Handheld GPS revisited
- Thread starter Ed L.
- Start date
Capt. Frank Miller
Active member
Ed,
I dont have this unit. But, I use a Garmin GPS Map 76 that has a built in chart plotter. Worth its weight in gold. Just picked up another on ebay used for $75. Floats, has a light, holds up in saltwater, big enough to use in the dark yet small enough to carry to a deer stand.
I dont have this unit. But, I use a Garmin GPS Map 76 that has a built in chart plotter. Worth its weight in gold. Just picked up another on ebay used for $75. Floats, has a light, holds up in saltwater, big enough to use in the dark yet small enough to carry to a deer stand.
Capt Jeff Kraynik
Well-known member
Though I'm a diehard 76 fan, when running the airboats, I needed something with a bigger screen. I just wrote this yesterday on another site:
Just wanted to let you know that I tried the new Garmin 640 over the last week & found it to be an "amazing" unit.
The features are far & superior to anything that's out there!!!
The high intensity receiver picks up where most won't or can't & for you techno geeks, the options are limitless.
Where I found the problem was the touch screen.
In open boats that we run, the TS is actually a hinderrence.
Wearing gloves it's almost impossible to operate the unit & forget about touching the screen with bloody or slimey hands.
I ended up taking back & will continue to use my 478.
I called customer service who was great & explained to them as an outdoorsman, the unit doesn't quite fit into our world of open boating, duck & gator hunting.
Now if your going to flush mount it on a CC or use it in your car, it's a great unit.
Oh BTW, the 640 doesn't interface with your depth sounder like the 478 does.
What funny is the guy on the other ind of the phone said this isn't the first time he's heard this about the 640's.
My advice if your thinking about moving up from the old reliable 76's, , by the last remaining 478's (discontinued June 2009) because once they're gone, they're gone.
BTW, go with the Garmin 76, still the best units out there!!!
Just wanted to let you know that I tried the new Garmin 640 over the last week & found it to be an "amazing" unit.
The features are far & superior to anything that's out there!!!
The high intensity receiver picks up where most won't or can't & for you techno geeks, the options are limitless.
Where I found the problem was the touch screen.
In open boats that we run, the TS is actually a hinderrence.
Wearing gloves it's almost impossible to operate the unit & forget about touching the screen with bloody or slimey hands.
I ended up taking back & will continue to use my 478.
I called customer service who was great & explained to them as an outdoorsman, the unit doesn't quite fit into our world of open boating, duck & gator hunting.
Now if your going to flush mount it on a CC or use it in your car, it's a great unit.
Oh BTW, the 640 doesn't interface with your depth sounder like the 478 does.
What funny is the guy on the other ind of the phone said this isn't the first time he's heard this about the 640's.
My advice if your thinking about moving up from the old reliable 76's, , by the last remaining 478's (discontinued June 2009) because once they're gone, they're gone.
BTW, go with the Garmin 76, still the best units out there!!!
I have a bunch of Garmin units (& a bunch of map SW). If I was buying my first unit I would seriously consider the Delorme.
Comparing units first I would look at screen sizes, then waterproof specs, then sensitivity, then cost of extra maps.
The 76 is an old model. I have one too. Generally newer models have more sensitive receivers (faster satellite acquisition)
The Delorme is built to the IPX-7 waterproof standard ("for use in up to 1 meter water depth")
Full specs http://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/DELibeCCtdItemDetail.jsp?item=27626§ion=10106
Garmin 76 waterproof to IEC 529 IPX7 standards ("roughly equivalent to IPX7 but at 2ft depth for 1 hour ")
Here are full Garmin 76 specs http://www8.garmin.com/products/gps76/spec.html
How price sensitive are you?
Look at ebay for the Garmin 76 (where I got mine).
Comparing units first I would look at screen sizes, then waterproof specs, then sensitivity, then cost of extra maps.
The 76 is an old model. I have one too. Generally newer models have more sensitive receivers (faster satellite acquisition)
The Delorme is built to the IPX-7 waterproof standard ("for use in up to 1 meter water depth")
Full specs http://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/DELibeCCtdItemDetail.jsp?item=27626§ion=10106
Garmin 76 waterproof to IEC 529 IPX7 standards ("roughly equivalent to IPX7 but at 2ft depth for 1 hour ")
Here are full Garmin 76 specs http://www8.garmin.com/products/gps76/spec.html
How price sensitive are you?
Look at ebay for the Garmin 76 (where I got mine).
When they talk about satellite aquisition time does this mean when you initially turn on the unit or does this mean every time there is a position change and the satellite senses this. I'm about to drop the hammer on this one because this is what I can afford http://www.boatersworld.com/product/MP64525908.htm?utm_medium=productsearch&utm_source=google
but watching a side by side comparision on youtube the aquisition time was triple that of the NP-40. If it's the initial time when turning on the unit I can live with that but if it's the time it takes to show a course adjustment 6 minutes is to long to wait. I could see me being lost at sea in that amount of time.
Thanks for the help.
Ed L.
but watching a side by side comparision on youtube the aquisition time was triple that of the NP-40. If it's the initial time when turning on the unit I can live with that but if it's the time it takes to show a course adjustment 6 minutes is to long to wait. I could see me being lost at sea in that amount of time.
Thanks for the help.
Ed L.
"To me" acquisition time is about an initial fix on "turn on". This matters as in an all day outing in the boonies I don't leave the unit on all the time (battery life). Also, unless they have figured something out lately, color screens use more energy.
Also related to sensitivity. The newest units are less fussy about signal strength (tree leaves overhead).
The delorme looks like a heck of a deal to me. I doubt you can go wrong.
I've addressed the battery issue by using rechagreables & carrying extras. I also have a $10 battery meter to make sure I start the day at full strength.
Also related to sensitivity. The newest units are less fussy about signal strength (tree leaves overhead).
The delorme looks like a heck of a deal to me. I doubt you can go wrong.
I've addressed the battery issue by using rechagreables & carrying extras. I also have a $10 battery meter to make sure I start the day at full strength.
Thanks Gary. That's what I found out too. I did talk to a couple of guys on another forum that pointed out some of the short falls of the NP-20 so I went with a Garmin E-Trex Legend Cx. This unit does not have the electronic compass nor an altimeter but I really didn't feel those were requirements. From the majority of replies I received, Garmin came in first and everyone suggested getting one with the sd card option.
Take care,
Ed L.
Take care,
Ed L.
Appears to me the Delorme was a good value but no doubt Garmins are a proven product. I doubt you could have gone wrong with either.
I view Garmin as a GPS manufacturing company that does mapping too.
Delorme is a map company that sells GPS units too.
Neither approach is wrong.
I view Garmin as a GPS manufacturing company that does mapping too.
Delorme is a map company that sells GPS units too.
Neither approach is wrong.