Domain Name Com's Electronics Garmin GPSMap 478 GPS Navigator and Chartplotter

Electronics Garmin GPSMap 478 GPS Navigator and Chartplotter

Domain Name Com's - Electronics : Garmin GPSMap 478 GPS Navigator and Chartplotter

- Garmin 478 GPSMap
The 478 is my first GPS unit. My primary use of it is for making tracks in the desert of Qatar over dunes to the Inland Sea. My secondary use is for finding new locations and checking better routes around town in Doha. Thus far the software and mapping functions have worked well, with the exception of the tracking function putting me in the Persian Gulf rather than in the desert while I was still on land. Downloading the Middle East maps and transferring my choices to the 478 was easy. I've moved maps, tracks and waypoints back and forth between my laptop and the 478 with ease several times. So far I'm happy with the 478 unit and the software to download onto my computer.

As per other reviews of this GPS, the auto power cord / speaker is a piece of junk. The first time I tried to remove the plug from the back of the 478 unit it came apart in my fingers. It is most disappointing for such an expensive unit to come with such poor quality connections.

I look forward to using the marine mode, and may try it with my track in the desert for better definition.

Overall it's an excellent unit, but Garmin need to improve the quality of the plugs and cords which accompany it.

Rating:

- Great All-Purpose GPS
I had a 276c, and I had the Mapsource software package, with Bluechart, and the street detail maps for the US that I would have to select and download to the unit, and I liked that just fine. I had that so long that the maps started getting out of date. I lost this unit and decided to get the 478c, intrigued by the XM Weather features.
The 478c has all the charts and all the streets already loaded into it, so no more having to manage the maps and running out of space on the flash memory stick of the old unit I had. Also, it worked with the Mapsource software I had, so I could download all those waypoints and routes to the new 478c.
I bit the bullet and bought the XM antenna for it, and signed up for the basic weather service package, and, went ahead and subscribed to the music service too. I never realized how much I would LOVE having the ability to use the 478c as a satellite radio receiver. I'm sure there's fancier receivers out there, but I am happy to have one device that does that and the navigation and the weather.
The monthly weather subscription is more expensive than I care for. The basic wasn't enough... it provided a Doppler RADAR summary, and NOT real-time Doppler, and it was frequently WRONG. I upgraded to see if that would be any better, and it is... it updates every 5 minutes or so, and that works. I'd really like to get the top-of-the line weather service that gives a satellite mosaic so you can tell where it's supposed to be cloudy and where it isn't going to be cloudy, but that's just too expensive for me. I'm not a pro mariner and I work indoors most of the time, so I just can't justify the cost. I have a hard enough time justifying the cost of the middle-of-the-road service that I have.
On the whole I really like it a lot.
My advice is this: if you're willing to spend the additional $200 - $275 for the XM antenna, and the additional $30 - $50 a month for the weather and XM Radio, this is a great device.
If not, and you're not a country-wide traveller, save some $$$ and get the 276c, or, whatever their most basic street and marine device Garmin currently has.
I DEFINITELY prefer Garmin over other GPS brands.

Rating:

- More praise for the Garmin 478
I agree completely with the other reviews. I can't imagine navigating the shallow coastal Florida waters without a unit like this. It had more useful functions than I had anticipated. The instruction manual could be better for a user new to Garmin. Once you learn how to use it it's wonderful. The shopping and restaurant menu is somewhat incomplete and/or out of date. An update would be helpful

Rating:

- Ship to Shore
Yes, all products have a learning curve and the Garmin GPSMap 478 is no exception. This said, the 478 is a very useful tool in any environment. It will guide you to roadway destinations with precision and charm (using the voice feature) and plot a course through nationwide costal cruising. Add on features expand its use to enhanced weather data, depth sounding, fish finding, satellite radio and more. I have only had the unit for a short time and already see it as a great asset in the car and essential on the boat. Coastal cruising here I come!

Rating:

- Absolutely wonderful......
The product works great on the boat and in the car. The screen is very easy to read, even at night while the boat is rocking. It has many many features, so it takes a bit of practice to learn how to navigate using the menu, page, and find buttons but it is smooth sailing after that. I was surprised on how many waypoints and addresses are built in. All harbors, markers and buoys I have needed were already in the system. Both restaurant adresses that I have gone to in Chicago were already in it.

Like all GPSes and MapQuest, the routes it chooses in automotive mode are sometimes adventurous since there are so many choices were I live, but when you choose to take your own path for parts of the route the unit quickly adjusts the route from that point on.

The many page layouts that it has are great. It allows you to customize each page as well, so you can easily monitor many things across a few pages or by choosing a multi-column layout you can squeeze it all into a single page. It updates the pages so frequently, that I don't even look at my compass anymore.

My key for the PC software isn't working so I haven't played with the PC software that came with it yet.

I also look forward to getting the XM and Sonar features next year. The unit allows you to place it in a demo mode that allows you to see and change the pages/screens for these features even though I don't have them. The weather information you get with the XM features looks like a must have. The sonar feature is also just too cool to pass up, especially if you are doing any fishing.

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