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garmin 76s


QuickKarl

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Posted

Quite happy, good maps, good screen, lotsa track memory, etc. Seems tough enough. Use alone and feeding PC with lighter/PC cord.

 

There is a lot of screen by screen flexibility, there are so many menus to find, it'll keep you busy for weeks learning all the toys.

Posted

Couldn't have said it better.

 

----------------------------------------------------------------

Co-founder of the "NC/VA GEO-HOG ASSOCIATION"

... when you absolutely have to find it first!

Posted

I could be happier.

It's a battery pig (especially with the compass on -- remember to use the button to shut it off), and it seems to lose signal in ridiculous places: on the creek with no tree cover, highways, etc.

 

Maybe I've got a lemon, maybe I've got too-high expectations. But my buddy's bluetooth GPSr talking to his iPaq didn't seem to lose signal.

 

I am Arrowroot, son of Arrowshirt. I have many names, you know

Posted

Hint ... do an auto locate everyonce in awhile. Sometimes due to some other issues this will help update the alm. data.

 

----------------------------------------------------------------

Co-founder of the "NC/VA GEO-HOG ASSOCIATION"

... when you absolutely have to find it first!

Posted

Great unit. Just drove 800 miles to Jackson,Wy with the unit flat on the SUV dash..never lost reception unless moved the unit to our passenger seat, but if you keep it close to the window, no problem. Battery only last about 4 hrs, but we are constantly changing menus and zooming in/out. We keep a 1 hr charger handy in the car and carry 4 extra AA batteries. Never without an extra battery. Hiked yesterday in the Tetons and lost reception a few times but in heavy trees and steep canyon walls. Also just have the unit in my Cargo Pants. I like the size of the screen and buttons.

Posted

I have had mine for about a year and love it. Got the Ram mount for the car with a 12volt adapter. Now I recharge batteries less frequently. I have used an external antenna on long hikes so I can store the unit in my pack with the antenna on my shoulder strap and still keep the track log running.

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by Team Og Rof A Klaw:

only problem on mine was lockups.


 

Do you remember the software version that gave you problems? I haven't experienced anything like that with mine so far. I'm up to date but I've gone through the last two releases without any issues.

 

----------------------------------------------------------------

Co-founder of the "NC/VA GEO-HOG ASSOCIATION"

... when you absolutely have to find it first!

Posted

quote:
Battery only last about 4 hrs, but we are constantly changing menus and zooming in/out.

 

That doesn't seem right to me. My 76S went 14 hours between charges on my last car trip! Did you have the compass off and battery saver mode on?

Posted

I never use the battery saver mode and I never have the compass on unless I'm using it ... but I consistently get 10 to 12 hours or more.

 

----------------------------------------------------------------

Co-founder of the "NC/VA GEO-HOG ASSOCIATION"

... when you absolutely have to find it first!

Posted

I'll have to dig the version number out of my records at home.

 

The lockups seemed to occur in areas of poor reception when I was wandering about looking for the cache (changing direction a lot.)

 

____________________________

- Team Og Rof A Klaw

All who wander are not lost.

Posted

I have been using my 76S since April 2002 and absolutely love it. If I had to b#@tch about anything to do with the unit it would be that you can't hold it vertically when using the compass like you supposedly can with some of the magellen GPSs. I also had problems with mine locking up with firmware version 3.20. Since I downloaded V3.30 I have not had any problems at all. Its a great unit. I just wish we could get a "Tricks, Tips, and other things" thread for the 76S going.

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by Growley:

... Its a great unit. I just wish we could get a "Tricks, Tips, and other things" thread for the 76S going.


 

HEY ... jump in there and start one!

 

----------------------------------------------------------------

Co-founder of the "NC/VA GEO-HOG ASSOCIATION"

... when you absolutely have to find it first!

Posted

Pull it out and dust it off. Bump it up and let see what happens.

 

----------------------------------------------------------------

Co-founder of the "NC/VA GEO-HOG ASSOCIATION"

... when you absolutely have to find it first!

Posted

Well I'll be darn ... I'm on 3.2 right now .. I've not had the lock up problem ... but that's probably a good reason to take her up a notch. Wonder why I've not run into that problem before?

 

----------------------------------------------------------------

Co-founder of the "NC/VA GEO-HOG ASSOCIATION"

... when you absolutely have to find it first!

Posted

No i haven't used the batterysavemode but the compass is turned off unless i need it for a cache. the 4 hours life was only a guess i think it is about 6 hours but we are constantly changing zoom, checking distances, next intersection info,etc. in fact my wife can't keep her hands off of it. Hiked Death Canyon with very steep sides and 100 ft trees in the Tetons and lost reception a few times going up but almost never on the way down and the GPS is just stuffed in my cargo pant. Maybe the Sat were better located.

Posted

Timely question...

 

I just bought one and used it today for the first time. I really like it. My second choice was the Magellan Meridian Platinum - I can't really say why I chose the Garmin.

 

I was also looking at the higher-end eTrex models. I really liked the 'thumb stick' but I didn't care for the unlabeled buttons on the side, and the 76S has a larger screen.

 

Happy shopping,

Bob

Posted

If it does, it's clled something different. The GPSMAP76S and the eTrex series use a different operating system, so nothing is exactly the same.

 

Can you explain what the "delete alamanac" feature does? Then I'll know better if the 76 has the same thing.

 

With the 76S, you delete Trip Computer, Routes, Tracks, and Points from the corresponding menus.

 

-Bob

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by Anders.:

Does the 76 S have a "delete almanac" short-cut, like the Vista has?


 

Hi Anders ... I can't find this function on mine ... and I have the latest upgrade. If it's there it's buried somewhere on a menu I've not been able to find.

 

----------------------------------------------------------------

Co-founder of the "NC/VA GEO-HOG ASSOCIATION"

... when you absolutely have to find it first!

Posted

It's not obvious on the Vista either. With a Vista, if you hold the page button where powering up, it will delete your almanac and start downloading a new from the satellites. One of these secret things.

Doing a master reset will give the same result, but this method doesn't clear everything else, as the reset does.

 

The almanac is the information about the satellites and their movements above our heads.

 

Anders

Posted

icon_eek.gif Don't have the nerve to try that one on the 76S! Anyone know of any secrets for the 76S?

 

----------------------------------------------------------------

Co-founder of the "NC/VA GEO-HOG ASSOCIATION"

... when you absolutely have to find it first!

Posted

Does clearing the alminac clear the satellite screen??

 

I tried clearing alminac on one of my GPS V units but both of them showed the same info on the satellite screen when I turned them both back on

Posted

Yes, it does clear the skyview page after a short delay. Then it starts all over again, just like it does when you've reset the unit completely. The sats are all shown due north, until some location information has been downloaded.

 

Anders

Posted

Well, it locked up on me again yesterday, new software and all.

 

It looks like only the magnetic compass locked up. The coords were updating. Power cycling cleared the problem. (But still...)

 

____________________________

- Team Og Rof A Klaw

All who wander are not lost.

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