Garmin Monterra Handheld GPS

Hello

OK - I do lots of field work (foot based) so need good handheld. I also like raster maps/airphotos. TwoNav is good as I can use ecw images (that I aslo use on PC) on relatively large screen (for a handheld gps). Good battery life (two days pretty easy (with backlight turned of when not in use). Can load gpx files as boundaries etc.

Now - you can do this (or similar) on a normal gps (e.g garmin 62s) but they are limited in regards to map image formats and file size you can use and is way to restrictive for my needs.

I typically make all my own airphotos (Google earth/microsoft virtual earth) or convert PDF supplied by people I'm working for, ..or just use 250K, 100K, 50K, 25K topo maps of area - I have all in ECW for WA (where coverage available).

Unit also has vector street maps for street navigation (like standard in car unit)

So good things about Aventura - good screen size, good battery life, ruggerdised, can use maps/airphotos on gps and on PC without need for multiple formats, can load large raster maps/images (+2GB) and easily overlay boundaries points.

Bit expensive but for work so don't matter.

Monterra looks good as it maybe able to do all the Aventura does...plus you can have other apps for other purposes e.g. field data entry.

Cheers
Greg