[TillaMurphs]

After 4 years of extensive use followed by a prolonged illness our Nuvi 760 completely died (R.I.P.). Using a GSAK macro to load POIs into it was perfect for geocaching/benchmarking– it could easily hold thousands of POIs.

I figured I would buy one of the new nuvi models as a replacement. However, I read that many of them no longer display POIs at wider zoom levels. Our 760 would display POIs at the 300 foot zoom level. I would have preferred a display at the 500 or 800 foot levels but the 300 foot level was at least acceptable. Now I read that many (most? all?) new nuvis only show POIs at the 200 foot zoom (maximum). That is not good.

Does anyone know of a newer nuvi model that displays POIs (not Favorites) at at least a 300 foot zoom level?

Any help would be appreciated. I really don’t want to be stuck with buying an older used 760 as my only option.

Thanks

[sussamb]

No, and many don't even display them at the 200 feet level ... I have a 1490 and that does it, although only since (I think) about version 5.50 software.

What I do though is load the caches as favorites, they do show up, and then use a handheld once I've arrived ... might not suit the way you work though

[BAMBOOZLE]

I use a Nuvi 780. I load a POI file on it just so I'll have a back-up of cache information.....it may hold 20,000 caches but as far as seeing icons on the screen you have to zoom in too far ( 150' ) for this to be useful.
I use GSAK to send caches to my Nuvi ( from PQ's I've created and loaded in to GSAK ) just like I do my handhelds ( 450 and 62S ). You will see large cache icons even when zooming way out...I almost always use my Nuvi when driving to a cache. The 780 may handle close to 1000 but I keep the files at 500 caches to be on the safe side.

[MtnHermit]

A very expensive alternative is a Montana with a base station?, and CN Maps. Then you'd have voice turn-by-turn, POI's at wide zoom, and great sunlight visibility (as you know, Nuvis suck in sunlight). My guess is north of $500, OUCH!

[BAMBOOZLE]

BAMBOOZLE, on 08 May 2012 - 06:42 AM, said:

I use a Nuvi 780. I load a POI file on it just so I'll have a back-up of cache information.....it may hold 20,000 caches but as far as seeing icons on the screen you have to zoom in too far ( 150' ) for this to be useful.
I use GSAK to send caches to my Nuvi ( from PQ's I've created and loaded in to GSAK ) just like I do my handhelds ( 450 and 62S ). You will see large cache icons even when zooming way out...I almost always use my Nuvi when driving to a cache. The 780 may handle close to 1000 but I keep the files at 500 caches to be on the safe side.

I got my original 780 new but just picked up a couple on Ebay as backup and for " bracketing " a location. One was in mint condition w/ box, accessories, etc. and was $70. It stays mounted to the car and for driving to a cache/w turn instructions etc. it doesn't get much better. If you don't have a paperless handheld you can still load a POI for cache info. but driving when you're zoomed in that far is the pits.

[Timpat]

TillaMurphs, on 07 May 2012 - 03:07 PM, said:

Does anyone know of a newer nuvi model that displays POIs (not Favorites) at at least a 300 foot zoom level?

Thanks

I have a Nuvi 265T and Nuvi 1490 and I feel your pain. I load about 5000 caches as POIs using GSAK and a great macro called GPX_by_Cache_Type.gsk. I set the proximity alert distance to a large radius such as 2640 feet (half mile) or sometimes 5280 feet. This then displays the cache POI icons when within this radius range. I mute the alert sound if all the alert noise bothers me, but at least as I drive along the caches appear so I take a closer look to see if any interest me to warrant seeking.

[TillaMurphs]

Really? Y’all are not giving me good news. This is bad. It is a bummer that Garmin did this.

I have to load POIs rather than “Favorites” since I often need up to 2,000 points when I am loading benchmark lists.

MtnHermit - Unfortunately the Montana is just too pricey to consider (for me).

Timpat – That is the same macro that I use – I also like it.

Maybe I need to modify my query. My 760 handled POIs just fine and displayed them at the 300 foot zoom. Does anyone know of ANY other model of the older nuvi series that would also show POIs at the 300 foot zoom? If I am going to start looking on Craig’s List I want my options to be as wide as possible.

This is funny – I wouldn’t mind giving Garmin money for a brand new GPS yet my two newest purchases will end up being a used 60CSX and now a used 760 because they seem to be superior to newer units for what I want to do. (I only use the 60CSX in heavily wooded searches or searches that I drive to. The other 80% of the time I only want to carry one GPS and I use the nuvi).

[Lieblweb]

I have a Nuvi 2450 and have it loaded with 5,000 POI's using GSAK macro that we got here (can't remember which one)- and although I haven't worked with it very often. We've spent so much time experimenting with trying different methods to load it up - that each method gave a different outcome and it was never consistent either way even using the same methods, it was flakey... for us anyway. For the most part, we simply load it up.....don't really care about the caches showing up on the screen. We pick a location, search for the cache on the nuvi and hit GO. Or...go directly into the EXTRAS POIS and it'll give a list of the closest near you.

[TillaMurphs]

OK. I am going to partially answer my own question. A friend let me borrow his nuvi 285W tonight. I can confirm that the 285W WILL display POI icons at the 300 foot zoom level. The 285W isn't a current model but at least it is newer than the 760.