Garmin has announced two new aviation portables this morning, the Garmin 695/696: http://garmin.blogs.com/my_weblog/2008/10/see-it-on-the-b.html



I have been thrilled with the performance of the PCAS XRX interface with the Garmin 496, but I would very much like to upgrade to the Garmin 696.

Are there plans to provide an interface between the PCAS XRX and the Garmin 696? Any chance that the current interface will work as-is?

Thank you,
Robert

Excellent question Robert, I also would like an answer

Gents, I also have the XRX and a Garmin 430 and the Zaon interface cable.
I spoke to Garmin Technical support this morning and they indicate that the cable may be slightly different -- and that this would a question for Zaon.

So let's hope a Zaon person is monitoring this and can enlighten us on the best cable. Zaon are you there? Thanks.

Note:
Garmin also indicated that the power data cable (bare wires) from the 696 to a 430 or 530 would be different (this allows flight plans in the 494 or 696 to be fed by the panel mounted Garmin.

This is the response from Zoan so far:

I don't know yet, we are working to find out. But haven't heard back from
Garmin just yet.

Thanks

Daniel Evans
Electronic Technician
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
1-800-496-9430 or (469) 916-6640 x311

Zoan got the info from Garmin as follows:

We have just heard from our contacts at Garmin that the 696 will still
accept our XRX traffic input.

However, the style of power plug has changed, and our current interface
cable (GARX-X) will not work. We encourage our customers to be patient and
allow us time to make the simple changes to update this cable.

The other option many pilots have preferred is to hardwire the power for
their portable Garmin products. Used in conjunction with our power data
cable (XPD-X) you can hardwire our power and run the data to the Garmin at
the same time.

Thanks

Daniel Evans
Electronic Technician
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
1-800-496-9430 or (469) 916-6640 x311

Excellent news, Sojorrn! Thanks for doing the legwork and passing along the info to us all.

We'll be awaiting the updated data cable from Zaon . . . meanwhile the 696 is on order and the 496 is on it's way to a new home.

Fly safe,
Robert