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Greg Hirst (Gregh)
| | Posted on Thursday, November 14, 2002 - 02:16 am: | 
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I'm working on my Xmas list and I think I've nailed down the GPS unit I want-a Garmin GPS 176C. Has anybody had good luck with one of these? Also, what attachments/adapters/antennas. etc. would be recommended for install on my RRC dash? I would not use it for on-road, only offroad so is there a particular software I need?
Unfortunately, I think my family is too cheap to buy me one so I might buy one for my wife for Xmas-it's the spirit of giving NOT getting right? |
gp (Garrett)
| | Posted on Thursday, November 14, 2002 - 08:09 am: |
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you are only going to get positive reviews on that unit. myself, Greg P and Rob D have this unit. mine is not color though.  but it seems to be a great all around unit........size, freatures, etc. Rob has a RRC and has his mounted just to the right of the guage cluster. mine is there as well. Greg has his mounted McGiver style in his D2 hanging from the ceiling.
an external antenna would be a good upgrade. just use it where you would and see how you like it. you might find it works fine for you.
just get the MapSource CD Topo and you will be styling. |
Rans (Rans)
| | Posted on Thursday, November 14, 2002 - 09:28 am: |
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I have the Garmin Street Pilot III deluxe and I think you will find that any of the upper end Garmin units are going to make you happy. I wanted the color, and considered the 176C but decided on the SP III for reasons that I can't remember now.....I can give you a few online places to look for the best deal, I bought mine at: http://www.gpsdiscount.com/
I agree with Garrett (Did I say that outloud?), get the remote antenna, but don't waste the $75 on the GA26C or the GA 29.....buy the $23 one, it works great (yes, thats the one I got!)
Good luck! |
Rob Davison (Pokerob)
| | Posted on Thursday, November 14, 2002 - 09:49 am: |
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seems like the lines in the windshild F* with the reception. get the external antenna.
you _can't_ upload any detailed maps until you buy some memory. where ever garrett bought his had the best prices on memory i could find. unteil then the base map aint too shabby at all.
here are some pcitures of my mounting, nothing special but it fits nice. if you remove the coin tray you'll descover the dash is completely hollow and easy to weave wires thru. i places a pc of 5/8" polywood under my base for the screews to bite into.
rob |
Rob Davison (Pokerob)
| | Posted on Thursday, November 14, 2002 - 09:52 am: |
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Rob Davison (Pokerob)
| | Posted on Thursday, November 14, 2002 - 10:08 am: |
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Rans where did you get this inexpensive antenna at? i dont see it on the page listed.
BTW, if you scour ebay for a few weeks you can get a 176 c for about $450
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=801740591
this is the guy i got mine from... he always seems to have them on every few weeks, mine appeared to be 100% brand new and unused.
rob |
Leslie N. Bright (Leslie)
| | Posted on Thursday, November 14, 2002 - 10:56 am: |
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If you go look under the StreetPilot III Deluxe's page, $23 is for just a mount.... The cheapest antenna shown there is the GPA26C for $45.... it's not shown under the 176 page.... note, it's a BNC antenna.
FWIW...
-L |
Rob Davison (Pokerob)
| | Posted on Thursday, November 14, 2002 - 12:12 pm: |
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also greg , the month that comes with the unit is what is shown and works fine.
anttenne, i guess i'll stick with the typical marine ones.
rd |
Rob Davison (Pokerob)
| | Posted on Thursday, November 14, 2002 - 12:22 pm: |
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just did some research, there are tons of antennas out there, you just need the "BNC" connector.
search the web
i think i still want to spend $100, but just get the really good one.
rd |
Rans (Rans)
| | Posted on Thursday, November 14, 2002 - 12:34 pm: |
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Sorry about that, I was reading too quickly, it is the $45 BNC one, item # GPA26C. It is external to the GPS, mounts on your windshield near the top, not affected by the wires to my saatisfaction. |
Greg P. (Gparrish)
| | Posted on Thursday, November 14, 2002 - 12:50 pm: |
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Get one of the after market antennas. I have the 26 with my 176c, and it is routed from the gps, hanging as Garrett indicated, down to the dash. I have it in the space between the dash and the windshield so it is as far forward from teh roof as possible while still inside the truck. The bennefit to the aftermarkets in my opinion would be the extra gain. The OEM 26 antenna is a 15db gain antenna, and some of the aftermarkets are around 28 to 30 db of gain. There is one called "Big Brother" if you can find it available that is 30 db and runs around $80.00. |
Greg Hirst (Gregh)
| | Posted on Thursday, November 14, 2002 - 01:17 pm: |
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This guy on ebay doesn't happen to be the night janitor at an electronics warehouse does he? I would hate to try to register my warranty and find out it's "warm". That's not a bad price though... |
Greg P. (Gparrish)
| | Posted on Thursday, November 14, 2002 - 01:45 pm: |
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I got my 176c by walking into the local west marine store and buying it for $546.00. At the time, about 5 months ago, that was as good, or better, than most mail order prices. |
Rob Davison (Pokerob)
| | Posted on Thursday, November 14, 2002 - 05:27 pm: |
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http://www.gpscables.com/catalog.html
big brother is here.
rd |
Greg Hirst (Gregh)
| | Posted on Friday, November 15, 2002 - 11:51 am: |
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Thanks for all the info-I'm ordering one today.
Greg H |
Rob Davison (Pokerob)
| | Posted on Friday, November 15, 2002 - 12:41 pm: |
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if you are hesitating on going with the color unit or black and white. i read some review that said the color "washed out" in bright sun.
i can tell you with mine, it isn't that bad. i was concerneed but wanted color because i firurged it would be easier to see on a smaller screen (believe it or not i used to have a lowrance 1600 with a screen almost twice the size) but i wanted the features on this one.
peep http://joe.mehaffey.com/ for gps reviews
http://www.gpsinformation.net/g176/gps176review.htm
rob |
Rans (Rans)
| | Posted on Friday, November 15, 2002 - 03:07 pm: |
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The color can wash out in the sun....but I suspect the B&W would do the same. The answer there is that you can buy a visor from one of the online places.
The SP III Deluxe becomes a good deal if you travel around the country because it comes with the complete CD unlocked. If you don't go that way, you will end up paying far more than I did buying all the unlock codes.....
I got lucky, when I bought my SP III they thru in a carrying case as well. It also came with a bunch of accessories. Bottom line, it's more $$$ but it's the top of their line, and loadded up. |
Greg P. (Gparrish)
| | Posted on Friday, November 15, 2002 - 03:16 pm: |
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Randy, I bought the CD unlocked online for like $89.00. Doesn't sound that bad to me.
I bought a 128 meg memory card and a USB reader online also for a great price. $69 for the reader I think and $99 for the memory.
As far as the color, mine works great, although it is suspended from the center of the overhead console and receives some shading. What I've found is that it means I have to run the light during the day or night.
The screens on these are made to use sunlight to display during the day. What you will find is that you may have to tilt the screen just right to see it during the day. What is being called washout is basically a lack of proper light reflecting off the screen. I can see mine just fine if I sit it on the dash in direct sunlight, as long as I get the angle right.
That being said, I think the color is much easier to read than the black and white. I think it is easier on the eyes to differentiate between items as they are color specific. Everything else about the units is identical between the BW and Color models. If you don't care about color, save $100 bucks.
I use mine so little I've even thought about parting with my whole setup, but haven't really decided yet. My opinion of the 176c is that it's a lot of money for something if you don't use it a lot, and you don't own a boat. Make sure you really want that unit because i think a cheaper one with memory card and software will do just as well for what I've actaully used mine for. |
Clif Ashley (Cta586)
| | Posted on Friday, November 15, 2002 - 03:20 pm: |
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Greg -
"As far as the color, mine works great, although it is suspended from the center of the overhead console and receives some shading."
Id love to see a pic of your mount & any other interior mounts/brackets you have done. Im going to be working on a center console GPS/Compass/Switch Panel..."thing" for my truck and would love to have some ideas. |
Greg P. (Gparrish)
| | Posted on Friday, November 15, 2002 - 03:35 pm: |
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Clif,
I really didn't do anythign all that custom. I just took the mount that comes with the unit and screwed it to the center Overhead console just in front of my sunroof switches. I then ran a direct power feed to teh wiring from the Home Link, which I am not using now, but will one day use. I also fed the antenna wire from the 26c antenna down the A pillar to the dash. It took me all of an hour to do it and I can rotate the GPS towards driver or passenger, and can adjust the angle. Only thing I would do differently next time would be to put it closer to the sun roof switches cause it hangs slightly under the sunroof.
I did buy another used overhead console with the intention of making a custom hang down console in place of the stock light and home link that would extend down to the top of the rear view mirror and house the GPS nice and flush, but I decided not to fool with it when I see how much I actually use the thing. Mine goes months and never gets turned on.
I mean, I don't need it to get to work and back, and most times when I take a trip with it, programed or not, I still have to defer to the instructions or map as it can't give you fine enough detail alone to determine which road in a multiple road split if the signs don't match whats in the gps software. And, this has happened to me almost 10 times now, so it's not just a one intersection fluke.
What I would say it does for me on the road is give me a general reference that comes in handy when I'm driving alone without navigator. It gives me some additional basic informatino like location, speed, etc, but I think I could have gotten those things from a $200 handheld magellan and been just as well off.
Make sense? |
Rob Davison (Pokerob)
| | Posted on Friday, November 15, 2002 - 06:13 pm: |
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i agree,
i use mine with the light on even in the sun and it helps.
my main use for the GPS beleive it of not is as a speedometer..
so i keep mine on all the time. then second is the bread crumb feature to back track from where i've been
i dont usually piss with the wayppoints and making it navigate.
also it's great to have a map of where you are and where the roads you will be going to are in proximity to you.
the added cost here is for the screeen, i dont recommend a smaller screen size..
actually you;'ll be fine with a small screen until you see a big screeen and then you'll hate yours 
rob |
Greg Hirst (Gregh)
| | Posted on Saturday, November 16, 2002 - 12:45 am: |
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Good info-I was planning on mounting it from the ceiling left of sunroof/light controls. I have wanted one for awhile but decided now would be good time to get one cause I'm pulling my headliner out in near future to replace and decided to put in new speakers in back and then thought I'd wire in/mount GPS at the same time.
I can't even see the face of my stereo in the daylight-course it's facing directly into top of windshield!
GregH |
Rans (Rans)
| | Posted on Monday, November 18, 2002 - 11:11 am: |
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I use mine alot on my motorcycle as well. My bike buddies bust my chops about it because when out for a ride, getting lost is desireable rather than undesireable. But I like being able to check the map on the fly......
On the color versions, they use a base black and white with color highlights at night, and during daylight hours there is a yellow background to avoid the washout issue....but Greg is right that the angle makes all the difference. |
Greg P. (Gparrish)
| | Posted on Monday, November 18, 2002 - 12:20 pm: |
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http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1940019614&rd=1 |
Rans (Rans)
| | Posted on Monday, November 18, 2002 - 02:26 pm: |
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Wow Greg, you didn't even give Zak a chance to buy it from you!! LOL |
Greg P. (Gparrish)
| | Posted on Monday, November 18, 2002 - 03:01 pm: |
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Sure I did........... Just click the above link, go to ebay and click buy it now.............. |
Ali
| | Posted on Monday, November 18, 2002 - 05:18 pm: |
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I don't suppose anyone wants my GPS III+ so that I can upgrade to a 176C? Probably not! |
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