garmin gpsmap 76cx

[jwhitm]

is this a good product? good details ? if anyone owns one thoughts and

good/bad points would be helpful. thanks

 

[64NHALF]

Re: garmin gpsmap 76cx

jwhitm,

I just got the GPSMAP76cs, thought I was getting the 76csx which I would have liked better, BUT
I have to say the only real downfall that I have found so far is the **** poor basemap that comes with the unit, there is very little detail in the maps, while driving down the road if I am on the map portion of it, according to the unit I am about 30 to 40 feet off the road. so now I need to go spend another $100 for another program, so I can see that I am really lost! Also the base map does not show some small bodies of water like lakes and rivers. So to put it into a few words, I like mine, it has lots of good features on it, but the Base maps bite!!!! just my .02

-64?

 

[all thumbs]

Re: garmin gpsmap 76cx

The company I worked for gave me one to use. What ever they had it loaded with was great. Found it hard to use at first but once I got the hang of it I loved it. Mounted to window with suction cup and never came loose for the couple months I worked there. Just a little too small of a screen, would of liked one larger.

 

[Boatist]

Re: garmin gpsmap 76cx

I have a GPSMAP 76 and the unit works perfect. The older units had a much better base map. I think they downgraded to force your to buy the Maps. My unit is Not Color and in the car only way you can see the unit is if in direct sunlight or at night with the light on. To see it driving down the road with the small very dim screen must take eyes off the road way to long to be safe. If you are a passenger you will be able to move the unit to light eaiser to read in. When running with Track Up or Course Up and make a turn can take up to 1.5 minutes to redraw all the details. Same if zoom in or out very slow redraw.
The unit works perfect but just too hard to use.

I just bought a Lowrance H2O C which is a color unit. Before I bought I went to West Marine that had both the Lowrance H2O C and the Garmin GPSMAP 76 C on display. First thing I noticed is the Lowrance H2O C screen was much brighter then the 76C. The base map is much more detailed. The 76C on the base map could hardly reconize San Francisco bay. Inside the store with the two units about 2 feet apart and plugged into a power supply the Lowrance H2O C was reading 4 satelites and had a 3 D position. The Garmin 76C was not lock on to any satellight and would come up and ask if you wanted to keep searching for Satellites.

The Lowrance unit has a dual porcessor and redraws maps in about 5 seconds

I just spent a week with both units out in the fog at Bodega Bay. In my opinion the Lowrance unit is worth twice what the Garmin is but it is cheaper to buy.
Lowrance also comes with a free lighter power plug. Garmin wants $40 for a lighter plug.

Both Lowrance or Garmin you can get with the features your want. I started to buy the Lowrance IFINDER EXPEDITION but really did not want the compass. The unit has MIC so you can leave voice note on waypoints. It also plays MP3s if you want that. I thought the voice note was something I wanted until I found out to here the note you have to buy a cable to plug in then an Earphone. For me just do not want the cables in the way on the boat or in the car.

Bottom line go see both Lowrance and Garmin units in the same store. The lowrance IFINDER is a better unit in MY opinion. The only reason I could see to buy the Garmin is if you already have garmin maps that you use for other garmin products.

If you compare and buy the Garmin I would love to here why. I will say West Marine is pushing Garmin. I ask why and he said takes longer to get Lowrance accessories. Probably because they do not stock Lowrance accessories.

Just My opinion. I love My new Lowrance Ifinder H2O C.