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05/10/04 updated 04/20/05
They Still have not fixed it..
Update 09/05/08 I still have the
unit and works well, hard to read..
Garmin really put together a great machine here. To bad
they have not finished it. I have been using the 188C
professionally for about 2 years now with no issues
except one that I will get to at the bottom of this
review.
Pro's
GPS Accuracy- Stellar, for a non DGPS unit this machine
functions more accurately than any other I have used. Te
chart Chip that I use is for the Florida Keys and I must
say that at 45 mph in the dark it has never let me down.
Speed and time measurements are in true GPS fashion on
the Garmin 188C.
Reception - Great, even on cloudy days. I flush mounted
my turtle shell right next to my unit on my console top.
Every now and again I will have a client put and arm
over it and lose my reception.
Features- This machine is as feature rich as the 2006
and 2010 for half the money. Bottom machine, chart
plotter, road map view, compass, waypoints ect...... You
will also find that your tides for the area you are
fishing are available in the menu section. all you have
to do is pick your day and your location from a list on
the Garmin 188c and there you have your tides for the
day. This is also a feature of the 2010 and 2006. I
especially like the trip logging that this machine does.
The Garmin 188 c really helps me keep track of my bottom
line in how far I am going in a day to keep my fuel at a
minimum.
The Garmin 188c is the best of the bottom machines that
I have seen with these units. I am very impressed with
the sounder as it is very clear and crisp with an
electronic white line and split capable 4 ways screen.
All in all you will find the Garmin 188c to be as
feature rich as any all in wonder GPS unit.
Con's
I would recommend the Garmin 188c product to no one. Or
recommend anyone use the Garmin 188c or the Garmin 2006
or the Garmin 2010. Everything about them is great
HOWEVER. The coating on the screens fall apart
immediately after the shipping film is taken off and
Garmin is not willing to admit they have a problem and
will not fix the screens after one year out of warrantee
without a 125.00 fee.
What happens is the screens have a coating on them to
help with visibility in the sunlight. Wipe the screen
with ANYTHING and you will be taking off the coating
leaving yourself in the dark ages with color
electronics. Garmin says do not clean with anything
except fresh water and paper towel. Well guess what,
when my plastic shipping film finally came off my last
unit the coating was gone in 2 weeks of use. I used
nothing to clean the screen except bottled water, no
wiping no nothing. Garmin has an issue here that needs
to be address. They have said it has been fixed when I
bought my last unit. Obviously I am not happy. Keep in
mind I have bought three more units after the first one
did this because I was told the problems were solved.
I currently own 1 Garmin 2006 1 Garmin 2010, 2 Garmin
188c's to outfit my fleet of charter boats. ALL but one
of them has got a screen issue that is the one that does
not still has the plastic sticker over the screen to
protect it..
These units are not cheap. Seems to me Garmin could get
their act together and fix them to help us boaters who
are loyal to their products to keep purchasing. Its not
like Garmin has no competition in this business. They
have certainly lost my buisness until this gets solved
or they fix the units I have without me being without.
Capt Steven Lamp
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