Prior to getting the Garmin 196, I had been using the Lowrance AirMap 100, which was very nice. It contained an obstruction database which gave you an idea of what was ahead, before you could see it. Naturally, I knew that obstructions could be raised overnight, and so kept a sharp eye out, but I found using the AirMap to be very helpful. The Garmin 196, when I first got it, was terrific and better than the AirMap in almost every way... except, it didn't have the ability to upload an obstruction database. And, since it was something I was used to having, it was a bit distressing to have lost that "look ahead" capability. When preparing for this trip, I logged into the Garmin web site and discovered that, as long as I upgraded my firmware on the 196, they now had an obstruction database I could upload to the unit. Hooray! So, on this trip, as my previous ones, I could "see" the obstructions long before they came into view. It's a very reassuring capability, even at the slower speeds that I fly.