Garmin GPS 76CSX Handheld GPS with Barometric Altimeter and Electronic Compass
Aimed squarely at boaters and marine users, the Garmin GPSMap 76CSx is packed with features that seasoned mariners crave. The 7.6-ounce 76CSx 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. Add all that to the 76CSx’s integrated barometric altimeter and electronic compass, and you’ve got a highly capable unit. Simply put, the 76CSx 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.
The 76CSx features a removable microSD card for detailed mapping memory and a waterproof, rugged housing. View larger. |
The GPSMap 76CSx features the powerful SiRF GPS navigation chip, as well as an electronic compass and a barometric altimeter. |
The trip computer provides odometer, stopped time, moving average, overall average, total time, max speed, and more. |
You can use the 76CSx’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 76CSx’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 76CSx floats. When using two AA alkaline batteries, you’ll get up to 20 hours of battery life from the unit.
Another key feature of the 76CSx 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, plus sun and moon calculations. You also get audible alarms for anchor drag, arrival, off-course, proximity waypoint, and clock. The unit’s barometric altimeter system features automatic pressure trend recording while providing current elevation, ascent/descent rate, minimum/maximum elevation, total ascent and descent, and average and maximum ascent and descent rate. Meanwhile, the electronic compass allows you to get accurate headings while standing still.
The 76CSx’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 76CSx can share navigation instructions with repeaters, plotters, and autopilots.
If you like the features of the 76CSx but don’t need an electronic compass and a barometric altimeter, check out the Garmin GPSMap 76Cx.
What’s in the Box
GPSMAP 76CSx, Americas Recreational Basemap, 128 MB microSD card, USB cable, MapSource Trip & Waypoint Manager, Wrist strap, Owner’s manual, Quick reference guide
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Garmin GPSMAP 76CSx
This GPS is being used for hiking as well as mounted on a motorcycle. It is rugged, waterproof and has numerous features for people with various outdoor interests.
I had a GPSMAP 76 for several years and gave it to my son which he uses daily as a speedometer on his motorcycle.
4 Stars GPS 76 CSX by Garmin
Excellent product delivered quickly… the price was very good too!! Very satisfied customer.. maybe a compatable case with a plastic see-thru panel would be the only improvement I could think of making..
4 Stars Garmin GPSMAP 76CSx Handheld GPS
Garmin GPSMAP 76CSX Handheld GPS with Barometric Altimeter and Electronic CompassThis jewel can do everything but make the coffee, but it is difficult to remember which of the 8 buttons and 4 rocker switch positions to push in what order and for how long when the wind is blowing big time and the boat wants to broach.
3 Stars Has not gotten better
I bought a Garmin S76 a number of years ago, and recently bought another for my girlfriend’s birthday. The new one is a lot more complicated to operate, even considering the increase in features. We use our GPSs to geocache, so being able to make changes to the display and the data presented there on the fly is important. I can do the required changes with my older model with one or two keystrokes, while hers requires 3-4 times as many (no exaggeration).
5 Stars Solid, Adaptable and Multifunctional
I have lived in Alaska more than 30 years and I am an avid boater, hunter, snowmobiler that travels in very remote parts of the state. I also participate in two search and rescue organizations. I purchased the 76CSx July 2007. Since that time I have used it when flying in rural Alaska, boating in Southcentral Alaska’s Cook Inlet and Kachemak Bay as well as the Yukon River, and when motoring the Midwest and Southeastern US.
The 76CSx GPS came with MapSource Trip and Waypoint Manager and a 128Mbt micro SD memory chip. I purchased two 2Gig microSD chips later. I also purchased TOPO US 2008 and loaded ALL of the topo maps for all of Alaska on it. I also purchased BlueChart Americas v9 and loaded all of the marine charts for the area from Juneau north to and including Kodiak and Anchorage area waters (more than 100 specific charts). Both of these were loaded on a single 2 Gig chip. On the second chip, I loaded City Navigator North America 2009.
Depending weather I am boating, flying, hunting or driving I easily swap chips as needed so that I have the charts or maps I need. I have found that the detail on the BlueChart marine charts are more detailed than those that came with the more expensive electronic charts used with the chartplotter onboard many of the boats here.
The sensitivity of the GPS receiver in the 76CSx is incredible. I can turn it on and set it on the living room floor 5 feet from a window and it will lock onto three or more satellites and give me a fix. When snowmachining or hunting, I can leave the GPS in the Garmin case, inside the top pocket of my daypack and it will stay locked on to the satellites and create track as I travel without having to worry about it. In a vehicle and aircraft, the built-in receiver has always worked fine. I have not needed a remote antenna.
I have found the City Navigator to be a real assett when driving through areas of the midwest and southeast last fall. Especially helpful were the features that let one select various options, such as Food, Lodging, etc close to where you are or anywhere you want to look, and then provide you the address and phone numbers so you can call ahead if need be. One can also type in a specific address anywhere in the US and much of Canada and show the precise location on the map screen and a Go To option for specific turn by turn instructions.
I get about 16 hrs from a set of AAs. For use in a rental car, I purchased an auxiliary power cord that plugs into the car’s 12V power supply (”cigarette lighter”).
Loading the charts/maps from the DVDs to the 76CSx was easy to do after I got familiar with the process. One thing I noted is that in areas where the marine chart data overlaps the topo map data, the marine chart info takes priority and does not allow the specific topo date in that specific area to show. That was easily fixed by simply unselecting or “turning off” the specific chart from showing on the GPS. Once charts and maps are loaded onto the micro SD chip and the chip in the 76CSx, one can choose which of the charts or maps to show on the screen.
As with most GPS Units, the manual covers the basics but there is a much more capability in this unit than the manual could possibly cover without the manual getting too large.
I would recommend this unit without hesitation. It has saved me from possible disaster when boating, has provided additional confidence when out on the water and back country and has been equally helpful when driving through large cities and across the country in a rental car. No more bickering with my wife for driving directions! Sure made our 10 day road trip much more pleasant! When we missed a turn because we were not paying attention to the GPS, it quickly rerouted us and got us to where we needed to go every time.
One closing comment here: Don’t get too dependent on ANY GPS when traveling in the backcountry or when boating in marine waters and large lakes. Take a compass with you and know how to use it. Electronics do fail sometimes and when they do, you need to have basic map/chart reading and navigation when skills ready.
I give this unit 5 stars.
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