I was all excited. I read up on the Garmin GPSMAP 276C that can be used on land and sea. This was going to be a perfect GPS for me as I could use it on my boat, the S2000 and my other cars. It was pricey at $1100, but it seemed to do everything I wanted a GPS to do. Some of you saw it at my house a couple of weekends ago.

Today, I spent 4 hours trying to load the Garmin software onto my computer so I could then download the maps onto my brand new GPSMAP 276C. After two failed attempts, I learned that Garmin customer srvice lines are only open from 9 to 5 CST Monday through Friday. WTF? I work, like everyone else. I'm not going to stay home from work so I can have a help desk person walk me through the installation of software on a unit I paid over $1,000 for. IMHO consumer electronic companies that sell products costing in excess of $1,000 that require computer interface and downloading MUST have customer support available during some evening and weekend hours. So that's my warning to you guys on Garmin GPS units.

Rant over

 

A fair point IMO. Our Telcos are the same over here. Someone has to literally take a day off work to get a phone line connected because they will quote only a 4 hour time window for a tech to arrive on the day.

Infuriating.

 

I think you're right to be angry, Bill. Good luck getting it sorted out. I'd love to be able to help you, but I've never mucked around with their software.

 

Sorry Bill for your stresses. If I lived closer I would of stopped by and work out any issue you may have.

Might want to try a few things:
~Restart your PC
~Check to see if your operating system supports the product.

Can you give us some more detail?? What exactly is the problem the connection of the unit or the actual software not loading?? Can you do a screen print and post?

Hope it works out.

 

^ Thanks for the offer George. When I get mad at a product, I just bring it back. That's what I did today. I'll wait. Eventually some bright company will come out with a GPS that doesn't have 4 seperate discs that have to be loaded on your computer, "unlocked" with special passwords that they don't even give you, and software that doesn't load properly in the first place. The infuriating part was that after my first failed attempt, when I uninstalled the software and tried to do it again, the site said I couldn't use the passwords because they were already in use. Yeah, they were in use by me when I tried to load the stuff the first time....

George, I could go on and on about why this system was just plain bad. Who knows, maybe the end product works great. But when you have this much trouble trying to load the stuff on the PC, you really start to doubt the rest of it. Maybe I'll calm down and buy another one next spring before the start of the NES2KO meet and fishing seasons.

 

Bill,

Sorry for your problems. Sounds like a frustrating day.

You'll find a GPS that works for you, until then, I'm sure Rick will let you borrow his "high tech" GPS. You may have seen it when we stopped by your house, (won't work on the boat, though).

 

I hear the stock voice-activated NAV on recent Acuras is pretty intuitive, Bill. Maybe a TL to replace the Jag??

 

Bill, the Nav on the Ipaq's is pretty impressive. Pinky and I could set you up with one if you want. It uses a Pharos GPS unit.

Luke

 

I don't think the Ipaq is very water proof is it Luke? Let me know if they come up with a Land/Sea package.

 

LOL, oh contrair my friend...There are some bad ass Ipaqs you've never seen before... Fully ruggedized.