Product Description
Designed with the latest, high-sensitivity GPS receiver by SiRF,
this unit tracks your position even in tree cover and canyons. It
provides a bright, sunlight-readable color TFT display and include a
128MB microSD card for storage of optional map detail. Garmin
preprogrammed microSD cards can be purchased, providing detail for
Topo, BlueChart, Fishing Hot Spots, Minnesota LakeMaster Promaps and
European streets. The 128MB microSD card can also be loaded with data
from MapSource products like BlueChart, U.S. Topo 24K, Minnesota
LakeMaster Promaps and City Navigator. Fast USB connectivity makes
loading charts and maps quick and easy, while navigation instructions
can be shared with repeaters, plotters, and autopilots using NMEA
protocols through the dedicated serial port. The GPSMAP 76CSx
incorporates a barometric altimeter for extremely accurate elevation
and vertical profile data. An electronic compass displays accurate
heading while standing still.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #759 in Consumer Electronics
- Brand: Garmin
- Model: 010-00469-00
- Original language:
English
- Dimensions: 2.70" h x
1.20" w x
6.20" l,
2.65 pounds
- Native resolution: 160x240
- Display size: 2.6
Features
- High-Sensitivity GPS Receiver
- Color-Handheld Mapping Ideal For Both Marine & Outdoor Use
- Bright, Sunlight-Readable Color Tft Display
- 128 Mb Micro Secure Digital Card For Storage Of Optional Map Detail
- Fast Usb Connectivity Makes Loading Charts & Maps Quick & Easy
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Product Description
Aimed squarely at boaters and marine users, the Garmin GPSMap 76CSx is
packed with features that seasoned mariners crave. The 7.6-ounce 76CSx
now features an insanely accurate, high-sensitivity GPS receiver by
SiRF that tracks your position even in tree cover and canyons. Plus,
you get a bright, sunlight-readable color TFT display and an included a
128 MB microSD card for storage of optional map detail. Add all that to
the 76CSx's integrated barometric altimeter and electronic compass, and
you've got a highly capable unit. Simply put, the 76CSx is ready to
take you anywhere on the water. Landlubbers will find much to like
about this unit, too, as it packs great GPS mapping capabilities into a
compact device.
The 76CSx features a removable microSD card for detailed mapping memory and a waterproof, rugged housing. View larger. |
The GPSMap 76CSx features the powerful SiRF GPS navigation chip, as well as an electronic compass and a barometric altimeter. |
The trip computer provides odometer, stopped time, moving average, overall average, total time, max speed, and more. |
You can use the 76CSx's memory card slot with preprogrammed microSD
cards from Garmin (sold separately) that provide topographic maps, city
streets, and nautical charts. In fact, the unit is compatible with most
Garmin MapSource products, including BlueChart, City Navigator, U.S.
Topo 24K, and U.S. Topo and Recreational Lakes with Fishing Hot Spots.
The unit comes preloaded with an Americas autoroute basemap that
provides automatic routing capabilities including highways, exits, and
tide data. There's also a preloaded marine point database. You can even
get turn-by-turn directions when you're driving, and an integrated trip
computer provides odometer, stopped time, moving average, overall
average, total time, max speed, and more. The 76CSx's 2.6-inch,
256-color TFT color display is designed to present mapping and trip
information clearly and accurately in any lighting conditions. Plus,
the case is lightweight, rugged, and water resistant to IEC 60529 IPX7
standards (can be submerged in one meter of water for 30 minutes).
Marine users will also like the fact that the 76CSx floats. When using
two AA alkaline batteries, you'll get up to 20 hours of battery life
from the unit.
Another key feature of the 76CSx is the 10,000
point automatic track log; 20 saved tracks (500 points each) let you
retrace your path in both directions. Meanwhile, there's a large
numbers option for easy viewing, as well as a dual-position display
mode. The unit also includes built-in celestial tables for best times
to fish and hunt, plus sun and moon calculations. You also get audible
alarms for anchor drag, arrival, off-course, proximity waypoint, and
clock. The unit's barometric altimeter system features automatic
pressure trend recording while providing current elevation,
ascent/descent rate, minimum/maximum elevation, total ascent and
descent, and average and maximum ascent and descent rate. Meanwhile,
the electronic compass allows you to get accurate headings while
standing still.
The 76CSx's trip computer provides odometer,
stopped time, moving average, overall average, total time, max speed,
and more. Meanwhile, a fast processor allows the 60Cx to provide quick
auto-routing, turn-by-turn directions, and audio alerts when you use
the optional MapSource software, which can be stored on the unit's
included 128 MB microSD card. Downloading information is quick with the
USB or serial port interfaces. Using the dedicated serial port, the
76CSx can share navigation instructions with repeaters, plotters, and
autopilots.
If you like the features of the 76CSx but don't
need an electronic compass and a barometric altimeter, check out the
Garmin GPSMap 76Cx.
What's in the Box
GPSMAP 76CSx, Americas Recreational Basemap, 128 MB microSD card, USB
cable, MapSource Trip & Waypoint Manager, Wrist strap, Owner's
manual, Quick reference guide
Customer Reviews
Garmin GPSmap 76CSx, Great GPS!
UPDATE: September 4, 2008 - Still very impressed with the 76CSx
unit. It has come in real handy recently shopping for a house. All my
opinions stated previously are still current. One very handy feature
the unit doesn't have that I wish it did was the ability to choose an
alternate route while your are traveling. This can come in handy in the
event there is a detour or you want to calculate a route around a
traffic jam. This would create a by-pass route on-the-fly. Many street
specific GPS units can do this. Although, this unit can re-route if you
go off course which is something different.
The '2008 City Navigator Map Update' is not much to be desired. I
have not noticed any significant improvement in calculated routes or
updated points of interest (POI) data over the 2007 maps release. The
same errors that I have encounter initially are still there in the 2008
release(PA, NJ, NY areas). I am hesitant to purchase the 2009 update. I
will probably wait until the 2010 Update.
The Foarm(R) case is the best protection out there still.
I am completely satisfied with this unit I have purchased &
recommended other similar units by Garmin. Overall, the 76CSx is still
a great unit.
UPDATE: August 23, 2007 - After reading reviews about the 2008
release of the Maps I decided to get. One special note: If you buy the
update DVD make sure you get the correct release. For instance, if you
have previously installed City Navigator North America v8 you need City
Navigator North America 2008 UPDATE. If you own City Navigator North
America v8 NT you need City Navigator North America 2008 NT. Get it? I
found out the hard way but Garmin came through!
UPDATE: August 21, 2007 - A year has gone by and I still very much
like my GPSmap 76CSx. Top notch!!! Garmin support has been great too.
It's been great on on the road, on the trails and even on a plane!
Whether I am walking, driving or riding my bike. Actually, there isn't
much I would change on this GPS unit. The button placement you get
accustomed to very quickly and the menu-page layout is genius. It's
been so easy to use this GPS. Once you read what each feature does the
book really isn't required anymore. Using the menus to get around to
all the features and functions is easy and self-explanatory. Since my
initial purchase, I have upgraded the expandable memory to 2GB (SanDisk
microSD $22 on Amazon) and managed to fit the 48-states and some parts
of Canada.
I see that there is a 2008 version of the North American maps
replacing version 8. I am reluctant to purchasing this newer version
since I have found quite a few out of date points-of-interests in the
v8 maps. On a positive note, using the maps I have had many successful
finds.
Battery life using Duracell alkaline batteries while the GPS is set
to "Alkaline" will last about 12 hours. I have tried 2500mAh Energizer
rechargable batteries with the GPS unit set to "NiMH" but I only seem
to get about 3 hours of use out of them.
Recently, I have purchased a Garmin Nuvi 350 for my father from
Amazon (price was great) and he really likes it but that unit is
primarily for the road. Just what he wanted. The GPSmap 76CSx is loaded
with so much more for so many other uses.
ORIGINAL review July 29, 2006 -
Having the Foarm rubber protective case has kept the GPS looking and functioning as new. It's dropped a few times.
I highly recommend Garmin GPSmap76CSx unit to anyone looking for a
GPS unit for the road, hiking and/or boating. The numerous menus and
features are very intuitive and easy to use. The hi-res color screen
may be small compared to in-car GPSs but is very clear. The time for
the satellite lock is relatively quick. Even while indoors, I can get a
lock on at least 3 or 4 satellites. Buildings with metal roofs or
concrete floors above may not get any reception. This is expected of
any unit.
For the road, I would highly suggest purchasing the City Navigator
North American v8 Maps ($112). The map extends the features of the GPS
with turn-by-turn directions, millions of points-of-interests (POI)
such as fuel stations, garages, attractions, restaurants and shopping
venues. You can even upload your own POIs to the unit as well. Don't be
surprised if some of the route calculations it comes up with seem a bit
odd. It will get you there though. If you miss your turn it
re-calculates a new route very quickly. There are numerous websites
that provide POI files that you can upload to your unit. You will
notice that some of the pre-installed POIs may not be up to date.
Unlike other handheld GPS units, the memory is expandable. I
installed a 1GB microSD card ($45) in order to store vast amounts of
map data or tracking that you may have done. The entire US is about
1.5GB of information. The unit comes with a blank 128MB microSD memory
card that I moved to my cell phone (bonus).
The sensors included are the electronic compass and barometer.
Having an electronic compass allows one to determine ones (N,S,E,W)
direction without moving. Many GPS units determine direction by changes
in position coordinates. Therefore you must be moving. Optional sensors
such has for water temperature may be plugged into the back of the
unit.
To protect your unit I recommend the Foarm textured, rubberized
(~$20) case. The case comes with a few transparent protectors for the
screen. If you don't get this case go out and at least buy some PDA
screen protectors. If the protected screen gets scratched you can peel
off the overlay and stick on a new one. Since the screen is a bit small
and with hi-resolution you want to keep it clear. The GPS unit floats
with or without the case. That can come in handy while hiking or
boating.
Based on all of this I would highly recommend any other Garmin unit as well.
The Cadillac of handheld GPS units
There are times when "pretty good" isn't good enough. For me,
purchasing a GPS unit represented one of those times. I wanted a
handheld GPS unit that was best-in-class. My research led me to the
GPSMap 76CSx. Factors that led to the decision: frankly, the reviews
here; Garmin's reputation; powerful satellite locking; great variety of
base- and add-on maps; expandable storage via microSD card; altimeter;
compass; battery life; transreflective LCD screen. Don't underestimate
the importance of the transreflective screen: one of the biggest
consumers of battery power is the LCD: with the backlight on
frequently, battery life drops significantly. The transreflective LCD
enables you to turn off backlighting for use outdoors during the day,
which significantly reduces battery draw.
I like to play with a unit before reading the manual, and in
playing around I have figured out the major functions/features. It's
not the *most* intuitive unit, but I give it 4/5 stars on
intuitiveness. The manual is not huge, but is a several-evening reading
project, and that's on my soon-to-do list.
Initial satellite locking is pretty quick (3-4), then acquisition
of another 3-4 satellites occurs over the next several minutes. This is
*indoors*, where I routinely lock 9 satellites in a townhouse. Out in
the woods while hiking, I also lock and hold at least 9 satellites. The
more satellites your unit can lock, the more accurate your coordinates
are.
I started with using just the built-in basemap, which is ... basic.
The first map I added was Topo 2008 USA. While the resolution is only
100k, it adds a reasonable level of topographical detail for my uses
(general light hiking), as well as non-routable local roads. (The roads
appear and are labelled, but the unit cannot calculate turn-by-turn
routing directions using the Topo map. For this, you must add one of
the Navigator maps.)
The unit is light, and battery life so far seems as promised (15-20
hours). I have not tried rechargeable batteries, but plan to do so. If
they work well, fine, and if not, fine too. Alkalines are inexpensive
enough bought in bulk.
Downloading maps from the computer is quite a slow process, so I'm
going to guess the USB is 1.1 not 2.0. I downloaded the mid-Atlantic
and New England region, approximately 700k of data, which took over 45
minutes. I can't imagine loading the whole country. The Navigator maps
may be smaller, since I don't believe they contain elevation data.
All in all, I am very pleased with this unit. The main things a
potential buyer must be aware of is the need to add: 1) a larger
microSD card to store additional map data; 2) the need to purchase
better topographical maps for serious outdoor use; 3) the understanding
that while Topo maps show roads, they do not calculate driving routes
on these roads; 4) for routable driving maps, you have to add a
Navigator type map.
The Next Generation...
Do not let the suggestion that this device is intended for marine
use deter you from considering it for highway and recreational use on
land. In fact, the waterproof and floating qualities of this device
simply enhance its already impressive capabitities for hikers, bikers
and motorized recreationists. It uses all varieties of MapSource
software, providing the ability to use highway, topographic and marine
maps.
The removable memory allows the user to increase memory or to
create memory cards with chosen mapsets preloaded. I installed a 2 GB
card and have every available MapSource map east of the Mississippi
loaded, including parts of the Canada, Mexican isthmus, and Carribean
World Maps! No longer do I have to sit and select maps corresponding to
my next trip, load them to the device. Nor do I have to load map
segments on my long trips during my trip (which required I bring my
PC). It's in there! It's nearly as good as the DVD method found on
today's built in vehicle systems in terms of map storage.
It's far better than vehicle systems in terms of features,
portability, flexibility, and so on. There are no in-motion
restrictions; all data can be uploaded and download with a computer; if
the road is on a map, this GPS will take you there - no "road not
verified mumbo-jumbo).
This marks the third Garmin GPS I have purchased. It has several
capabilities that take it beyond the GPS V that I own, and puts the
GPS12 (though a very fine device for it's time) to shame. This unit has
expandable memory, double the storage for waypoints, and over three
times the track log memory. Tracks uploaded can be twice as large as
the GPS V and three times as many total points.
The satellite reception is astonishing - it often receives enough
satellites to give me coverage even sitting at my desk in my home
office!
The addition of electronic compass and altimeter improve the
usability and accuracy of an already impressive device. You will not
regret owning one! If you already have a lesser Garmin mapping GPSr,
take a look at this!
