This is the best review I have seen to date regarding this product. I was happy to see the constant comparisons to the iPad products and the Hardware/specs. Though I have not seen comparisons to the ongoing costs -- ie maps/charts updates vs Garmin Pilot, ForeFlight or FltPlan GO.
It didn't seem like Jessica from Garmin had any real advantages to talk about for choosing a 760 over just using Foreflight on an iPad mini. That's what I currently use. Saying it is more rugged is not a strong case to make for spending over 1500.00 dollars. The screen brightness especially seemed rather dim and not that easy to read. I hope they make some improvements and have a 780 next year!
After using the unit with a panel mount, the biggest advantages are not what the Garmin lady said, but rather that it just plain works. Period. I mean like you would expect from avionics (not a cheap consumer device). I use an ipad also, and it's usually great. Except when it isn't. The ipad crashes on occasion. It overheats and shuts down at the worst times (think above an overcast preparing for an approach). The battery dies and it can't be restarted until it charges some. But the Aera just keeps on cranking. Another real advantage is it powers up with the plane. Avionics master on, and it's on and ready to go. Here's how I use it... The ipad is for primary navigation and charts. In the air, I usually leave it on a dedicated traffic display. During an approach or at night, leave it on the terrain display. On the ground, it automatically switches to runway plan view. Otherwise, it's a backup for the ipad that is always in the plane and working. I don't see it as an ipad replacement, but rather as an inexpesive way to have a pretty slick panel mounted MFD.
At 1:32 the screen glare is terrible on that thing!!! You can hardly see the map. Also, the screen resolution is very poor by today’s standards. On the plus side, it’s size fits better on the yoke and it’s very rugged.
Did the 760 only allow one Bluetooth connection ? Where as I thought I heard the older / smaller 660 allowed two Bluetooth connections ? I ask because wouldn’t two Bluetooth connections be needed to connect to the GDL and also an iPad running Garmin Pilot ?
I like the concept of an avionics grade portable device. In other words, a device more robust than an Android or Apple tablet. Heat is an issue with Apple products. That said, $1600 is a bit steep. Possible improvemetns include: built in cellular data and voice (not locked to any specific carrier) and the ability to transfer flight plans to and from devices like the 650. Also, the battery time seems short for $1600.
At the end of the video he mentions that you can make changes on the Aera 760 and then wirelessly transfer that to a 430 or 530. Is this true? I haven't seen anything about this. If the aera is connected wirelessly to a GTX 345, can you input a flight plan, approach, etc... and then push that over to the 430/530?
Why is nobody mentioning (even Garmin), that it streams NMEA data? None of the software companies, SkyDemon, easy VFR, Garmin pilot etc, don’t and probably never will stream NMEA data, which is essential if you want your device to hook up to an Autopilot.
If your running it in an aircraft without electrical it has a “place”. Some of us plan to purchase it to leave in the Aircraft so we can look at sketchy internet porn on open source wifi networks on our ipdas before we bring our std ridden iPad device's on to the flight deck to share its STD’s with all our other avionics…. LMAO!
The existence of an abundant array of iPad variants and app offerings relegate the 760 to an "also-ran" slot in the avionics race. It's just a "cute" but expensive paper-weight. More importantly, the 760 doesn't offer anything unique, or present an advance in value or utility. Maybe ... just maybe .. if Garmin simply replaced the 660 with the 760 at the 660 price-point, there would be an argument for it's viability. But at an asking price of double the 660, shoppers will say "no thanks." The 760 roll-out -- along with Garmin's recent data breach problems -- tells me that something is amiss at Garmin, at least with their strategic thinking,
The only reason I bought one, is for the NMEA data out put, it can send data to my autopilot. Non of the soft ware only, gps mapping companies offer this.
@@stevenstyles7602 over the years, my assessment of the 760 has “softened”, somewhat. The issue that turned me around was the (admittedly, rare) tendency I’ve experienced for iOS devices to crash. Or hang-up. Or re-start. Or take its sweet-butt time performing a task. And I’m talking about the M-1 iPad. I could not care less about NMEA output, but rock solid reliability is kind of essential. I don’t know what caused my device to “act up” … maybe it got a tad warm. But my experience taught me to consider it “not ready for prime time.” … your mileage may vary. 🙄
This is the best review I have seen to date regarding this product. I was happy to see the constant comparisons to the iPad products and the Hardware/specs. Though I have not seen comparisons to the ongoing costs -- ie maps/charts updates vs Garmin Pilot, ForeFlight or FltPlan GO.
It didn't seem like Jessica from Garmin had any real advantages to talk about for choosing a 760 over just using Foreflight on an iPad mini. That's what I currently use. Saying it is more rugged is not a strong case to make for spending over 1500.00 dollars. The screen brightness especially seemed rather dim and not that easy to read. I hope they make some improvements and have a 780 next year!
After using the unit with a panel mount, the biggest advantages are not what the Garmin lady said, but rather that it just plain works. Period. I mean like you would expect from avionics (not a cheap consumer device). I use an ipad also, and it's usually great. Except when it isn't. The ipad crashes on occasion. It overheats and shuts down at the worst times (think above an overcast preparing for an approach). The battery dies and it can't be restarted until it charges some. But the Aera just keeps on cranking.
Another real advantage is it powers up with the plane. Avionics master on, and it's on and ready to go.
Here's how I use it...
The ipad is for primary navigation and charts. In the air, I usually leave it on a dedicated traffic display. During an approach or at night, leave it on the terrain display. On the ground, it automatically switches to runway plan view. Otherwise, it's a backup for the ipad that is always in the plane and working.
I don't see it as an ipad replacement, but rather as an inexpesive way to have a pretty slick panel mounted MFD.
Thanks for the video. I would like to know how you perceived the fluidity of the map movement compared to the iPad. Best regards.
At 1:32 the screen glare is terrible on that thing!!! You can hardly see the map. Also, the screen resolution is very poor by today’s standards. On the plus side, it’s size fits better on the yoke and it’s very rugged.
Did the 760 only allow one Bluetooth connection ?
Where as I thought I heard the older / smaller 660 allowed two Bluetooth connections ?
I ask because wouldn’t two Bluetooth connections be needed to connect to the GDL and also an iPad running Garmin Pilot ?
I ended up using a 660 over an ipad. Why? The ipad tends to overheat constantly! The Aera just works!
I like the concept of an avionics grade portable device. In other words, a device more robust than an Android or Apple tablet. Heat is an issue with Apple products. That said, $1600 is a bit steep. Possible improvemetns include: built in cellular data and voice (not locked to any specific carrier) and the ability to transfer flight plans to and from devices like the 650. Also, the battery time seems short for $1600.
At the end of the video he mentions that you can make changes on the Aera 760 and then wirelessly transfer that to a 430 or 530. Is this true? I haven't seen anything about this. If the aera is connected wirelessly to a GTX 345, can you input a flight plan, approach, etc... and then push that over to the 430/530?
Why is nobody mentioning (even Garmin), that it streams NMEA data? None of the software companies, SkyDemon, easy VFR, Garmin pilot etc, don’t and probably never will stream NMEA data, which is essential if you want your device to hook up to an Autopilot.
If your running it in an aircraft without electrical it has a “place”. Some of us plan to purchase it to leave in the Aircraft so we can look at sketchy internet porn on open source wifi networks on our ipdas before we bring our std ridden iPad device's on to the flight deck to share its STD’s with all our other avionics…. LMAO!
The existence of an abundant array of iPad variants and app offerings relegate the 760 to an "also-ran" slot in the avionics race. It's just a "cute" but expensive paper-weight.
More importantly, the 760 doesn't offer anything unique, or present an advance in value or utility. Maybe ... just maybe .. if Garmin simply replaced the 660 with the 760 at the 660 price-point, there would be an argument for it's viability. But at an asking price of double the 660, shoppers will say "no thanks."
The 760 roll-out -- along with Garmin's recent data breach problems -- tells me that something is amiss at Garmin, at least with their strategic thinking,
The only reason I bought one, is for the NMEA data out put, it can send data to my autopilot.
Non of the soft ware only, gps mapping companies offer this.
@@stevenstyles7602 over the years, my assessment of the 760 has “softened”, somewhat. The issue that turned me around was the (admittedly, rare) tendency I’ve experienced for iOS devices to crash. Or hang-up. Or re-start. Or take its sweet-butt time performing a task. And I’m talking about the M-1 iPad. I could not care less about NMEA output, but rock solid reliability is kind of essential.
I don’t know what caused my device to “act up” … maybe it got a tad warm. But my experience taught me to consider it “not ready for prime time.”
… your mileage may vary. 🙄
@@flitetym
That’s interesting,,, have you tried SkyDemon software? It’s the best out there by a long way.