DeLorme PN-40 - Unlimited 1:24,000 Topos/Satellite imagery for $30/year

[enthdigry]

I noticed most of the members here are users of Garmin devices. I looked into the Garmin 60CSx and the newer Oregon 400t. I didn't seriously look at the Nuvi 500 as it appears to be geared toward automotive use and in addition to expeditions, I will be using my unit for biking, backpacking, and hiking.

The Oregon ($461.55 @ Amazon) looks very impressive, easy to use, and comes with a lot of features. Shaded relief is a cool feature. It's like the iPhone of GPS devices. But, the downside is that to get detailed TOPO maps of different areas, you will be shelling out $80/region.

DeLorme's new PN-40 unit ($299.00 @ Amazon) which has had good reviews in terms of overall performance aside from its small screen and somewhat complicated software; but that software also allows you to do a lot with it. You can also subscribe to their Library for $30/year and download all the USGS 1:24,000, Aerial/Satellite Imagery, and nautical charts (although I don't sail.) You can also overlay the DeLorme TOPO maps over any of the other maps.

That being said, the capability for remote areas seems to be much better with the DeLorme device vs. Garmin. Considering I am not really going to be using the unit "on-the-fly" as I drive or bike, the screen size isn't an issue.

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

 

[enthdigry]

So no comments on this? No one uses this unit?

From reviews people say the accuracy rivals that of the Garmin CSx60 and that Garmin maps are fairly poor quality while DeLorme maps are known to be excellent. Their mapping software is also supposed to be powerful.

Not trying to convince myself here.

Maybe I should just get one and tell you guys how it is.

 

[BajaTaco]

Maybe I should just get one and tell you guys how it is.

Please do! I haven't had a chance to play with the new PN-40 yet, but I'm anxious to get an ExPo member's review/opinion on it. I did a pretty extensive review of the PN-20 for Overland Journal last year, and I've been using one of them quite a lot since, and I use the DeLorme software on my convertible notebook in the truck as well. The PN-20 has been an awesome unit for hiking, paddling, and biking. I'll bet the improvements made with the PN-40 are substantial.

 

[enthdigry]

Please do! I haven't had a chance to play with the new PN-40 yet, but I'm anxious to get an ExPo member's review/opinion on it. I did a pretty extensive review of the PN-20 for Overland Journal last year, and I've been using one of them quite a lot since, and I use the DeLorme software on my convertible notebook in the truck as well. The PN-20 has been an awesome unit for hiking, paddling, and biking. I'll bet the improvements made with the PN-40 are substantial.

Awesome, good to see someone uses DeLorme products.

From what I hear the PN-40 is supposed to fix a lot of the PN-20 issues, mainly just raw performance because of the dual processors. It loads maps/imagery almost instantaneously from what I've read, boots up a lot faster, and also acquires satellites/position much faster.

How do you like the Topo maps? Have any experience with Garmin to compare them?

I am interested in the 7.5min topos because they show old prospects, springs, and other details that the higher level topos dont.

What do you use for your vehicle?

 

[1speed]

I got one for Christmas but haven't had much time to play with it yet. Many, many functions, fairly steep learning curve.

It's a good thing I can get unlimited downloads for $30 a year. It comes with a $40 dollar credit toward the regular download prices and I burned up most of that getting the Quads and aerial photos for a few square miles around my cabin in NM.

The biggest issue I can see so far is it looks like I will have to carry a few SD cards if I want detailed info for a cross-country trip. It will take up to 32gb cards according to the web site. And I will have to refer to the web site as the manual is a little lacking, it did not even tell me how big a card I could use.

Now I need to order a RAM mount for the Triumph, which by the way is cheaper direct from RAM than through Delorme. :roost:

 

[rambrush]

there is a great forum on delormes website to assist in any problems you might have. Chip will usually jump on and get things working for you.
http://forum.delorme.com/ is the site

I have the 20 and topo 7 yes it is slow to load but no need for me to upgrade yet. the 40 with additional memory is sweet though.

 

[RoundOut]

Please do! I haven't had a chance to play with the new PN-40 yet, but I'm anxious to get an ExPo member's review/opinion on it. I did a pretty extensive review of the PN-20 for Overland Journal last year, and I've been using one of them quite a lot since, and I use the DeLorme software on my convertible notebook in the truck as well. The PN-20 has been an awesome unit for hiking, paddling, and biking. I'll bet the improvements made with the PN-40 are substantial.

Chris,

What was the model we used at the Expedition Trophy 2008? Anyone?

.

 

[luk4mud]

FWIW, I have had the PN20 almost since it came out and am happy with it. besides the small screen, there are no real drawbacks and it has numerous advantages over the garmins from what I can tell map sw, screen visibility in daylight. I have beat the tar out of this thing in my Jeep, on my motorcycle and hiking and it just keeps going and going.

 

[tdesanto]

Chris,

What was the model we used at the Expedition Trophy 2008? Anyone?

.

PN-20

I too have been interested to learn if performance has greatly improved with the new PN-40. I love the Delorme Topo 7 software and would like the ability to ditch my Magellan Xplorist/Magellan Topo software for something else...just the screen on the Xplorist XL is too sweet for me to switch right now unless I can find a compelling reason.

 

[BajaTaco]

Awesome, good to see someone uses DeLorme products.

From what I hear the PN-40 is supposed to fix a lot of the PN-20 issues, mainly just raw performance because of the dual processors. It loads maps/imagery almost instantaneously from what I've read, boots up a lot faster, and also acquires satellites/position much faster.

How do you like the Topo maps? Have any experience with Garmin to compare them?

I am interested in the 7.5min topos because they show old prospects, springs, and other details that the higher level topos dont.

What do you use for your vehicle?

I like the DeLorme topo maps a lot. Their own vector versions of the USGS topos (the ones that the PN-20 uses for the regular basemap) work great, and you can also switch to the raster image topos (scanned USGS paper topos) so it gives you the added versatility of combining the digitized maps with "pictures" of the paper maps. And of course, you can lay aerial imagery on the screen too. The Garmin maps are nice, but you can't do that with the Mapsource software.

As for what I use in my Tacoma, there are a few different things. When I'm traveling solo (no passenger) I run moving maps on my Gateway CX210X convertible laptop, which converts to a tablet. I have a bunch of different programs on there, but primarily use DeLorme Topo hooked up to the PN-20 handheld GPS, which I'm very happy with. I also have Ozi Explorer, but I'm having issues getting the PN-20 to communicate with it. I'm trying to resolve that using a serial port emulator, but no luck so far. I used to have a Go-Pass bluetooth GPS running with Ozi, but ever since I updated to Windows Vista, the little GoPass unit won't work (no updated drivers). I'm just about to do some beta testing for a new tablet-friendly nav software called Overland Navigator from Spatial Minds. I can't wait to try it out.

When not running the laptop, I use the PN-20 alone, or I sometimes use the Magellan Crossover. The Crossover is nice for turn-by-turn nav on named streets. The PN-20 is better for dirt trails.

 

[BigDaveZJ]

I have the PN-20 and have been very happy with it so far. Little bit of a learning curve on getting it setup to function how I wanted it too, but EXCELLENT performance in the vehicle. I've used it to navigate remote areas I've never been in before with great success. The standard maps from Topo 7.0 cover quite a bit, and the extra maps you can download are a real nice feature.

 

[dirty Bakers]

I have been using the pn-20 for about a month now. The maping software is from delorme is good and consistent. My favorite is the routing.
I previously purchased the Magellan triton (big mistake), the magellan unit was very inconvenient and unreliable. The Delorme unit is a complete 180 and I have enjoyed using it. but I also like the natgeo topo for the magellan.

 

[jingram]

Chris,

I too run a tablet and look forward to hearing more about Overland Navigator. That sounds perfect. Unlike you, I haven't had any issues with Vista and any of my bluetooth GPS units. I run an i-Blue 737 and i-Blue 757 solar powered with data logger and both have been great.

Jack

 

[nvprospector]

I have both the PN-20 and PN-40 and the major differences between the two is that the PN-40 with its dual core processor makes rendering of the maps and aerial images a little faster, 1 gig of internal memory and a altimeter making elevation readings in the PN-40 more accurate.

Delorme really amped up the 1 gig of internal memory. This is not really that wonderful since there is no file management system to move files from the SD card to the internal ram. Also, the PN-40 is still limited by the 64 file limit that was in the PN-20. Delorme did remove the upper limits of the SDHC so it now supports 32 gigs. They do fail to tell the users of the PN-20 that the PN-20 also supports 32 gigs with the latest flash update.

I do like the PN-40 for its speed in rendering images, but I really don’t see much of a difference between the PN-20 and PN-40 in the way of overall performance. If you are getting a Delorme for the first time, do get the PN-40. If you already own a PN-20, there is really no need to upgrade unless you really want to.

 

[Navman]

I recently got the Garmin Oregon 400t. It is expensive but works great. The touchscreen is incredibly fast to navigate. I also got a Nuvi 760 for the car. After spending a week in a Hertz rental with thier frustrating GPS, I wouldn't go back to a non-touch screen device. It's the same as an iPod - once you use the Touch it's hard to go back to the older ones.

All that said, I would like to try the pn-40 due to the aerial images. I imagine once they get to model -60 or -80 it will be an amazing device.