Garmin aera 560 The ultimate touch-screen GPS, including XM Weather
The Garmin aera 560 is Garmin’s top-of-the-line touch-screen GPS. It includes everything the aera 550 has, but adds XM Weather and Radio features. With the aera 560, you’ll have unparalleled situational awareness, from position and terrain to weather and airspace information.
Aviation and automotive features, with optional XM Datalink Weather The new aera from Garmin will change the way you look at touch-screen GPSs. This series of compact GPSs is packed with cutting-edge features based on Garmin’s industry-leading expertise in both aviation and automotive GPSs. A completely new interface makes these the easiest-to-use Garmins yet: simply tap the icons to access the desired page, then drag your finger to navigate through each page. It’s also well-suited to the cockpit, with large buttons, minimal button-pushing, and a sunlight-readable 4.3” screen. Includes internal GPS antenna and internal battery.
Aviation Features • Detailed moving maps with land data, airports, airspace, navaids and much more. • Terrain page warns of nearby terrain or obstacles, including a side profile view. • Comprehensive nearest airport screen shows airports, weather, navaids and more. • Detailed airport information pages with runways, frequencies and more. • Garmin’s famous panel page, with nearly real-time updates, is a great emergency backup. • The aera 510 and 560 also feature XM Satellite Datalink Weather.
Automotive Features • Intuitive turn-by-turn navigation, with spoken street names. • Millions of points of interest pre-loaded (hotels, gas stations, ATMs and more). • aera 550 and 560 feature Garmin’s Lane Assist feature, so you never miss an exit. • Media player and picture viewer keep you entertained on the road.
New Accessories Also new with the aera are Garmin’s unique single wire mounts, one for your airplane’s yoke and one for your car’s dash. These organize the maze of wires coming out of your GPS into a single one. There is only one connection to the back of the aera, making it fast and easy to move from plane to car and back again. Also includes carrying case, wall charger, and cigarette lighter adapter .
Includes: aera 560, GXM ™ 40 XM antenna, yoke mount, automotive friction
mount, vehicle power cable, battery, A/C adapter, USB cable, pilot's
guide, quick start manuals, one year free aviation data base coupon,
and carry case.
One Year Guarantee
Our one-year guarantee has not changed since we introduced our first product in 1962. If for any reason you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase, let us know—we will make it right. If you would like a refund or exchange, please return the product on a timely basis in the same condition in which it was received.
Price Guarantee
Sporty's guarantees competitive pricing on everything we sell. If you find a competitor offering an identical item at a lower advertised price, just mail or fax us the ad, and Sporty's will match that price.
Standard Express Shipping
We offer the fastest shipping in the business, so you won't have to wait for your important charts or a last-minute gift. Since we stock almost everything we sell, we offer same day shipping: in-stock orders placed by 5pm Eastern (weekdays), will be shipped that same day, often within minutes of ordering.
Plus, all orders arrive in just 2 business days with standard shipping.
Overnight shipping is also available on most items.
Return Policy
For over 40 years, in addition to same day shipping, Sporty's has offered same day returns and same day exchanges. Each day, we process all returns and exchanges before new orders go out. We know of no other company who does this!
Reviewed On:
August 31, 2010 Would You Recommend This Product:
Yes.
Overall Rating
Durability
Reliablity
Value
Usability
Expectations
Pros
The Garmin aera 560 has a lot of features different from the 430 that I did not appreciate until I started using them including nearest city which is fun. Many times we wonder the name of that little town and now we know. also, position which quickly give you the language that ATC needs for a position report. Many of the other valuable features, like winds aloft, require the WX Weather AAviator package for $50/month.
One reason I bought the 560 rather than the 695 it is so it could be used in the car. I think that was a good move for me.
Cons
First, the documentation is not intuitive. Garmin needs to hire a few people from Apple to write their documentation. It is not a hardware issue as much as how it is explained. Secondly, their are too many wires. This is a hardware issue. The XM antenna plugs into a wire hanging off the yoke mount. Why didn't they just plug into the yoke mount itself? Also, it would be nice to have an internal XM antenna with an external option.
General Comments
This is a good product, not a great one. It is all about the XM weather. The extra GPS features are nice but not critical. Be sure to have extra eyes on the sky when you start to fool around with the many features. I really appreciate having WM weather in the cockpit.
Reviewed On:
June 10, 2010 Would You Recommend This Product:
Yes.
Overall Rating
Durability
Reliablity
Value
Usability
Expectations
Pros
Incredibly easy to use! Comes with the Yoke Mount and dash mount and all power coards needed for functionality. I like the 1 year free map and aviation database updates as well.
Easy to see in sunlight, performs as advertised.
The XM receiver does offer METAR data for free as well as some programming.
Cons
I would like to see XM weather offer a lower cost package, ~20 per month rather than the 35 per month currently offered for the lowest pricing.
I would like to see lower cost subscription pricing for all flight database updates offered by Garmin as well. After the first year of free updates, I don't know how often I will pay to keep flight databases updated. Maybe every other year or only when MAJOR updates are offered.
General Comments
Reviewed On:
June 9, 2010 Would You Recommend This Product:
Yes.
Overall Rating
Durability
Reliablity
Value
Usability
Expectations
Pros
No Pros Listed From This Reviewer.
Cons
No Cons Listed From This Reviewer.
General Comments
Reviewed On:
June 2, 2010 Would You Recommend This Product:
Yes.
Overall Rating
Durability
Reliablity
Value
Usability
Expectations
Pros
User friendly and intuitive. Weather at your fingertips.
Cons
Battery life with XM weather. Powering from panel is really a necessity.
General Comments
Reviewed On:
May 26, 2010 Would You Recommend This Product:
Yes.
Overall Rating
Durability
Reliablity
Value
Usability
Expectations
Pros
great unit, loaded with helpful apps
Cons
battery life way to short when weather is up and running...even with out
General Comments
Reviewed On:
May 25, 2010 Would You Recommend This Product:
Yes.
Overall Rating
Durability
Reliablity
Value
Usability
Expectations
Pros
The sensitivity to reception of sats is excellent. It makes my 296 look like a crystal radio. It picks up several sats from inside my house and hanger. The 296 couldn't acquire a single sat inside!
Cons
the display is a little dim in the daylight
General Comments
Garmin engineering did a great job on this unit. The 560 is perfect. I can't imagine what they will do next in handheld GPS.
Reviewed On:
April 26, 2010 Would You Recommend This Product:
Yes.
Overall Rating
Durability
Value
Usability
Expectations
Pros
No Pros Listed From This Reviewer.
Cons
Web site for support not user friendly for downloading the initial update of the expired databases loaded onto the unit. Spent 30 minutes trying to figure how to register unit, couldn't find the free update, couldn't find area560 listed. Support not available on weekends. The reason we are weekend flyers is because we are too busy during the week earning $2,000 to pay for this. Only open to 7pm CST. Will be calling the support number Monday morning from the office.
General Comments
Just barely used the unit so far.
Reviewed On:
March 8, 2010 Would You Recommend This Product:
Yes.
Overall Rating
Durability
Reliablity
Value
Usability
Expectations
Pros
It's very easy and very fast to navigate with the touch screen feature.
Cons
I worry about how long the screen will hold up.
General Comments
I think the product is the best small portable GPS you can get.
Reviewed On:
December 19, 2009 Would You Recommend This Product:
Yes.
Overall Rating
Pros
I bought my Garmin Aera 560 for the XM Weather feature and the NEXRAD radar is awesome to have while I drive my semi professionally.
I pay the 30 bucks each month for Aviator Lite and I have found that when NEXRAD is showing no precip that the METAR function is awesome in that I can tell where fog will be and click on each flag to see current weather like winds and ceilings along my route. I can also use TFR to tell my dispatcher I don't want to go to any city with the president in it.
Cons
I was very disappointed that the weather is only available on the aviation side of the GPS and because of this I still drive with my old Garmin Nuvi in the window too. You see, the Aera 560 appears to be two separate GPS devices in one case since the unit shuts off and turns back on to switch from aviation to auto features. This means I have to guess where the road is compared to the weather system in question. Not ideal!
General Comments
The Garmin Aera 560 would be 5 stars in my opinion if Garmin would allow weather to overlay auto side too. Also, I want weather forecasts to show as an option on my screen so please partner with accuweather so I can get a forecast softkey next to WX when I click on a METAR flag.
Another auto side feature that would be ideal is to partner with all Official State road department web sites so I can get real time road condition reports delivered over sat link. I would pay extra for all these features. Are you listening XM?
The touch screen works poorly with finger tips but works very precisely with the clickable end of a ball point pen. This clicker part also helps absorb road bumbs to protect the screen.
I have not flown with the Garmin Aera 560 because my plane is currently broken but new users would do well to understand there is a learning curve to overcome in not keeping ones head inside the vehicle too long.
Reviewed On:
December 4, 2009 Would You Recommend This Product:
Yes.
Overall Rating
Durability
Reliablity
Value
Usability
Expectations
Pros
No Pros Listed From This Reviewer.
Cons
No Cons Listed From This Reviewer.
General Comments
Reviewed On:
November 30, 2009 Would You Recommend This Product:
Yes.
Overall Rating
Durability
Reliablity
Value
Usability
Expectations
Pros
Obstructive in cockpit, Very easy to use, Provides excellent situational awareness, XM weather feature, After the flight it is also the best road GPS.
Cons
Short battery life when using XM
General Comments
I fly both corporate jets and small singles and had never used a portable aviation GPS in any cockpit. After a trip with the AERA, I will not be without it again. Garmin has done themselves proud. Having the best road use GPS built in is a great bonus.
Reviewed On:
November 28, 2009 Would You Recommend This Product:
Yes.
