I just purchased the new Garmin Handheld GPSMAP 76 and while I am impressed
by some of the features, like tide tables, etc.  I am not too impressed with
it's built in cartography.  Seems aimed more at street use than marine.
But, in fairness I haven't really used it much yet and am not completely
familiar with all it's capabilities yet.  It does have capability to upload
additional information from MAPTECH, a function I am not yet familiar with.
Another thing that impressed me is that it will acquire satellites in my
living room, something my previous units would not do!

Jim Alexander
----- Original Message -----
From: Garrett Lambert e16@telus.net
To: TWL trawler-world-list@samurai.com
Sent: Wednesday, September 05, 2001 7:24 PM
Subject: TWL: Handheld GPS

I like my $149.99 Garmin GPS 12.  It doesn't have built in charts or tide
tables, but I would have charts even if I had a $1500 dollar unit and tide
tables booklets in Seattle are a buck.

Jerry

I've got the same Garmin GPSMAP 76. The basemap is rather crude, but
can be dramatically improved by uploading selections from the
Waterways & Lights CD ($69). There's no depth info on the W&L CD, but
none-the-less, I seldom bring out the paper charts anymore.

You can go to the Garmin site to see actual graphics.
http://garmin.com/cartography/mapSource/
Be sure to zoom in far enough to bring up the nav aids (&/or select
More Detail).
If you want to compare the detail on different CD's, do a [ctrl]N to
open up additional browser windows and size them so you can see more
than one at a time while you're zooming and panning.

The CD comes with an eNav program which can be used to display your
dynamic position on a laptop, as well as a very easy interface to move
data both ways between the GPS and computer.

The GPSMAP 76 talks to my FloScan to allow it to display MPG.
The GPSMAP76 floats.

It's everything I want/need in a handheld GPS.

Nick in Spartanburg, SC

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Alexander" jalexander127@home.com
To: "Trawler World" trawler-world-list@samurai.com; "Garrett
Lambert" e16@telus.net
Sent: Wednesday, September 05, 2001 8:30 PM
Subject: TWL: Re: Handheld GPS

impressed

impressed with

marine.

completely

upload

familiar with.

in my

units?

My choice is the Garmin eTrex Legend. It provides a mapping screen with
WAAS capability (better than 10 ft. accuracy most of the time!). Combine
with the MapSource US Water Ways and Lights CD Rom and you have a whole lot
of info in the palm of your hand. I wouldn't use it for prime navigation
but it could "get you home." $200 more or less depending on where you shop.
You can interface with your auto-pilot, too.

Tom White
Rockport, Texas

At 04:24 PM 9/5/01 -0700, Garrett Lambert wrote:

th-white@swbell.net writes:

I got a Garmin 48 for my birthday. Has everything I need plus more.
Too complicated for my aluminium soaked brain. The booklet that comes
with it is way over my head. Heard that one can get a video to learn
how to use it. Does anyone know where and how? Please no reference to
www - have no access to the web, but a phone number or e-mail address
would be appreciated.

TIA - George in Canada (icecube country soon)

Hi George

It's not (only) the aluminum! Garmin manuals are really not very helpful
unless you already know something about GPS. Once I realized I was never
going to figure out how to use my 128 from the skimpy material that came
with it, I went to the library and got a couple of recent books, and suggest
you do the same. They got me started, and as with most things, the rest came
easily and logically with use.

These units have a surprising amount of functionality built into several
different screens with rather clunky interfaces because of the limited
number of keys/buttons, so trying to learn it all as a theoretical exercise
is futile. I believe you need to start simply. Since trying to play with a
GPS and drive a boat simultaneously can be dangerous, I suggest you go for a
walk in a park - you need to be moving - and do some simple orienteering.
Note the information you get from the screen - speed, course, distance,
etc. - and move around noting the changes until you feel comfortable. Then
hit the Track-Back function and try to retrace your original route. Once you
can do that much, you'll understand how the unit works, how it deals with
waypoints, etc., and will be most of the way home, literally and
figuratively. Learning and becoming comfortable with the rest of the unit's
potential will be incremental.

One of the major aggravations/limitations of is inputting waypoints, yet
that's a fundamental requirement to get the benefits. Doing them manually is
a PITA. By far the easiest way is via a computer. However, that's another
set of challenges altogether, so let me know when you are ready to do that
and I'll help out if I can.

Cheers, Garrett

-----Original Message-----
From: George Geist [mailto:scaramouche@tvo.org]
Sent: Thursday, September 06, 2001 5:57 AM
To: th-white@swbell.net
Cc: e16@telus.net; trawler-world-list@samurai.com
Subject: Re(2): TWL: Handheld GPS

th-white@swbell.net writes:

I got a Garmin 48 for my birthday. Has everything I need plus more.
Too complicated for my aluminium soaked brain. The booklet that comes
with it is way over my head. Heard that one can get a video to learn
how to use it. Does anyone know where and how? Please no reference to
www - have no access to the web, but a phone number or e-mail address
would be appreciated.

TIA - George in Canada (icecube country soon)