Is the display on the GPSMAP76 good enough for nav chart display?

On Sat, 03 Jul 2004 20:06:19 -0700, Stephen Trapani =

wrote:

Okay you talked me into it! In fact more than that, after looking around=
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I really like the 76C. So I think I might try to steal one somewhere, so=
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.35 boat buck there for a new one, another .10 for the Bluechart,=20
awesome navigation and charting for less than half a boat buck! Not bad,=
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it seems.

Stephen

wrote:

On Fri, 02 Jul 2004 19:53:49 -0700, Stephen Trapani =

wrote:
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Isn't there some cheaper way, like a cheaper gps from ebay that can=20
interface with maybe some $150 Mac software? Grand total: $250 maybe?

Stephen

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In this case, you will get what you paid for. One of the prime reasons=
for
buying a Garmin GPS is so you can use their proprietary Blue Chart =
software. I
have yet to see a review anywhere that it wasn't rated superior to all=
of the
other GPS charts. This is something that you will be using a lot. Not =
a good
place to save a few bucks. Your idea of a cheap GPS with Mac software =
will get
you something less worthwhile than the Garmin with just the included =
basemap.
Borrow a PC for an hour and download the Blue Charts to a GPSMAP76. =
You won't be
able to use the computer for plotting courses and stuff to upload to =
the GPS
without a PC, but you will have the infinitely better electronic =
charts on your
handheld.=20
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BB
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wrote:


On Fri, 2 Jul 2004 16:42:01 -0400, "Charlie Cassidy" =

wrote:



The basemap of the GPSmap 76 includes navaids and major highways. =
You can=20
download Blue Charts for depths and other marine detail and maps =
from Topo=20
or MetroGuide for additional land detail.



The navaids on the basemap are not numbered or identified in any way.=
I have a
GPSMAP76s and the extra $130 for the bluechart CD was worth every =
penny in added
features, detail, and usability. The difference is night and day. The=
base map
is really just far too basic by comparison.=20

BB



"Mike Wagenbach" wrote in message=20
gle.com...


Trying to chose between these units, primarily for sailing.

I have only Macs, but can borrow a PC, so the software is somewhat
inconvenient but can be updated occasionally. So, the built-in
database is an issue. The Garmin website specifically mentions
nautical navaids in the GPS 76, but not in the basemap for the =
GPSMAP
76. Does the GPSMAP really lack bouys, etc, in the basemap?

Mike Wagenbach
Seattle=20

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