Global Positioning System

[caguy]

I have the Garmin 188S. I picked it up off from Ebay for $125. It is an older model but it does take Blue Charts that can also be had on Ebay for about $60, I picked up a Blue Chart chip for it with detailed maps from Pt Arguello to Puerto Vallarta. I like it for the larger screen, sounder and fish finderr not to mention the price.
I reread the manual yesterday and was amazed at the features I hadn't been using for the last 4 years. I was reminded of the DSC feature I had forgotten about. When I bought it I had an old VHS radio. The radio I have now will receive and broadcast DSC'S. Now all I have to do is connect them (manual not real helpful with that. ) This is an important feature for me as I solo sail most of the time, and I would not be able to stand by the radio and repeat my distress or my 13 digit location and deal with an emergency at the same time.
The 188s will also pickup and record the distress locations of others who may need help. It will also relay them to other boats or the CG. Not bad for $125. It is also available in color.(and if you order right now, I will throw in a free Naval Brush, guaranteed to keep your belly button spic 'n span and lint free.
Frank

 

[Roger Long]

I’m looking for recommendations for a new handheld GPS.

I would add a vote for the Garmin GPSmap 76Cx. I use it on my boat for everything. Aside from screen size, which I don't want to devote cockpit space to, it does everything I need and I plan on it at the primary system for going to NS and Newfoundland.

I just did the delivery trip on my 3 million dollar plus research vessel with the the kind of navigation outfit you can imagine, including a half million dollar dynamic positioning system, and came away feeling pretty good about my little handheld.

The one drawback is Garmin's extensive copy protection and unit limiting schemes. You have to send them another $150 bucks three times just to go from NYC to Canada with Blue Chart coverage. If you had to swap in a forth unit after failures someplace where you didn't have Internet or phone access, you wouldn't be able to get the charts to open.
OTHO, their web based chart unlocking and unit registering works fairly well.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Garmin GPSmap76Cx, too

I would add a vote for the Garmin GPSmap 76Cx.

I agree. We still have our old Magellan Blazer, no maps, just digits.

I did a lot of research. My buddy has an older Garmin 76 and we both hated it because to"Go To" a waypoint required five levels of menus - eeech!

The new interface (gui) is very, very good, and intuitive.

The 60 and the 76 (Cx versions) are much the same in features except for the ability to use Mapsource, which the 76Cx has - it's great to easily be able to set up routes on the computer and then transfer them to the handheld.

If you don't want to deal with a laptop on board, which is an option for anyone, then the 76Cx is a very reasonably priced full featured unit. We bought the charts for our area (single unlock code) but there are ways to get the workaround for the entire chart region (all of the charts they make - search the internet for Garmin unlock codes), but you can only see them on your computer, can't download them to your handheld, only the purchased unlock code will do that for ya.

We use recharable batteries.

 

[sailingdog]

The one drawback is Garmin's extensive copy protection and unit limiting schemes. You have to send them another $150 bucks three times just to go from NYC to Canada with Blue Chart coverage. If you had to swap in a forth unit after failures someplace where you didn't have Internet or phone access, you wouldn't be able to get the charts to open.
OTHO, their web based chart unlocking and unit registering works fairly well.

This is one reason I like the Colorado over the 76 series or 60 series. It has their BlueChart charts for either the inland US or Coastal US waters pre-loaded. Given the price of their Bluechart regions for the 76/60 series, if you have to buy more than two, you're better off getting the Colorado.

 

[Capt. Kermie]

Looks like a lot of votes for the Garmin here!
I have the Garmin GPS MAP76cs color display, compass, altimeter etc. and find it useful enough as handhelds go and agree with the rest of the Garmin owners on its' merits. There is one huge downside to handhelds though, that is display size, they have those itty bitty little screens that do not provide enough display for my liking. But as others point out, you should have paper charts, that way you can cross reference your Garmin coordinates onto the paper charts for a bigger picture. I have in the past connected my Garmin to a notebook for a bigger picture but the daylight tends to wash out the notebook display so I gave up on it. One day I'll upgrade to a larger display Garmin of 7" diagonal when the price is right, but for now the handheld does everything I need, the larger display is merely a want.

 

[wlaschober]

Thanks for the suggestions. I do have paper charts that I use, the GPS is my backup.

 

[Glenn17467]

I use the map 76 with the Blue Charts for my area. Only draw back is grey sacle. Doing it again, I would go for the color. On a moon light sail last summer, one of the guys pulled out his Blackberry and displayed Galveston Bay, much easier to see that a grey scale.