okent Posted November 14, 2019 Report Share Posted November 14, 2019 I have made a few longer trips in my CTLS and thought it might be nice to have XM weather and music available. I have ADS-B in and out but the weather can be patchy. I tried to access the XM menu but can't seem to figure it out. Anyone have this on their 696? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Baker Posted November 14, 2019 Report Share Posted November 14, 2019 Do you have the XM antenna installed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okent Posted November 15, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2019 Tom, I believe so. It's the square antenna on the dash. I've got a GDL 39-3D mounted just aft of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Baker Posted November 15, 2019 Report Share Posted November 15, 2019 I think the square antenna is for the GPS, and the XM antenna is a round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy A Posted November 15, 2019 Report Share Posted November 15, 2019 I have XM radio to listen to music while I fly and love it...and I am a cheapskate. Just a word of advice, when you sign up, tell them you want the service, but don't want to pay full price. They almost always cut the price in half with little to no problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okent Posted November 16, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2019 Tom, I may not have it then. Dont know if the weather is that much better than ads-b in. Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTSleepy Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 On 11/13/2019 at 5:00 PM, okent said: I have made a few longer trips in my CTLS and thought it might be nice to have XM weather and music available. I have ADS-B in and out but the weather can be patchy. I tried to access the XM menu but can't seem to figure it out. Anyone have this on their 696? Thanks Here's the manual for it... I think page 182. https://www.manualslib.com/manual/415573/Garmin-Gpsmap-696.html?page=198#manual Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okent Posted November 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 Here is a pic of my antenna. It isn't round. I may not have the right antenna. I will get a look at it over lunch but I could swear it says XM on the top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anticept Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 You need the GXM 42 for XM weather. However, that gdl 39 can recieve FIS-B. You need to be using a 978 mhz transponder in order to activate the service reliably. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okent Posted November 21, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2019 Thanks Anticept. I just wonder if XM weather is worth it or just stick with FIS-B. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duane Jefts Posted November 22, 2019 Report Share Posted November 22, 2019 I love the xm weather and it’s nice to listen to Kenny Rogers along the way. I think I have an antenna if you are interested I will look for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duane Jefts Posted November 22, 2019 Report Share Posted November 22, 2019 One way to see if your 696 is hooked to an antenna is pull the unit out of the dash and see if an antenna is plugged in to the little brass looking hole on the top left side of the unit as you are looking at it. Nothing plugged in then no antenna hooked up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okent Posted November 22, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2019 Thanks Duane, would the connector for the GDL 39 be plugged in there? Just wondering. I'm out of town so cant check till Sunday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duane Jefts Posted November 22, 2019 Report Share Posted November 22, 2019 It is my experience that that is an antenna receptical only. It should be a small brass colored plug in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okent Posted November 25, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2019 Well, definitely don't have the XM antenna. The little puck says Garmin. I'll check with Airtime Aviation and see if they have one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTSleepy Posted November 25, 2019 Report Share Posted November 25, 2019 53 minutes ago, okent said: Well, definitely don't have the XM antenna. The little puck says Garmin. I'll check with Airtime Aviation and see if they have one. My Garmin round puck has a little "XM" written below it. Make sure it doesn't say that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anticept Posted November 25, 2019 Report Share Posted November 25, 2019 Personally, I would rather install a 978 ads-b out and use FIS-B and traffic than spend the money on an XM weather antenna. XM weather requires a subscription anyways, FIS-B is free outside of install cost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTSleepy Posted November 25, 2019 Report Share Posted November 25, 2019 11 minutes ago, Anticept said: Personally, I would rather install a 978 ads-b out and use FIS-B and traffic than spend the money on an XM weather antenna. XM weather requires a subscription anyways, FIS-B is free outside of install cost. Totally agree with this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Baker Posted November 25, 2019 Report Share Posted November 25, 2019 3 hours ago, Anticept said: Personally, I would rather install a 978 ads-b out and use FIS-B and traffic than spend the money on an XM weather antenna. XM weather requires a subscription anyways, FIS-B is free outside of install cost. He already has ADS-B out and in with weather. He was looking to supplement the weather and possibly add music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anticept Posted November 25, 2019 Report Share Posted November 25, 2019 Hmmm, my eyes skipped over the adsb out. That said, is it 978 or 1090 adsb? 978 must be used for FIS-B to activate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okent Posted November 26, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2019 It's a GDL 82, 978 MHz, for out and GDL 39 3D for in. I've been wrestling with adding XM for weather and music. On my trip to Oshkosh and back the weather (FIS-B) was o.k. but not what I'd call fantastic. Seemed to be times when it just wasn't available even though the coverage map show that it should be continuous at the altitudes I was flying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTSleepy Posted November 26, 2019 Report Share Posted November 26, 2019 4 minutes ago, okent said: It's a GDL 82, 978 MHz, for out and GDL 39 3D for in. I've been wrestling with adding XM for weather and music. On my trip to Oshkosh and back the weather (FIS-B) was o.k. but not what I'd call fantastic. Seemed to be times when it just wasn't available even though the coverage map show that it should be continuous at the altitudes I was flying. Do you fly with Foreflight as well? If you do, I'd connect to your ADS-B with it and see if it's showing you the weather any better. If it is, then it might be your Garmin. XM weather is good but there's still the 15 minute delay, so I wouldn't use it to thread the needle or anything plus it's super expensive for what it provides over ADS-B but that's just me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okent Posted November 26, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2019 I use Garmin Pilot on a tablet with pretty good results. My expectations may just be too high for what the technology can provide. I'm a fair weather flyer so I'm not ever picking my way through badness but I am a paranoid flyer! It makes more sense to just stick with FIS-B but I'm always looking to have as much info as possible when I'm taking on risk. I appreciate the input from everyone. I don't have experience with XM so trying to see if it's even worth messing with. When I spoke with the Gutmans at Airtime Aviation they didn't think it was worth it either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warmi Posted November 26, 2019 Report Share Posted November 26, 2019 2 hours ago, okent said: It's a GDL 82, 978 MHz, for out and GDL 39 3D for in. I've been wrestling with adding XM for weather and music. On my trip to Oshkosh and back the weather (FIS-B) was o.k. but not what I'd call fantastic. Seemed to be times when it just wasn't available even though the coverage map show that it should be continuous at the altitudes I was flying. I have exact same setup as yours, except with Garmin 796. I really like and use XM ( have the basic music package ) but I wouldn’t bother with their weather - it is ridiculously expensive ( compared to their XM service ) and frankly, as you mentioned, my goal is not to get into a situation where I would need real-time weather to survive in the first place ... basic ADSB IN is more than enough for me to get what I need ( METARS etc ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okent Posted November 27, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2019 Thanks Warmi! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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