Handheld GPS?

[Spider04]

Got to looking up prices on these things at Bass Pro, Ebay, etc and see that the difference in the color model (H20C) versus the b/w is about $100. Apextrail stated that the color is a worthwhile upgrade. Could you expand on that? One of the feedbacks on Bass Pro is that the color unit is hard to see in the sunlight while the b/w is much easier to see. I personally would rather have the color but wondering if it's really worth $100 more if I could have some trouble seeing it. What do you guys think?

[Spider04]

By the way, for anyone else reading who is interested in these, the feedback about the units that I read on BPS website and other places is that the satellite feed is really good. I only saw one negative response and that was about something in the Gulf of Mexico.

[kamper_]

Elnutsmallmaws:

Check out this Garmin Web Page for the newest updates for your Garmin 76S GPS unit.

I'll bet that if you update the software for your unit at the Garmin update web site (see link below) you unit will work much better


https://buy.garmin.com/shop/store/do...ID=145&pID=183

Edit: Well I read the rest of this thread and saw where you had already talked to Garmin. If they treated me the way they are treating you I would be pissed off too. You should get that unit sent back for repairs under warranty and it should not cost you a red cent. My garmin has been a good unit. I even had it underwater for a few minutes and it works still. I gave it the dunking test to see if it was really waterproof like they claim.

But if I bought anything for over 200 bucks and found out that it was not working property I would be wanting a refund or a new unit.

Shame on Garmin. We should start a letter writing campaign to scold them on their customer service. I know that they are pretty money hungry as in the past to get the lake maps I wanted it would have cost me a fortune. Well over the price that I paid for the unit itself. The first FHS maps that Garmin sold were $100 for each of one of ten different regions. That was pretty expensive if you ask me.

Give the June 2007 update another try and if it doesn't help then take them up on the offer and see if they can fix it for you.

How long have you had your Garmin 76S ?

When my Garmin 76s works it is GREAT. The problem is that it only works when it can locate the satellites and that is about 50% of the time. I can get service in pea soup fog one night then nothing in the same spot the next afternoon with high blue skies. I have hated it since I bought it 5 years ago. Adding an external gps Lowrance unit to my boat in a couple of months so my Garmin hand held unit will never leave the house again.

[fishincreek]

To heck with the letter writing campaign. Best way to treat that type of customer service is by using the only weapon you have- YOUR WALLET. Buy a Lowrance and be done with it.

[smuckey41]

Do you have to pay a fee for satelite access with a GPS unit? or do you just buy a GPS unit, turn it on, and you're good to go with no service provider fees?
Thanks

just turn it on and go. and i also have the h20 ifinder and love it but dont use it any more because i have two gps units in my boat, but the h2o is a good buy. but get the navionics hot maps chip for detail maping

[elnutsmalljaws]

Elnutsmallmaws:

Check out this Garmin Web Page for the newest updates for your Garmin 76S GPS unit.

I'll bet that if you update the software for your unit at the Garmin update web site (see link below) you unit will work much better


https://buy.garmin.com/shop/store/do...ID=145&pID=183

Edit: Well I read the rest of this thread and saw where you had already talked to Garmin. If they treated me the way they are treating you I would be pissed off too. You should get that unit sent back for repairs under warranty and it should not cost you a red cent. My garmin has been a good unit. I even had it underwater for a few minutes and it works still. I gave it the dunking test to see if it was really waterproof like they claim.

But if I bought anything for over 200 bucks and found out that it was not working property I would be wanting a refund or a new unit.

Shame on Garmin. We should start a letter writing campaign to scold them on their customer service. I know that they are pretty money hungry as in the past to get the lake maps I wanted it would have cost me a fortune. Well over the price that I paid for the unit itself. The first FHS maps that Garmin sold were $100 for each of one of ten different regions. That was pretty expensive if you ask me.

Give the June 2007 update another try and if it doesn't help then take them up on the offer and see if they can fix it for you.

How long have you had your Garmin 76S ?

I bought it in the fall of 2003 shortly after getting my boat. My mistake was not using it very much until the spring of 2004, then I had 3 surgeries and my "Year" of warranty period had expired. They would not do anything unless I "Paid" for it even though I told them I had spent most of the time in the hospital. I refused to pay any additional funds to them after spending $300 on the unit and another $99 on the hot spots maps for Tn and Ky. They have walked me thru update after update that has not helped one bit. I called them a couple of weeks ago, after hours, and the recording said they were closed so I went to the website and logged a complaint to which THEY HAVE NEVER ANSWERED. They have my email and cell phone but refuse to call. Too scared is my guess. Bet a tech support guy looked into my account and saw what a piece of crap I got and it has fallen thru the cracks, most likely sitting on somebody's desk waiting for me to go away, which is what I will do with my Lowrance unit. I will still bad mouth Garmin for they deserve it.

[Monarkman]

I have a Garmin gpsmap76 and a gpsmap178c. The 76 is a mapping handheld that I had first. I still use it fishing with a partner and other things. They are both compatible with same software. I can mark a point on the 76, put it on the computer, then transfer it to the chip for the 178c. My point is find something that is compatible with marine mapping software if you decide to upgrade later, no matter which brand you choose.

[markmac60]

Appreciate the help guys. Good feedback. I will definitely hit BPS and have them demonstrate it as markmac60 described. Have you guys with the Lowrance units had any trouble with the satellite feeds much? Do they go out as often as my Directv does (every storm)?

I have the b/w screen on my Lowrance H2O because I didn't want to spend the extra $100. While I like the color version a lot more, the b/w works just fine. I have never had problems with satellite feeds, except in areas that you would expect such a problem. The kind of areas I'm talking about are shear rock walls on each side, which limits you satellite reception to directly overhead. As soon as I get out of places like that, the reception picks right back up. Never had problems on a lake.

[Spider04]

markmac60 - Thank you very much for the insight. Appreciate your time. I was kind of thinking the b/w might work alright for my use. Still considering all this though. I may go bigtime with some side finders w/ GPS too. Don't know yet.