Garmin camper 770

[Billieblue]

Garmin camper 770

Is it worth the money? (About £350)

I'm travelling with someone who has the new Camper and it looks really slick. It probably does far more than I'd ever learn to use but I've always said I couldn't do the camper thing without a satnav and would always treat myself to the best on the market. Even though it doesn't make my reversing any better! I've got the 760 at the moment which is great.

Btw, please, no comments asking what's wrong with good old fashioned maps!

 

[Tim120]

I have the 770 which I think is very good. The only other experience I have had was a fixed one in a car which was ok, saw lots of new places with it
Don't know if very different from the 760. None of them are foolproof. Our son is a member of British Cycling which gives a 10% discount at Halfords which eased the pain.

 

[Iandsm]

I have the 770 camper, brilliant piece of kit. HOWEVER,there is a fault in the mapping/software at he moment which was introduced in am update in November. When searching for an item, POI or whatever the result is showing the list view with all the results listed. The map view is the most useful view since it shows an icon for the item concerned and the problem is that the icons do not show the detail of what they represent when touched ad they should. It is therefore impossible to know what the icon represents which is very annoying. I and another user have informed Garmin and they say they are working on a fix which should be available as an update in the first few months 2018, there was an indication tonight be as soon as This month.

All other sat naves have the facility for map icons to show what they represent when touched and indeed the 770 did prior to the November update. I think Garmin will correct the issue and even if they don't/cannot it is still a very good piece of kit and probably the best on the market at the moment. As to whether it is worth the money, when compared to the top the the range Tomtoms (who now don't do camper version) and Snooper etc I think it is. I should add that I believe the issue only applies to the 770

 

[Molly 3]

Never had a map that that could mutter the immortal words .RE calculating.make a u turn .:b0203:

 

[Jenrai]

Best investment I have made. I drive a van for work so I have 2 vehicle profiles set up. Never had an issue with it. I can find pretty much everything I have looked for including campsites and I have the POI's from the other site loaded when I am travelling in the motorhome. It just has so many features and I love the 3d maps when driving in London.
Only thing I have changed is to input larger dimensions for the motorhome to avoid some smaller roads.

 

[Phillybarbour]

Never had a map that that could mutter the immortal words .RE calculating.make a u turn .:b0203:

if you can read a map you don’t need someone telling you!

 

[Billieblue]

if you can read a map you don’t need someone telling you!

Well I can definitely read a map but not while I'm driving ?

 

[DAVE AND MARY]

We have used Garmin sat naves for many years all over Europe and found them great, still using the old standard NUVI 50 LM. I was told by a friend that he bought an all dancing and singing sat nav ( Don't what make ) he put in van size and all it ever wanted to do was send him on motorways so he never saw the real country he was traveling in just big roads , so is it worth spending so much money on one ?

 

[Rockburner]

We have used Garmin sat naves for many years all over Europe and found them great, still using the old standard NUVI 50 LM. I was told by a friend that he bought an all dancing and singing sat nav ( Don't what make ) he put in van size and all it ever wanted to do was send him on motorways so he never saw the real country he was traveling in just big roads , so is it worth spending so much money on one ?

You can normally tell them to avoid motorways/toll roads, I believe.

 

[Caz]

So what can the 770 do that the 760 can't? Is that extra worth £350?

Mine is a Garmin Drive 60 and does everything I need.

 

[Iandsm]

So what can the 770 do that the 760 can't? Is that extra worth £350?

Mine is a Garmin Drive 60 and does everything I need.

Probably only someone who has had both could answer that I guess. There might be someone out there. The760is £295 on Amazon so I suppose the question is what do you get for the extra £40 ( I paid £335 for mine) The screen looks better with a smaller bezel but further than that I don't know as I never had the 760.

 

[DAVE AND MARY]

You can normally tell them to avoid motorways/toll roads, I believe.

Yes we have ours set at no toll roads permanently , my point was why pay lots of money for one, when something hundreds of pounds cheaper does the job just my thinking.

 

[Paulmold]

Practical Motorhomes review here...

https://www.practicalmotorhome.com/reviews/accessory

 

[Billieblue]

Practical Motorhomes review here...

https://www.practicalmotorhome.com/reviews/accessory

Not a particularly insightful review but thanks for posting.

 

[Billieblue]

So what can the 770 do that the 760 can't? Is that extra worth £350?

Mine is a Garmin Drive 60 and does everything I need.

That's the point of my thread.

 

[Caz]

If your travelling companion has a 770 and you have a 760, why can't you compare them and see what it can do that yours can't?

 

[Billieblue]

If your travelling companion has a 770 and you have a 760, why can't you compare them and see what it can do that yours can't?

1, she's not that good at using it ... and I don't know how to use mine properly. But, hers is so slick and responsive I just wondered if anyone who had the experience of both thought it was worth the money. I probably will get one when the price comes down. One facility they have got is as a reversing camera, though you've got to pay for some gizmo to make it work ... but it comes on as soon as you put the gears into reverse!

 

[wildebus]

1, she's not that good at using it ... and I don't know how to use mine properly. But, hers is so slick and responsive I just wondered if anyone who had the experience of both thought it was worth the money. I probably will get one when the price comes down. One facility they have got is as a reversing camera, though you've got to pay for some gizmo to make it work ... but it comes on as soon as you put the gears into reverse!

On the reversing camera bit, the Sat Nav must have the Power Lead that includes a Camera Receiver. This is available as an upgrade option for some Garmin units, but pretty sure it will be standard on the 770 and likely was on the 760 as well. My 660 came with that lead (although the 660 is a couple of years newer than the 760 and looks far more like the 770 then the 760).
If you have the compatible power lead, than adding a Garmin Camera is just a matter of buying the camera (around £70) and pairing it using the setup routine. Then as soon as the camera is powered up, the Sat Nav detects it and the display automatically switches to the Camera view (Wire up the +ve lead on the Camera lead to the reversing light wire and soon as you hit reverse, display switches).
Works very well I think and with the BC30 Garmin Camera gives a clear image easily good enough for parking needs. (If you need the power lead as well, you can buy a kit that includes that for, but for more money of course).
I've actually got a 2nd camera for the 660 to use as a secondary rear view camera to work alongside the mirror as my rear view will be restricted once my conversion is complete - to use that 2nd camera you hit an icon on the display to switch to the 2nd camera display.


I have had reversing cameras fitted both as standard on cars, or added them myself for the last 10+ years, and I find the Garmin one just as good as the best I've had. There are cheaper (MUCH cheaper!) ways to add a reversing camera to a dedicated standalone screen, but IMO, integrating with the Sat Nav screen is a lot tidier and worth the addtional expense. (If you have a double-din radio with a full screen, THAT would likely support a reversing camera and if so is maybe the best way to achieve the same thing).

 

[Iandsm]

I have the 770 camper, brilliant piece of kit. HOWEVER,there is a fault in the mapping/software at he moment which was introduced in am update in November. When searching for an item, POI or whatever the result is showing the list view with all the results listed. The map view is the most useful view since it shows an icon for the item concerned and the problem is that the icons do not show the detail of what they represent when touched ad they should. It is therefore impossible to know what the icon represents which is very annoying. I and another user have informed Garmin and they say they are working on a fix which should be available as an update in the first few months 2018, there was an indication tonight be as soon as This month.

All other sat naves have the facility for map icons to show what they represent when touched and indeed the 770 did prior to the November update. I think Garmin will correct the issue and even if they don't/cannot it is still a very good piece of kit and probably the best on the market at the moment. As to whether it is worth the money, when compared to the top the the range Tomtoms (who now don't do camper version) and Snooper etc I think it is. I should add that I believe the issue only applies to the 770

just an update. Garmin have been in touch and they say they have found a solution to the icon issue which is currently being tested and should be rolled out in a software update by end of Jan.

 

[Iandsm]

Garmin have now released an update which cures the issue. I found I had to delete my version of Garmin Express then re install it to end Le it to recognise my device. Once done all went well and the device is working fine. My system is Mac but I am advised ​​​​​ that if you're OS is Windows Vista the latest versions of Garmin Express will not install on that OS and you'll be unable to reinstall the older version (and Garmin don't make it available either).

So, If you're on Vista, do not update it beyond Garmin Express V.5.5.0.0