Garmin gpsmap 478

Quick question; I have a gps 60csx, but it's hard to see on the bike, and city navigator doesn't really work that well. I have a chance to buy a gpsmap 478 for 200.00. Is that a good deal? Are they still relevant? Anyone still using one of these. Can I load topo's on it...

Joe

thats a smoking deal you can load almost any maps onto it as long as you have a data card

Agree,that's a GREAT deal!
Get any data cards that come with it,they are very spendy!
Also get any and all mapping software,cords etc.

JR356

Guys love them
Below is a link to a recent thread in Regional/ west on the 276/376/478 series
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=847665<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>

Well, it has all the cords plus some accessories and city navigator loaded. Anyone know how big of a map I can load? How about the free topo maps; Will they work? I think I'm going to jump on this...
I may know where to get another one, but it's twice as much. And NO, I don't have any stake in the second one...

you will need a Garmin data card $$$ to load any maps other than whats on the unit I had topo on my 276c and they are useless for riding IMHO. OSM routable is what I use now other than city nav

It is a sucky deal, send me the sellers info and I will give him hell for trying to take advantage of you


OK, the 478 is the superman of the 276/376/478 series, it has ONBOARD the detailed street maps of all of N America. 276 owners pay $90 for, then have to spend another $120 for a data card that will only hold about 1/5 of the N America maps. Plus the screen is MUCH brighter at full illumination.

For the same $90 you can get lifetime updates and do NOT need a data card. But the new maps are too large for the entire NA set, but will hold lower 48. So unless you need the latest gas station, hotel or restaurant locations, just keep the maps on it. Lets face it aside from a few round-abouts most streets are in the same place they were 10 or 20 years ago.

Now, if loading anything but the NA detailed maps (city Navigator), you will need a data card, Topo, Europe, or other regions of the world.

If in the market, jump on it!

Thanks so much everyone, Its a done deal, I should get it next week...

I'm still using mine and I still love it.

However, the entire US will not fit on the 478 without using a datacard, now.

Yes, if you update you are correct, if maps are original and up to apprx. 2010, they will.

The roads have changed a little since 2010.

I always assumed map up dates were largely vender updates.

Even at $400 this is a screaming deal. You stole that at $200.

J

There's a guy selling a 2 gig card in the vendors section. It works! I have one. You can load multiple maps and still have room left over.

Link?

Never mind. Found it.

Yeah... I have a sneaking suspicion that's a US$35.00 part he's sourcing, charging US$150.00, and letting you do the work.

I got one. It works.

What he said is what I figure.

No, no. I'm not saying it doesn't work. I'm saying that I have a feeling he's not doing anything other than re-selling a part he's sourced.

I know there was a thread in "Laying Down Tracks" showing you how to do this yourself. I'll see if I can find it.

Well, here's his website.

http://www.garminych.ru/index.php?productID=829

Is the 2 gig card compatible with the 478? Garmin's cards only go up to 512. I also found a link that said something about forcing the 2013 update to fit. Something about overwriting some of the chart data? I would love to be able to load some of the free topos i have on my 60csx on to the 478.
There are definitely some states I wail almost never visit so if I can not load those and pretty much have west of the Miss. city navigator on the device, and some topo's on the card that would be awesome...
j

Ok, answered my own questions.
New question. Has anyone thought of casting the plastic datacard part so you don't have to spend 150.00 twice ( once for the 2 gig upgrade and once for the 512 card just to throw the innards away?