Garmin GPSMAP 64ST: specifications and customer reviews

About a year ago in the family "Garminov" there was an addition - the line was replenished with "sixty". These are quite serious devices that are deservedly enjoyed by many travelers who appreciate the autonomy, functionality, quality display and gadget survivability. In difficult situations, all these qualities come to the fore, and for household use, safety factor along with the functionality will always be useful.

So, the hero of today's review is the Garmin GPSMAP 64ST navigator. Let's try to identify all the advantages of the model along with the shortcomings, taking into account the opinions of experts and reviews of fans of geocaching with simple "treasure hunters".

Equipment

Packed gadget in a cute and small box of glossy cardboard. There are colorful illustrations along with a lot of interesting information.

Inside are:

• Actually itself Garmin GPSMAP 64ST;
• User manual in English
• A warranty card with an annual subscription to the BirdsEye service;
• A mini-USB standard cable for connection to a personal computer;
• A relatively sturdy carbine for fastening to the belt or strap of a backpack.

No batteries, no batteries, no SD cards. By default, the "Russian roads - TOPO 6.X" kit from the "Navicom" provider has been loaded into the navigator. If the short manual seems too brief, you can always download detailed instructions from the official website in PDF format.

Introduction

GPS Garmin GPSMAP 64ST inherited from the previous generation of gadgets the same case, with no apparent differences. The plastic fringing, made in gray stylistics, fully corresponds to the traditions of the brand "Garmin": serious models are packed in black and gray, medium in brownish, and younger ones have a predominant yellow color.

The key parts of the exterior remained the same: a massive antenna, a set of function buttons on the front panel, a lanyard, corrugated body sides, a micro-USB port and a connector for an additional antenna. Above the screen adorns a cute inscription: Garmin GPSMAP 64ST. This is probably the only exterior difference from the previous 62-th line.

Assembly

After several days of use, you can see that the gadget is built with love: nothing creaks, all details are adjusted very carefully, there are no any backlashes. The device gives the owner a certain note of solidity due to its weightiness, solidity, but at the same time, the ease of using such a seemingly sophisticated navigator, like the Garmin GPSMAP 64ST.

Reviews of lovers to travel about the gadget are mostly positive, the only thing that is sometimes noted as a minus is the rarely occurring creaking of the case, but this is really a rare case. In the rest, as evidenced by numerous reviews, the device earned respect and enjoyed an enviable popularity.

Display

Garmin GPSMAP 64ST is equipped with a color transflective display with a TFT-matrix (similar to the 62-th line). Some competing devices boast of a high-quality screen resolution (in Garmin - 160x240), but in favor of the respondent, we can say that with this development, the battery life is much higher than that of other brands. Moreover, the ability to hold out as long as possible in harsh marching conditions is extremely important for a real navigator.

Because of the small resolution, granularity can be discerned with the naked eye, but it does not interfere with the full operation of the device, and balanced contrast and behavior in the sun will surely please the owners of the gadget.

The owners' comments mark one interesting detail that was not specified in the operating instructions - it is an automatic illumination of buttons in the dark time (according to the internal clock of the device). In addition, removed the camera, which is very often clogged and delivered a certain discomfort.

GLONASS

Support for the Russian analogue GPS is a tangible plus of the new Garmin GPSMAP 64ST (RUS GLONASS), thus adding to the program the second grouping of satellites, which affects the "cold start", allowing you not to lose the signal in difficult and intricate conditions.

The only thing that users complain about in their reviews is the increased power consumption of the device when using this feature. But it can always be turned off as unnecessary in the menu. Otherwise, navigation has become more convenient and accessible to the domestic user.

Speed

Even on subjective sensations, the new Garmin GPSMAP 64ST began to work much faster. For example, the maps "Roads of Russia" are outlined almost without friezes and any delays (provided that the battery charge is more than 30%).

The overall impression of working with the device is pleasant, especially when compared with previous generations of gadgets. What puts in a stupor is the lack of specification for processors and chipsets, that is, who is grateful for such a smart device, is unclear.

Built-in memory (8 GB) is enough to keep in the navigator maps "Roads of Russia" (approximately 3-4 GB) and, in addition, to acquire information about geocacheshire caches, tracks and other interesting points. But if the built-in memory is not enough, you can always expand the volume using a micro SD card.

Connectivity

You can associate the Garmin GPSMAP 64ST with other mobile devices, but with certain limitations. Applications easily synergize with the platform "Android" (up to version 4.3) and with a part of "apple" gadgets. Customer feedback notes the excellent synchronization with the third version of the iPad.

For travelers, the specially developed Basecamp Mobile program for Garmin GPSMAP 64ST (the software review can be found on the developer's site), which works perfectly with points and tracks, and, moreover, synchronizes with most devices via the "Bluetooth" protocol.

Autonomous work

According to the statements of "Garmin", the device is able to work at full strength no more than 16 hours on one charge. This is slightly less than the performance of the previous, 62-th line, but it is quite acceptable, considering that the device is seriously loaded with the GLONASS system.

For work suitable as ordinary batteries type AA, and batteries. Numerous user reviews are advised to take high-quality food, like "Sony" or expensive "Digital", otherwise the charge will melt before our eyes.

Testing the device in the field showed that after 12 hours of intensive use, the device strongly recommends that you turn off the backlight. After 13.5 hours, the friezes began to scroll and scale the cards, and after 15.5 hours the device disconnected.

Summarizing

64 series turned out quite reliable, universal and fairly portable, and with a number of interesting moments and ideas. The device is perfect for demanding travelers who appreciated all the advantages of past models of "Garmin".

Picky critics would probably say that the device has much to develop, pointing to a small screen resolution and push-button control, but all the rest of the functionality and capabilities of the device are quite impressive. The model is convenient in all basic operations, it is firmly and conscientiously assembled, there is protection from external influences like dust, dirt, random impacts. Even the negative temperatures and immersion in the water of the device is nothing. The design is tested not just at the stands, but by experienced tourists, who simply will not buy the device for the sake of beauty. The verdict is unambiguous - recommended for acquisition.