After checking out the guts of my Garmin GPSMAP 78sc yesterday I’ve had a chance to play with Garmin’s newest handheld marine GPS.  For the most part the GPSMAP 78 is a Dakota that floats and employs real buttons instead of a touch screen. The size and layout are very similar to its predecessor, the GPSMAP 76.  There are a few notable differences I thought I would post before I get into the hardcore testing of this new unit.

Hardware

This unit is very large, especially the 2.6″ width.  Although Garmin’s web site says it is only 0.2″ wider than the 60CSx, I measured mine last night and it is closer to 0.4″ wider.  Overall it is similar in form to the 76CSx which it is intended to replace.  This unit is not something I would want to bring on the trail or bike, you definitely pay the price in terms of size to get a GPS that floats.  I was also disappointed to find that the GPSMAP 78 does not use the same mounting system as the Colorado, Oregon, Dakota, 60CSx or 76CSx.  That means investing in new mounts for bikes, cars, and boats even if you already own or have previously owned one of these other devices.  On the positive side the GPSMAP provides you with serial (4-pin Garmin) and MCX external antenna ports which don’t seem to be on the recently announced GPSMAP 62, the Oregon or the Dakota.

Side by side with Oregon and Dakota

MCX, USB, Serial Interfaces

Side mount attachment

Software

The most interesting new software enhancement is an upgrade to the Calendar tool.  Like the 60CSx’s Calendar you can see daily events such as marked waypoints, logged tracks, and geocache attempts.   By selecting a particular day you get a summary of that day’s activities and by hitting <ENTER> you can view a detailed list of those activities.  Geocachers in particular will like the daily summary – for each day you can see your finds and total attempts and the daily list displays your attempts in the order you recorded the fieldnotes.  Once (and I’m being hopeful here) Garmin brings back the daily/weekly track archiving feature which appeared in an earlier Oregon beta this will become an even more useful tool.

Calendar View

Daily List - Geocaching finds with one DNF

The Map page measure distance tool is another welcome addition.  You can select a location on the map (or use your current location) and measure the distance to any other arbitrary location on the map.  The line between your two selected points and a little pop-up in the lower right hand corner will display the distance .

Map Measure Tool

Mariners will be happy to see proximity alarms have been added to the GPSMAP 78.  Proximity alarms allow you to set up audible and visual alerts when you are within a specified distance of a particular waypoint.  Similarly, when you exit the proximity ring you get an alarm.  Any waypoint can have a proximity radius added to it and proximity alarms can be created directly on the unit, no need to use User POIs like the Oregon and Dakota.  Proximity rings also display on the map page as red circles.  Tone control on the GPSMAP 78 is much more configurable and provides the ability to associate about 20 tones with different events.  Again, useful for boaters who rely on proximity alarms and the various marine alarms (anchor drag, off course, etc).

Proximity Alarm List

Proximity Alarm Edit

Proximity Alarm Radius

Proximity Ring On Map

The menu system is another departure from the Oregon and Dakota mainly because of the move away from a touchscreen to real buttons.  The GPSMAP has a Main Menu like the Oregon where all of the tools (ie. Setup, Satellite, Map) can be accessed.  Unlike the Oregon and Dakota, the GPSMAP allows you to create a Page Sequence which pulls tools out of the Main Menu into a short sequence controlled by the <PAGE> and <QUIT> keys as it would on 60CSx.  In addition Garmin provides a Page Ribbon which is a widget that pops up and allows you to quickly scroll back and forth through a set of floating icons and select a page in the Page Sequence.  This is faster than cycling through the pages themselves but is controlled the same way using the <PAGE> and <QUIT> keys.  The Page Ribbon can be disabled for a “classic” 60CSx feel.   The Main Menu, Setup and Find screens can also be configured to look different.  A list view and two grid views are provided.  Enabling either of the grid views makes all three screens look similar to the “classic” 60CSx menu screen.  The list view which I prefer leaves these screens in an Oregon-like list view.

Page Ribbon Config

Page Sequence and Ribbon Config

Page Ribbon

Page Ribbon

Main Menu List View

Main Menu "Classic" Grid

When the Colorado came out users complained about the lack of a day/night color mode which they had enjoyed on the GPSMAP 60/72.  The GPSMAP 78 brings this oft requested feature back and it would also be most useful on the Oregon and Dakota where screen and menu colors really have an impact on readability.

Day Night Configuration

GPS Performance

I haven’t hand enough time to come to any final conclusions on the GPS performance but so far it looks extremely positive. The test tracks I’ve taken so far with and without WAAS are very accurate when compared to my test track which is based on data from 100+ tracks on 7 different GPS units over 2 years. The GPSMAP 78 test tracks haven’t had any more than a 25′ deviation from the reference and the track and odometer readings are all within 2% which is amazing but I’ll need to see results over several weeks at different times of day to say for sure this unit is as good as it seems right now.

Screen brightness is another area I haven’t been able to test to my satisfaction.  So far the display seems to be at least as good as the Dakota but I haven’t been able to get out in bright direct or bright overcast conditions yet.  In my experience the latter is the hardest for the Dakota and Oregon and is where the 60CSx/72CSx really excel.

If there is anything you would like to see on the GPSMAP 78 post a note here or join the discussion over at the newly created Garmin GPSMAP 62 and 78 wiki.

As with all new models, I recommend REI if you are thinking about buying a GPSMAP 78 because of their 100% satisfaction guarantee.  REI has the 78 and 78s in stock for $349.99 and $399.99 if you are interested in getting one for your next summer boating, canoeing or kayaking trip.

Related posts:

  1. Garmin GPSMAP 78: The Inside Story
  2. FCC Images: Garmin GPSMAP 62 Much Like GPSMAP 78
  3. Garmin GPSMAP 62 Rumors, More GPSMAP 78 Details
  4. Garmin chirp Review
  5. Garmin GPSMAP 62 Images Surface