GARMIN GPSmap 276C GPS Receiver

Product Description
The GPSMAP 276C is an all-in-one, versatile, color chartplotter and automobile navigator - perfect for land or water. This portable GPS navigator features a 256-color TFT display that's easy to read in bright sun along with a built-in basemap and auto routing to provide you with turn-by-turn directions to the marina for a day of boating.On water, the GPSMAP 276C is a dependable, color chartplotter with a built-in Autoroute basemap enhanced by Garmin's marine cartography. It accepts pre-programmed or user programmed data cards with MapSource BlueChart for offshore detail or Recreational Lakes with Fishing Hot Spots for detail of inland lakes.In addition, the GPSMAP 276C supports external NMEA sources for water depth, water temperature, and water speed through two serial interfaces. The unit also features a Course Deviation Indicator (CDI) - an advanced navigation tool commonly found on aircraft, but equally practical in the marine environment. The CDI quickly indicates if a boat has veered off course.On land, the GPSMAP 276C's Americas or European Autoroute basemap features interstates and major highways. With an optional automotive kit that includes MapSource City Select software, data card, friction mount, and 12-volt power adapter with speaker, drivers can receive voice-prompted turn-by-turn directions to addresses and points of interest throughout the United States and Canada or Europe.For map transfer or software updates, the GPSMAP 276C features a fast USB-PC interface. The unit is also powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack, or a standard 110-volt AC plug.

This WAAS-enabled, 12 parallel channel GPS receiver provides color chart plotting for both land and sea, making it an excellent addition to any boat or automobile dashboard. Its display-- 3.8-inch, 480 x 320 pixel, 256-color backlit TFT--provides enhanced sunlight-readability, and its adjustable quad helix receiving antenna with remote antenna capability delivers superior data reception.

Used with your car, the 276c's auto routing capability lets you select a destination and get turn-by-turn directions. There's even voice prompt guidance; just hook up a 12-volt speaker cable (sold separately) and the GPSMAP 276C will audibly tell you when you need to turn and how much farther you have to go.

Data provided with the unit includes 3000 user waypoints with an expanded list of waypoint symbols; 50 reversible routes with 1,200 waypoints per route; 10,000 point automatic track log with 15 saved tracks and 700 saved track points each; position formats including Lat/Lon, UTM, Loran TDs, Maidenhead, MGRS, User, and more; a large numbers option for easy viewing, and much more.

In addition to its built-in basemap detail (cities, interstates, coastline detail and US tide stations), the GPSMAP 276C accepts data from MapSource CD-ROMs, including BlueChart for offshore detail, Recreational Lakes with Fishing Hot Spots for detail of selected inland lakes, and City Select for street-level maps. The package includes the GPSMAP 276c, USB interface cable, power/data cable, marine mount, Trip & Waypoint Manager CD, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, owner’s manual, and a quick reference guide. Manufacturer rating of the battery lists it at up to 15 hours of use depending on backlight setting.

Outstanding Garmin product...as usual
Garmin has to be the best GPS available. It is the only one I buy, and this is my fifth unit. It is fast to aquire satellite data, and will position you within feet of where you are. I would like to have the option to increase the size of the font, but that is not available to the extent I need for motorcycle use. Rugged and reliable, if just a little over price; but then you are paying for the Garmin name. Software was easy to install on my GPS.

4 Stars for a great GPS unit... 5 Stars if add-ons were standard
I use my 276C exclusively for boating, and it performs admirably. Once you figure out how to navigate the menu screens, you can take advantage of some very powerful options which you would only expect to see on higher end GPS models. Overall, I am very pleased - setup was a breeze, never a problem with position refresh, battery life is good, data is accurate, signal strength is fantastic in my boating area, and I really like the fact that nearly every screen is customizable.

However, in order to take advantage of the 276C's many IMPORTANT features you should plan on spending (quite) a few more $$$. For starters, the marine base map is garbage for those who boat offshore or cruise the coast. I wasn't expecting much in the marine base map department going into the purchase, but for those that are expecting this, plan to pony up an additional $150 for a (proprietary) data card which gives you the detail you'll need to navigate the waters safely. Also, the absence of a 12v adaptor is a real miss. Given the unit is marketed as "portable", why Garmin opted to not include one is a mystery to me. So, plan on spending another $25 for that. If you plan on using this GPS for boating I would recommend the display cover... another $20.

One of the more powerful feature I plan to utilize in the near future is the sonar function. To enable this feature, you'll need Garmins analog scanner (GSD-21) and a suitable transponder. One other feature I enjoy is the mapsource software that came with the unit. From this, you are able to upload your trips to the computer. From there you can analyze your trip - it even interfaces with google maps to provide a real-life view of your excursion. Pretty cool stuff.

Garmin 276C
Another excellent product from Garmin. I only use it on the water so I cannot speak to its automotive prowess but I am a very satisfied customer.
Great accuracy (to 10 feet without WAAS) in Bermuda and charts are good.
Thanks Garmin.

Very best hand held nautical use product!
I've been using my 276C since they came out.

I race and cruise sailboats from my home port in Southern California but have used also it many times in Mexico, the East Coast, the UK and The Netherlands. It is a remarkably functional and reliable unit. I've also used it occasionally for land based travel and though this is not my primary interest, I have been quite satisfied.

I have a chip so I can navigate the ports of Baja and Southern Mexico and it works seamlessly and A-OK. I still have paper charts on board but rarely use them other than to see the big picture. (To be fair, I should add that I also have a bigger, fancier RayMarine chartplotter/radar display unit at the helm, but I prefer my 276C for all uses except autohelm.)

Without question it is the best product out there for how I use it.

Oh, about 3 years ago I lost the unit overboard in Catalina in about 20' of water. I could see it down there but it took me several dives to collect it. Naturally it was non functional but I sent it in to Garmin and they sent me a new one for the $250 "repair" fee (including shipping). Took about a week.

Garmin Protective Cover for GPSMap 276C (010-10492-00)

Garmin Lithium-Ion Battery for GPSMap 276c (010-10517-00)

Garmin A/C Adapter for GPSMap 276c

Garmin Marine Mount for Gpsmount 276c

Garmin Power / Data Cable for GPSMap 276c

Garmin Protective Cover for GPSMap 276C (010-10492-00)

Garmin 12-Volt Adapter Cable for GPSMap 276C (010-10516-00)

Garmin 128-Megabyte Memory Cartridge for StreetPilot and eMap (010-10226-13)

Garmin MapSource 512-Megabyte Blank Data Card for Garmin GPS Units (010-10226-21)

Garmin Remote Speaker for GPSMap 276c

GARMIN GPSmap 276C GPS Receiver & More...