Nuvi 760 and On The Trail Compatibility

mckinney3 · 12-26-2008, 1:37 PM

I would like to use my new nuvi 760 On The Trail (Hiking.) The maps listed on the Garmin site do not show compatibility with the 760 unit. Seems odd since thatis a more advanced model. I do see, though, some threads that mention using topo maps with the 760. So I am confused.

Can I use topo maps and specifically the Garmin On The Trail map TOPO US 24K with the nuvi 760?

Fast.Racer.26 · 12-27-2008, 11:24 AM

I am assuming you want to buy one of the TOPO SD cards to use with your nuvi 760. This will be no problem. I have spoke to Garmin on this subject and they have said they sometimes don't get their site updated.

mckinney3 · 12-27-2008, 11:53 AM

Thank you! I feel better.

I would love to hear from someone who has done this before plunking down $100. =)

I will call garmin as you did.

dan

mckinney3 · 12-28-2008, 1:29 PM

Attached is some info I got from Garmin:

Thank you for contacting Garmin International.

I will be more than happy to help you with that question. Your Nuvi 760 is compatible with all the TOPO maps that we have available here at Garmin. I know that your unit is not listed but your unit can and will take the TOPO mapping as well as water maps if that would ever interest you in the future. Your unit if you do choose to buy the TOPO maps has to be put into 2-d mode and set to the off road setting so it will guide you in a straight line directions. You can load the US TOPO 2008 to that unit without any trouble at all. I have it on my Nuvi and it gives you elevation changes and etc. It's detail isn't as good as the handheld outdoor unit's but it does give you quite a bit of the details of the TOPO mapping.

dav · 12-28-2008, 5:06 PM

Thanks for that, mckinney3!

Let us know how you like it when you get it.

nuvi760user · 12-31-2008, 10:47 PM

Anyone know when using the topo, how many feet accurate a 760 is? It dosent seem very accurate, but i may be wrong this is my first gps.

dav · 01-01-2009, 11:46 PM

It should matter, topo or road, it should be accurate to 20-30 feet.

If you press and hold the satellite signal strength bars on the main screen for about 5 seconds it takes you to the satellite acquistion page, which shows your accuracy.

xdhd350 · 01-03-2009, 11:40 AM

Unfortunately, the 760 doesn't use WAAS. Apparently they feel it's not necessary for a GPS that's primarily geared to moving vehicles. WAAS is the Wide Area Augmentation System which uses a couple of low earth orbiting sats to improve GPS accuracy to about 1 meter.

It came into existence when GPS was still primarily an aviation tool and the DOD wanted civilian accuracy degraded. But this didn't fare well with the DOT who wanted GPS accuracy for aviation to be good enough for instrument approach procedures so they came up with WAAS to help aircraft GPS units offset the Dilution of Precision signal being used by DOD. Eventually, DOD gave up and turned of the DOP but WAAS does help with GPS accuracy.

I kind of watched that whole struggle from the sidelines as I had a Garmin GPS 90 handheld/yokemount aviation unit for flying back in the late 1990's when this was all happening.

regards,

Greg

nuvi760user · 01-03-2009, 11:45 AM

Very Interesting.. I wonder If any of their car units have the WAAS.

xdhd350 · 01-03-2009, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nuvi760user

Very Interesting.. I wonder If any of their car units have the WAAS.

Not as far as I know, but some of the Magellan units do. I think the 4250 is one. In the set up screens, you can choose to enable/disable. The Magellan unit in my rental car had that option.

Additional WAAS info... Garmin: What is WAAS?

-greg

Andy · 01-05-2009, 2:28 PM

Ever since the Sirf chipsets and the "high sensitivity receiver" option showed up on Garmin's devices, WAAS support seemed to disappear.

12-26-2008, 1:37 PM	#1
mckinney3 Join Date: Dec 26 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 4	Nuvi 760 and On The Trail Compatibility I would like to use my new nuvi 760 On The Trail (Hiking.) The maps listed on the Garmin site do not show compatibility with the 760 unit. Seems odd since thatis a more advanced model. I do see, though, some threads that mention using topo maps with the 760. So I am confused. Can I use topo maps and specifically the Garmin On The Trail map TOPO US 24K with the nuvi 760?

12-27-2008, 11:24 AM	#2
Fast.Racer.26 Join Date: Dec 26 2008 Location: Lake Havasu City, AZ Posts: 9	Re: Nuvi 760 and On The Trail Compatibility I am assuming you want to buy one of the TOPO SD cards to use with your nuvi 760. This will be no problem. I have spoke to Garmin on this subject and they have said they sometimes don't get their site updated.

12-27-2008, 11:53 AM	#3
mckinney3 Join Date: Dec 26 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 4	Re: Nuvi 760 and On The Trail Compatibility Thank you! I feel better. I would love to hear from someone who has done this before plunking down $100. =) I will call garmin as you did. dan

12-28-2008, 1:29 PM	#4
mckinney3 Join Date: Dec 26 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 4	Re: Nuvi 760 and On The Trail Compatibility Attached is some info I got from Garmin: Thank you for contacting Garmin International. I will be more than happy to help you with that question. Your Nuvi 760 is compatible with all the TOPO maps that we have available here at Garmin. I know that your unit is not listed but your unit can and will take the TOPO mapping as well as water maps if that would ever interest you in the future. Your unit if you do choose to buy the TOPO maps has to be put into 2-d mode and set to the off road setting so it will guide you in a straight line directions. You can load the US TOPO 2008 to that unit without any trouble at all. I have it on my Nuvi and it gives you elevation changes and etc. It's detail isn't as good as the handheld outdoor unit's but it does give you quite a bit of the details of the TOPO mapping.

12-28-2008, 5:06 PM	#5
dav Moderator Join Date: Jan 04 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,243	Re: Nuvi 760 and On The Trail Compatibility Thanks for that, mckinney3! Let us know how you like it when you get it.

12-31-2008, 10:47 PM	#6
nuvi760user Join Date: Dec 30 2008 Location: florida Posts: 6	Re: Nuvi 760 and On The Trail Compatibility Anyone know when using the topo, how many feet accurate a 760 is? It dosent seem very accurate, but i may be wrong this is my first gps.

01-01-2009, 11:46 PM	#7
dav Moderator Join Date: Jan 04 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,243	Re: Nuvi 760 and On The Trail Compatibility It should matter, topo or road, it should be accurate to 20-30 feet. If you press and hold the satellite signal strength bars on the main screen for about 5 seconds it takes you to the satellite acquistion page, which shows your accuracy.

01-03-2009, 11:40 AM	#8
xdhd350 Join Date: Jan 03 2009 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 4	Re: Nuvi 760 and On The Trail Compatibility Unfortunately, the 760 doesn't use WAAS. Apparently they feel it's not necessary for a GPS that's primarily geared to moving vehicles. WAAS is the Wide Area Augmentation System which uses a couple of low earth orbiting sats to improve GPS accuracy to about 1 meter. It came into existence when GPS was still primarily an aviation tool and the DOD wanted civilian accuracy degraded. But this didn't fare well with the DOT who wanted GPS accuracy for aviation to be good enough for instrument approach procedures so they came up with WAAS to help aircraft GPS units offset the Dilution of Precision signal being used by DOD. Eventually, DOD gave up and turned of the DOP but WAAS does help with GPS accuracy. I kind of watched that whole struggle from the sidelines as I had a Garmin GPS 90 handheld/yokemount aviation unit for flying back in the late 1990's when this was all happening. regards, Greg

01-03-2009, 11:45 AM	#9
nuvi760user Join Date: Dec 30 2008 Location: florida Posts: 6	Re: Nuvi 760 and On The Trail Compatibility Very Interesting.. I wonder If any of their car units have the WAAS.

01-05-2009, 2:28 PM	#11
Andy Survey Says? Join Date: Dec 29 2006 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 1,725	Re: Nuvi 760 and On The Trail Compatibility Ever since the Sirf chipsets and the "high sensitivity receiver" option showed up on Garmin's devices, WAAS support seemed to disappear.