Garmin GPSMap 76/76S/76C/76CS Comparison
Garmin for several years have had the GPSMap 76 and 76S available. These are very rugged Marine style GPS which can be used on land with MapSource maps and give you everything you would conceivably want in a GPS with lots of memory to install Garmin Cartography, to Electronic and Barometric Altimeter's in the 76S.
Now Garmin have enhanced both of these versions and brought out a colour version for each. This now adds the GPSMap 76C and 76CS to this beautiful range of Handheld GPS Receivers.
These are not small GPS Receivers like the Garmin eTrex or Geko range, they are large, but do allow you a much larger and better screen compared with other Garmin GPS Receivers.
Screen Technology
The Garmin 76 / 76S come with a grayscale screen and older technology which means the older 76 / 76S will not have as good battery support as the newer 76C / 76CS which also support a newer colour TFT Screen.
Garmin have worked hard because usually in the addition of a colour screen, battery life tails off quite substantially. Not with the 76C / 76CS, Garmin say that on a normal set of AA alkaline batteries you should expect up to 30 hours use.
- 16 hours (GPSMap 76)
- 10 Hours (GPSMap 76S)
- 30 Hours (GPSMap 76C)
- 20 Hours (GPSMap 76CS)
Memory
Unfortunately memory is not expandable in any of these GPS Receivers, but you do get a fair amount of memory for what you would need in most cases.
- 8mb (GPSMap 76)
- 24mb (GPSMap 76S)
- 115mb (GPSMap 76C)
- 115mb (GPSMap 76CS)
GPSMap 76 / 76S Main Features
The GPSMap 76 / 76S comes with the following major features:-
- Backlit grayscale screen (1.6" x 2.2")
- 8mb Internal Memory for storing map detail (GPSMap 76)
- 24mb Internal Memory for storing map detail (GPSMap 76S)
- Electronic Compass (GPSMap 76S)
- Barometric Altimeter (GPSMap 76S)
- 1000 Waypoints
- 50 Routes
- 125 Waypoints Per Route
- WAAS Support
- Waterproof
GPSMap 76C / 76CS Main Features
The GPSMap 76C / 76CS comes with all that the 76 / 76S comes with and the additional features shown below:-
- Sunlight readable trans reflective 256 colour TFT Screen (1.5" x 2.2")
- Fast processor to support Auto Routing, turn-by-turn directions, audio alerts along city streets or trails when using MapSource City Select or 24K Topo (optional)
- 115mb Internal Memory for storing map detail
- Permanent User Data Storage
- Geolocation games:-
- Virtual Maze
- Nibbons
- Geko Smak
- Memory Race
- Gekoids
- Fast map transfer with USB support (slower transfer with Serial)
- 1000 Waypoints
- 50 Routes
- 250 Waypoints Per Route
- WAAS Support
- Waterproof
- Built-in Alarm Clock!
Differences between 76 / 76S / 76C / 76CS
The main and only differences are as follows:-
| GPSMAP 76 | GPSMAP 76S | GPSMAP 76C | GPSMAP 76CS | |
| Built in Memory | 8 MB | 24 MB | 115 MB | 115 MB |
| # of Routes / # of waypoints per route | 50/125 | 50/125 | 50/250 | 50/250 |
| Battery Life | 16 HR (2 AA) | 10 HR (2 AA) | 30 HR (2 AA) | 20 HR (2 AA) |
| Display Size | 2.2 x 1.6 | 2.2 x 1.6 | 2.2 x 1.5 | 2.2 x 1.5 |
| Display type | 4 level Gray LCD | 4 level Gray LCD | 256 Color TFT | 256 Color TFT |
| Pixels (H x W) | 240 x 180 | 240 x 180 | 240 x 160 | 240 x 160 |
| Audible Alarms | Anchor: Yes Arrival: Yes Clock: No Off Course: Yes |
Anchor: Yes Arrival: Yes Clock: No Off Course: Yes |
Anchor: Yes Arrival: Yes Clock: Yes Off Course: Yes |
Anchor: Yes Arrival: Yes Clock: Yes Off Course: Yes |
| Separate Serial & USB interfaces | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes |
| Backlit Display | Single level | Single level | Multi-level adjustable | Multi-level adjustable |
| Glide Ratio, Glide Ratio to Destination, and Vertical Speed to Destination | N/A | Yes | N/A | Yes |
| Built-In Electronic Compass | N/A | Yes | N/A | Yes |
| Built-In Barometric Altimeter | N/A | Yes | N/A | Yes |
| Voltage Range | 10-40 | 10-40 | 8-36 | 8-36 |
Technical Specification
| GPSMAP 76 | GPSMAP 76S | GPSMAP 76C | GPSMAP 76CS | |
| Receiver | 12 channel | 12 channel | 12 channel | 12 channel |
| Number of Waypoints | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 |
| Built in Memory | 8 MB | 24 MB | 115 MB | 115 MB |
| # of Routes / # of waypoints per route | 50/125 | 50/125 | 50/250 | 50/250 |
| Database or Basemap | Americas Highway or Atlantic Highway or Pacific Highway |
Americas Highway or Atlantic Highway or Pacific Highway |
Americas Autoroute or Atlantic Autoroute |
Americas Autoroute or Atlantic Autoroute |
| Additional map options | MapSource CD ROM uploadable information | MapSource CD ROM uploadable information | MapSource CD ROM uploadable information | MapSource CD ROM uploadable information |
| Battery Life | 16 HR (2 AA) | 10 HR (2 AA) | 30 HR (2 AA) | 20 HR (2 AA) |
| Display Size | 2.2 x 1.6 | 2.2 x 1.6 | 2.2 x 1.5 | 2.2 x 1.5 |
| Display type | 4 level Gray LCD | 4 level Gray LCD | 256 Color TFT | 256 Color TFT |
| Area Calculation | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pixels (H x W) | 240 x 180 | 240 x 180 | 240 x 160 | 240 x 160 |
| Standard GPS Antenna | Built in quad helix | Built in quad helix | Built in quad helix | Built in quad helix |
| TracBack Mode | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| # of Tracklog Points | 10,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 |
| Unit Weight | 7.7 oz. | 7.7 oz. | 7.6 oz. w/ batteries | 7.6 oz. w/ batteries |
| Audible Alarms | Anchor: Yes Arrival: Yes Clock: No Off Course: Yes |
Anchor: Yes Arrival: Yes Clock: No Off Course: Yes |
Anchor: Yes Arrival: Yes Clock: Yes Off Course: Yes |
Anchor: Yes Arrival: Yes Clock: Yes Off Course: Yes |
| Waterproof Standard | IPX7 | IPX7 | IPX7 | IPX7 |
| Unit Size (H x W x D) | 6.2 x 2.7 x 1.4 | 6.2 x 2.7 x 1.4 | 6.2 x 2.7 x 1.4 | 6.2 x 2.7 x 1.4 |
| Separate Serial & USB interfaces | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes |
| Map Storage | Internal Memory | Internal Memory | Internal Memory | Internal Memory |
| Backlit Display | Single level | Single level | Multi-level adjustable | Multi-level adjustable |
| Ext. Ant. Hookup | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Internal Differential | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| WAAS capability | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Loran TD position format | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| MGRS position format | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Glide Ratio, Glide Ratio to Destination, and Vertical Speed to Destination | N/A | Yes | N/A | Yes |
| Built-In Electronic Compass | N/A | Yes | N/A | Yes |
| Built-In Barometric Altimeter | N/A | Yes | N/A | Yes |
| Hunting/Fishing calculator | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Celestial Information Page | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Proximity Waypoints | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tide Prediction | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Voltage Range | 10-40 | 10-40 | 8-36 | 8-36 |
| Waypoint Icons | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Full Reviews
GPS Map 76 / 76S Review, click here.
GPS Map 76C / 76CS Review, click here.
