Hello - Garmin 760 with Accessory Kit from Costco Newbie

 

Hello everyone -

This is my introduction.

I just got my Garmin 760 from Costco a couple of days ago. I ordered it with the accessory kit that included a dash mount pillow and AC adapter cord with a case.

The GPS works pretty well. I'm learning about some of the quirks though. It doesn't exactly lead me to my house in the most direct manner. There is a left turn that is available near my home. Instead the unit guides me down the road around a turn through some condos and then back to a street that allows a right turn to my neighborhood. Luckily for me it didn't tell me to turn into a lake.

The FM transmitter is as bad as everyone described. It's not usable for me. I had a heck of a time getting my Blackberry 8100 to work properly but I finally got it to connect after reloading the firmware and trying a bunch of different things. I don't know exactly what I did to make it finally work.

I like the unit though. The unit is fairly compact and slim. The dash mount pillow is pretty cool. I didn't think I was going to like it, but it looks nice on the dash and is very easy to remove out of sight when I park the car.

I am messing around with POIs and loading them into the unit. A couple of days before I got the unit, I needed some cash and didn't know where there was an ATM from Co-Op that didn't charge me a surcharge. I wound up going to a bank that ripped me off for $4.50 to take out a $20 bill. First time that has happened in 10 years. I have since loaded up a POI with Co-Op ATMs so I will always know where there is one nearby as long as I have my GPS. $4.50 x 100 years and the GPS will pay for itself.

I have already picked up a bunch of information from this site. I'm looking forward to learning more from everyone.

Thanks.

welcome

SandyEggo
Welcome to the community, Besure to use the Search function, and kick back and start reading.
100 years, I hope not, your probably going to need a new one in three or four short years.

Enjoy

Bob

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Using Android Based GPS.The above post and my sig reflects my own opinions, expressed for the purpose of informing or inspiring, not commanding. Naturally, you are free to reject or embrace whatever you read.

welcome

Welcome to the group, it is nice to have you with us.

Miss POI

Check your avoidances

SandyEggo wrote:

The GPS works pretty well. I'm learning about some of the quirks though. It doesn't exactly lead me to my house in the most direct manner. There is a left turn that is available near my home. Instead the unit guides me down the road around a turn through some condos and then back to a street that allows a right turn to my neighborhood. Luckily for me it didn't tell me to turn into a lake.

My guess is that you have "no U-Turns" selected. Try turning this off and see if the unit will guide you properly.

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Glenn - Southern MD; SP C330 / Nuvi 750 / Nuvi 265WT

Welcome to the group. You

Welcome to the group. You will likely have questions as you begin using your GPS and you've come to the right place to find all of the information you'll need.

Welcome

Welcome to the site smile

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Garmin Nuvi 660 & Garmin 18 USB GPS..I'm here..somewhere

Mapping info

Any GPS is only as good as the mapping data programmed into it. You will run into routing quirks occasionally. However, you will find the unit will still get you to your destination. That might not be a big deal when you are a block from home, but is reassuring to know when you are traveling in a strange area.

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Garmin Nuvi 750 & c530 with RT's vol. mod., Vulcan Nomad

Type of route

Play with the type of route you have selected. For instance, I never use the "shortest route" option. I've had a GPS try to route me over a horrid dirt road because I had the "shortest route" option set. Sure, the route was shorter as far as miles to travel but the 12 miles of dirt road would have to be traversed at 5 mph which would have made the trip much longer as far as time is concerned.

I agree with the person above as well, check for the "avoidances" you have set. I've had a GPS send me a very long way around in order to avoid a simple u-turn when I had driven past the proper turn I should have taken.

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GPSMAP 76CSx - nüvi 760 - nüvi 200 - GPSMAP 78S

Costco

Last week I received my 760 from Costco and, like you, I've been noticing some quirks about the mapping too.
One time I was driving down a road and the gps showed the vehicle icon driving off to the side of the road. It lasted for about a mile then it straighened itself out.
I'm going to try that same road and see if it happens again.
I also have a 650 that was purchased at one of the stores prior sales so I get to compare some of the differences.

--
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. - Herm Albright

it's only as good as the software...

gymkep wrote:

Any GPS is only as good as the mapping data programmed into it. .

and the way the user sets it up... i.e. avoidences, route preferences, usage mode, etc, etc.....

--
It is terrible to speak well and be wrong. -Sophocles snɥɔnıɥdoɐ aka ʎɹɐƃ

Be sure to update

klemtown wrote:

Last week I received my 760 from Costco and, like you, I've been noticing some quirks about the mapping too.
One time I was driving down a road and the gps showed the vehicle icon driving off to the side of the road. It lasted for about a mile then it straighened itself out.
I'm going to try that same road and see if it happens again.
I also have a 650 that was purchased at one of the stores prior sales so I get to compare some of the differences.

Be sure to update the 760. Not only get the new maps - which you should get as a free update - but also update the firmware via the web updater.

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GPSMAP 76CSx - nüvi 760 - nüvi 200 - GPSMAP 78S

U-Turns - That was it.

GPFoster and others -
Thanks for the welcome and the information.

[/quote]My guess is that you have "no U-Turns" selected. Try turning this off and see if the unit will guide you properly.
[/quote]

Yep. I had the "no u-turns" feature turned on. I got excited punching buttons on my new toy.

The first thing I did was update the maps to 2009 and go through most of the menu options.

Even though I have the latest maps, there's still something peculiar about the left turn going into my neighborhood. The GPS tells me to go right and then may a u-turn instead of a left turn. Possibly the map doesn't know there is a left turn possible.

Just use common sense

Usually there will be many instances when you will disagree with the directions your Nuvi gives you when you are traveling in an area that your familiar with. I find that "common sense" must rule in those cases. If it tells you to turn right at the next corner and you can see your destination straight ahead, ignore that idiot in the little box and go straight.
Get yourself lost in a big town that you have never been in before and you don't have the foggiest idea what direction to go in, you will think this is the best thing since sliced bread.

--
Garmin Nuvi 780

Odd directions

The new maps finally got rid of the "phantom onramp" near my house. The older maps always told me to get on the freeway at 5th avenue. There has never been a ramp there.

The new maps know which ramp to use (1st avenue) but want me to enter from a route different than is best. While the unit calculates a perfectly fine route, it has no idea that it's almost impossible to get an opening in traffic to enter the freeway from the way it wants me to go.

I just ignore it and go the way I know is best.

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GPSMAP 76CSx - nüvi 760 - nüvi 200 - GPSMAP 78S

Welcome

I got the same items from Costco, Nuvi760 and accessory kit.

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Nuvi 760

Weird.......

hd100 wrote:

I got the same items from Costco, Nuvi760 and accessory kit.

When I was at Costco in Chico, CA the other day all I saw was Magellan. Weird. I know they had Garmin when I was there before.......

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GPSMAP 76CSx - nüvi 760 - nüvi 200 - GPSMAP 78S

Costco also

I also took that plunge for a Nuvi 760 and am figuring it out. U-turn avoidance was defaulted on, so thanks posters for mentioning that. Last Saturday I knew where I wanted to go, but created a route just for the halibut...and discovered a "Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf" other than the one I would have nav'd to on my own that was closer to my final destination. Cool beans!

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Nuvi 760 (died 6/2013); Forerunner 305 bike/run; Inreach SE; MotionX Drive (iPhone)

hello

You found the best site a vailable..yo get info..

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Shoot, your 760 probably had

Shoot, your 760 probably had some cold beer while you left it lol. I love my 760. Yes, it has some quirks, as all GPS receivers probably have, but it does the job.

Mine started to drive on the

Mine started to drive on the other side too. I have to turn the unit off, then turn it back on, then it is OK. Strange.