garmin gps v

[98dango]

So I had a Garmin GPS V that got stolen out of my jeep a while back. I loved it becous I knew how to use it. Is this still a viable option or should i look at some thing better. I will almost never need it for hiking un less I get stuck and half to walk out. I dont need the in town turn left here as much as where in the world did I just pop out at.

I do tend to go drive around by my self. Today I went for a drive found my self 85 hiway miles from my house and only 25 back road miles but it was fairly unnerving till i found a road i knew.

 

[Spikepretorius]

Take a look at the Nuvi 500

 

[bigreen505]

I can't imagine spending money for a Garmin V unless you were desperate for a GPS, it is old technology and is wholly unusable for driving (tiny screen) and really not convenient for hiking. Yes, I have one and can appreciate a lot of its features. I also have a Nuvi 200 and for most tasks it is wonderful.

The Nuvi is a daily use tool, the V is for special applications. If you really like the old style of the V and are using it for vehicle travel (not hiking) look at a Garmin 276 or even 176. However, the new generation of GPS units, from Garmin and others are a big step forward. They are not any more accurate (the V is far more accurate than the Nuvi 200), but the user interface is leaps ahead.

 

[98dango]

are the new gps units as idiot proof as the V i am not the most up to date person when it comes the the tech stuff

 

[Spikepretorius]

idiot proof

The new Nuvi's are touch screen and very simple to operate
The 760 is also very cool. Big sceen. Bluetooth (can work as a cellphone car kit). etc

 

[lwg]

I say look at the Garmin 60CSx. The controls are virtually identical to the Garmin V I have and the antenna is much, much better as well as the available memory with the addition of an SD card.

 

[Navman]

The Garmin 60 and Nuvi series are always good options. Since you don't plan on hiking with it, the choice usually comes down to screen size and interface preferences. 60 - smaller screen, and buttons. Nuvi - larger screen and touch.

The 276 and x78 series are also good if you want a dedicated unit for the rig.

As someone mentioned, the new units are so good that it isn't worth it to buy the old technology.

 

[esh]

Maybe a nuvi owner can chime in, can they do tracks? These are the breadcrumb trails.

I think most or all nuvis can do waypoints now, and the nicer ones can build a route off multiple waypoints, but I don't see in the descriptions the ability to track and backtrack like the mapping GPSs do.

If you use that feature, verify that feature.

I'd go with an ebay/CL 60csx personally. It compliments my GPS III+ nicely, and the helix antenna is day and night better (fractal geometry at work!) than the III/V's.

 

[98dango]

Maybe a nuvi owner can chime in, can they do tracks? These are the breadcrumb trails.

I think most or all nuvis can do waypoints now, and the nicer ones can build a route off multiple waypoints, but I don't see in the descriptions the ability to track and backtrack like the mapping GPSs do.

If you use that feature, verify that feature.

I'd go with an ebay/CL 60csx personally. It compliments my GPS III+ nicely, and the helix antenna is day and night better (fractal geometry at work!) than the III/V's.

Well Ken I got the V becous you told me to get a III and I couldent find one. I looked at a few to day the Nuvis is to big to put wher ei want on my dash

 

[ntsqd]

I have a V and I can't understand needing anything more for most off road needs. I rarely have trouble with reading it's screen.
As far as I'm concerned the Nuvi's have lost touch with what a GPS is supposed to do and be. When mine dies I'll be looking at the GPSMAP series for a replacement.
A real bonus of the V/GPSMAP series' that I don't think the 60's offer is the ability to remote mount the antenna. In one vehicle in the family the curve of the windshield is such that for the unit to be accessible the antenna on a fixed design would be seriously shadowed by the vehicle's roof. Since under the antenna on the back of the unit there is a BNC connector it was a simple task to move the antenna to where it has a much better view of the sky.

 

[lwg]

I've got the Garmin V, Nuvi 260 (for travelling) and a 60CSx. I tried to use the Nuvi off-road before I bought the 60CSx and I just didn't like it at all. Nowhere near the functionality of the 60CSx in regards to bread crumbs and sorts. Also loading the Topo maps to the Nuvi was kind of a pain to figure out at first, but it can be done.

The new Nuvi 500 or 600 or whatever for off-road might be better though. I have no experience with that. A bigger screen than the 60CSx would be nice, but it's not that big of a deal really.

 

[Navman]

As far as I'm concerned the Nuvi's have lost touch with what a GPS is supposed to do and be.

Ha - you're right. Kinda like what happened to SUVs once they were discovered by the soccer moms. It just doesn't seem right that you can use your GPS to find the nearest mall.

In one vehicle in the family the curve of the windshield is such that for the unit to be accessible the antenna on a fixed design would be seriously shadowed by the vehicle's roof. Since under the antenna on the back of the unit there is a BNC connector it was a simple task to move the antenna to where it has a much better view of the sky.

I don't know what chipset the V has but that shouldn't be a problem with the newer devices. I get clear signals in the middle of my house (or anywhere in my vehicles) with my two latest Garmins.

 

[Grim Reaper]

I have a V and I can't understand needing anything more for most off road needs. I rarely have trouble with reading it's screen.
As far as I'm concerned the Nuvi's have lost touch with what a GPS is supposed to do and be. When mine dies I'll be looking at the GPSMAP series for a replacement.
A real bonus of the V/GPSMAP series' that I don't think the 60's offer is the ability to remote mount the antenna. In one vehicle in the family the curve of the windshield is such that for the unit to be accessible the antenna on a fixed design would be seriously shadowed by the vehicle's roof. Since under the antenna on the back of the unit there is a BNC connector it was a simple task to move the antenna to where it has a much better view of the sky.

Same reason I am hesitant about replacing my GPSV. I feed into the laptop for more in depth stuff. Now my Laptop took a dump and the laptop I like (12 inc display dell for $429 and costco) doesn't have the port that matches the one on the GPS. I haven't looked to see if a USB Data cable is available for the GPSV.

 

[ntsqd]

My V came with a USB/Garmin cable. I think that you'd probably be money ahead by going pfrank rather than Garmin though.

EDIT: I've unintentionally misled folks. What I recall is a USB. Now that I've had call to look at the back of this machine what I see plugged in is Serial. Sorry about that.

http://www.pfranc.com/cgi-bin/P/pUSB32/garmin-GPS-cables