Focus on waypoint with Garmin 78sc

[smittypaddler]

I recently bought a Garmin GPSMAP 78SC, and I'm learning
how to use it. I have two questions so far:

1. The chart plotter software I use on my laptop has
a feature that lets me focus on a particular waypoint,
e.g. I click on "Focus on Waypoint," click on "Everglades
Challenge Start," and I'm looking at that waypoint on
Mullet Key, zoomed in automatically on NOAA chart 11411_1.
So far I haven't found the same function on the 78SC.
It'll let me "Navigate to Waypoint" but that focuses
on my current location, with the direction and distance
given for the indicated waypoint, when what I want is to
focus on the waypoint. I find this feature on my laptop
so useful, I can't help but think there's a way to do the
same thing on the 78SC, and I just haven't found it yet.
Anyone know how to do this?

2. The user forum at Garmin seems less than useful,
euphemistically speaking. Does anyone know of a good
Garmin 78SC user group or forum?

[Aurelia]

I don't have that unit but let me guess. Hit find, then select waypoints, then select a waypoint. Now look for an option called map. That should display the selected waypoint on a map screen and is a standard garmin feature on most mapping units.

Greg

[smittypaddler]

That almost works. When I've selected the waypoint, then selected Map, it shows me the waypoint centered on the proper map, but the only option when I then press enter is GO, which returns the map so my current location is centered, with navigation to the selected waypoint turned on, and a line heading for the waypoint. I'd like it to leave the map focused on the waypoint itself.

[Aurelia]

That is what you get on a Garmin. The "map" view of a waypoint can be used to see the point on the map and even pan or zoom to gather an idea of where your headed but as soon as you act on that point with a navigation command such as "go", it will take you to your current location and start pointing you in the right direction. I can't think of a way to avoid that blast back to your current location on that unit. If there was a setting along with page orientation called something like page focus that allowed you to choose from start or end point it would be nice but It would be harder to see where you are on the way there.

What do you use that "focus on waypoint" feature for? Is it to review the layout of the area you are headed to? Do you watch that view while you are moving off screen or are you coming from a short distance and can see yourself and your destination at the same time with reasonable detail. Do you run this unit with another chartplotter focused elsewhere at the same time? Help me understand why this is important. I am personally and professionally curious.

Greg

[smittypaddler]

I use it mostly for planning, developing routes, etc., before I leave home. Say I'm sitting in Wisconsin on a cold snowy evening, and I'd like to look at the best routes in and out of Chokoloskee Bay down in Florida. I have a waypoint for that location, so I can quickly focus on there on the correct chart, without having to relocate with the cursor, zooming, etc. This is similar to GoogleEarth, where if you, for example, key 25 46 11 n 81 23 38 w in the Fly-To box, GoogleEarth will zoom to that location, which happens to be the mouth of Rabbit Key Pass, heading into Chokoloskee Bay.

What's especially annoying on the Garmin, if you happen to hit Enter with the cursor on a map feature to get more information, if you press Quit once too often to back out of the information display, you end up with the map focused on your current location, and there's no back feature (like Ctrl-Z in Gimp). You must then move the cursor and zoom to get back to where you were before; a cumbersome process, where I usually start by saying, "Oh S**T! I did it again!"

[Aurelia]

I totally understand and agree that building a unit to do a good simple job on a handful of core tasks can overlook options that would be valuable for planning. I often fall in the same trap myself primarily on my motorcycle when trying to look ahead for some re-routing. Those limits and that level of focus is why handheld units are so easy to use. With small screens and limited button options they are best for following routes or finding points with some visual help along the way. I use a 76csx on foot and on a motorcycle and another one in the boat paired with a larger unit and I have been more than happy with the unit. Be glad you didn't purchase an even simpler unit with more restrictions and use that laptop or a large screen device of another kind to help with the planning tasks. I start with whatever paper maps/charts I have then go to Google earth, Active Captain, National Geo TOPO, then more localized research including guidebooks, web resources, and phone calls for many trips both on land and sea. Many tools makes for thorough planning and at least the potential for smooth travels. Good luck with your planning and thanks for sharing.

Greg

[thataway]

I have the 76 CX--which I suspect is similar. I use it mostly as a back up in the 18 foot Caracal to show speed bearing etc--the map is so small, it is difficult to read--even for planing and zoomed in. I use maps on the computer for planing--of which there are many.

But on the 76 CX I set a point--lets say "Perdido Pass" as a waypoint. If I want to go back there, I then go to the way point list, and select that, then press enter. It is not zoomed it--but you have to hit the "in button" a number of times to give the detail you want.

You can also take a larger garmin unit home, and get a second power data cable--and either run it off a power supply or battery, and then enter you way points at home, if you don't want to use file down loads from the computer via a card.