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Post by Captj on Nov 2, 2024 3:39:23 GMT -5
Garmin's response to known problems with their units is to claim they are obsolete and parts are not available. I'm talking about units 4 - 5 years old that are still for sale in legitimate stores. Since they are not repairable we should just buy "updated" units at a slight discount from mfg list price. Their gear works great until they don't. Out of 5 units purchased over the last 6 years only 2 work and the other three - so sorry says Garmin. I'm talking about GPS/Fishfinder units. Going back to Furuno.
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Post by Crkr 23 on Nov 2, 2024 5:16:02 GMT -5
That seems like the same business model for all the electronic companies except Furuno, buy once cry once.
I just wish I had followed my own advice.
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Post by cadman on Nov 2, 2024 7:14:24 GMT -5
Five years is pretty normal for electronics to become obsolete and be replaced by updated models.
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Post by johngalt on Nov 2, 2024 8:42:52 GMT -5
Don’t have these problems with a sextant and a chart.
Or a soaped drop lead.
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Post by Stumpy on Nov 2, 2024 8:51:55 GMT -5
Never have had a problem with my Lorance FF/GPS
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Post by GaryS on Nov 3, 2024 5:23:01 GMT -5
I have a Lowrance that I hate. and trying to tech support is a pain. I have a 1999 Garmin that has died this year and a 4 year old Garmin that I like. Garmin units are easy to use, they may not have as many features But for the most part they do what I want. The only thing that they don't do is satellite view. Some day I want to try Florida marine Maps. I think I got that right.
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Post by Crkr 23 on Nov 3, 2024 6:38:35 GMT -5
Florida Marine Tracks
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Post by ferris1248 on Nov 3, 2024 8:00:11 GMT -5
There is no money to be made and no jobs to create if things were made to last and be easily repairable. Fortunately, or unfortunately, the world's economy runs on that principle.
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Post by gogittum on Nov 3, 2024 11:50:56 GMT -5
I went thru quite a tangle over maps in Garmin products some years ago. Garmin maps are junk and the alternative - NatGeo maps were excellent, but they won't work on the Garmin platform. Would Garmin and NatGeo get together and produce a useful map ?? Hawhaw....not a chance.
Even now, for detailed mapping, I hafta take my track from a day's outing and save it to a folder on my computer. Then open Google Earth and transfer the track. Then I can show the track on a very detailed background...but with almost zero place names. Then save that picture to My Places. Awkward and time consuming, but it Does give good results.
Garmin tech support is very iffy - you may or may not get a tech who knows what he's doing. If not, it's very frustrating, but Garmin don't care - they've got your $600 for a handheld unit or over $1,000 for a larger unit.
A separate frustration that I'm sure could be fixed: my handheld Garmin GPS reads fine in direct sunlight, but can't see it it a shadowed area. My smartphone is bright and clear in shadowed areas, but can't see it in daylight. Surely, with all the tech expertise available now, a solution could be found.
With 60" TV sets selling for around $500 and smartphones offering a host of capabilities for the same price (not iPhones of course), how does Garmin get away with selling a 4" screen unit with limited software for $600 ?? Answer....they've got us by the balls.
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Post by johngalt on Nov 3, 2024 17:27:17 GMT -5
I went thru quite a tangle over maps in Garmin products some years ago. Garmin maps are junk and the alternative - NatGeo maps were excellent, but they won't work on the Garmin platform. Would Garmin and NatGeo get together and produce a useful map ?? Hawhaw....not a chance. Even now, for detailed mapping, I hafta take my track from a day's outing and save it to a folder on my computer. Then open Google Earth and transfer the track. Then I can show the track on a very detailed background...but with almost zero place names. Then save that picture to My Places. Awkward and time consuming, but it Does give good results. Garmin tech support is very iffy - you may or may not get a tech who knows what he's doing. If not, it's very frustrating, but Garmin don't care - they've got your $600 for a handheld unit or over $1,000 for a larger unit. A separate frustration that I'm sure could be fixed: my handheld Garmin GPS reads fine in direct sunlight, but can't see it it a shadowed area. My smartphone is bright and clear in shadowed areas, but can't see it in daylight. Surely, with all the tech expertise available now, a solution could be found. With 60" TV sets selling for around $500 and smartphones offering a host of capabilities for the same price (not iPhones of course), how does Garmin get away with selling a 4" screen unit with limited software for $600 ?? Answer....they've got us by the balls. Lewis and Clark had similar problems. 😁 |
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Post by bullfrog on Nov 4, 2024 11:35:18 GMT -5
Fish finders are one thing. But as it comes to just a GPS, I believe smart phones with long battery lives have made hand-held GPS units obsolete. Even if I go somewhere without good cell signal, I can preload map data and use my phone as a GPS only and get several day’s worth of battery life if I use it sparingly in low power mode.
Maybe in a mountainous, remote, region a dedicated GPS for the backpack would make sense. But otherwise my phone does it all.
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