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| Garmin Colorado 400c Handheld GPS Unit with US Coastal Waters Preloaded Maps | 
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| Brand: Garmin
Category: CE
List Price: $639.99
Buy New: $463.00
You Save: $176.99 (28%)
New (62) Used (1)
Avg. Customer Rating:  7 reviews
Sales Rank: 3192
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Tracks: 20
Batteries Included: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3
Dimensions (in): 1.4 x 2.4 x 5.5
MPN: 010-00622-61
Model: 010-00622-61
UPC: 053759067138
EAN: 0053759067138
ASIN: B00128EJ74
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
| Showing reviews 1-5 of 7 | | NEXT » |
 Garmin Colorado 400c July 6, 2008
This was my first GPS device. I was dissapointed in the manual. It's pretty useless and does not provide any information for actually putting the device to use.
I was really dissapointed in the fact that you can't use the scrolling device to plot multiple waypoints. Each time you plot a way point the unit automatically jumps back to the current location so you have to zoom out and start over again to put in another way point.
The mapsource software is useless unless you spend another $200 to purchase the bluechart software. A lot of the coastal trips I've taken and downloaded to mapsource with the base map does not even show some pretty significant islands and shows me travelling on land in some cases.
The unit locked up twice while navigating through a channel (ALWAYsHAVE PAPER CHARTS).
The unit died less than a month after purchase. Powers up then fades and turns off. I've handled the device like a newborn since it cost $500, so I know that it wasn't from handling.
I guess after hearing so much about Garmin, I would have thought that their newest device would be the cats meow.....Instead it's turning out to be a puked up hairball. The only thing I guess I liked was the visibility in daylight.
 Bizarre Operation July 1, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I just bought the Colorado 400c for use in marine navigation. The chart information and graphics are great but the device operates in a bizarre fashion. Unless I hold it absolutely horizontal and pointed in the direction of my movement the entire map rotates on the screen to the direction that the device is pointed not the direction that my boat is moving. This makes it almost unusable for a marine GPS device. I have never seen a marine GPS behave this way. I am returning it immediately and will find another, more sensible GPS for marine use.
 IGNORE ALL BAD REVIEWS. BUY THIS DEVICE! A+++ June 15, 2008
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
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.
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. You can wirelessly pass waypoints to other similar units. 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. No external power hookup. Not a big deal for me. I'll buy a fixed chart display if I want that ability.
2. Display is a bit dark. I find it usable. I don't need super bright. It works. It is visible in daylight.
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. I plan to fully MASTER this device, storing tricky passages into it's routing recorder, all my favorite way points.
 Works great May 31, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Planning a vaction to the Abaco Islands of Bahamas and boating in a new area and a novice GPS user, I needed a reliable unit that would provide coastal information. I almost didn't buy this unit due to all of the poor reviews on the 400 series. While the instructions are limited, it is intuitive and easy to use with the provided Map source. The images were great and it worked flawlessly giving us information on marinas, anchorages, depths, and island information. It made our trip easy and I would highly recommend it for water use.
really lousy screen ie unreadable and odd interface May 31, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
very disappointed with the brightness level and size of the screen. What genius though of REDUCING the brightness of this screen versus the previous model just to save battery juice? (that was the explanation the Garmin people gave me when I complained) I found it HARDLY READABLE under most circumstances and practically unreadable in way too many.
The interface is weird as well, the scroll wheel should work but they made access to common functions go through too many steps.
I am re-selling mine on eBay.
Just so you don't think I am some kind of Garmin hater I have their 5212 chartplotter and that is absolutely GREAT, way above the Raymarine and others, even if the jumping between menus could be simplified, ie who ever thought of putting MOB (Man OverBoard)in a secondary level of menus that would take you three menu selections to get to? When you have the need you won't have the time to go through three levels of selection!!!
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