Garmin GPS 76Cx Handheld GPS
Amazon.com Product Description
Aimed squarely at boaters and marine users, the Garmin GPSMap 76Cx is packed with features that seasoned mariners crave. The 7.6-ounce 76Cx 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. Simply put, this powerful unit 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.
Projected waypoint display. View larger. |
Track profile. View larger. |
 The GPSMap 76Cx features the powerful SiRF GPS navigation chip for supreme accuracy in all conditions. |
You can use the 76Cx’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 76Cx’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 76Cx floats. When using two AA alkaline batteries, you’ll get up to 30 hours of battery life from the unit.
Another key feature of the 76Cx 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, as well as sun and moon calculations. You also get audible alarms for anchor drag, arrival, off-course, proximity waypoint, and clock.
The 76Cx’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 76Cx can share navigation instructions with repeaters, plotters, and autopilots.
If you like the features of the 76Cx but require an electronic compass and a barometric altimeter, check out the Garmin GPSMap 76CSx.
What’s in the Box
76Cx unit, 128 MB microSD card, belt clip, USB interface cable, MapSource Trip and Waypoint Manager CD, lanyard, owners manual, and quick-start guide.
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.
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July 31st, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Having used a huge number of GPS units over many years, I must say that the 76CX is very good.
Pro’s
Removable memory (now up to 1GB)
Can be powered from 2 AA cells for a long time.
Nice Color Screen, no back light needed daytime
Water resistant
No easy to break off parts
Can be powered from USB connection!
Memory Cards(Micro SD) can be written to outside of unit
Does a good job routing for automobile use
Has marine and geocaching functions as well as hiking stuff like track logs etc.
fair pricing
Lots of optionally available maps
Garmin support is good including firmware updates that add functionality.
Cons:
Screen could be larger
Requires purchase of maps for street level(but this keeps price down, for people who aren’t driving with it)
Even with car kit unit doesn’t talk at all(”turn right next” or more recent auto units that pronounce street names)like the NUVI units do.
That said this and the 60 series are the only GPS units that you can drive with as well as use for hiking/boating/geocaching that work really well. The Magellan units that support both Meridian and Explorist are not nearlly as nice from a hardware, software and firmware point of view.
I will keep this unit until Garmin comes out with one that talks and pronounces street names as well as all the other functions that the 76 has. Would have also cosidered the 60CX but the price of the 76CX was better with the rebate offered this month.
July 31st, 2009 at 9:04 pm
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very Good, feature rich unit
I’ve been running the 76cx on my Seadoo for about a month now. Seadoo makes a glove box cover that allows you to snap a 76 series right in, so it’s always in front of me.
July 31st, 2009 at 9:21 pm
…but there are two things that annoy me:
The color display is significantly smaller than the one on the older monochrome gpsmap 76.
The screws on the back of the unit quickly get rusty when exposed to saltwater.
If you don’t need a device that floats, I’d recommend buying its prettier sister, the 60csx for the following reasons: it is smaller (but its display is the same size), it looks nicer and it has the keys in the right place (below the display).
August 1st, 2009 at 3:27 am
To say this thing is designed for boaters is as big a joke as a lie!! The included database does not even include the basic outline of local lakes smaller than the Great Lakes. Minnesota – the “land of 10,000 lakes” has been reduced to the land of 2 or 3 lakes. The map that came with it is from 2001. Perhaps the glaciers had not done their work by then. Truthfully, the Garmin 430 that we use for our car has a far, far better database. This unit was designed for one purpose – to make you buy additional databases. The picture on the 76Cx page shows an image of a lake with depths and navigation aids. Nowhere does it say the image requires optional addons to get that kind of detail (or even see the lake) although on the box (once you’ve shelled out the money and it arrives) you find that in very small print on the back. The only claim that may be realistic is that it is supposed to float and I am sorely tempted to put that to the test. To get maps of two popular lakes in MN, Rainy Lake and Lake Superior, I need to buy two addon charts at over $200. If I want to see a handful of the other lakes I can pay another $89 for the Lakemaster addon (which conveniently doesn’t include the other two lakes). Grand total – over $500 including buying the initial piece of junk which feels like a 80’s vintage cell phone. Large color display? Maybe for geocaching but not nearly big enough to be mounted in the cockpit of a boat and the resolution is very poor. Save your money and buy a better unit – preferably not a Garmin as their business practices are suspect at best. If you do buy it, good luck with support. I couldn’t even get on the web site and I gave up on the phone after 30 minutes. I’m a pretty easy consumer usually but this is a major rip off!
August 1st, 2009 at 3:59 am
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great deal
I am still working on the features. There’s so many of them! This was such a great price. It’s fairly easy to read in sunlight which was a big concern for me since it is…
August 1st, 2009 at 9:27 am
5.0 out of 5 stars
don’t listen to the rookies
the majority of the negative reviews are form people that want a GPS for their car, (rookies). I use mine exclusively for fishing and hunting, and its one of the best I’ve seen.
August 1st, 2009 at 1:28 pm
3.0 out of 5 stars
garmin 76cx
1st set Amazon sent was a disappointment. The unit intermittently went off by itself, during road use/usb connection to pc.
August 1st, 2009 at 5:32 pm
2.0 out of 5 stars
Customer Support Hung Up On Me
After providing unhelpful recommendations, Garmin user support got frustrated with my questions and hung up on me. This was a first for me.
August 1st, 2009 at 9:58 pm
1.0 out of 5 stars
read the reviews about installing maps
Before buying read all the review comments about problems installing maps. I ordered this unit a month ago and still can’t use it.
August 1st, 2009 at 11:10 pm
5.0 out of 5 stars
I will never be lost again
Great product. Takes some learning as it is not as intuitive as I would have liked, but the easy way is not always best.
I highly recommend this product.
August 2nd, 2009 at 1:17 am
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very good GPS device
This GPS device is my first device and has everything that I want for my job. It detects multiple satellites in heavy wooded areas and has very good accuracy.
August 2nd, 2009 at 5:54 am
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good little GPS handheld
The 76cx is a great little GPS. I can’t believe how well it stays locked on even when in the car below the dash panel.
August 2nd, 2009 at 9:04 am
5.0 out of 5 stars
A good buy
I wanted a hand held device that would work well in a car and this does both very well. No external antennae needed in the car either.