Garmin GPS 76CSX Handheld GPS with Barometric Altimeter and Electronic Compass
by Garmin
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Garmin GPS 76CSX Handheld GPS with Barometric Altimeter and Electronic Compass
Customer Review: Great device, but...
Summary: 3 Stars
UPDATE: The more I use this device the more I like it. The screen is the best I've seen on any device in all lighting conditions. Very impressive. The options for setting up screens and other customization is really great. One shortfall is that if you use the device for multiple types of outings there isn't an easy way to set up different screen layouts. For example: while navigating a sail boat on open water I want very different data on the trip screen than while hiking in the mountains. Each time the screen needs to be modified manually, taking a few minutes of pushing buttons and remembering the layout I liked last time.
The down side of Garmin's terrible map management is even worse than I originally thought. After spending an hour on the phone with their tech support I learned that their new g2 BlueCharts have been recalled due to problems with data accuracy and their legacy BlueCharts have been discontinued (you can still buy them, but they're not being updated). The inland lake charts that I purchased and tried to download failed due to a known problem with their download application but they said the download option wasn't supposed to be available on the website, although some users are still getting access to it (like me). Moral of the story: for a worldwide leader in navigation technology they sure are missing the target on the map/chart technology. You'll need to wait until the end of the year to get good charts for your new device.
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
This is a great device and the screen is a huge improvement over the old eTrex Legend I had. It is very bright and clear in direct sunlight or in night mode. The 76csx is pretty hefty compared to the eTrex. It's hard to assess accuracy without lots of cross references, but Garmin has a great history in this business so no reason to doubt that they have that figured out. The interface is quite intuitive and general navigation is fine. The flexibility to set the screens up with information you want on them is very handy for marine navigation where you might be using multiple devices.
My #1 gripe with Garmin is there lousy practice of providing a worthless map on their devices. You need to build into your purchase decision the cost of their expensive maps. You cannot do any navigation on land or sea with the garbage map they provide. Especially on the road. Ridiculous.
The #2 gripe is the incredibly bad job they do with managing maps and map purchases. Their website is confusing and self-contradictory. In attempting to download a map I purchased from their site the download failed. Now I'm getting error messages on the device and they have no customer support on the weekend. I'm paying Cadillac prices for this product but getting Yugo support. Too bad, I would really like to like this product, but who needs this irritation.
I've wasted three hours installing and updating software on my PC and the GPS today and now I've got to deal with a failed download that won't restart. Next time I'll look at other brands.
I'll provide updates when this is worked out.
Customer Review: The Cadillac of handheld GPS units
Summary: 5 Stars
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.
Customer Review: Nice GPS, Good Price
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm new to using a GPS receiver unit, and frankly I'm impressed with the accuracy, quality and general overall ease of use with this hand held gps unit.
some of the features it has that surprised me,
parachute jump calculator, tells you where you might land based on altitude ect.. very neat feature, I'm sure an advanced parachutist would love this tool that's integrated into the gps functions of :
compass
altimeter (barometric)
speed indication
highly precision GPS location tracking
waypoints, and automatic routing.
In short. VERY COOL, as cool as a car mounted system.
The only issue I had was the maps were kinda useless, all the feature are present for obviously something it doesnt come with, highly updated maps.
THOSE are seperate, and about 200$ extra - but you get the car charger, and mounting system for in car navigation .. it doesnt talk, but it really doesnt need to. the map s are scrollable. and you can quickly find things like gas stations, resturants ect.. specially good if your traveling quite a bit. or even a little to a new area.
I use this for GEOCACHING, it fits in my cargo pockets with ease. it's lightweight, durable, lasts a long time on 2 AA Batteries, and even has options to switch to ni-mh batteries which I happen to have layinga round the house w/ a charger unit for an old camera I used to use.
the screen is color, bright. and what's neat about this unit is.. it has a day/night color change feature, .. so when it flips to nighttime, you can look around the window and say 'yep there goes the sun"
it's accurate too with dates and calender info - such as moon phases.. it has that built in.
there's even tide prediction as well .
For marine use, it's got SOME features. but for general overall everyday use. WOW this thing is packed with features, built in applications. search system to find stuff. and it works great with geocaching.com online .loc uploads.
this has 128 meg Micro SD card built in, larger memory cards are available for very low prices.. I saw 512meg microsd for about 29$
the microsd cards are used to store tracks, waypoints that you add, and additional maps.
I recomend this one over the 60csx, only because it's waterproof submergable, and doesnt ahve a funky antenna sticking up. that will tell people aroudn you you got a gps unit in your hand.
as far as design and buttons, it's easy to use. smooth scrolling. and hihgly configurable to change sensativity ect..
Customer Review: Not the best for boaters
Summary: 1 Stars
Boaters: If you are looking for a handheld GPS for marine purposes, you need to be aware that this model comes out of the box with a base-loaded database that includes almost NOTHING in the way of aids to navigation. While the older MAP76 model included a database of coastal navigational aids (buoys, lights, nuns, cans, whistles, gongs, lighthouses, etc), this model DOES NOT include any of these. If you turn on this model and scroll over to Boston Harbor or San Francisco Bay, it will show you where the water is and where the land begins, but nothing more. No navigational aids whatsoever. Yes, it will give you lat/lon fixes like any GPS. And it will give you speed and heading information. But that's it. Of course, Garmin tells you that you can purchase the detailed marine charts (they cost $100-$200 each for just a single area...in the Northeast, you would need to purchase many of these to get complete coverage) and this is understood. But most serious boaters use detailed paper charts and/or a plotter and don't need their handheld for that kind of detail. What a handheld is good for, however, is to show where you are in relation to a bell or a light you may be running toward in the fog or in the dark or in relation to a known waypoint. The old version (MAP 76) gave you these bells and lights. This one does not. So unless you want to add many hundreds of dollars to your $275-$300 purchase price, this is the wrong model for a handheld GPS as backup. Get the older MAP 76 instead. For less than $200, you will have more than you need as a helpful boater's unit and no need to buy electronic charts. Of course, the MAP 76 is B&W and not color, possibly less sensitive, and lacks all the bells and whistles. But it is WAY more simple to use. This MAP 76CSx is very complicated because it has built in all the highway, hiking, climbing, geocaching, urban features and capabilities that you will never use. Just figuring out the setup takes hours. Bottom line...Garmin is a great product. But if you're a serious boater (not wanting to drop a thousand on a complicated handheld) and someopne who navigates with paper charts or a regular chart plotter, you don't want this model...you want the MAP76. Many sailors just want the peace of mind from a backup. This isn't it. Happy sailingCustomer Review: Love the GPS unit. Garmin: Not So Much...
Summary: 4 Stars
I love this unit. It is my first GPS and I complemented my purchase with a good "how to" book and a 2nd book on how to make your own maps. Most of the negatives you read about are true and are mainly complaints about Garmin and/or support. The Garmin software is rudimentary, Garmin is totally proprietary and the maps are ridiculously expensive and a royal pain to download and to load to SD or microSDs. And, God forbid you buy a second unit and try to connect with the same computer. First of all it is challenging to the point of hair pulling frustration and secondly Garmin does not reward you for buying a second unit since they will charge you full price to buy maps for the second unit after you have already paid for the same software for the 1st unit! Not even a discount for being a good customer! Very shortsighted but that is probably why their profits have dropped so dramatically this year. But, having said all that, I still think it is an excellent and affordable choice if you want to navigate in the car (safer w/ a co-pilot helping), in the field and in the water and this unit does it better than most GPS handhelds that try to do everything. My total investment so far is $350 for unit + 1 map purchase. I will likely spend the time to learn to make my own maps (another $100 for 3rd party software)and to use them for hiking/canoeing/cycling and forget about Garmin maps entirely. As for boating, I will probably bit the bullet and drop another $100-150 for the Bluecharts I will soon want just because I'll have my hands full making terrestrial maps and it will be easy to just buy an already loaded SD card from Garmin. So, I will be into this unit for about $500 total. As I intend to use this unit for a long time, I think that is not a bad deal overall. One more thing: the unit itself is really big. It does not bother me but others have mentioned it and it was shocking the first time I saw the unit out of the box. You may consider the new Colorado series if this is a deal breaker for you. But do check out the screen size comparisons. This unit has one of the largest screen sizes in the handhelds.