Garmin GPSMap 76Cx Review

The Garmin 76Cx GPS is a refreshing upgrade of the Garmin GPSMAP 76C. The Garmin GPSMap 76Cx is packed with features that seasoned mariners crave. The 7.6-ounce Garmin 76Cx now features an insanely accurate, high-sensitivity GPS receiver by SiRF that tracks your position even in tree cover and canyons. Plus, you get a bright, sunlight-readable color TFT display and an included a 128 MB microSD card for storage of optional map detail. Simply put, Garmin 76Cx is ready to take you anywhere on the water. Landlubbers will find much to like about this unit, too, as it packs great GPS mapping capabilities into a compact device.

You can use the Garmin 76Cx’s memory card slot with preprogrammed microSD cards from Garmin (sold separately) that provide topographic maps, city streets, and nautical charts. In fact, the unit is compatible with most Garmin MapSource products, including BlueChart, City Navigator, U.S. Topo 24K, and U.S. Topo and Recreational Lakes with Fishing Hot Spots. The unit comes preloaded with an Americas autoroute basemap that provides automatic routing capabilities including highways, exits, and tide data. There’s also a preloaded marine point database. You can even get turn-by-turn directions when you’re driving, and an integrated trip computer provides odometer, stopped time, moving average, overall average, total time, max speed, and more.

The Garmin 76Cx’s 2.6-inch, 256-color TFT color display is designed to present mapping and trip information clearly and accurately in any lighting conditions. Plus, the case is lightweight, rugged, and water resistant to IEC 60529 IPX7 standards (can be submerged in one meter of water for 30 minutes). Marine users will also like the fact that the Garmin 76Cx floats. When using two AA alkaline batteries, you’ll get up to 30 hours of battery life from the unit.

Another key feature of the Garmin 76Cx is the 10,000 point automatic track log; 20 saved tracks (500 points each) let you retrace your path in both directions. Meanwhile, there’s a large numbers option for easy viewing, as well as a dual-position display mode. The unit also includes built-in celestial tables for best times to fish and hunt, as well as sun and moon calculations. You also get audible alarms for anchor drag, arrival, off-course, proximity waypoint, and clock.

The Garmin GPSMap 76Cx’s trip computer provides odometer, stopped time, moving average, overall average, total time, max speed, and more. Meanwhile, a fast processor allows the 60Cx to provide quick auto-routing, turn-by-turn directions, and audio alerts when you use the optional MapSource software, which can be stored on the unit’s included 128 MB microSD card. Downloading information is quick with the USB or serial port interfaces. Using the dedicated serial port, the Garmin GPSMap 76Cx can share navigation instructions with repeaters, plotters, and autopilots.

Garmin GPSMap 76Cx User Said:

Having used a huge number of GPS units over many years, I must say that the Garmin GPSMap 76Cx is very good.

Pro’s
Removable memory (now up to 1GB)
Can be powered from 2 AA cells for a long time.
Nice Color Screen, no back light needed daytime
Water resistant
No easy to break off parts
Can be powered from USB connection!
Memory Cards(Micro SD) can be written to outside of unit
Does a good job routing for automobile use
Has marine and geocaching functions as well as hiking stuff like track logs etc.
fair pricing
Lots of optionally available maps
Garmin support is good including firmware updates that add functionality.

Cons:
Screen could be larger
Requires purchase of maps for street level(but this keeps price down, for people who aren’t driving with it)
Even with car kit unit doesn’t talk at all(”turn right next” or more recent auto units that pronounce street names)like the NUVI units do.

That said this and the 60 series are the only GPS units that you can drive with as well as use for hiking/boating/geocaching that work really well. The Magellan units that support both Meridian and Explorist are not nearlly as nice from a hardware, software and firmware point of view.

I will keep this unit until Garmin comes out with one that talks and pronounces street names as well as all the other functions that the Garmin 76Cx has. Would have also cosidered the 60CX but the price of the Garmin GPSMap 76Cx was better with the rebate offered this month.

—– By MB

Garmin GPSMap 76Cx Features

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