Garmin Colorado 400c Portable GPS System with Preloaded Coastal Waters Maps Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Second update:I've tried once again to get my Garmin functional.I've been unable to use this GPS on both a charter trip in the Caribbean and for a delivery from St Thomas to Mystic Connecticut.I've been unable to receive technical support on this item.Calling Garmin is a maze of voicemail prompts.Then when you do reach someone, you are passed around like a cheap whore and no one can help.The last person I spoke to would not stop talking and listen to my problem.Finally I asked to be passed back to the second person I spoke to, but put in a que with a 30 minute wait time.I called back and asked for the corporate officeat 913-397-8200 and when I chose 0 for operator, one of the options, my call was disconnected.Clearly Garmin does not want to talk to anyone.I rate their customer support below ZERO.They treat you horribly.WOULD I PURCHASE THIS AGAIN?NOAVOID AVOID AVOID

UPDATE:I USED GARMIN'S FIRMWARE UPDATE UTILITY AND LOST THE SMALL SCALE (small scale=small detail) CHARTS FOR THE CARIBBEAN, WORLD, AND ALL COASTAL AREAS. ALL US CHARTS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE IN THIS UNIT. ZOOMING IN WILL RESTORE THE CHARTS, BUT IT ALSO MEANS THAT ZOOMING OUT WITH THE SCROLL WHEEL TO THUMB OVER TO A NEW LOCATION AND THEN ZOOM IN AGAIN NO LONGER WORKS BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SEE THE LOCATION TO PICK WHEN YOU ZOOM OUT.BASICALLY I LOST MUCH OF THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THIS UNIT BY DOING THE UPDATE.IT IS NOW AWKWARD AND UNUSABLE.

ALL OF THIS WORKED FINE BEFORE THE UPDATE. DO NOT EVER RUN ANY UPDATES ON THIS UNIT OR IT WILL RUIN IT.

IF YOU DO NOT UPDATE IT, I STILL STRONGLY ENDORSE THE PURCHASE OF THIS UNIT.
HOWEVER, MY EXPERIENCE WITH GARMIN ON OTHER PRODUCTS IS THEY SAY TOO BAD WHEN SOMETHING BREAKS LIKE THIS.I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A REPLY FROM GARMIN.

I'm a US Coast Guard licensed Captain and do, among other things, delivery work.I've tried several of the other charting GPS units recently to upgrade my 1995 era technology Garmin GPS's.This is the best bang for the buck.

Pros:
1.It is WAAS capable, for extreme accuracy.More on this below.If you don't know what WAAS is, look it up. You want it in a GPS.
2.Thumb wheels is fast and easy to use.it really is a one hand device.I didn't believe that in the write-ups, but it's true.I particularly like spinning the wheel to zoom in or out.To move around the charts, zoom out to see the spot you want to find, press on the edge of the wheel to move the cursor where you want it and zoom in a bit, refine your cursor, zoom more--all in all a very impressive method of moving around a chart.far better than other methods I've seen that were slower and more tedious.
2.Carbiner clip on the back.Great for securing the device to your person or anything else.That will stay on there permanently, except to change batteries.
3.Speaking of batteries--only two AA needed.Half of what I'm used to.however, there is no external power provision.But, given the super fast acquiring of satellites, who needs to leave it on?It acquires satellites so fast, that you will routinely turn it off after checking your position.My old Garmin, was so slow to acquire positions, leaving it on was the only practical option.
4.SD Card Option.So far I have found all the charts I need built into the device.It find it reassuring I can use a common CD Card to supplement the existing charts.CARD SLOT IS IN THE BOTTOM AND VISIBLE AFTER REMOVING BATTERY COVER.
5.external Antenna option.It is there. I don't think you will need it.This thing works indoors.i can see my track made while moving around inside the house.WAAS is truly amazing.
6.I've read you can wirelessly pass waypoints to other similar units--never tried that.With a mini-USB--that might be a better method.Software available for PC but not MAC.I hope my friends who are Captains, get these so we can share waypoints.I often sail in areas with rocks.Now I can mark and update my digital charts with even more information. I love it.
7. USB connector.Works only with more current version of Windows like XP and above and MAC OS X 10.3 and above.
8.Topo maps are cool.At some point I'll try it on dry land.It has a Compass and Altimeter--which need to be calibrated--useful I suppose for trekkers.
9.Trip computer is fun to play with on longer voyages.It gives you something to do on boring watches.
10.Few buttons= bigger screen.There are two menu buttons, the tilt wheel, the spinner wheel, and the hub button.Screen size is about 3".Great for a device you can fit in your shirt pocket.

Negatives:
1.UPDATE:EXTERNAL POWER IS VIA MINI-USB.NOT A NEGATIVE--I am correcting an early review error.If you want to keep your track updated--useful if you lose someone overboard on the ocean--you can follow your track back only if you have the track stored--hence you need to leave it on all the time--this means you must have external power. A weakness it there is no large battery and cabling to keep this on 24/7.I am going to build my own and use a PWC battery.USB power connector is not suitable to wet conditions.
2.Display is a bit dark.I find it usable.I don't need super bright.It works.It is visible in daylight.
3.Do not use rechargeable batteries in this device--check the manufacturer website for details.
4.Lithium Batteries last about one day if used frequently at night. The backlight kills batteries.For daytime only use, I've gotten three 12 hour plus sessions out of one battery (no backlight used)
5.I would not use any other type of battery than lithium.Be sure to use the lithium setting to get an idea of battery life. Otherwise it shows good until it fails.
6.For trip planning I find this device hard to use.But for on the spot use, which is what I do, it works great.
7. BlueCharts are crazy expensive.Do not consider buying them.It would be better to shoot yourself than try to install one of these.Why pay to suffer?If you have tons of CD-RoM charts--none of these will work.A laptop is not a convenient, but at least you won't feel screwed over every time you need chart area outside of the US--like Bermuda $180 for one island?, or the Virgin Islands, $150.The bottom line is this.If you are like me and always working on other peoples boats, or if you don't have a boat and want your own GPS this is the one to get.Hopping from boat to boat, I rarely take the time to learn a new yachts navigational system.First, what good is it without pre-programmed routes and way points?Second, what a pain it is to always be on the steep part of the learning curve.I'd much rather bring along an accurate pocket sized GPS and add waypoints quickly and easily, or view routes I've built up, or particular buoys I use often.Racers will appreciate being able to whip this puppy out and call out a range and bearing to a fix navigational aid/mark.

It works great, it is fast, and once you learn how to use it, you will carry it with you whenever you are on the water.

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Product Description:
Saltwater mariners will love the built-in detailed BlueChart g2 coverage for the coastal U.S. and the Bahamas in the 400c. The chart detail includes shoreline,depth contours, navaids and port plans.

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