soonenough
Explorer
Same here; it works awesome for road trips, but not of much use for off-highway travels. I'm looking into a Delorme PN-40 / Topo USA for those duties.
GPS- What are you using?
- Thread starter just eric
- Start date
rambrush
Adventurer
I have been using the PN-20 and topo 8. I have the software loaded on my laptop and have used it for several 3000 mile trips and that combo does it all. Most Garmins that I have seen don't come with software and has to be purchased separately. Delorme on the other hand pn series come with topo software. Also take a look at the scale of the maps between the 2
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Quietrover
New member
I started with the good old yellow E-Trex about a decade ago because the AN/PSN-11 PLGR (plugger) was heavy bulky garbage.
A few years later I got a Rino 550 for my birthday. It was capable of way more than I would ever use it for. I remember seeing one for the first time taped to the yolk of the plane I took my first civilian sky dive out of. The 2-way on mine wasn't that great (capable of 5w transmission) but the polling feature that allowed you to see where someone with the same device was on your screen was cool.
Next I got a hand me down Street Pilot 330c. I had never been exposed to in car navigation and after using it to negotiate the freeways and roads in Atlanta, it earned my utmost respect.
Now I rock a Nuvi 500 and it gives me the best of both worlds for what I need, street navigation and topo maps. The only complaint I have is that I can't find an accessory to allow me to attach it to my Camelback, but I have an idea and now all I need is a sewing machine. I haven't had a chance to test the battery life but these days I don't wander more than but a few hours from my rig.
A few years later I got a Rino 550 for my birthday. It was capable of way more than I would ever use it for. I remember seeing one for the first time taped to the yolk of the plane I took my first civilian sky dive out of. The 2-way on mine wasn't that great (capable of 5w transmission) but the polling feature that allowed you to see where someone with the same device was on your screen was cool.
Next I got a hand me down Street Pilot 330c. I had never been exposed to in car navigation and after using it to negotiate the freeways and roads in Atlanta, it earned my utmost respect.
Now I rock a Nuvi 500 and it gives me the best of both worlds for what I need, street navigation and topo maps. The only complaint I have is that I can't find an accessory to allow me to attach it to my Camelback, but I have an idea and now all I need is a sewing machine. I haven't had a chance to test the battery life but these days I don't wander more than but a few hours from my rig.
charlieaarons
Explorer
Garmin Streetpilot 7500, with SD data cards for Europe, Russia, China, SE Asia, Australia (City Navigator NT + topo), NW Canada (topo), Alaska topo + preloaded City Navigator NT North America.
Charlie
Charlie
I've been wondering if my Samsung netbook is up to the task of running something like Topo. Thanks for sharing Lance.
BMonday
just eric
Adventurer
Tell me more Charlie, I have done a little research and found that the 7200 can be had for around $300 USD. If I'm not mistaken, the 7200 is the same with the exception of the "dead reckoning capabilities." Can you attest to the units durability off-road? One of the main selling points of the Lowrance baja 540 is the durability and the exceptional off-road data it contains.
dirtysouth
Adventurer
According to what I've read, the 7200 and the 7500 are the same except the "dead reckoning", which apparently requires some installation.
charlieaarons
Explorer
Streetpilot 7500
It seems to work offroad/badroad as long as the locks are fully locked and it doesn't jiggle loose. But the thing I like the most is the ability to CityNavigate myself around the world, more or less. The topo maps are really nice on bad roads.
Also I like another gadget I recently acquired: HPC Tilt 2 smartphone. It's GSM, AT&T willingly gives out SIM card unlock codes. Best of all it has Adobe Flash Player, essential for some web sites important to me (like the worldwide Mercedes site and China & Russia dealer maps, and my financial institution); at the moment virtually unique in that regard, though not for long I am sure.
It does touch screen stuff, plus it has a stylus, plus it has a keyboard.
Charlie
It seems to work offroad/badroad as long as the locks are fully locked and it doesn't jiggle loose. But the thing I like the most is the ability to CityNavigate myself around the world, more or less. The topo maps are really nice on bad roads.
Also I like another gadget I recently acquired: HPC Tilt 2 smartphone. It's GSM, AT&T willingly gives out SIM card unlock codes. Best of all it has Adobe Flash Player, essential for some web sites important to me (like the worldwide Mercedes site and China & Russia dealer maps, and my financial institution); at the moment virtually unique in that regard, though not for long I am sure.
It does touch screen stuff, plus it has a stylus, plus it has a keyboard.
Charlie
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I use a hard mounted Garmin eTrex CX color combined with my trusty Dell lappy on a mount. The CX is cool because you can use it as a handheld for hiking / emerg. , but it also serves as my GPS repeater for the laptop. I'm running Delorme software, Street Nav and Topo 8. Both are relatively good but require some getting used to when you start playing with some of the more advanced features. The laptop is nice because you've got a 15" screen to work with and its easily dimmed or brightened depending on how much ambient light you want in the cockpit. Eventually I'd like to run a hard mount external GPS puck going to a built in "carputer", displaying on a touch screen up front, but for now, this setup gives me lots of versatility. I'm headed into the woods for the weekend with about 120 miles of trails programmed into Topo....another good test of reliability and function.
Spence
Spence
UK4X4
Expedition Leader
Garmin 60csx and a 276
Garmin have the best global maps/ support even 3rd party software
like smelly bikers wanderlust works in the garmin format.
The hand held travels with me or is fixed on the motorbike
the 276 is the truck GPS.
Map availability globally means to me the others just don't make the grade,
but then I'm not looking for a motel 6 in LA !
No mkae or model has all the roads tracks or detail we'd love to have
that's part of the adventure !
Garmin have the best global maps/ support even 3rd party software
like smelly bikers wanderlust works in the garmin format.
The hand held travels with me or is fixed on the motorbike
the 276 is the truck GPS.
Map availability globally means to me the others just don't make the grade,
but then I'm not looking for a motel 6 in LA !
No mkae or model has all the roads tracks or detail we'd love to have
that's part of the adventure !
Michael Slade
Untitled
Garmin III+
soonenough
Explorer
That's one thing that I find disappointing about DeLorme and the PN-40 is that there's no support / availability of maps outside of North America. I really wish they would make that available; it's one thing that I see as a huge advantage that Garmin models have over DeLorme.
daniel3507
Observer
Ive been looking into the PN-40 but i may have to start doing a little more research on Garmin.
greg mgm
Explorer
A few days ago I bought a Tom Tom XXL 540S. I definitely wanted a larger screen than my old GPS, and the 5" screen of the 540 is pretty nice. It reads out street names...very convenient. It made me laugh to learn you can buy celebrity voice downloads for the TomTom. (Homer Simpson among others)
http://www.tomtom.com/products/experience.php?ID=992&Lid=4&Category=0
My first navigation didn't impress me. It tried to direct me to a restaurant in a round about way, but I already knew how to get there. That may be a frustrating thing if you aren't familiar with the area. But the next day it worked like a charm in another area I was navigating.
Anyway, for street navigation it should work out fine. I'm planning to get a second unit for trails/ off road.
http://www.tomtom.com/products/experience.php?ID=992&Lid=4&Category=0
My first navigation didn't impress me. It tried to direct me to a restaurant in a round about way, but I already knew how to get there. That may be a frustrating thing if you aren't familiar with the area. But the next day it worked like a charm in another area I was navigating.
Anyway, for street navigation it should work out fine. I'm planning to get a second unit for trails/ off road.