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The legendary all-terrain navigation equipment is back: GPSMAP 276Cx
werewolf
107 Points
The legendary all-terrain navigation equipment is back: GPSMAP 276Cx
Developed from the versatile GPSMAP 276C offers the same high customizability
More sensors - GPS + GLONASS, altimeter and 3D compass
Big screen WVGA 5 "readable in sunlight
optional advanced navigation - nüvi mode, voice guidance text-to-speech, routes by winding roads, etc.
Full Bluetooth connection , ANT + and Wi-Fi - to keep in touch
recreational map preloaded Europe and 1 year subscription service Satellite images BirdsEye
More map options available - including BlueChart g2 and support for TOPO maps
https://www.garmin.com/en-US/blog/featured-2/announcement-gpsmap-276cx/
Developed from the versatile GPSMAP 276C offers the same high customizability
More sensors - GPS + GLONASS, altimeter and 3D compass
Big screen WVGA 5 "readable in sunlight
optional advanced navigation - nüvi mode, voice guidance text-to-speech, routes by winding roads, etc.
Full Bluetooth connection , ANT + and Wi-Fi - to keep in touch
recreational map preloaded Europe and 1 year subscription service Satellite images BirdsEye
More map options available - including BlueChart g2 and support for TOPO maps
https://www.garmin.com/en-US/blog/featured-2/announcement-gpsmap-276cx/
Comments
http://globeriders.com/article_pages/article10_gps/article10_gpsmap276cx.shtml
https://www.navigation-professionell.de/garmin-gpsmap-276cx-review-test/
Amazon already has it listed but it is not yet for sale in the US.
This could be what I was waiting for as I have been using the 276C for twelve years, and the 176 before that,,plust other Garmins going back to Model 2 (steam powered).
Thanks for posting.
And no screenshots of what it looks like with City Navigator. Does it have lane assist? Does it show the speed limit? I assume there would be no junction view, since that isn't available with separate purchases of City Navigator. And there would also be no lifetime map option, since they have discontinued the DVD of City Navigator. Doesn't look like there would be any way to get traffic data either.
It would be a fun toy if I had a thousand bucks to spend on a lark, but it doesn't look like an "all in one" navigation solution to me.
This is where I think Garmin is missing a big market segment. Why not offer this as an app for iOS and Android? I'm never gonna spend $800 on the hardware. but I might spend $150 on an app. And once people have bought the app, it would be easy to sell them maps… just click on a button for an impusle in-app purchase.
"the GPSMAP® 276Cx uses the same Garmin AMPS Rugged Mount - and, if you use a wired-headset, the 276Cx can be setup to pass Audio Out through the cable in the mount harness. "
and
"The GPSMAP® 276Cx uses Bluetooth to connect to your smartphone and your Bluetooth Headset as well as 276Cx to 276Cx data sharing. This device does not use the Garmin Smartphone Link App - it requires the Garmin Connect Mobile App"
So it looks like there are two ways to get audio out. Doesn't say whether it supports voice prompts like the Montana/Monterra though. Too bad they didn't make it smartphone link compatible, that would have given you traffic data. :-S
BTW, Dan Townsley's review is great. With Rich's departure from GPSTrackLog, I had almost forgotten what a thorough GPS review looked like.
Nor does it say anything about having built in speakers. Lots of unanswered questions. I'll wait for user reviews after it hits the market.
More motorcyclist discussion:
http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/garmin-announces-the-new-gpsmap-276cx.1178312/
I see that it can access 15,000 map segments. This is a big upgrade, other recent Garmin handhelds are limited to 4,000 segments although I think the new Oregon 700 also does 15,000. This is an important limit that most people fail to appreciate until it's too late. If you exceed the segment limit, some parts of your maps will stop working and the limit has nothing to do with the amount of storage space the maps use. In many cases, you could exceed the map segment limit with 4gb of maps.
I get the impression that this device really isn't intended for regular street navigation. There is no indication of an automotive dashboard like the Montana offers (people have called this "Nuvi Mode", although that's not completely accurate). Anyway, it does give you a main screen like a Nuvi that shows speed limits and lane assist arrows at the upper left.
Garmin has this City Navigator screenshot from the 276cx that doesn't show lane assist or speed limit.
The Montana also has an audio output jack and a mount that includes a speaker. These provide regular voice prompts when using City Navigator. Looking at the 276cx info again, I don't see any mention of this either.
Interesting product, would love to play with it if somebody wants to send one to me. But $800? Are you serious? :O)
Lot of them are using Montana's and they are switching while I type as this one better... I'll be getting one for my snow machine... much better then the Monterra..or the Montana's I had.
Again Garmin does a great job....it's going to be a great rugged well recieved unit for those needing this niche....this is not for those who want just to "play" with it... but serious navigators like bike travelers..Razor,Jeep,etc. for non serious Ford Focus users you have the phones and $100 Nuvi's..
I'd hope a $800 GPS would be better than a $400 one….
Unfortunately someone helped themselves to my Montana in the airport security check on Monday.
Use is on vintage/classic motorcycles with Joe Lucas 'Prince of Darkness' electrics on roads and green lanes (TalkyToaster maps) so long lasting battery (better with AA spares) needed. Custom maps and waterproof.
Which one do I go for? top quality/functions more important than price.
Might not have bought the Garmin Drivelux 50 LMT-D if this had happened six months earlier!
https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/catalog/product/compareResult.ep?compareProduct=523677&compareProduct=539722
Have a look at the thread on the other site that has been mentioned here. Lots of discussion and comparisons to the Montana.
http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/garmin-announces-the-new-gpsmap-276cx.1178312/
I'm surprised by the battery specs that are shown on Garmin's site as compared to the Montana, and I wonder if they are correct. Posts in the advrider thread indicate that the GPSMap276cx does not have a transreflective screen. That means the backlight would have to be on full during bright conditions, whereas the Montana screen looks great in bright sun with no backlight (I have a Montana 600). Backlight use drains the battery faster, so it just seems a little hard to believe you could get 16 hours with it on all the time…
Backlighting is one of those features. Despite the fact that many of their cycling devices with color screens are difficult for most to read without backlighting. Especially if wearing polarized glasses.
Assuming the Montana does not turn up on FleaBay I guess I'm in the market!
None of my Garmin's do I view constantly. So those that work only on batery power have a timeout setting to turn off the backlighting within a few seconds of the last button push.
I enjoyed the Montana 650T but was always worried about the waterproofing and the need to take a glove off to change anything. Battery life was around 4 hours at best inbuilt or 7 hours with top quality AA Ansmann rechargeables. I was having problems with the AA batteries towards the end with low battery warnings - cannot support somethingorother appearing with half battery life left.
Thus I would rather see info on what plus points and opinions there are on the 276CX being worth the extra over the Montana 680T than quibbling.
Battery stats on the two models look odd to me with the 680T running longer on AA and the 276CX running shorter for the same specified length in-built. Must be a mother of a big in-built battery on the 276CX?
276CX looks more of a pure navigational tool. I'm not interested in geocaching etc and have a far superior camera in the back-pack (Sony RX100 Mark IV). I don't use Bluetooth though. I'm just a bit itchy over those battery stats.
Here are some comments about the display visibility from the ADVrider thread
__________
"As I noted in my review, the 276Cx uses Backlight to enhance sunlight readability. There is very little, if any, reflectance layer in this display. That being said, my subjective view is that this display is brighter in sunlight (with the Backlight on full) than any of the current Moto-branded Garmin devices. If you are not using a Powered Mount, that will have a significant impact on the battery life if one didn't use the Battery Saver and the Backlight Timeout settings to conserve battery."
___________
"Is it readable in the sunlight with the backlight off like montana? Montana is definitely quite reflective even though it may not appear that way if you are comparing it to passive LCD displays"
___________
"As I noted, this display has almost no reflectance. Garmin doesn't even list it as a Transflective display"
No sign of the 276Cx being available over here yet though, just pre-orders
Specs say up to 16 hours, but doesn't say what sort of use gets you that.
276Cx looks to be my best option if the present holder of my Montana 650T turns out to be a thieving scumbag! Seems the nearest to an advanced tool for a long time, but still not the Holy Grail of a true multi-purpose solution.
Power cable is about as much use as a chocolate teapot on a 1937 BSA Empire Star with Joe Lucas "Prince of Darkness" electrics that barely have enough power to light a small 6 volt bulb consistently let alone convert to 12 volts for a non existent power socket!
Let us know if you get any input from a current 276 owner about battery life.
But if the battery capacity is going to be an issue, and you otherwise like the devices other functions, then just add a 12 volt battery of whatever size to the bike or even a bag you keep your lunch in.
You can get a sealed 7 ampre hour battery for 8 bucks US and charge it with any 12 volt charger or use cables to charge it from a car or bike that does have an adequate 12 volt charging system.
Looking more and more likely I'll go for the 276Cx over the 680T.
If u mean the old 276C I think the battery life is very good, but that is just the informal impression I get the rare times I use it when it is not plugged in to my vehicles' cig lighter.
Of course, here in the US the equivalent would be our USGS 24k maps, and since they were created with public money, they're free. Or you can purchase a Birdseye Topo subscription for $30 that gives you unlimited downloads of them.
But the 100k Garmin topo on the "T models" has never been very good.