GPS purchase - offer your guidance

[Scott Brady]

Hey Pete :luxhello: , nice to see you over here.

The 376c looks nice, and is certainly more practicle (and affordable).

I need to look at GPS replacements, but I have so many systems under modification right now, I cant even think about it

 

[goodtimes]

What are you talking about Scott? *YOU* have a full plate? I don't believe it.....you never have anything going on. All you ever do is lounge around and watch TV.

 

[mountainpete]

Thanks Scott :victory:

 

[Desertdude]

OK the decision has been made and the money spent - GPS on the way. After way too much reading ( still don't know jack) - and many recommendations - I picked the 276C

Seems like a well rounded unit - combo auto/handheld - large enough screen for the dash board viewing - turn by turn directions, traveling spots.
I will have to get a Windows based machine, since I am a mac user - looking forward to making it all work! :victory:

http://www.gpscity.com/item-garmin-gpsmap-276c/276c.htm

along with these items:

Ram mount - http://www.gpscity.com/item-npi-ram-b-166-ga7/ramb166ga7.htm

12v/Speaker adapter - http://www.gpscity.com/item-garmin-gpsmap-276c-296-cig.-speaker-cable/276cigspeak.htm

Garmin Topo CD - http://www.gpscity.com/item-garmin-cd-topo-usa/cdtopo.htm


USAStreet Map CD -http://www.gpscity.com/item-garmin-city-select-cd-usa-v7.0/csusav7.htm

http://www.gpscity.com/item-garmin-256mb-memory/mg256mb.htm

 

[Scott Brady]

Pasquale, you've got mail...

Congrats on the unit. I am sure you will be very happy with it. I look forward to seeing it in person soon

 

[BajaTaco]

Nice! I hope I get to check it out!

 

[Desertdude]

Gonna have to parade this unit around once I get back to Sedona :jump:

 

[Desertdude]

just to follow up:

I now have the 276c for almost two weeks. I like it very much! Since I all ready own three XM units I opted out of the 376c.

The unit is easy to learn and fun to use. The turn by turn helps me out a lot when I am in a strange place looking for a location or need to return a rental car in an unfamiliar place. The unit is very smart in its calcs for routing providing it has the right base info.

I went out on a hike this past weekend and brought along the 276c. I was able to get lost on purpose then find my way back and enjoy all the calculations.

Takes a bit of time to customize - Due to Garmin not offering Mac USB drivers I am now looking into a PC portable to have along with me for way-point and map loading. ( I had a friend with a PC let me use it to load in 200 megs of my favorite spots).

The ram mount is solid and out of the way on my windshield - vibration off road is medium but the mount hold on well. You can unclip it from the garmin clip easy. I am concerned with disconnecting the power/speaker cable fromn the unit time after time - I think that could create issuse down the line. The antenna locks on to the sat. fast. and the screen redraws very fast.

I am still learning the depths of this amazing unit. With the 256 card I can load in nearly 3 states of cities select and topo info. Not too bad -Wish it used the CF memory cards then you could load a gig in...

I have spent the last weekend with the GPS intimately and now have many questions - time to head back to the manual to find answers.

Thanks again to all who chimed in hear, and to you Scott for the pre-research :wavey:

 

[BajaTaco]

Nice! I can't wait to check it out in November. :lurk:

 

[Scott Brady]

Great feedback Pasquale! Thanks so much. With all of the expenses focusing on SEMA, I am going to wait a while on my purchase. I have another idea for navigation, that I think everyone will like :box:

 

[Hltoppr]

I've heard a rumor of a Magellan XL, with a large color display, mucho MB memory for maps and a price of about $375 coming out for 2006...

I'll see if I can find some info!

-H-

 

[freightdog]

Garmin 60c...

I have two - I have the Garmin 60c which I really like! I got the RAM mount to mount it in either the 40/60

I also have an old backup Garmin Etrex Vista that is great!

But most important in being lost is having a cool bottle opener and good beer!

 

[BajaTaco]

Cool bottle opener! (beer looks yummy too)

 

[UncleChris]

I now have the 276c for almost two weeks. I like it very much! Since I all ready own three XM units I opted out of the 376c.

I have the 276c as well and I really like it. One thing you can do with it is to carry multiple memory cards. I have one with the Garmin Topo maps on it and another with the Garmin Street maps on it. That way you can switch to the topos once you hit the trail.

Another sidenote about it is that if you have a ham radio that is APRS capable, you can hook up your 276c to it and transmit your position and/or receive others positions as well.

A pretty cool little piece of machinery.

Chris

 

[MaddBaggins]

Sounds like a good unit. When I got mine, size and weight were the primary concerns with $$ coming in a close 3rd.
I'm a map and compass kinda guy and I got the gps to help me prove I know where I am :wavey:
I have been a huge backpacker and more recently a hunter, so traveling light has usually been my main concern. In that spirit I picked up a Garmin Geko2. This unit is tiny, smaller than most cell phones, can store 500 waypoints and a track log, compass, altimeter, can interface with my computer and even has a couple of games.
So far, though, I have only really used it for my first purpose, to prove I know where I am on my map. :wavey: