Mys Terry wrote:
On Tue, 06 Jun 2006 17:32:46 GMT, "Lester Evans"
wrote:

Thanks for the info from those who answered my earlier post. Couple more
questions.

The Garmin MAP76 or the Garmin MAP76s .

If I have this right; first buy the GPS unit, then get the Blue Charts.
Load the Blue Charts ,,, off and running.

How do the Blue Charts load? Is there a software program which I must buy?

The Blue Charts come on a CD with everything you need to use the blue
charts on your computer, and also to load them from the computer to
the GPS via a cable that comes with the GPS.


I am looking at a picture of the GPS unit and it doesn't look very big. So,
I got to thinking that there must be some trick to loading info into the
device.


See above. There is a socket on the back of the GPS where you connect
a cable that leads to your computer.

Also,,, where is a good store, outlet, online store, whatever which would be
good to shop for the GPS and the Blue Charts?


I've had good luck with Defender.com There are plenty of webstores
with names like GPSWORLD.com, DiscountGPS.com, etc. I can't vouch for
any of them, and I doubt they would be significantly cheaper. Defender
is a major boating retailer that also has a huge physical location -
not a fly-by-night, web only operation, that might be running out of
the second bedroom of an apartment somewhere.

I looked on Ebay and didn't really see any deals.

Do you think I could get out of this for under $300?


Doubtful, unless one of your friends just bought a fancier unit and
wants to do you a favor by selling you the old one cheap.

These are some of the reasons I'm so happy with my recent purchase of a
Lowrance iFinder H20 Colorg ps, over any of the GPSMap76* line that I
have long lusted after. With the plug-in NauticPath USA memory card
(or other comparable cards made by several companies), I have detailed,
color charts of the entire US, with no mussing with any hardware,
software, accessories, or computer connections, for about 60 bucks,
loaded on to my gps automatically just by popping it in. The Garmin
Bluechart CD's are in the 1 to 200 range to purchase, I believe, and
then 100 for each region you want to "unlock," and then you have to
make sure the usb connection port on your unit never gets any
corrosion, you don't lose the cable or (much worse!) the cd, the
software continues to work as your computer ages and hard drive gets
filled up...and I got the whole setup going, new color gps and memory
card with all the maps effortlessly loaded for about $275 total. My
experience show far also shows the battery life on the color lowrance
to be way longer than that on any of the Garmins I've owned, even using
it with the backlight on for long stretches at a time. Guess I'm
becoming kind of a proselytizer for the lowrance, I just hope people
will find out about it and consider it, since the garmins and magellans
are usually the only ones you hear talked about much.

richforman