Delorme's Earthmate PN-60w gets Spot compatibility, can beam your tweets into space
- Thread starter OS-Aussie
- Start date
Driver-Navigator
Explorer
DeLorme has really been pushing the innovation and there's some pretty exciting new features in the PN60w.
The updated UI appearance appears to be very good (they've needed those since the PN20), and the improved battery life is good news as well.
It will be interesting to see the price without a paired SPOT device, which I assume they will offer.
The big unanswered questions for me will be reliability and how well the PN60 gets along with 1.2v rechargeable batteries. The former especially kept me from the PN40. I can't accept a GPS that randomly won't start one morning for my personal use, much less for SAR.
I was really hoping for a redesigned case, but it looks like I'm out of luck there. That I could live with though.
The updated UI appearance appears to be very good (they've needed those since the PN20), and the improved battery life is good news as well.
It will be interesting to see the price without a paired SPOT device, which I assume they will offer.
The big unanswered questions for me will be reliability and how well the PN60 gets along with 1.2v rechargeable batteries. The former especially kept me from the PN40. I can't accept a GPS that randomly won't start one morning for my personal use, much less for SAR.
I was really hoping for a redesigned case, but it looks like I'm out of luck there. That I could live with though.
pcampbell
Adventurer
Delorme is really raising the innovation bar! It's refreshing to see companies like this listen to the community and continue to pump out cool stuff. Even with all of its compromises, I love my PN20. I skipped the -40 but will seriously consider the -60w.
The wireless capability is pretty cool, but it only talks to other 60w units. The usability in the real world would probably not be all that great unless you happen to run with a group that has them. For runners/bikers it's pretty neat, but for 4x4 guys, well you aren't normally looking for each other if you are within 1/2 mile (the range).
The best thing about Delorme is how they take high tech ideas and make them accessible to the average person. I think that is why the SPOT device has been so successful (not to diminish the great marketing, but it is a pretty cool device). This is a perfect partnership IMO.
The wireless capability is pretty cool, but it only talks to other 60w units. The usability in the real world would probably not be all that great unless you happen to run with a group that has them. For runners/bikers it's pretty neat, but for 4x4 guys, well you aren't normally looking for each other if you are within 1/2 mile (the range).
The best thing about Delorme is how they take high tech ideas and make them accessible to the average person. I think that is why the SPOT device has been so successful (not to diminish the great marketing, but it is a pretty cool device). This is a perfect partnership IMO.
Driver-Navigator
Explorer
Given the power consumption by the PN40 and the complaints about that, I thank that a more powerful transmitter - even Bluetooth - was unlikely. Perhaps there will be a "Rino" equivalent in the future.
I can can see the wireless connection to other PN60w users having useful applications with SAR, hunters, geocachers, and so on. Even limited vehicular applications. It will be interesting to see how that range works out when you might need it most, like when line of sight is blocked by woods.
Driver-Navigator
Explorer
Also, FYI on pricing from Chip at DeLorme:
tdesanto
Expedition Leader
Driver-Navigator
Explorer
Per GPS Review:
So it it looks to be a fairly heavy initial investment if you opt for everything, but you're getting some nice satellite commo features with it.
The PN60 prices are probably msrp, and I'd expect to see discounted street prices at some point. I'll definitely be letting others handle the early adopter duties on this, but if the system works as advertised it should be a great option for remote areas.
So it it looks to be a fairly heavy initial investment if you opt for everything, but you're getting some nice satellite commo features with it.
The PN60 prices are probably msrp, and I'd expect to see discounted street prices at some point. I'll definitely be letting others handle the early adopter duties on this, but if the system works as advertised it should be a great option for remote areas.
Abel Villesca
Explorer
I only have experience with Garmin products and the Mapsource desktop application. How user friendly is the Delorme desktop application for downloading 1:24K USGS quads and sending them to the GPS?
Abel Villesca
Explorer
Yeah, it is pretty clunky. I'm thinking the PN-60w with Spot might be my next GPS :sombrero:
Driver-Navigator
Explorer
I'd love to give some of those a few good field tests, particularly with the new wireless.
I never considered the PN40 reliable enough for SAR. I know too many people that had issues with them. My Garmin 60Cx has worked fine for several years during training and real searches, rain or shine.
General consensus among the power GPS users I know is that Garmin's software is more intuitive and easy to use, but certainly that's a subjective thing and people think differently.