For Those Of You With GPS Units.... Input Please

[RAM5500 CAMPERTHING]

Hey Guys

For those of you running GPS units.

Which units are ya running and what are the pros and cons.

Thanks

 

[ntsqd]

Lowrance uses proprietary map files. If they don't offer a map for where you want to go, you're SOL unless it's Baja as then I understand there's some 3rd party support. When I bought mine that option did not exist and the Lowrance CS guy's attitude was "tough." I'm still pissed off.

Buy a Garmin or possibly a Magellan.

 

[HMR]

I use a Garmin 2610 on my motorcycles and my truck. It's tough, waterproof and easy to use. Works great anywhere from obscure forest service roads to downtown Manhatten.

I'm thinking of buying another one from this place: link.

 

[Tucson T4R]

I have a Garmin Map76Csx which is identical to the Map60CSx except for how it's packaged. I love mine. It has been extremely accurate and the receiver technology is so sensitive now, I don't loose sat locks in canyons or inside my truck. I don't need an external antenna. I even get a multiple sat lock inside my house. I was never able to do that with the older models.

I have a 1GB micro SD card in it which holds all of the US street maps (routable) and all the Topo maps for the western states.

I highly recommend either the Map60CSx or Map76CSx, which ever external design you prefer.

Here's a great FAQ list for a wide range of GPS receivers. Hope this helps.

http://www.gpsfaqs.org/

And a related GPS forum that is loaded with GPS detailed discussion:

http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showforum=11

that should keep you off the street for awhile!

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Lowrance uses proprietary map files. ...Buy a Garmin or possibly a Magellan.

Is there a Garmin unit that you can upload software other then their proprietary stuff? Last I checked they won't??


I have a Garmin eTrex, its been a great handheld/mobile unit though I would like to get a more dedicated mobile. I also have a serf blutooth receiver that kicks out a NMEA signal, I then use my AllTopo Utah software on a laptop, a bit clunky in the rig but extremely useful at camp, etc.

 

[crawler#976]

Do you require handheld capability, or will the unit be used only for vehicle nav?

Do you want turn by turn direction capability?

How much $$$ do you want to spend?

I had a Garmin Vista handheld that was vehicle mounted. It was a nice unit, but was almost impossible to see when mounted on the dash. It had to be quite far up on the dash since it required a clear veiw thru the window for reception. The maps were quite accurate and very detailed, but the unit didn't have sufficient memory for multi-state travel.

I switched to a Lowrance 3500C (virtually identical to the Baja unit) with the 5" display. It uses SD cards, and with a 2G card I have the 10 western states loaded at 1:24000 topo detail. The maps aren't as current as the Garmin, but have been sufficiently detailed.

I'd highly recommend a large screen unit if you don't require handheld portability.

Later

 

[HMR]

I forgot to add- definately get a unit that can hold at least 2GB of memory or is upgradable to 2GB. I think my 2610 came with a 128 meg card. I bought a 2GB card at Staples dirt cheap during a sale and loaded all of the U.S. + most of Canada. My job and exploring take me all over the place (I've been to Fiji, Maui, Aspen and NYC just in the past month). It's nice to be able to take my 2610 with me in the suitcase and throw it in whatever rental car I end up driving. I'm going to Anza Borrego today and it's nice to be able to use the same unit without having to load new maps.

 

[adventureduo]

Lowrance Baja 540c

Pros:
-Huge 5"x5" Screen! (that you can see in direct sunlight! not like others)
-It does really well with trails, there isnt a trail ive been on so far it didn't know.
-5-pin Ethernet expansion port compatible for video and satellite radio
-One waterproof slot for digital media cards (MMC/SD not included) to record -GPS details and display optional custom mapping
-Back-up memory saves customized settings
-Enhanced data processing (its fast)
-Fast screen updates (it never slows down or stutters)
-Ruggedized, shock-resistant case (good for offroad, hard to hurt this unit)
-Sealed and waterproof (cause its the marine housing)
-I can pop in my SD card from my camera and view my pics while on the road.

Cons:
-It doesnt work with my MAC! (Well it does, i just have to run Parallel)
-Its pretty big, you better have a place to mount it. (but you'll love the screen size!)
-The menu is kind of like a PC and not very user friendly. (not too bad of a learning curve if you used other gps units)
-Sometimes it shows you next to a road and not on the actual road.(no big deal to me)
-no dumb voice saying "turn here" (thats for the city folk anyways, i only use my gps on trips)
-sometimes it doesnt turn on and you have to unplug the cigarette lighter and plug it back in. Then it works again. Weird.

I think thats about it. Cant complain its a great unit. Reason why i bought it over the Garmin 276c is for the screen size, got tired of squinting.

 

[ntsqd]

Is there a Garmin unit that you can upload software other then their proprietary stuff? Last I checked they won't??

No idea, but at least my GPS V has a decent maps selection and my previous GPS III beat the 3000MT in every category except display size. And, having run both simultaneously over long distances I've concluded that large displays have a place, but they're far over rated for most uses. The III's base map was more detailed than the downloaded MT's 5th gen software map that it came with. I'm currently waiting on the 7th to see if it solves the various complaints I have or if I'm trading the whole danged thing for a yellow dog. Right now I'd get more out of the dog.

 

[spressomon]

Is there a Garmin unit that you can upload software other then their proprietary stuff? Last I checked they won't??

Nope. And they don't offer 1:24,000 Topo maps (other than a few National Parks). The whole GPS world frustrates the bejesus out of me. They are about 5-7 years behind other tech sectors. And I am convinced it is by design (as far as true off-road units, maps, hardware and software are concerned).

Like you...I have a tablet PC with GPS receiver and NG, DeLorme & Garmin maps...but it takes forever to boot, is damn bulky (Motion Computing tablet...which is fairly svelte as tablets/PCs go). Maybe one of those Sony Micro PC's with the SS memory (boots quickly) running a remote mounted TFT screen (like Scott Brady's). But I need to cough up two and a half to three large to get that done

 

[Ruffin' It]

I went big

I use a laptop. I purchased it used off eBay ($300) along with a Garmin 18 GPS puck antenna ($100) and a Ram mount ($75). I use National Geographic TOPO! maps for the bulk of my off-road travel and Garmin Map Source and/or Garmin nRoute when on road. Some big pros and some big cons.
Pros:
It gets great reception and the screen is 14"s so it is easy to read at a glance. I've heard some people say that sunlight can washout the screen, but I haven't had any problems. The Garmin software I run also has the capability to find a really impressive variety of locations and route you to them. Just about any store/hotel/park/gas station in just about any area can be found and voice prompted turn-by-turn directions are just a click away. I used it just the other day to find a place that sold Rover brake pads when I found the dealer's parts dept. was closed. You can also use the computer for a ton of other things like internet access, viewing DVDs, storing your music (which you can run through your vehicle's stereo if you so desire), and even to run diagnostics on your vehicle if you get the software.

Cons:
It's big. It takes up a lot of room. The mount I had to use was a "universal" mount that isn't the most sturdy thing in the world and does sway a little. I like to pretend it has a swagger like John Wayne, but it really is more like Dudley Moore. You really don't want to leave it in your car while unattended (ask my how I know my driver's window costs $400 to replace). You also can't really take it hiking with you. So, if you are a hiker, or even play one on TV, go another route. Lastly, laptops aren't really build for this sort of abuse. I know of two other people who have been using this setup and they haven't had any problems. But my guess is that it isn't going to last too long.

That said, smaller GPS units are one of the hottest items to steal from cars right now, so they shouldn't be left either. Buying it refurbished off eBay made it so the whole set-up wasn't anymore than a good GPS would have been anyway. And I'm getting a 7" screen, wireless keyboard, and mouse that will connect to my laptop so I can hide the computer and still use it. It's good for me, but I totally understand why it wouldn't work for a lot of people.

 

[Tucson T4R]

Night shot of my Map76CSx on the dash and Laptop with Mapsource Nroute running as my copilot.

 

[goodtimes]

In a vehicle, the Lowrance 540c would be supurb for the non-laptop applications.

On a bike, I think the Garmin 276c is about as nice as it gets...despite the proprietary software issue.

Ozi on a palm would be a interesting setup too....but not sure about it being water-tite. On a bike, this is important, in a truck, not so much.

 

[outsidr]

Gps thoughts

Ok,

In a Perfect world you would want a hand held and an in truck type unit. Ideally, you would like to be able to hike out of where you wind up stranded in a pinch with your hand held. (Obviously worse case scenario, what were you doing by yourself, etc...)

I would consider starting with a small handheld device and using it as a reference tool to accompany a map. This will sharpen your map and orienteering skills while acclimating you to the limitations of GPS. (i.e., when you are going slow or making many turns you cannot determine an accurate heading or loosing a section of track because of poor overhead conditions in an area with several trail intersecting). The other obvious benefit would be using it hiking, biking, or for geocaching events. On these units it is worth getting the color display and Garmin I think has the best menu systems, they are intuitive and easy to learn. I have used several in b&W I like the GPS map 60, or in color the 60cx (more waterproof version GPSmap 76cx). If you can find it the GPS V is a nice one if you can find it used (it is discontinued). Also check out the new delorme hand held, it can overlay tera server images, topo, traditional street and road maps in several ways. www.delorme.com Very cool, wery new...


For your rig, it is better to have a bigger screen so that you can see your route in detail from a distance while riding over gravel or off road at a cruising speed. The best screen size depends on 3 things, your eyesight, the speed you are traveling (you will be constantly looking at a refreshing screen if you are traveling high speed looking at detail), and the level of detail you are zoomed into. The two are obvious but the third takes buying a GPS or laptop software and experimenting.

You will find after using a GPS for a while that the zoom level you use in an out of the way place may not be acceptable for navigating in the middle of Phoenix. The more detailed you have in the map data the more you have to zoom in (or un-cluttering map data), thus creating the problem of not seeing what effect the turn or correction you are making in the next .5 miles will have towards your end goal with out stopping and scrolling out to you destination on the chart or map which takes time.

For my hand held, I use a Gamin GPS V for my carry around- I like that I can mount it vertical or horizontal depending on what equipment I am in. I can also down load maps or do turn by turn with it.

For my in rig, I use the Lowrance Baja unit. With one or two touches of a button it will zoom out adequately and quickly to give you expedition perspective vs. upcoming route decision making perspective and at a distance you can see from the lower console. Also it has lightning fast refresh for high speed travel at a high zoom level. Also you can get maps from eagle that are as good as Garmin, a bit more difficult to use though. Because I have the Edge A2 controller for my Duramax I also have a tom tom navigator in the top of the dash for city nav, where I admit I am hopeless. You can change the person speaking to you to different accents, so I chose an aussie, I call him Nigel and we are drinking buddies now.

For what its worth
ml

 

[1leglance]

here is my setup...similar to what others have mentioned...

In truck
panasonic toughbook off ebay $300 rugged and heavy\
gps mouse/puck to usb port
using thumb trackball for bouncing around
on jeniko.com mount...best mount I have seen and killer price, seen my thread on here
oziexplorer with 1:24 topo and aerial from whitethaiger (on here)
iguidance for turn by turn streets & lots of trails
dvd for the kids,music for me, internet access thru usb cable to phone
I love this setup as the mount is rock solid and the laptop means I have lot of alt uses.
I like that I have a big screen and it is easy to add info to the track or run while stopped for a sec

Out of the truck I use a bluetooth gps to my Treo 700wx running iguidance for streets (older setup) and beeline for geocaching...works great but fragile and not waterproof

Let us know what you get and what you think of it after a bit