Garmin GPSMAP 276C GPS Receiver by Garmin
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Digital camera reviews of Garmin GPSMAP 276C GPS Receiver
Digital camera Review: Really nice road GPS - for the right application
Summary: 4 Stars
You can get the automotive kit (detailed map CD, memory card, mount, and cig lighter plug/speaker) and turn this into a turn-by-turn road GPS. The cost of the 276c + the auto kit is MORE than the 2610, so for a lot of folks the 2610 would be a better buy. Both have faster processors for quicker route calculations, both have base maps containing all the major roads, cities, and highways.
Pros and cons of the 276c VS the 2610:
1) The display on the 276c is larger and much nicer looking than that of the Garmin 2610 - in MOST lighting conditions. The 276c is a LOT easier to read with the sun behind you than the 2610, and looks nicer at night. Going toward the sun the reflective LCD loses out to the 2610.
2) The 276c includes a lithium ion battery - the 2610 has to have 12v to operate since it has no batteries or battery compartment. The 276c can last for HOURS on a charged battery. Combined with a lighter weight this makes the 276 more versatile an can be used on a hike or for geocaching.
3) The 2610 costs less with the current $100 rebate and includes every thing you need to get on the road
4) The 2610 takes standard (and cheap) compact flash memory cards. The entire map set (USA,some Canada and Mexico) takes around 1.4gb so a 2gb could hold it all. Most folks could just get a 1gb CF card and get most of the US on it and be fine. The 276c takes the Garmin memory cards, the max is 256mb and is $125 and up. Even a 128mb card is $80 or more. A 128 card can take maybe 2-3 states. The base maps are in the GPS so you still navigate the "big roads" without re-loading maps, but the 2610 means load it once and forget it.
5) The 2610 has a touch screen and remote control. If you are going to use the GPS in a car the remote can be handy - let a passenger operate the GPS while you drive. The touch screen means greasy finger smears on the screen if you are not careful. For use on a motorcycle the real buttons of the 276c are much preferred and the remote would be useless. The touch screen does make spelling a city name or point of interest a lot easier.
6) The 276c has more options for the way the data is displayed on the screen. You can have it show voltage, battery time remaining, heading, altitude - just about anything on the screen. The 2610 has some flexibility but the number and position of the fields is limited.
7) No detail maps with the 276c. As I mentioned you have to buy the detailed maps plus a memory card to get street level detail. This GPS takes the same maps as the GPS V - and Garmin lets you unlock 2 GPS units with the same map CD set. So if you already have a GPS V (I do) then you can just unlock the maps for your new 276c for free - just get a memory card. The number of POIs and amount of detail is said to be the same between the maps for the 276c and the 2610, but the 2610 is said to have more route/calculation options so the resulting route MIGHT be a little better on the 2610.
8) The 276c has extra features - the whole marine set of stuff plus takes optional external sensors. The 276c also shows sun/moon rise/set times for any location as well as tide and fishing info.
Both will do turn by turn with voice prompts (optional speaker needed for 276c) and let you find the closest Burger King or gas station. The 276c is more expensive but more flexible since it can be used outside of the car, on a boat, and more easily on a motorcycle. Some others to look at are the Tom Tom Go (has a battery, but has other flaws and is not designed to be used on a motorcycle) and the RoadMate series. Cobra has a new GPS out now as well - like the 2620 it has all the maps pre-loaded so no PC is needed.
Digital camera Review: The "almost" perfect GPS-- Garmin GPS 276C
Summary: 4 Stars
First, I purchased my 276c in September of 04 which means I've been using about 3 months. It was purchased to replace my Garmin GPSIII that I had used for around 6 years. The GPSIII still works great but has no detail maps available and no turn by turn directions, but for basic Lat/Long it still works perfect.
I compared the 276C to the Garmin Quest, Magellan RoadMate 700, and the Garmin Street Pilot Series.
I wanted it to be portable. Meaning I could use it in the car, boat, or walking/hiking. Basically I wanted to be able to use it just about anywhere, just like I used my GPSIII. This quickly narrowed my search down to the 276C and the quest. The others mentioned above are strictly automotive GPS units. Besides size, I couldn't find anything the quest had over the 276C. The 276C certainly is bigger but I liked the additional Screen Real-estate.
The 276C purchased with the automotive adapter does everything I want and it does it well. However, I have 3 complaints that keep it from getting a perfect score in my book.
These are not really in any particular order of importance.
#1 Proprietary Memory Stick that Only go up to 256MB
This Memory Stick holds all of the map data that helps you find addresses and specific sites. The one that comes with the automotive kit is only 128MB. You can't just go get another one of these anywhere because it is a proprietary design. The 128MB one I have had enough storage to download all the map data between Austin, Texas and Las Vegas, Nevada. We drove to Vegas from Austin in November and the 276C worked great. I wish it wasn't a proprietary design or I wish they at least offered a larger model that would hold the entire US.
#2 Cheap, Cheap, Cheap Car adapter. I read this on another review site before I bought mine. And they were right. The threading that holds the fuse in place is plastic. Pulling the unit out of the car power plug puts stress on the threads. Mine broke last week but was quickly replaced by an authorized Garmin dealer. This is another item you can't just buy anywhere because the car adapter has the built in speaker. I don't expect the new adapter to last long either. I move mine between cars several times a week.
#3 File this one under being very picky.
If the address of your destination is on a one way street the 276C will try to route you around the block so that you can come back down the one way street. This is fine except when the location is really on the corner of a one way street with an entrance on the side street. The unit will literally route you right past the side entrance to the next street that will allow you to go up a few blocks so that you can come right back down to the location on the one way street. I don't know if the automotive only GPS units would handle this situation any better.
That's it.
We drove over 3000 miles on our trip in November and used the 276C extensively the whole way.
Regards,
Alan
Digital camera Review: Very best hand held nautical use product!
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been using my 276C since they came out.
I race and cruise sailboats from my home port in Southern California but have used also it many times in Mexico, the East Coast, the UK and The Netherlands. It is a remarkably functional and reliable unit. I've also used it occasionally for land based travel and though this is not my primary interest, I have been quite satisfied.
I have a chip so I can navigate the ports of Baja and Southern Mexico and it works seamlessly and A-OK. I still have paper charts on board but rarely use them other than to see the big picture. (To be fair, I should add that I also have a bigger, fancier RayMarine chartplotter/radar display unit at the helm, but I prefer my 276C for all uses except autohelm.)
Without question it is the best product out there for how I use it.
Oh, about 3 years ago I lost the unit overboard in Catalina in about 20' of water. I could see it down there but it took me several dives to collect it. Naturally it was non functional but I sent it in to Garmin and they sent me a new one for the $250 "repair" fee (including shipping). Took about a week.
Digital camera Review: good spectative
Summary: 4 Stars
I haven't use this product yet, but it seens to be helpfull for point the fix i need at sea. I'll coment again, when a first use this.Digital camera Review: the best handheld GPS that I know
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the best handheld GPS that I know! The battery which is great because it has a safe load for a long time depending on their size. I recommend buying now with the equipment 1 memory card that can be burned to the maps. The size of the display is very good, very large can show many details. I did the crossing of Angra dos Reis to Rio de Janeiro at night and feel much confidence and traffic in the middle of many islands with the orientation of the maps that I loaded in the GPS!