By Darren
Before my GPS purchase, I considered a number of Magellan units in addition to a great deal of in the Garmin E Trex series. I ultimately decisive on the Garmin Map76.
In addition to being comparatively easy to use, I preferent the more or less more prominent screen of the Map76 over the other units. Since I was purchasing the unit to use while sea kayaking, I found the screen on the Map76 was much requiring little effort to read in the sunlight than the littler screens on the E-Trex models. In addition, you may upload map data into this unit. (Although the unit includes a basemap, Garmin likewise manufactures a number of optional mapping merchandise which cover roads, waterways and topographical features in more detail). For kayaking, I use the optional BlueCharts which is basically like having Nautical maps at your fingertips. (These are sold by regions and tend to be a bit pricey however).
The tide station/prediction feature on the Map76 was also an essential resolving factor. With this unit, you have the capacity to get tidal prophecies for almost anyplace in the US at your fingertips.
The Map76 often times receives criticism on the low amount of memory for uploading map data. The tradeoff nevertheless is that it also drains the battery power at a slower rate than those that brag more memory. (I also considered the GPS Map76S which has an added electronic compass and more memory, nevertheless after a trial use from a friend's, I found the Map76S unit to drain battery power far too quickly for my intended use. The Map76S was also when it comes to $100 more in cost). Although the Map76S was a more or less upgraded Map76, I didn't feel the extra features of the 76S were worth the added cost, in particular with the quicker rate of the battery drain.
I've logged over 500 miles of sea kayaking with this unit and am very satisfied with it is performance. I find the memory capability in the Map76 is adequate for uploading maps for day trips and the remainder with the battery drain is also sufficient.
Although it is waterproof, I highly suggest a transparent waterproof bag for using while kayaking to keep out of the way of salt water condensation corroding the battery leads.
Garmin likewise offers toll free phone and email technical support for their units and software.
This unit makes a great paddling partner.
81 of 83 humans found the following review helpful.
Hits the sweet spot for GPS price/performance...
By G. Lawrence
So I at long last got around to upgrading my trusty 3 year old Garmin 12XL to a new GPSMAP 76. I played with one of the Magellan 330s at the local store for comparison but found that once again I plainly prefer the Garmin user interfaces. I likewise picked up the MetroGuide CD. I figured if I was going to upgrade to a mapping GPS, I'd genuinely want richly elaborated maps. Surprisingly, I've experienced no buyer's remorse whatsoever. The GPSMAP 76 is not one thing short of miraculous! Garmin is to be commended for the improvements they've made to their product line over the years.
The internal quad-helix antenna is excellent. Position accuracy is superb, screen solution is vastly improved, and the extras such as tidal and celestial selective information are a actually nice touch. The optimal fishing/hunting time predictor seems like overkill but I'll bet there are users who swear by it. The routing and tracking functions are well thought out and much bettered since the 12XL was released. WAAS is sort of a mixed bag. I find that that whenever I lock onto WAAS signals, the approximated accuracy gets a few feet worse. It's never reads more than 20-25 feet off total but it's still the opposite of what I'd expect. Regardless of what the approximated error reading is, the accuracy always seems much better than it lets on. I've been using it a lot for geocaching not long back and it constantly puts me within 5-6 feet of the caches.
The MetroGuide CD is rather nicely designed for a Windows product (I'm a Mac fan!) It holds substantial improvements over Delormes Street Atlas 4 Mac which was the last CD based mapping product I owned. It's fast and exact (I perceive that they just altered all their maps) and the integration with the GPSMAP is excellent. You may effortlessly transfer all waypoints, routes, tracks, or maps back and forth amongst the GPS and your PC (or VirtualPC for Mac fans). You may likewise connect your GPS to the serial port and dynamically track your whereabouts on your laptop screen but I find this arrangement a bit cumbersome. There are just too galore wires and batteries to deal with. For me having an without apparent effort readable, high-resolution, zoomable map on the GPS is the only way to go.
The only complaint I expected to make was with regard to the fixed 8 MB map storage space. It turns out that 8 MB will hold finelooking much the entire San Diego, CA and San Francisco, CA Bay Area. If I were driving throughout the country and wanted to investigate each nook and cranny I might be concerned. Otherwise it's utterly fine for now.
Great product, outstanding price. Happy navigating!
77 of 79 humans found the following review helpful.
I'd buy it again, but gosh how regarding a little more RAM?
By A
I love the screen, equated to the others. That is the most compelling feathure. The Mapsource selective information was more elaborate than I expected. Tracked correctly on an old Georgia logging road I hunt from. I didn't suppose it to be there. I did find a great deal of signal loss in deep woods though, the Lorance seems to have a better antenna if that is a problem for you. My dropouts were more momentary than extended though.
Battery life was as advertised regarding 12 hrs, bonus that's using ONLY 2 AA batteries. I used the light on screen as little as possible though.
Has all the features most could want. My understanding is WAAS is very fixed at this time, DOD will shoot a great deal of more birds up in the future, but don't count on it for now. I employed this in FLA, GA, Wash state, Lower Alberta and BC provinces and was satisfied overall w/ basemaps and reception... but never got WAAS. P.S. I would not trust basemap to navigate by (e.g. boat in fog). Resolution not enuf; happily it erred in my favor, said I was on land long before I could hit the rocks. Have to buy addin Topo USA (Canada) maps. Mapping/topo gps is wonderful, equated to nonmapping. I applied the grids to find a draw that deer would likely use.
Interestingly, Garmin calls this a maritime unit, but depending what maps you download, it's not an issue if you are a landlubber. I downloaded a four region region near Tampa, and much of N. Georgia to the unit before running out of memory. I wanted to do Tenn. and NC appalacian Mtns, but not enuf room.
The drifting percentage and ordinary light weight is outstanding feature. I think it is posing no difficulty than galore competitors.
Be sure to go to Garmin website and download: Firmware upgrade, Maritime map database (if u use downloadable maps, it may wipe out the base maritime maps, but u may upload again w/ this file) and finally, if u buy topousa or other set, get any updates there too.
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