GPS from US????

Pinto · 07 August 2006, 12:50

Hi

I do not have much of a clue about GPSs, having just recently bought my first RIB. After much to-ing and fro-ing I think I have narrowed it down to the Garmin 276c - unless anyone can advise me otherwise!

I realise that there is a huge price difference if bought from the States - can anyone give me any advise as to what to look out for, or any mishaps you might have had with such a purchase that I should try to avoid.

Ta

Viv

bedajim · 07 August 2006, 13:38

sent you a pm

James

AndrewH · 07 August 2006, 14:21

James - any chance that you could make your comments public. I'm also thinking of doing the same and there may be others that would benefit from any pearls of wisdom that you've gleaned in this area,

Many thanks, Andrew

seaquest1 · 08 August 2006, 23:44

hi andrew h
and pinto

i bought a screen from the us for a hi spec laptop
worked out at about 300 pounds then nearly 8 months later i got a bill £77 POUNDS from DHL AFTER PHONING DHL TO FIND OUT WHY THEY TOLD ME ANYTHING OVER £18 POUNDS ARE LIBLE FOR VAT AND IMPORT DUTY SO BE CAREFULL BECAUSE SOMETIMES THE COURIER COMPANY OR IT GETS TO CUSTOMS WONT RELEASE UNTIL DUTEIS PAID
HOPE THIS HELPS
REGARDS MIKE

AndrewH · 09 August 2006, 00:53

Many thanx for the warning - I'll bear that in mind

Andrew

whiteminiman · 09 August 2006, 01:03

That's the exact model I was looking at too.

However, be VERY careful if you are buying from the USA.

The Garmin GPS are hardcoded (and cannot be altered) with what are called "base maps". There are three versions - Americas, Atlantic, and Pacific.

The Garmin website says this:
********************************
Garmin mapping units come with built-in, permanent basemaps that cannot be altered. These basemaps come in a variety of global designations (ie., Atlantic basemap). Please see your local dealer when purchasing a Garmin mapping unit to ensure that you are purchasing one with a basemap that's appropriate for your location and needs. Factory-installed basemaps cannot be altered.

The Atlantic Autoroute basemap includes Europe, extreme western Russia, Africa, and the Middle East, and covers an area from N75 to S60 Latitude, W30 to E60 Longitude. Also included is a high-level worldwide map with political boundaries and major cities.

The standard map coverage for the Atlantic basemap includes:

1. Oceans, rivers and lakes (greater than 30 square miles)
2. Principal cities and a small amount of smaller cities and towns
3. Major motorways and/or interstates and principal highways
4. Political boundaries (state and international borders)
5. Large and Medium Airports
6. Urban areas greater than 200K

A. Iceland, Great Britain, Baltic States, Denmark, Germany, Benelux, France, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Austria, Italy and Southern Africa (up to S20 Latitude) - In addition to the standard map coverage, these areas also include:

1. Small lakes, major streams and rivers
2. Urban areas
3. Railroads
4. Regional arterial roadways
5. Exits for major motorways and/or interstates (Europe Only)
6. Small cities and towns
****************************

So basically, make sure it's the Atlantic basemap and not the Americas.

Cheers, WMM

codprawn · 09 August 2006, 01:15

Does it really matter which basemap you have? They are crap anyway - most people will want to load the proper ones for their area!!!

bedajim · 09 August 2006, 07:27

Mine came from the USA, good price standard base map covers the UK but is crap, but you can load the data cards etc and its great, had to go out without it once on the east coast and didn't like it one bit.

I think the base map is standard for all models; you need to buy the data cards or cd anyway

Tip if you buy from Ebay etc check their feed back and email them

James

tcwozere · 09 August 2006, 11:59

If you buy from ebay, bear this in mind..

To obtain warranty service, an original or copy of the sales receipt from the original retailer is required. Online auction confirmations are not accepted for warranty verification, and Garmin will not replace missing components from any package purchased through an online auction.

Thats from their US site, there's no warranty information on the UK site though.. Maybe an idea to get in touch with them to see if Garmin UK view ebay/online auctions with the same high regard..

matt h · 09 August 2006, 14:53

bought mine from the us, perfect, put uk datacard into it, all ok £300 with 25 postage

alystra · 09 August 2006, 16:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinto

Hi

I do not have much of a clue about GPSs, having just recently bought my first RIB. After much to-ing and fro-ing I think I have narrowed it down to the Garmin 276c - unless anyone can advise me otherwise!

I realise that there is a huge price difference if bought from the States - can anyone give me any advise as to what to look out for, or any mishaps you might have had with such a purchase that I should try to avoid.

Ta

Viv

Hi Viv,

I see you are based in Glasgow, so no doubt you will be buzzing around our west coast waters sooner or later. Before I realised that I couldn't afford a plotter I was looking at Garmin, but discounted them because their chart 'module'? cut off point runs east/west through the Firth of Lorne.

This means that if you want to go from Crinan to Tobermory you will have to buy two of their chart sets - and they are expensive (hundreds of pounds). Plotters that can use Cmap charts are better I think, because you will only need one set of those charts.

I finally settled on an old used Garmin GPS and bought the RYA Electronic Chart Plotter program with chart pack 12. (See thread 'chart plotter tuition ' in the Ribs and Ribbing forum.) Much cheaper set up, but not quite as good as a plotter.

Cheers, Tony

Jeff · 11 August 2006, 22:13

Hi Viv
The "regular" as opposed to small Bluecharts give the West coast of Scotland on one card/unlock code:
Jeff

alystra · 12 August 2006, 02:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff

Hi Viv
The "regular" as opposed to small Bluecharts give the West coast of Scotland on one card/unlock code:
Jeff

I stand corrected Jeff, that looks OK.

Cheers Tony

rbw156 · 19 August 2006, 10:08

I purchase my Eagle from the US. Eagle are the low cost brand of Lowrance. I saved around £300. I purchased the charts in the UK.

Technically the shipping company, eg DHL will add VAT (at the normal rate of 17.5%) and duty (around 4%) onto the declared import value of the goods. The biggest risk IMHO is if you need to make a warranty claim, in which case you would have to return the item to the US, however, when you weight up the cost of return vs the saving IMHO it is a risk worth taking.

If you are interested I can supply the company I purchased from. I can't vouch for them, other than I purchased mine from them.