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Garmin GPSMap 76 Handheld GPS NavigatorxToo low to display
  (25 reviews)
Best Price: Too low to display
The GPSMAP 76 is designed to provide precise GPS positioning using correction data obtained from the Wide Area Augmentation System. This unit features a built-in quad helix antenna for superior reception and can provide position accuracy to less than three meters when receiving WAAS corrections.The GPSMAP 76 has an internal memory capacity of eight megabytes. In addition, it comes with a built-in basemap of cities, coastlines, lakes, rivers, interstates, and interstate exit information and a database of nautical navaids.This unit has eight megabytes of internal user memory for storing optional MapSource - detailed maps, including marine cartography. This memory is preloaded from the factory with worldwide cities (populations greater than 200, 000) and nautical navigation aids such as lights, buoys, sound signals and day beacons. The GPSMAP 76 is also preloaded with tide data for the United States.An extra-large display measuring 1.6"W x 2.2"H gives users a clear view of information, while a waterproof case means the GPSMAP 76 will keep working well even if it has been submerged in water. Even more amazing, this unit will actually float if accidentally dropped in the water. The key to success in life is knowing where you are, where you've been, and where you're going. Garmin's full-featured GPSMAP 76 puts all of that information in the palm of your hand, mapping your movements off-road or on--and even afloat. Plus, its extensive features, PC connectivity, and extensive add-on map options make it powerful enough for practically any need. About the size of a small paperback book and weighing less than 8 ounces, the GPSMAP 76 fits comfortable in the palm of your hand, but is a bit big to carry in a shirt pocket. Using the unit requires almost no setup. Just put in two AA batteries, turn it on, go outside, and wait. In about a minute or so it will determine your location. It's accurate to about three meters, thanks to the unit's support of WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System), which augments GPS signals for even greater accuracy. Knowing your longitude, latitude, and altitude doesn't mean much without a little context. That's where GPSMAP 76's backlit LCD display comes in, displaying your location on detailed maps. The unit comes with a built-in basemap that includes major roads, railroads, rivers, and lakes for the U.S. and Canada, as well as a high-level worldwide map. The unit also has 8 MB memory for storing maps from optional CD-ROMS; available maps include topographical maps, BlueChart marine cartography maps, as well as city maps with detailed information on city streets and points of interest. The eight buttons, directional rocker thumbpad, and menu-based interface made it simple to access all of the unit's features and customize the display. For instance, it's a simple matter to use the buttons to set and name waypoints and build planned routes. Extra features include information on tides, sunrise and sunset, and a trip computer for seeing how far you've traveled and your average speed. To test the GPSMAP 76, we used the included serial cable, connected it to our PC, and loaded it up with topographical maps using the optional United States topographical map disc. We then hit the road and headed for Muir Beach north of San Francisco. It tracked our progress along Highway 1, and once we reached our destination, we found it very simple to use. It showed both the elevation of the hills as well as the paths we could take. The zoom-in and zoom-out function made it simple to plan out and automatically measure the distance of our intended route. After walking for a while and enjoying the scenery, we used the TracBack mode to guide us back to our car. The unit automatically stores waypoints as you walk along, letting you display the way home clearly on the map. We even used the TracBack capability to guide us on the roads back to the freeway. The GPSMAP 76 comes in handy almost anywhere, whether you're hiking, driving, boating, or wandering around a city as a tourist. Its easy-to-use interface makes it immediately useful to novices, and as you learn to exploit its programmability and features, it can become an extremely powerful navigation tool. --Ken Feinstein Pros: - Large backlit LCD
- WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) support
- Automatic TracBack shows you the way back to your start location
- PC connectivity with wide variety of uploadable maps available
Cons: - 8 MB built-in memory can't be expanded
- Too large to fit comfortably in a shirt pocket
About the size of a small, flat calculator, the Garmin GPSMAP 76 is a 12-parallel-channel, WAAS-enabled global positioning system GPS receiver that will go anywhere. Even with its compact style, this GPS unit boasts an extra-large display for showing more map data and the same power you've come to expect from Garmin handhelds--even while operating for up to 16 hours on two AA batteries. The GPSMAP 76 features 500 waypoints (10 nearest, 10 proximity), 50 reversible routes with up to 50 points each, an automatic track log, and alarms for anchor drag, approach and arrival, off course, proximity waypoint, shallow water, and deep water. The GPSMAP 76 is also compatible with Garmin's line of downloadable MapSource CD-ROMs and will store 8 MB of downloaded map detail. Always know just where you're going with preloaded maps of rivers, lakes, worldwide cities, navaids, and tide data. With a detailed base map database, users also have the ability to look up address and telephone number information for nearby services and points of interest as well as find map detail for cities, highways, and interstates. Designed with all types of users in mind, this unit will take you from the car to the hiking trail and beach without missing a beat. This quality Garmin product comes with a one-year limited warranty.
MPN: 0100024900 - UPC: 753759029616
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Customer Reviews
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A Great Sea Kayaking Companion
By A14SO48SN83R3U on 2003-10-12
Before my GPS purchase, I considered a number of Magellan units in addition to some in the Garmin E Trex series. I finally decided on the Garmin Map76.In addition to being relatively easy to use, I preferred the slightly larger screen of the Map76 over the other units. Since I was purchasing the unit to use while sea kayaking, I found the screen on the Map76 was much easier to read in the sunlight than the smaller screens on the E-Trex models. In addition, you can upload map data into this unit. (Although the unit includes a basemap, Garmin also manufactures a number of optional mapping products which cover roads, waterways and topographical features in more detail). For kayaking, I use the optional BlueCharts which is essentially like having Nautical maps at your fingertips. (These are sold by regions and tend to be a bit expensive however). The tide station/prediction feature on the Map76 was also an important deciding factor. With this unit, you have the ability to get tidal predictions for virtually anywhere in the US at your fingertips. The Map76 often receives criticism on the low amount of memory for uploading map data. The tradeoff however is that it also drains the battery power at a slower rate than those that boast more memory. (I also considered the GPS Map76S which has an added electronic compass and more memory, however after a trial use from a friend's, I found the Map76S unit to drain battery power far too quickly for my intended use. The Map76S was also about $100 more in cost). Although the Map76S was a slightly upgraded Map76, I didn't feel the extra features of the 76S were worth the added cost, especially with the faster rate of the battery drain. I've logged over 500 miles of sea kayaking with this unit and am very satisfied with its performance. I find the memory capability in the Map76 is adequate for uploading maps for day trips and the balance with the battery drain is also sufficient. Although it is waterproof, I highly suggest a transparent waterproof bag for using while kayaking to avoid salt water condensation corroding the battery leads. Garmin also offers toll free phone and email technical support for their units and software. This unit makes a great paddling partner.
Hits the sweet spot for GPS price/performance...
By A36GTF7MVW0ICQ on 2001-12-06
So I finally got around to upgrading my trusty 3 year old Garmin 12XL to a new GPSMAP 76. I played with one of the Magellan 330s at the local store for comparison but found that once again I simply prefer the Garmin user interfaces. I also picked up the MetroGuide CD. I figured if I was going to upgrade to a mapping GPS, I'd really want richly detailed maps. Surprisingly, I've experienced no buyer's remorse whatsoever. The GPSMAP 76 is nothing short of miraculous! Garmin is to be commended for the improvements they've made to their product line over the years.The internal quad-helix antenna is excellent. Position accuracy is superb, screen resolution is vastly improved, and the extras such as tidal and celestial info are a really nice touch. The optimal fishing/hunting time predictor seems like overkill but I'll bet there are users who swear by it. The routing and tracking functions are well thought out and much improved since the 12XL was released. WAAS is sort of a mixed bag. I find that that whenever I lock onto WAAS signals, the estimated accuracy gets a few feet worse. It's never reads more than 20-25 feet off total but it's still the opposite of what I'd expect. Regardless of what the estimated error reading is, the accuracy always seems much better than it lets on. I've been using it a lot for geocaching lately and it invariably puts me within 5-6 feet of the caches. The MetroGuide CD is quite nicely designed for a Windows product (I'm a Mac fan!) It contains substantial improvements over Delormes Street Atlas 4 Mac which was the last CD based mapping product I owned. It's fast and accurate (I understand that they just updated all their maps) and the integration with the GPSMAP is excellent. You can easily transfer all waypoints, routes, tracks, or maps back and forth between the GPS and your PC (or VirtualPC for Mac fans). You can also connect your GPS to the serial port and dynamically track your whereabouts on your laptop screen but I find this arrangement a bit cumbersome. There are just too many wires and batteries to deal with. For me having an easily readable, high-resolution, zoomable map on the GPS is the only way to go. The only complaint I expected to make was with regard to the limited 8 MB map storage space. It turns out that 8 MB will hold pretty much the entire San Diego, CA and San Francisco, CA Bay Area. If I were driving across the country and wanted to investigate every nook and cranny I might be concerned. Otherwise it's perfectly fine for now. Great product, great price. Happy navigating!
I'd buy it again, but gosh how about a little more RAM?
By on 2001-12-08
I love the screen, compared to the others. That is the most compelling feathure. The Mapsource info was more detailed than I expected. Tracked correctly on an old Georgia logging road I hunt from. I didn't expect it to be there. I did find some signal loss in deep woods though, the Lorance seems to have a better antenna if that is a problem for you. My dropouts were more momentary than extended though.
Battery life was as advertised about 12 hrs, bonus that's using ONLY 2 AA batteries. I used the light on screen as little as possible though.
Has all the features most could want. My understanding is WAAS is very limited at this time, DOD will shoot some more birds up in the future, but don't count on it for now. I used this in FLA, GA, Wash state, Lower Alberta and BC provinces and was satisfied overall w/ basemaps and reception... but never got WAAS. P.S. I would not trust basemap to navigate by (e.g. boat in fog). Resolution not enuf; happily it erred in my favor, said I was on land long before I could hit the rocks. Have to buy addin Topo USA (Canada) maps. Mapping/topo gps is wonderful, compared to nonmapping. I used the grids to find a draw that deer would likely use.Interestingly, Garmin calls this a maritime unit, but depending what maps you download, it's not an issue if you are a landlubber. I downloaded a four county region near Tampa, and much of N. Georgia to the unit before running out of memory. I wanted to do Tenn. and NC appalacian Mtns, but not enuf room. The floating part and general light weight is great feature. I think it is easier than some competitors. Be sure to go to Garmin website and download: Firmware upgrade, Maritime map database (if u use downloadable maps, it can wipe out the base maritime maps, but u can upload again w/ this file) and finally, if u buy topousa or other set, get any updates there too.
Excellent bang for the buck
By AI9AO21GO52VH on 2006-10-30
The Garmin GPSMap 76 is a nicely thought out and solidly built device that works great if you're willing to learn how to use it. It has super-sharp graphics, a fair amount of detail, good satellite reception and accuracy, and nice additional features like tidal and sun rise/set information. Oh, and it's waterproof and it floats. I've had mine a few months and have gotten good use out of it while driving around northern California and city hiking in San Francisco, and i'm just starting to look at geocaching.
This should be obvious to most people but, for the price of this unit, you are not going to get a GPS that puts your seat belt on and gives you turn-by-turn directions in your choice of voices. You have to be a bit of a gadget-head (or, at least, not a gadget-phobe) to figure out how to use all of the 76's features like navigation or the surprisingly detailed trip computer. The menu-driven UI is rather terse and doesn't have built-in documentation. Luckily, the GPSMap 76 allows you to work in simulator mode so you can put it through all of its paces from your living room.
The 8Mb RAM does seem light, but GPS Mapquest format must be very efficient in storing data, because that actually works fine for most localized uses. If you travel around a lot and want to keep two or more locations memory-resident, you might begin to feel the pinch. As others have mentioned, some of the stored topo and location data is rather high-level and you can spend ~$90 for a CD set that will provide more detail. That seems to me to be a reasonable price-performance investment.
The only thing i've found in this unit that i would consider a bug is that the user has to tell it what time zone to use. I would think that it would figure that out based on its location. Minor detail, though. One other thing -- the 76 doesn't come with a carrying case so you're out a little more money buying a pouch for it. Great deal for the money though, and a solid product overall.
An excellent product...
By A3VPRWEPH6C823 on 2001-10-11
The MAP76 is a well-designed and well-made unit with a lot of useful features. In particular, the external antenna, WAAS and DGPS capability, and wide input voltage range make this a great GPS for doing consumer-level mapping.This unit has Garmin's new quadrifiler antenna which really improves the ability of the GPS to lock onto satellites under heavy brush and in rugged terrain. There really is little comparison to the etrex units on all the testing I have performed in real-world conditions. The user interface is typical Garmin and it won't take you long to figure out how to use the GPS. The unit is fully water-tight (well, except for the battery compartment itself) and I have yet to see any complaints about leakage. It also floats which is definitely a useful feature for those thinking about using it for canoe tripping. The accuracy is rather astounding, again in comparison to older etrex units I have used. The unit consistently and quickly locks onto satellites and often receives the WAAS info even in northern Ontario; accuracy is remarkable when WAAS is recieved. I have used this product extensively for doing trail mapping and design. With an external battery and antenna such as the Mighty Mouse II you get very accurate data and the tracks are extremely detailed compared to previous products. The MapSource information leaves a lot to be desired but with GPS Utility and a bit of time you can do whatever you want. The only thing I would like to see on this unit is some form of pluggable memory such as SmartMedia; hopefully that will be available on future products.
- needs more detail
By A38E8E0DQ87UUV on 2006-08-20
You will need to buy Map-source maps ($100+) to make this thing worth the purchase. I needed GPS for boating but the base maps are rudimentary, ie; no inlets, rivers, shoreline detail or lakes. It is although very accurate and easy to use, nice big screen and good reception. If you need GPS now this unit is an excellent value. I payed $199 a month ago and now its $169 but that's my problem.
- The best yet...
By A2KXUZBNRKIXGX on 2001-06-29
Having owned over 6 Garmin GPS products, and now having the 76 that provides accuracy beyond belief, makes this product a real winner. Read all of the options, the WAAS is clearly next generation. I have used it on land and sea, in both cases there was no comparison to previous models. It is all here, you need look no longer.
- Garmin GPSMap 76 A Great Hand-Held Device
By A239XMOVDQTSW6 on 2005-04-03
This is a great gps, especially for marine purposes. I searched around and researched before deciding on purchasing the gpsmap 76. I find the preloaded base maps to be very sufficient and fairly detailed. It's waterproof and submersible, what else could you ask for. The only downfall is that it's not colorized, but big deal. It's quite easy to see when you're standing in direct sunlight. This is one of the best gps devices out there for this price range. It's well worth every penny, and comes highly recommended.
- GPSMAP 76 great value
By A7CWKYIOCUFTE on 2005-10-06
With the rest of the GPS devices shifting to color, the large b&w screen on this unit means money well spent. It's fast enough for practically any use. I've been using it in South East La. post-Katrina, Where those piney back woods were often blocked by debris. In New Orleans I used it to avoid blocked roads and to mark entry points into closed areas. I live hear, and the suroundings were so disturbed and displaced that even my own home-town was very disorienting. The backtrack and routemaking features are lifesavers. The screen is easy to read. The low draining B&W screen also allows longer battery life compared with other color units I've used. Looking for a dashboard mount and auto power adapter right now. A photojournalist, I keep it in my camera bag.
- I Love This New Toy
By on 2001-09-05
I upgraded to this device from a Magellan 310.This device is far superior in its accuracy, its reception and its features. The screen is fantastic, the graphics are crisp and sharp. I have been using the device for GeoCaching, see geocaching.com. It is great for this purpose. I have played with Garmin's maps that are downloadable into the unit. This feature is great, although the cost of these maps is prohibitive. My friend has a Magellan 330 which he is quite happy with. We have used the GPSMAP 76 and the Magellan 330 together. Both of us are happy with the choices we made. I would say that the GPSMAP 76 has a far superior screen, graphics and interface and concede that the Magellan 330 may be a hair more accurate (at least when we used them together). If I could choose again I would still buy the GPSMAP 76.
- Perfect Starter GPS and more (GPSMAP76)
By AC75AX5SHOZCU on 2007-01-18
I had previously used GPS units, but never knew the intricacies of one until purchasing the GPSMAP76. The base maps that are preloaded on this unit are awsome. It is extremely user friendly. If you are technologically in the dark and are scared about newer electronics such as this, this unit is perfect. The manuals walk you through everything.
I have had a blast planning trips, geocaching (google it), and I can't wait to get on the water with it. I put it to the test when I was in some beautiful back country in the northern portion of lower Michigan. I googled some coordinates of where I wanted to go, and connected the dots on some really awsome 4x4 trails. The accuracy was incredible.
The only downside I can think of is the lack of expandable memory. However, I can't see the need for any additional software. Like I said, the basemaps are full of detail. I can find a McDonalds that is 20 miles up the road off an interstate exit! Also, it is a little bigger than the eTrex series, but that's because it's a "mapping" unit. It still fits easily into my Columbia jacket pocket.
The GPSMAP 76S would have been nice, but I was trying to be very price conscientious. Overall, I'm stunned and I love it.
- Excellent value for the money
By A3IGPE41BCHEWO on 2005-09-25
After spending a lot of time reviewing the various alternatives for handheld mapped GPS units, I came to the conclusion that I needed a unit with a quad helix antenna and preferred a Garmin product. I initially targeted a GPSMAP 60 but discovered that for my purposes the GPSMAP 76 was a better value. I don't need the extra memory or USB interface that the 60 offers, so I went with the 76 and have not been disappointed. I definitely recommend it.
- Hits the sweet spot for GPS Price/Performance.
By A36GTF7MVW0ICQ on 2001-12-06
So I finally got around to upgrading my trusty 3 year old Garmin 12XL to a new GPSMAP 76. I played with one of the Magellan 330s at the local store for comparison but found that once again I simply prefer the Garmin user interfaces. I also picked up the MetroGuide CD. I figured if I was going to upgrade to a mapping GPS, I'd really want richly detailed maps. Surprisingly, I've experienced no buyer's remorse whatsoever. The GPSMAP 76 is nothing short of miraculous! Garmin is to be commended for the improvements they've made to their product line over the years.The internal quad-helix antenna is excellent. Position accuracy is superb, screen resolution is vastly improved, and the extras such as tidal and celestial info are a really nice touch. The optimal fishing/hunting time predictor seems like overkill but I'll bet there are users who swear by it. The routing and tracking functions are well thought out and much improved since the 12XL was released. WAAS is sort of a mixed bag. I find that that whenever I lock onto WAAS signals, the estimated accuracy gets a few feet worse. It's never reads more than 20-25 feet off total but it's still the opposite of what I'd expect. Regardless of what the estimated error reading is, the accuracy always seems much better than it lets on. I've been using it a lot for geocaching lately and it invariably puts me within 5-6 feet of the caches. The MetroGuide CD is quite nicely designed for a Windows product (I'm a Mac fan!) It contains substantial improvements over Delormes Street Atlas 4 Mac which was the last CD based mapping product I owned. It's fast and accurate (I understand that they just updated all their maps) and the integration with the GPSMAP is excellent. You can easily transfer all waypoints, routes, tracks, or maps back and forth between the GPS and your PC (or VirtualPC for Mac fans). You can also connect your GPS to the serial port and dynamically track your whereabouts on your laptop screen but I find this arrangement a bit cumbersome. There are just too many wires and batteries to deal with. For me having an easily readable, high-resolution, zoomable map on the GPS is the only way to go. The only complaint I expected to make was with regard to the limited 8 MB map storage space. It turns out that 8 MB will hold pretty much the entire San Diego, CA and San Francisco, CA Bay Area. If I were driving across the country and wanted to investigate every nook and cranny I might be concerned. Otherwise it's perfectly fine for now. Great product, great price. Happy navigating!
- GREAT PRODUCT
By A3JXWV8NY34CSN on 2002-03-10
I JUST BOUGHT THE GPSMAP 76.THIS IS THE FIRST GPS ITEM I HAVE EVER OWENED.I BOUGHT IT FOR THE BOAT THAT I JUST BOUGHT SO I WILL ALWAYS KNOW WERE I AM IF I NEED HELP.THE DAY I BOUGHT IT MY DAUGHTER TURNED IT ON IN MY CAR.I WAS AMAZED THAT IT TRACKED MY CAR SPEED,LOCATION,AND DIRECTION,AMAZING.IT ALSO KEPT A RECORD OF OUT TRIP HOME,AVG SPEED,DISTANCE ETC,,,,,,,,,,,,,GREAT PRODUCT FOR AROUND [price].
- Best Antenna & Features of current units
By AOEL2H9FGXVHC on 2001-10-10
With the internal quad-helix antenna (as opposed to a simple patch antenna)and the external antenna port for an optional active antenna, you can get great signal, even in the worst circumstances. After reading all the comments [...] I chose this unit and have been extremely satisfied. I have been able to get reception while driving in a valley under tree cover. I have even gotten reception holding it up next to a window on an airplane (way cool!). The 8MB of memory is enough to hold the map of the entire Bay Area. The compass is sensitive enough, so that a few steps in any direction will give you an accurate heading. The altimiter is accurate to within 10-20 feet when it has a 3D lock with good signal. It's acquisition times are short and the darn thing even FLOATS! I had to choose between this unit and the Vista (the other top of the line Garmin) and chose this unit for its reception sensitivity. The only other unit with "better sensitivity" was the feature-poor Garmin III+.
I have not been dissapointed with the Map76. One thing, be sure to hold it vertically for the best reception (as opposed to the patch antenna units which must be held horizontally).
Also: I have found that this, and other Garmin units, interface well with the MapSource and the TOPO! software for dynamite route and waypoint planning. Great Toy!
- Great GPS for the price
By A5LCPJH6X85S6 on 2005-08-29
I am an avid snowmobiler and needed a GPS to help navigate the wooded trails in the winter. Ilookaed at alot of GPS's and thisone was the best fit for me. it has 8MB storage, Lasts a long time on one set of alkaline AA's, and is made by a reputable company. I bought a carrying case with it and plan on buying a RAM Mount to mount it on my 1999 Skidoo MXZ 600.
- Garmin GPSMap 76
By A2WHAWYJME9O3Z on 2008-01-14
The GPSMap76 is a great unit! More functions than I'll ever be able to figure out how to use. Contrary to the what the writeup says, the unit does fit into my shirtpocket. So far, only two shortcomings. 1) Not rechargeable (2-AA batteries) and 2) the manual seems sparse on details of "how to". All-in-all 4 stars. A REALLY GOOD UNIT!!
- list price isnt 400$
By ADI6DX3JOWY9O on 2003-11-06
this makes no sence garmin says the list price for the gps map 76 is only 321$. I dont get about this is that the vista was released at the same time if not later than the gpsmap76 and The both have the same exact list price so why is the gps76 so much more expensive. Also eopinions says your sellin it for 199$
- Perfect
By A3UYBHTFEV0EO1 on 2008-01-04
Loved it right out of the box. Well thought out, user freindly. Used it for geocaching and it took me within 6'. I could see other peoples tracks in the snow that missed the geocach and never found it. Very little bounce on most trips. Easy to download from the computer, I would recomend this one to anyone unsure about how to get started. This one is easy and true.
- Garman 76 - A Great Workhorse GPS
By A3LYHSPGF9ZDYU on 2008-06-13
This gps locked on to satillites even in remote Utah canyons, is intuitive and works well. I am very pleased.
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Garmin GPSMap 76 Handheld GPS Navigator Accessories
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| Product Features |
- WAAS enabled Global positioning system (GPS) receiver continuously tracks and uses up to 12 satellites
- Preloaded maps of rivers, lakes, worldwide cities, navaids, and tide data
- Trip computer with current/average speed, timer, and trip distance
- Programmable alarms and tables; 500 waypoints
- 8 MB memory for downloading data from optional Garmin MapSource CD-ROMs
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