Garmin’s® Portable GPSMAP® 496 Gives More Power and Features

Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN), today introduced the GPSMAP 496, a full-color, portable aviation device that expands on the GPSMAP 396’s features by incorporating Garmin’s SafeTaxi™ airport diagrams, Garmin’s Smart Airspace™, AOPA’s Airport Directory data, enhanced high-resolution terrain database, aviation database with private airports and heliports, accelerated GPS update rate, and pre-loaded automotive maps of North America or Europe. These features are in addition to the real-time XM WX Satellite Weather™ that puts powerful weather information at the pilot’s fingertips.
“With more power and information than any other portable handheld on today’s market, the GPSMAP 496 is an essential piece of equipment for any pilot,” said Gary Kelley, Garmin’s vice president of marketing. “The information on this mini-MFD helps increase safety and situational awareness during all phases of flight – from taxiing to navigating around terrain and weather. And thanks to the pre-loaded street maps, it also gives pilots the ability to navigate unfamiliar roadways with the same ease that they navigate the airways.”
The Garmin SafeTaxi airport diagrams help pilots navigate unfamiliar airports with confidence. Over 650 U.S. airport diagrams come pre-loaded on the unit. The charts identify runways, taxiways, and hangars, as well as the aircraft’s exact location on the field. Garmin anticipates offering SafeTaxi updates regularly. International airport diagrams will also be available in the future.
When in the air, Garmin’s new Smart Airspace feature makes it easier than ever to identify what airspace lies ahead. Smart Airspace automatically highlights airspace close to the pilot’s current altitude and de-emphasizes airspace away from the current altitude, which gives pilots increased situational awareness.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Airport Directory data are also available in electronic format on the GPSMAP 496. Recognized throughout the industry as one of the most comprehensive sources of airport information, the AOPA’s Airport Directory includes information for over 5,300 public-use airports and more than 7,000 FBOs, such as pilot services, ground transportation, lodging, restaurants, and local attractions. In addition, Garmin’s version of the AOPA’s Airport Directory highlights airports where pilots can save on fuel by using self-service fueling locations.
In addition, the GPSMAP 496 has an enhanced, higher resolution terrain database that has over ten times as much data as the GPSMAP 396’s terrain database. The new database lets pilots see vivid depictions 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.
Pilots will also appreciate the unit’s increased GPS update rate, which is five times faster than any other handheld on today’s market. This impressive new attribute results in near-real-time updates of the aircraft’s analog indicators, such as the HSI and turn rate indicator. Viewing the GPSMAP 496’s display in any light is easy, thanks to the device’s 256-color, high-resolution (480x320-pixels) TFT display. The unit also features a USB interface and rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack.
As with the GPSMAP 396, the GPSMAP 496 will continue to offer optional XM WX Satellite Weather™ (U.S. only) that 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. The weather data may be laid directly over the unit’s Jeppesen® and topographic map databases. Weather information is delivered to the unit through Garmin’s new GXM™ 30A smart antenna, which is included with the GPSMAP 496.
On the road, the 496 serves as a premium in-car navigation system with automatic route calculation to any destination and turn-by-turn voice-prompted directions along the way. The GPSMAP 496 is Garmin’s first aviation handheld to include pre-loaded City Navigator® NT maps of North America or Europe. These detailed street maps include a huge points of interest database — including hotels, restaurants, gas stations, ATMs, and attractions. Map data are provided by NAVTEQ™ – a world leader in premium-quality mapping.
When traveling by water, the GPSMAP 496 is compatible with Garmin’s new BlueChart® g2 technology. These optional data cards turn the GPSMAP 496 into a color chartplotter that displays integrated marine maps with shaded depth contours, port plans, inter-tidal zones, spot soundings, wrecks, navaids, restricted areas, cable areas, and anchorages.
The GPSMAP 496 will be available for purchase at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis. For those unable to attend EAA AirVenture or those who want to try and win a GPSMAP 496, Garmin is also giving one away. Please visit www.garmin.blogs.com to find complete details, rules and entry form. All entries must be received between July 20 through August 4, 2006.
The GPSMAP 496 is expected to be available in late July at an expected street price of $2,795. The unit includes a GXM™ 30A XM smart antenna, yoke mount, cigarette-lighter adapter, AC adapter cable, USB-to-PC interface cable, low-profile remote GPS antenna, carrying case, free Jeppesen update certificate, City Navigator™ North America software, owner’s manual and quick-reference guide.
For customers in Europe, Garmin also offers a GPSMAP 496 Atlantic version that will be available shortly after the GPSMAP 496 North America model is available. The GPSMAP 496 Atlantic will include pre-loaded City Navigator Europe street maps, as well as VFR Reporting Points (VRPs), private airports, and obstacles. The GPSMAP 496 Atlantic does not include XM support, AOPA’s Airport Directory, or SafeTaxi diagrams.
XM WX Satellite Weather data and audio are provided by XM Satellite Radio. Please see http://www.xmradio.com/weather/aviation.html for pricing and other details

Garmin® Debuts Open Array Radar

Four- and Six-Foot Antennas Give Boaters the Big Picture

Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN), today announced the debut of the GMR™ 404 and GMR 406 , two powerful 4kW X-band digital open array radar scanners that offer outstanding clarity, precision and target definition.
The GMR 404 is a 4-foot scanner with 1.8-degree beam width for superior target separation. The GMR 406’s 6-foot antenna takes beam width down to 1.1-degrees for an even higher level of detail. Both scanners have a maximum range of 72 nautical miles.
“Our new line of open-array scanners solidifies Garmin as a top choice for mariners who own larger motor yachts,” said Gary Kelley, Garmin’s vice president of marketing. “The GMR 404 and 406 are great additions to our feature-packed and easy-to-use Garmin Marine Network family.”
All radar data is digitally processed within the GMR 404 and 406’s pedestal via a digital signal processor, and is efficiently presented on Garmin’s GPSMAP® 3000 series of chartplotter/multifunction displays (MFDs). Digital processing allows for more precise recognition, enhancement, and filtering of radar echoes – making the finished display easier to read and interpret.
The sleek, windswept styling of the GMR 404 and 406 is also designed to look great atop any modern yacht. The radar pedestal also features a unique access panel for maintenance in the field – awkward struggles with a heavy and cumbersome radar pedestal are things of the past.
The GMR 404 and 406 both have radar overlay capability, allowing boaters to reconcile radar signatures with known objects on the chartplotter. The units also offer MARPA (Mini Automatic Radar Plotting Aid) capability, which allow boaters to track the bearing, course, speed and predicted closest approach (by both time and distance) of up to 10 targets. MARPA functionality requires an optional heading sensor.
Both radar arrays feature automatic and manual sensitivity and tuning controls, including gain, sea clutter, and rain clutter – which allows boaters to spend less time tuning the unit and more time navigating. The units also boast selectable interference rejection, which mitigates the effect of nearby radar transmissions.
Other specifications for the GMR 404 and GMR 406 include:
Antenna type: End fed slotted waveguide
Pedestal size: 24” x 11” x 16”
Beam width: 1.8o (404) and 1.1o (406) degrees horizontal / 25 degrees vertical (both 404 & 406)
Polarization: Horizontal
Antenna Gain: 29 dB (404), 30 dB (406)
Antenna RPM’s: 24 rpm and 48 rpm
Receiver noise figure: Less than 4 dB
Power output: 4KW
Maximum range: 72 nm; Minimum range: 20 meters
Range scales (range rings): 20 meter or +/- 1.5% of range scale, whichever is greater
Scanning operation Temperature: Range:-10o C to 60o C, and a relative humidity up to 95% at 35o C
Wind velocity (relative): Withstands up to 100 Kts without performance degradation
Range ring accuracy: 20 meter +/- 1.5% of range scales, whichever is greater
Bearing accuracy: 1 degree
Presentation modes: North up, Course up, Heading up
MARPA: Tracks up to 10 MARPA targets (heading sensor is required)
VRM/EBL: 2 user adjustable, capable of floating
Guard zone alarm: 2 zones, user adjustable
Zoom mode: 2x and 4x
Trails: short, medium, and long
Cable length: 15 meters
Waterproofing: IEC 60529 IPX6 standards

The Garmin Marine Network can provide important situational awareness data like GPS, radar, sonar, and near real-time graphical weather data and audio channels directly on the GPSMAP 3000 series MFD, through a subscription to XM WX Satellite Weather and XM Radio.
The GMR 404 and GMR 406 are expected to be available in August 2006.