2610 v 276c?

[Possu]

How does the 276C compare to the 2610?

Just looked at the T/tech catalogue, it seems just as good with the added bonus of being able to carry it about in your hand like a Quest.

Not so keen on having to use Garmins own (expensive) memory cards for the 276.

I take it there's no "touch screen" like a 2610 - good or bad? I assume that the extra buttons on the 276C fascia do away with the need for a touch screen?

Is it worth paying the extra for a snazzy Touratech mount or should I go for the plastic Garmin mount?

All feedback appreciated

[Wraithwrider]

I have a 276C and I'm very pleased with it.

You need to get the Automotive kit with it as the unit is actually designed as a marine plotter. The Automotive kit comes with City Select software and either a 128 or 256MB card.

The unit as supplied comes with a marine mount. This mount is fine for bike use and mine's fitted to a Motorrad Concepts type 2 mounting bracket.

I believe that Garmin's motorcycle lead is probably now available.

I made up a lead by fitting a plug and 3.5mm socket to the marine lead supplied. It works fine powered from the Touratech cockpit cover and feeding into a Starcom unit for voice.

I think that I just like to be different, and the screen is great!

Peter

[simonm]

Steve,

Did the same analysis earlier this year.
Both are good units with slight differences in emphasis. I ended up with the 276c which I felt was better suited to me.

Briefly:

I didn't want to use in ear voice prompts so I want the best screen - the screen on the 276 is far better than the 2610 especially if the sun is bright.
I did want battery power.
I did want a proper Track log facility - the 276 stores far more points and multiple tracks.
When I tried the touch screen on the 2610 I didn't like it as much as the buttons on the 276 - this point is very subjective tho.


The only downside of the 276 is the use of proprietry memory cards. Its expensive compared to CF and the max capacity (at the moment) is 256 MB. To put that in perspective, using CS 7.0 mapping I have all of the UK in < 256 MB. This means when I go abroad I will either have to take an extra card (s) or load map tiles in a "corridor" for the journey.

Hope that helps.

[Wraithwrider]

I've tried the unit, initially without voice and later, after I fitted the Starcom, with.

It's just my opinion but I wouldn't dream of spending all that money and then not using the voice prompts. The voice plus the screen make navigation so much easier than the screen alone.

As I say, that's how I found it.

Peter