Garmin's iQue® 3600a... Anybody got one yet

[Dave in Eugene]

From what I can tell this is a new offering from Garmin and looks really really good. Looks like similar features as the 296 with a Palm platform and an aviation cradle that has integrated buttons that make it easy to access aviation features (no stylus necessary)

Here is the link to the manual

http://www.garmin.com/manuals/iQue3600a_QueApplicationsGuide.pdf

Looks like retail is $1099 which makes it lots cheaper then the 296 and more useful when we land. Or need to make an inflight call...(sat phones only right?)

I am intrigued and would like to hear others thoughts.

Thanks,

Dave

[Robert]

I am considering either this unit or the Anywhere Map.  I am interested in other's opinions.  I looked at the 3600a at my local pilots's shop.  Seems to do the same things as the 296 for a lot less.  I did notice that the cursor key reacted a little slowly.  This didnt seem to be a big problem because one could use the stilus to zoom in or out or move map position quite quickly.  The ique only operates at 200Mhz (where the ipaq operates at up to 600).  The Anywhere map also had weather however the 3600a has the Garmin name behind it and is easy to use.  Opinions?

[Dave in Eugene]

I'll report on it as I ordered one last week. Haven't laid hands on one as of yet but seems like a great option for terrain information for the $.

Interested to see how the mount is designed.

I am hoping that there will be enough memory to integrate approach plates too.  

Got to love the times we live in.

Dave

[Dave in Eugene]

Ok. I got it and I have flown with it for 5 hours or so.

It is really really cool.

Terrain/obstacle pop-ups are impressive for sure (not sure, but I wonder if I could hook it up into my intercom for warnings). I flew directly at a small butte near our airport. The screen changed from Navigation to Terrain Alert automatically..with a bold flashing warning ..same when I flew at some radio antennas."impact 20 seconds"...or something like that.


Airspace designations are real nice as you approach them.

Graphics are bright and good.

You can just about get away without dealing with sectional (as often) which is nice in the micro cockpit. Updates down loadable every 30days for $35 each. I will probably do it a couple of time per year. You can easily cursor forward, back and side to side with a fingernail drag across the screen. Big moves take a few seconds to redraw.

Easy to get at airport info which include runway diagrams and all the other stuff you want including vectors for published approaches.

Not long ago when this kind of info was Big Big $

It comes with a perfect mount for a cessna....not so good in an EZ. Need to come up with a good& stable leg mount. Anybody got any ideas on this one?

Still figuring it out.

I ain't sending it back.

Hope this helps.

Dave

[Dan Patch]

Dave - Thanks for the report.  Looking forward to another as you get more time on the unit.

One question that I had was whether the iQue has an output port for its GPS data stream, and what the data is (e.g., NMEA or ), if so?  My EZ Pilot autopilot needs this information to function.  Currently it's fed by a nearly dead Garmin GPS-90 that will have to be replaced soon.  (Screen is dying after a long and useful life.)  The Garmin iQue manual didn't seem to be a lot of help on this question, unless I missed it somewhere.  About all I could see a picture of the port on the bottom of the unit, which is needed to plug into the aviation controler unit (or whatever they call it).  

I talked to Chuck Busch at TrioAvionics last week, but he hasn't seen the iQue unit yet so they don't have any info.  Chuck did say that the Anywhere Map system still does not put out a complete, e.g., NMEA-compliant GPS data stream.  They were supposed to update their software after last year's Sun-'N-Fun, then Oshkosh, then... but still no joy.  Chuck also mentioned that the connectors on some (all?) of the pocket portable units were pretty fragile in comparison to aviation handhelds.  The port on the Garmin GPS 90 and other Garmin handhelds certainly is stout enough.  

Ideas and/or info.?   :?

[Dave in Eugene]

I was thinking about that as I was flying home from the Seattle area today.

I don't see an "out" option.

If I find something out about it I will let ya know.

Thanks,

Dave

[Dave in Eugene]

KNEE BOARD mount.

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/pspages/diblasi.php

[Anonymous]

I contacted Garmin about the NMEA output for the autopilot...


"Thank you for contacting Garmin.

Unfortunately, the iQue 3600 does not output NMEA GPS data stream.  The iQue
does not have this feature since it is a Palm device. Palm Device need to be
Hot Sync to get data in and out."

[Dan Patch]

"Thank you for contacting Garmin.  Unfortunately, the iQue 3600 does not output NMEA GPS data stream....

Thanks for contacting Garmin and for the info.  Can't say I'm surprised as I'd about concluded that was the case with the Garmin iQue.  
Bummer as that won't work for me - I need the data stream for the AP.  

DP