GARMIN GPS which one under 500 bucks

garmin emap should be around 500 now

You should figure out exacty what you want to use it for. Different models are designed for different people.

I use a Garmin Etrex Legend and it suits me but may not suit your purposes.

For all things GPS this is, generally considered, to be the best reference source on the net:
http://gpsinformation.net/

I understand Johnny Appleseed in Brisbane:
http://www.ja-gps.com.au/

provide excellent service and prices, although I haven't dealt with them.

I use a Garmin GPS 12XL which I bought about 5 or 6 years ago, excellent product and still in production I understand. But there are many others on the market now which would probably be better suited for your requirements. Let us know what you buy and how it performs please.

Mike Harding

Greendog, this is a question that everyone asks before buying their GPS. Everyone has a budget, but doesnt know what they want. I asked the same question before I bought a Garmin GPS76 with all the leads and a RAM mount etc for $450.

Sadly its the wrong question, as Utemad says above you have to ask yourself what you want to do with it and what features do you want.

Do you want it to tell you the direction your moving in or do you want it to act like a compass? (theres a $200ish difference in those answers for example). Do you want to know where you've been or to map out where you're going? Do you want maps in the GPS etc etc etc. If you don't know the ansers to these questions, Go to the Exploroz Shop and buy the book called "GPS Vehicle Navigation in Australia" or even better, borrow a GPS unit from a friend for a few weeks and then at least you'll know what you don't want.

As sadi also above Johnny Appleseed in Brisbane and Melbourne are good references also. Good luck

Peter in SA I would say a Garmin eTrek Legend
It gives you the Pacific base map and 8Mb memory to upload extra maps if you decide you want to buy the Mapsource.
I would suggest you get the Portable Mount and automotive mount to go with your GPS. For your GPS to be usable you need to be able to see it easily without fiddling and faffing around and loosing attention.
I would suggest you buy your cables from Gilsson Technologies as they are 1/3 price including freight of buying them in Australia.
We buy all our GPS gear from Johnny Appleseed great prices and great service and has all the accessories in stock.

You can get a Magellan Meridian Platinum, a windscreen mount and combo power lead (laptop and 12v connection at same time - or one or the other independantly) for under $500 inc freight.

I had a problem with mine and Magellan Aust covered it under their international warranty without question as I provided proof of purchase.

Mine was shipped to a friend in the US who forwarded it too me but more over there are prepared to ship direct than there used to be.

The same setup here would be in excess of $1000. It is possible to change the basemap to the Australian basemap quite easily - do a net search for Magellan Meridian FAQ - and there are places on the net where you can download them.

The detail maps on Magellans DiscoverAus software are great. Everywhere I have used them they have been pretty well spot on. Others may tell you otherwise but paper maps arent perfect either. The only spot I noticed big differences so far were in the Wonnangatta where they re routed tracks after the fires.

I have brought in 1 platinum and 2 colors now. Very happy. Colors with access landed here for AU$570 (with w'screen mount and lead)

Dave