World Famous Comics: Garmin GPSMap 478 GPS Navigator and Chartplotter
Garmin GPSMap 478 GPS Navigator and Chartplotter
From: Garmin Average Rating: Batteries Included: 1 Binding: Electronics Label: Garmin Legal Disclaimer: Warranty does not cover misuse of product. Model: 010-00543-00 Native Resolution: 480 x 320 Number of Tracks: 15 Platform: Mac OS 9 and below Release Date: November 01, 2006
Features:
Built-in saltwater marine charts utilize the latest BlueChart g2 technology for a smoother, more fluid presentation on your screen, and feature coverage for all U.S. coastal areas, including Alaska and Hawaii
Offers optional weather and sonar capabilities; gives you the ability to conveniently add plug in data cards, so you can easily add more maps and features
3.8-inch diagonal, 480 x 320, 256-color TFT screen with adjustable LED backlight; includes an industry leading database with more than six million points of interest
Dimensions: 5.7 x 3.2 x 1.9 inches (W x H x D); weighs 3.2 pounds
Combination color chartplotter and land navigator easily transitions from boat to dashboard
Amazon.com Product Description: Go from box to boat to dash with the portable and versatile WAAS enabled, 12 parallel channel Garmin GPSMAP 478 GPS receiver. This combination color chartplotter and land navigator comes preloaded with United States marine charts utilizing elements of the latest BlueChart g2 technology, in addition to detailed street level mapping. With a 3.8-inch diagonal, 480 x 320, 256-color TFT screen with adjustable LED backlight, this navigation system supplies easy to read information to help chart your boating and driving trips. It also offers optional weather and sonar capabilities and gives you the ability to use plug in data cards, so you can instantly add new maps to your GPSMAP 478 without connecting to your computer. Designed for use both on land and in seawater, the GPSMAP 478 is ready to go, right out of the box--no downloads or computer required.
The GPSMAP 478's built in marine charts use the latest BlueChart g2 technology for a smoother, more fluid presentation on your screen, and feature coverage for all U.S. coastal areas, including Alaska and Hawaii. For road trips, this system comes preloaded with City Navigator NT detailed street maps for North America and offers automatic routing with voice guidance to help get you where you're going quickly and easily. The GPSMAP 478 also includes an industry leading database with more than six million points of interest including hotels, restaurants, gas stations, marinas, attractions and more. This system also tracks 10,000 points and the automatic track log saves up to 15 points. For additional flexibility, an included marine mount and automotive kit make it a snap to transfer the unit from boat to car.
With the GPSMAP 478, weather and audio options travel with your plotter, whether you're navigating on land or sea. In fact, this system can display real-time weather information on the high-resolution 256-color sunlight-readable TFT display. To help make sure you're prepared for whatever comes your way, view NEXRAD radar, storm cells, wind speeds, surface temperatures, forecasts and more than a dozen other weather attributes, so you can spend more time enjoying the water and less time worrying about the weather. And with the GXM 30 antenna, you also have the option of receiving XM Satellite Radio's 150 plus channels of commercial-free music, sports, news, talk and entertainment programming.
What's in the Box GPSMAP 478 chart plotter, preloaded with U.S. marine detail maps (g2 technology), preloaded City Navigator NT North America (full coverage), Trip and Waypoint Manager, USB/PC interface cable, power/data cable, marine mount, automotive mount, universal friction mount, 12-volt adapter cable with speaker, AC charger, protective cover, owner's manual, and quick reference guide.
Product Description: Ready for action right out of the box, the GPSMAP 478 comes preloaded with US marine detailed maps for the entire US coast, including Alaska and Hawaii. These maps are based on BlueChart g2 technology, so they layer smoothly and are integrated for easy panning, scrolling and zooming. When you're ready to drive home, take your 478 out of its marine mount and pop it into the automotive mount in your vehicle. Then press one button, and your 478 is ready to navigate you on the roads, with turn by turn directions and voice prompts that take you straight to your destination. The 478 is preloaded with detailed City Navigator maps for all of North America and contains over 6 million points of interest, including hotels, restaurants, gas stations, marinas, attractions and more. Tide tables, Hunt/Fish calendar, Sun and Moon information Position Format - Lat/Lon, UTM/UPS, Maidenhead, MGRS, Loran TDs and other grids Automatic routing (turn by turn routing on roads) Voice prompts Approximate Unit Dimensions - 5.7(W) x 3.2(H) x 1.9(D) Approximate Unit Weight - 13.6 oz
Good unit but..... Good GPS unit but..... I move it between my boats and truck. I have the XM Ant with Weather option. Big aid in avoiding Gulf thunderstorms. Power plug difficult to insert and remove. Plug broke after 3-4 times. Garmin customer service very difficult to work with, after several phone calls, emails, they finally sent me the wrong cord as a replacement. Battery failed after 11 months....forget trying to get Garmin to replace that.
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.
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.
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
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!
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