---------------------------------------------------------- Pulsar-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Wed 05/18/11: 3 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 12:03 PM - Garmin 396/496 $10/month Weather Service (Ron Koval) 2. 03:35 PM - Re: Garmin 396/496 $10/month Weather Service (Jerry Eastman) 3. 05:06 PM - Re: Garmin 396/496 $10/month Weather Service (Jerry Eastman) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 12:03:20 PM PST US From: Ron Koval Subject: Pulsar-List: Garmin 396/496 $10/month Weather Service Pulsar Friends,=0A=0AIf you have a Garmin 396 or 496 this may be of interes t to you.=0A=0AI have a Garmin 396 and being predominantly a fair weather, very limited long =0Adistance flyer, I have a hard time justifying the $34. 95 for XM's entry level =0Aweather service for pilots, called Aviator LT. =0A=0AI got to know and ask allot of questions with a marine and aviation p roducts =0Amanager for XM at Sun N Fun this year.- I asked if the other w eather services =0Acould work on our Garmin 396/496 like NavWesther $9.95/m onth.- Well, this lead =0Ato-a couple weeks later he granted me a trial and test to see which of these =0Aservices-could work.=0A=0AThe NavWeath er did not work, but he had me try another $10/month weather package =0Acal led "Skywatch" and it did work.- Skywatch includes-Nexrad Summary which is =0Athe low resolution (4-kilometer), 15 minute updated-version of the -high =0Aresolution Nexrad (2-kilometer), 5 minute updated, of the Aviato r series.- =0ASkywatch also includes Metars and a-couple other weather alert services.- On =0AXM's web site, Skywatch is under marine services. - Do boaters watch inland =0AMetars?=0A=0AI thought the Metars were cool ... simply just run the-Gramin's cursor over the =0Aadded little blue tri angles on the screen (next to reporting airports)-and you =0Agot the rece nt airport's Metar report (translated).- I was only marginally =0Aimpress ed with the Nexrad and not because-updates took 15 minutes, =0Abut-the -4-kilometer square resolution seems to be quite a large area, so much so =0AI wondered if the doubling it with their high resolution 2-kilometer =0Aversion-adds much more value.--To make meaningful use of the Nexra d I had =0Ato-zoom out several levels to make better sense of weather cel ls.=0A=0AI am not posting this to provide a comprehensive evaluation, but m erely to make =0Amore pilots aware that their-Garmin 396/496 with XM rece iver can be enabled with =0Aa lower cost $10/month weather service called S kyWatch that does have =0Aits-application to flying.- I don't know why Garmin or XM don't make this =0Aservice option better known.- Maybe afrai d too many $34.95 customers will go =0Acheep on them verses gaining increme ntally more pilots to start using Skywatch.=0A=0ABest regards,=0A=0ARonko ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 03:35:31 PM PST US From: "Jerry Eastman" Subject: RE: Pulsar-List: Garmin 396/496 $10/month Weather Service Ron, That is a great thing to know, I have had a 396 for years and have always done the $50 a month plan.. when flying and would suspend it when not flying.. XM calls it seasonal? that has worked but its still $50 when I do have it on so I plan to check this out, Thanks. Jerry From: owner-pulsar-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-pulsar-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Ron Koval Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2011 3:01 PM Subject: Pulsar-List: Garmin 396/496 $10/month Weather Service Pulsar Friends, If you have a Garmin 396 or 496 this may be of interest to you. I have a Garmin 396 and being predominantly a fair weather, very limited long distance flyer, I have a hard time justifying the $34.95 for XM's entry level weather service for pilots, called Aviator LT. I got to know and ask allot of questions with a marine and aviation products manager for XM at Sun N Fun this year. I asked if the other weather services could work on our Garmin 396/496 like NavWesther $9.95/month. Well, this lead to a couple weeks later he granted me a trial and test to see which of these services could work. The NavWeather did not work, but he had me try another $10/month weather package called "Skywatch" and it did work. Skywatch includes Nexrad Summary which is the low resolution (4-kilometer), 15 minute updated version of the high resolution Nexrad (2-kilometer), 5 minute updated, of the Aviator series. Skywatch also includes Metars and a couple other weather alert services. On XM's web site, Skywatch is under marine services. Do boaters watch inland Metars? I thought the Metars were cool ... simply just run the Gramin's cursor over the added little blue triangles on the screen (next to reporting airports) and you got the recent airport's Metar report (translated). I was only marginally impressed with the Nexrad and not because updates took 15 minutes, but the 4-kilometer square resolution seems to be quite a large area, so much so I wondered if the doubling it with their high resolution 2-kilometer version adds much more value. To make meaningful use of the Nexrad I had to zoom out several levels to make better sense of weather cells. I am not posting this to provide a comprehensive evaluation, but merely to make more pilots aware that their Garmin 396/496 with XM receiver can be enabled with a lower cost $10/month weather service called SkyWatch that does have its application to flying. I don't know why Garmin or XM don't make this service option better known. Maybe afraid too many $34.95 customers will go cheep on them verses gaining incrementally more pilots to start using Skywatch. Best regards, Ronko ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 05:06:20 PM PST US From: "Jerry Eastman" Subject: RE: Pulsar-List: Garmin 396/496 $10/month Weather Service Ron. went to XM and after spending 1 hour on the phone finally came away with your $10 a month plan! and got the first 3 month FREE! This is where the Pulsar group really comes in handy! Although I don't use it much in the plane these days I do use it in the motor home where I can listen to XM music, use the GPS and now see the weather! $$$$ Jerry From: owner-pulsar-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-pulsar-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Ron Koval Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2011 3:01 PM Subject: Pulsar-List: Garmin 396/496 $10/month Weather Service Pulsar Friends, If you have a Garmin 396 or 496 this may be of interest to you. I have a Garmin 396 and being predominantly a fair weather, very limited long distance flyer, I have a hard time justifying the $34.95 for XM's entry level weather service for pilots, called Aviator LT. I got to know and ask allot of questions with a marine and aviation products manager for XM at Sun N Fun this year. I asked if the other weather services could work on our Garmin 396/496 like NavWesther $9.95/month. Well, this lead to a couple weeks later he granted me a trial and test to see which of these services could work. The NavWeather did not work, but he had me try another $10/month weather package called "Skywatch" and it did work. Skywatch includes Nexrad Summary which is the low resolution (4-kilometer), 15 minute updated version of the high resolution Nexrad (2-kilometer), 5 minute updated, of the Aviator series. Skywatch also includes Metars and a couple other weather alert services. On XM's web site, Skywatch is under marine services. Do boaters watch inland Metars? I thought the Metars were cool ... simply just run the Gramin's cursor over the added little blue triangles on the screen (next to reporting airports) and you got the recent airport's Metar report (translated). I was only marginally impressed with the Nexrad and not because updates took 15 minutes, but the 4-kilometer square resolution seems to be quite a large area, so much so I wondered if the doubling it with their high resolution 2-kilometer version adds much more value. To make meaningful use of the Nexrad I had to zoom out several levels to make better sense of weather cells. I am not posting this to provide a comprehensive evaluation, but merely to make more pilots aware that their Garmin 396/496 with XM receiver can be enabled with a lower cost $10/month weather service called SkyWatch that does have its application to flying. I don't know why Garmin or XM don't make this service option better known. Maybe afraid too many $34.95 customers will go cheep on them verses gaining incrementally more pilots to start using Skywatch. Best regards, Ronko ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message pulsar-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/Pulsar-List.htm Web Forum Interface To Lists http://forums.matronics.com Matronics List Wiki http://wiki.matronics.com Full Archive Search Engine http://www.matronics.com/search 7-Day List Browse http://www.matronics.com/browse/pulsar-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/pulsar-list Browse Other Lists http://www.matronics.com/browse Live Online Chat! http://www.matronics.com/chat Archive Downloading http://www.matronics.com/archives Photo Share http://www.matronics.com/photoshare Other Email Lists http://www.matronics.com/emaillists Contributions http://www.matronics.com/contribution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.