GPS Information

Submitted: Thursday, Jun 05, 2008 at 20:37

ThreadID: 58426 Views:3574 Replies:7 FollowUps:4

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GPS Units, Navigators & SatNav

In this article we look at ready to go navigation devices and satnav units. You'll learn how different devices work, their limitations and advantages plus we include a section on the hybrid Hema

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Hi Everyone,

I'm a new visitor to exploreoz and was hoping to get some information or recommendations about GPS makes.

I notice that Exploreoz advertises Garmin in the shop section.

I am thinking of purchasing either a Garmin 60csx or a Magellan Triton 500.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Phil

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Reply By: Member - Mick O (VIC) - Thursday, Jun 05, 2008 at 20:45

Thursday, Jun 05, 2008 at 20:45

Phil,

this is a really great site for information regarding GPS. I found it most helpful when doing my research. I ended up getting a Garmin as you have the ability to load up maps other than those approved/supplied by the manafacturer. There are a few experts on this forum tho. Good luck.

Mick

''We knew from the experience of well-known travelers that the
trip would doubtless be attended with much hardship.''
Richard Maurice - 1903

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AnswerID: 307979

Reply By: a convict - Thursday, Jun 05, 2008 at 22:33

Thursday, Jun 05, 2008 at 22:33

..seriously 'Phill, ..just click on 'search'. enter ."GPS"

"Content matches: 3867 results. Showing page 1 of 155."

This is best place to start, the posts of literally FULL of goodies and helpful stuff.

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Follow Up By: Member - Crazy Dog (QLD) - Thursday, Jun 05, 2008 at 22:58

Thursday, Jun 05, 2008 at 22:58

Hey guys... Try this place - always has good info on GPS'

Very informative as well...

Look here - Gps info pages

Grrr!!!

FollowupID: 573837

Reply By: Member - Doug T (FNQ) - Thursday, Jun 05, 2008 at 22:57

Thursday, Jun 05, 2008 at 22:57

Phil
I could give you a link to my informative GPS link as I did before but for unknown reason to me it was deleted .

.

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Follow Up By: Member - Borgy.. (SA) - Thursday, Jun 05, 2008 at 23:10

Thursday, Jun 05, 2008 at 23:10

Looks like your post got deleted as well Doug??....Got me buggered , looked ok to me

Cheers......Borgy

FollowupID: 573841

Reply By: Zebra400 - Friday, Jun 06, 2008 at 04:26

Friday, Jun 06, 2008 at 04:26

Phil

If an external antenna is important to you, then the Garmin allows one but the Magellan doesn't. They both run SIRF3 chips. Magellan says it tracks up to 20 sats while the Garmin tracks up to 12. As the GPS only uses a maximum of 4 to calculate your position, I think 12 is plenty. Not sure that Australia would have the luxury of seeing 20 sats in the sky at once!

Having had Garmins for years, I purchased a Magellan last year. Personally I prefer the Garmins. I didnt like the way the PC accessed the GPS. However, I dont know the Triton 500 so cant make any comments about it.

Zebra400

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AnswerID: 308038

Reply By: Member - res.q.guy (VIC) - Friday, Jun 06, 2008 at 07:10

Friday, Jun 06, 2008 at 07:10

Hi Phil
My vote is for Garmin, for the same reasons as Mick O above.
I have a 60 Cx and a Nuvi 660. You can download
"Tracks-4-Australia" and "Shonky" maps free.
Regards
Neil

AnswerID: 308049

Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Friday, Jun 06, 2008 at 09:09

Friday, Jun 06, 2008 at 09:09

I have nothing against the Garmin, but it may be worth the wait for the new Hema Navigator, when it is released at the end of the month.

Why?

The Hema unit will run the OziExplorer Navigation software which is kind of a standard on ExplorOz and other sites. Linked with the excellent range of Hema maps, plus Route 66 voice directed street navigation software for the cities. At a suggested price of $990 in total, this would appear to be a very good product for an all-in-one solution.

Hema Navigator

Bill.

Bill

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AnswerID: 308066

Follow Up By: Member -Signman - Friday, Jun 06, 2008 at 09:25

Friday, Jun 06, 2008 at 09:25

Bill
The Hema Navigator is just a VMS unit with the stuff packaged in.
For nearly a $grand- there are many more cost effective and performance effective options available..

FollowupID: 573886

Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Friday, Jun 06, 2008 at 14:05

Friday, Jun 06, 2008 at 14:05

And that is my point.

If you buy everything separately, you end up paying a lot more.

PDA - $600 (good quality one)
Cradle - $135
Bluetooth GPS - $160
OziExplorer - $38 (already had the PC version, otherwise $161)
NATMAP Premium $119
CoPilot 7 or Route 66 (for city streets) $199

That's in the order of $1250+ and you have to install it and configure everything to work together.

The alternative is a Garmin Nuvi 760 which will give a similar solution, but is a little more "proprietary". (You cannot run OziExplorer for instance)
By the time you buy the add-on software for remote/country driving, you are probably around the same cost anyway.

I reckon a packaged solution is much more practical.
It will be interesting to see how well the Hema unit sells/performs.

Bill.

Bill

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Reply By: Robin Miller - Friday, Jun 06, 2008 at 09:40

Friday, Jun 06, 2008 at 09:40

Depends a bit on its use Phil.

60csx is fine but screen is small , the Garmin 276c is the one to beat if you want best technical performance and bright high res screen in a car mounted unit.

Some of the Nuvi's are great to but emphasis here is on touch screen road navigation as opposed to manipulating tracks and waypoints of your own.