’ll enjoy whichever one you get.

Mike.

PS - you can dramatically (and easily) improve the battery life on the 295 by simply lowering the display brightness. I discovered this by accident; it really works. Apparently the display is the biggest power user in the box. Now, if I’m running on batteries for any reason, and the “battery remaining” indicator drops to about 25%, I turn the display brightness down and watch the battery remaining indicator jump right back to 50% or better.

#8

Just one opinion - they’re both great GPSs; you’ll enjoy whichever one you get.

Mike.

PS - you can dramatically (and easily) improve the battery life on the 295 by simply lowering the display brightness. I discovered this by accident; it really works. Apparently the display is the biggest power user in the box. Now, if I’m running on batteries for any reason, and the “battery remaining” indicator drops to about 25%, I turn the display brightness down and watch the battery remaining indicator jump right back to 50% or better.

#9

Thanks all for your helpful input. Can any of you tell me about advantages mounting these units on the yoke or elsewhere in a Cardinal? Horizontal/vertical - blocking the panel view etc? Thanks again and Happy New Year!!

Just one opinion - they’re both great GPSs; you’ll enjoy whichever one you get.

Mike.

PS - you can dramatically (and easily) improve the battery life on the 295 by simply lowering the display brightness. I discovered this by accident; it really works. Apparently the display is the biggest power user in the box. Now, if I’m running on batteries for any reason, and the “battery remaining” indicator drops to about 25%, I turn the display brightness down and watch the battery remaining indicator jump right back to 50% or better.

#10

The 195 does have that capability and is actually better than the 295 in that regard because it will put in all the fixes for an approach, where the 295 only adds in the FAF.

But I still like the 295 much more than the 195 that I had before. Much much easier to read in daylight.

Gordon

I have a 295 and it’s just great! One more thing that may differentiate it from the 195 is that with the 295 you can call up and display IFR final approach segment waypoints, which are appended automatically to the end of your flight plan when activated.

I don’t know if the 195 has that capability.

Joe

#11

Okay, this is becoming a dead horse that we are beating to “graveyard dead” status. However, here is my 2 cents worth.

If you plan to use the unit as a backup, the Pilot III would be better because you can stick it up on the dash and still read it. The 195 will need to sit in your lap which will probably require that you attach the remote antenna. All while dealing with the “emergency”. The Pilot III’s attached antenna works well if you sit the thing on the dashboard (same for the 295).

Therefore, buy the Garmin pilot III (better economically if it is going to be a backup soon)or if you want to splurge and own the best, the 295 and enjoy it until the SR20 is in your garage.

After that delivery I suspect you will never use it again unless some maintenance delays cause you to have to rent a spam can.

I advice the Lowrance Airmap 100 as a backup in stead of the PilotIII (I got it for $ 525,-), all Garmin options are standard with the Lowrance, plus it has an international basemap. The database is either Americas or International. For international use, You have to buy 2 Garmins !

#12

Okay, this is becoming a dead horse that we are beating to “graveyard dead” status. However, here is my 2 cents worth.

If you plan to use the unit as a backup, the Pilot III would be better because you can stick it up on the dash and still read it. The 195 will need to sit in your lap which will probably require that you attach the remote antenna. All while dealing with the “emergency”. The Pilot III’s attached antenna works well if you sit the thing on the dashboard (same for the 295).

Therefore, buy the Garmin pilot III (better economically if it is going to be a backup soon)or if you want to splurge and own the best, the 295 and enjoy it until the SR20 is in your garage.

After that delivery I suspect you will never use it again unless some maintenance delays cause you to have to rent a spam can.

I fly different kinds of airplanes. I once had an owner ask me why I had my Garmin III on top of his dashboard. His panel was 5 EFIS tubes with FMS and all. I was on a demo trying to sell the airplane. I told him, that if everything else goes, I can still fly with the Garmin III. He was not too happy, but bought the bird anyway.

I’ve also installed a 295 in the cabin area of a Cheyenne, works great without a remote antenna, I mounted in between the two windows and supplied with power Great unit just using too much power for the color. Great unit if you like big things. The Garmin III is small, you can take it anywhere, you don’t have to worry about running out of power, I have used it for 15 hours on 4 AA, it has everything plus some, it is not in color, but if someone buys mine I would buy another one without thinking twice. Things that are important to me are in order. 1. Easy to use. 2. Battery life. 3. Must be very portable. 195 is nice, 295 even better but they do not pass the 2, and 3 priority on my list.

I do believe the Garmin III can be used for international, just upload the international data base and you have it. I have used mine from Canada to Sao Paulo Brazil and it has worked fine 100% of the time, and I have not noticed any errors yet. Except once, I could not get the satelittes, I trouble shoot the problem by installing the antenna, for some reason it would not work without it. ahahahh!!!

Have a great day.

Woor

PS on the way to Palm Beach, FL for the new year

I advice the Lowrance Airmap 100 as a backup in stead of the PilotIII (I got it for $ 525,-), all Garmin options are standard with the Lowrance, plus it has an international basemap. The database is either Americas or International. For international use, You have to buy 2 Garmins !

#13

Okay, this is becoming a dead horse that we are beating to “graveyard dead” status.

You are right !

Things that are important to me are in order. 1. Easy to use. 2. Battery life. 3. Must be very portable.

I do believe the Garmin III can be used for international, just upload the international data base and you have it. I have used mine from Canada to Sao Paulo Brazil and it has worked fine 100% of the time, and I have not noticed any errors yet.

Use it in Europe and you will notice the landmarks disappeared ! You can use the database, but there are no landmarks. The Lowrance 100 (beside all the extras wich are options on the Garmin) hjas an international basemap

read http://www.avweb.com/articles/gpsam100.html for details (also a new 295 review)

I advice the Lowrance Airmap 100 as a backup in stead of the PilotIII (I got it for $ 525,-), all Garmin options are standard with the Lowrance, plus it has an international basemap. The database is either Americas or International. For international use, You have to buy 2 Garmins !