See what you've been missing! Get traffic information on your Garmin GPSMAP 396/496/696 straight from your XRX and without the need for TIS coverage. Zaon and Garmin have teamed up to provide highly-accurate traffic information overlayed on the same screen you've been looking at.

Available for both portable and hard-wired (experimental/homebuilts), hooking up an XRX to your 396/496/495/696/695 is simple and easy. The XRX has a built-in serial port and Garmin interface protocols that, when connected to the 396/496 serial port, provide traffic information that the Garmin can read and display on the moving map and in other ways.

What you see

TCAS-style Icons and Info Similar to weather and terrain info and alerts, traffic information is overlayed directly on the moving map display. Garmin displays traffic position information in the form of white open diamonds (no threat) and yellow closed circles (threat). The traffic's relative altitude is also displayed next to the traffic icon. For example, an aircraft 400 feet above would be displayed as +04. The climb or descend trend is also displayed as either an up or down arrow.

Traffic Alert! If traffic becomes a threat, as determined by the 396/496/495, several things happen. A traffic pop-up screen in the lower left corner of the display will appear, regardless of which screen you are looking at. This is helpful if you have switched to the glass panel screen and aren't looking at the moving map. In addition, a female voice from the Garmin will announce "Traffic Alert" and the unit will beep. This is independent of the voice and beep alerts the XRX unit generates, which can be used as an alternative traffic alert source. No, it's not TIS If you are familiar with TIS information displayed on the 396/496/495, then what you'll see from XRX is similar, except you will never get the "Traffic not available" alert... you are always in XRX coverage! To receive TIS information, the Mode S transponder must be in a TIS broadcast environment, which is primarily around major metropolitan areas. Outside this area, TIS information is not available. The XRX Mode C-based system receives and processes information independently of any service and can send traffic information to the Garmin, even if you are not in TIS coverage.

How to hook it up

For Portable Use...  If you use your Garmin 396/496/495 as a portable unit, all you need to connect the XRX is the Garmin Interface Cable, available directly from Zaon or any Zaon dealer. This one-piece design powers both the XRX and the Garmin from one cigarette-style power plug while sending data from the XRX to the Garmin. The cable replaces the power cable you currently use. To purchase this, click here.

For Hard-wired installations... If you have hard-wired your 396/496/495 into your panel, as many experimental and homebuilt aircraft owners have, simply connecting the yellow "data in" and ground wires in the Garmin wiring harness to the XRX will provide TIS-like traffic. We can even provide you with an XRX bare-wire Power/Data Cable to assist in hooking up XRX to your existing system. To purchase this, click here.

Requirements

The minimum requirements are needed to show traffic:

• XRX with version 2.0+ Software
• Garmin 396 Software 3.90+
  Garmin 496 Software 2.90+
  Garmin 495 Software (any)
• XRX/Garmin interface cable or appropriate connections provided by Zaon

For more infromation on Garmin products, visit their website at www.garmin.com.

Setup Guide

XRX Step-by-Step Setup

1. To get the best performance, ensure all interface cables are properly connected and XRX is positioned  for maximum detection. See “Placement Considerations” in your XRX Owner’s Manual.
2. Calibrate your XRX compass. See “Compass Calibration” in your XRX Owner’s Manual.
3. Use the Com menu to select “Garmin” as the output method. This option is only available on XRX Firmware Version 2.0 or higher. Contact Zaon directly for Firmware updates.

Maximize Detection Window

1. Using the Alt and Range menus to set detection range to 6NM and altitude to ±2500 feet
2. Press mute to return to the traffic screen. The screen will only show “Garmin”, but all menu options will still be available by pressing the menu button again at any time.

Garmin 396/496/495 Step-by-Step Setup

1. Setup is done the same as TIS setup in your Garmin owner’s manual. Under Menu go to the Setup tab.  Select “TIS In”
2. With power applied to both the Garmin and XRX you should see the status field change to “Data Available”

Must-Read Information

Please read the important general integration notes as well as these Garmin-specific notes to help you get the best performance from your XRX investment.

• XRX contains a solid state compass to help your Garmin properly orientate the traffic on your screen. Careful consideration should be taken when using the XRX near the XM antenna which contains a magnet.  Place the XM antenna as far as possible from your XRX.  Compass calibration instructions can be found in your XRX Owner’s Manual.
• Traffic alerts will not be shown on your Garmin if your ground speed is less than 30 KTS.
• Traffic input from XRX cannot be shared with TIS input. Connecting any other RS-232 device to the Garmin DATA  IN  while connected to XRX will result in overlaps in signals and errors from both data sources. However, XRX does not use GARMIN DATA OUT, which can be used for miscellaneous functions.
• Zaon highly recommends using the voice alerts from the Garmin in place of the XRX voice alerts when viewing traffic on the Garmin display. Alert thresholds are different between the two units, and the XRX voice alerts may not be in sync with the pop-up alerts on the Garmin.
• The Garmin interface hardware is specific to the Garmin GPSMAP® 396 and 496 only. Do not attempt to interface with any other device using these instructions or hardware.
• General important guidelines

Portions of this information, including images, may be held under copyright by the third party, Garmin Ltd. and are subject to change without notice.