Garmin - Monterra 4" GPS with Built-In Bluetooth - Black/Gray

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• Rated 1 out of 5 stars

  Wait until they get bugs out or new model

  • Incentivized
  • My Best Buy® Elite Plus Member

  I wanted a new GPS that could show satellite images with built in camera so despite the size I choose the Monterra over the Montarra. I was using my GPS with a smart phone for the detailed maps. The Monterra has a great screen; even in direct sun I could see every detail. I liked the Droid OS, making it easy to get other field usefull apps (Tide, Weather forecast, etc). Here came the problems. I researched the unit before buying. The review from last year had many complaints about the compass being inaccurate. Of course that’s the first thing I checked and yes it is still off (even changing from magnetic to true) but what was a big concern was the waypoint bearing was way off. Contacted Garmin with several email questions with no answer 7 days later and call waiting for hours. At this point I looking to buy older smartphone put backpackers trail app on it and waterproof case. Also, I purchase the Birdseye subscription. Big waste of money, Four to six year old satellite images that require you to connect directly to a computer running Basecamp. Plus it takes hours to download small patches at a time. Other cons, Multi step add new waypoint while in maps, Multi step camera, No adjustable zoom. Can’t change photos storage location, Can’t change map storage locations (can move them manually to different storage but requires a restart to show them). Waypoint photos have to be cropped. No lock screen (many time I pull the unit up to find screen on and several layers of screens had been selected, Once even setting was opened and changed). No in field mapping (satellite images old and poor quality any ways). Multi step waypoint reached alarms/go to next. (Walked around a waypoint I created for a minute before it showed the next waypoint on the track.) Turn off all the other satellite services or your location will show you jumping around with accuracy of 100-200 ft, no geo cashing with that. All other GPS could show accurate altitude. No location logging filters; make sure you pause record or you’ll have a lot of clean up at home on the tracks. I just may not know how to do it, but no direct upload on active or archived tracks. The only way I found to get tracks into basecamp is to email it then import the attachment. I haven’t found the file on the Garmin unit yet or option to directly down load the tracks. Radio requires headphones to work though the speakers on the unit. That really ruins the idea to use the emergency broad cast warnings option. When headphones are connected no longer water proof. Garmin was the standard for outdoor devices and navigation, with this product it looks like they are giving up on the hand held market.

  Posted 11 years ago by cybertaz