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 Question about the Garmin 276C		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts
Initially Posted - 11/18/2005 :  13:05:00  Show Profile
Hi again folks,

I seems that I might be able to afford the Garmin 276C, which so many have spoken so highly of. On GPSNow.com, it is available for less than $600.00. Seems like a good deal.

Anyway, before I order it, is there anything else I would need to buy for it to be usable in a car? It's primary use will be in the car for my parents, who travel a ton. If I have to buy some $200.00 software package, then suddenly it is again out of my price range.

Thanks everyone.
Ben
Beneteau 361
Viking Kitty
Columbus, Ohio
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cathluk
Admiral

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USA
513 Posts
Response Posted - 11/18/2005 :  13:16:26  Show Profile
Make sure you have the maps you need. When we bought our 176c we also has to buy the Chesapeake chartpak separately. We'v never used it for land-based navigation so I don't know what kind of roadmaps it has.
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frankr
Captain

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256 Posts
Response Posted - 11/18/2005 :  15:33:33  Show Profile
If you go to www.garmin.com you can download a user manual and find out everything it can do and what accessories are available. I did that when I was looking and eneded up buying a GSPMAP 76. It works ok for me on the Chesapeake and when stomping thru the forests of WV.
Edited by - frankr on 11/18/2005 15:39:59
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Kirk McKay
Navigator

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USA
111 Posts
Response Posted - 11/18/2005 :  19:11:20  Show Profile
It will do navigation in the car right out of the box. It won't have smaller streets on it's maps unless you buy the extra driving map CD though. I've used it on trips and it's pretty good without the extra detail. I belive the driving package they sell you also has a special car power cord that has a speaker so it will actually tell you when to turn as well a different car mount base (mine velcro on the dash works with the original just fine.)
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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts
Response Posted - 11/22/2005 :  19:59:37  Show Profile
The 276C has a built-in highway basemap that does not include most local streets. To get street-level detail, you need the City Select CD or chip, which is about one boat unit from http://www.gpsdiscount.com/home.html .

For about two boat units, you can get City Select, the car power cable with speaker (for voice commands), and the beanbag mount that works well on my dash--YMMV. With that combo, you have just about everything the $2-3000 "navigation systems" have in new cars, except you can take it into your family room, connect it to your PC, use it in any car, use it on a boat, etc.

BTW, if you consider the useful life of a GPS (which WILL be obsoleted in a few years) to be three years, the extra boat unit or two to do it right is just a gallon of gas a month, give or take. Do it right, and you'll be glad.
Edited by - Dave Bristle on 11/22/2005 20:04:51
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tmhansen
Captain

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USA
397 Posts
Response Posted - 11/23/2005 :  00:20:47  Show Profile  Visit tmhansen's Homepage
Ben, we bought ours as the land and sea package. It came with a fixed mount for the boat, a weighed mount for the car, a fixed base for the car, a cord/speaker for the car, a power cord for the boat, a memory card, a cd with marine charts for North America, a key to unlock one region of said charts, a cd with road atlas data for the US and Canada along with its unlock code. I bought an additional memory card so I can swap back and forth between charts and maps. Updates to the maps are $75 and are available annually. If you use the data on restaraunts and so on you will want to update the data. On one vacation we tracked down two restaraunts and a grocery store only to find that they were closed for business and had moved.

I have not priced out the parts and pieces but I bet you will get a better deal in a package. West Marine sells a branded version of it too. They may put it on sale sometime.
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Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts
Response Posted - 11/23/2005 :  07:18:14  Show Profile
I own a Garmin 176C, and use it exclusively on the boat. I used it once on the interstate just to see how it worked. It picked up signal's fine when placed on the dash. The built in basemap has interstates and major roads, but not small local streets. I cannot speak for the preloaded maps on the 276.
Let me tell you one thing about maintainance on this unit. The antenna swivels on the case. Garmin doesn't tell you that the antenna can be removed. I started losing my signal quite frequently. Garmin charged me 175 bucks to "check out" the system. They removed the antenna, cleaned the contacts, and shipped it back to me. So if you get this unit, and use it on a boat, put some dielectric grease on the antenna contacts and periodically clean the contacts. I use CRC electrical contact cleaner.
Of course the 376C is a really sweet unit. If you pay for a subscription to XM you can get the weather charts and radar overlaid onto the map. Very cool. It should be for 50 bucks per month service charge.
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Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts
Response Posted - 11/24/2005 :  11:07:05  Show Profile  Visit Oscar's Homepage
When tested the new C330/C340 was universally acclaimed for it's ease of use.....if it's for the 'rents I'd take a hard look at it....and they come fully loaded. The C330 will keep you under $600....The 276 requires loading of charts if you want anything more than small scale RandMcNally resolution.....

I love the side by side comparisons at GPSnow..... here's the 340

http://www.gpsnow.com/gmspc340.htm#info

Captain Oscar, USCG/OUPV ATP/737-757-767
C42 # 76 "Lady Kay" (Ex. C-30 #681, Ex. C250 WB #618 )
Georgetown MD/Fort Lauderdale FL
Edited by - Oscar on 11/24/2005 11:08:32
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Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts
Response Posted - 11/28/2005 :  10:09:58  Show Profile
Thanks all. After researching a number of units, it sounds like the C330 is the best solution for my parents. Ya'll are the best.
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.