GPS options
Submitted: Friday, Oct 02, 2009 at 11:15
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Gossy
Help! The more research I do the more confused I get.
I am looking for a GPS unit for 4wding. Maps and silva compass is great but I have to admit the world has moved on :)
Ideally because I bush walk and kayak also I would like a hand held GPS with mapping capability. they do exist (Garmin 60csx for example) but research is showing (including archived forums here) that the mapping software is rubbish. Maps are lower quality and not accurate (veh position is way off the track you are on).
The other option is the Hema Navigator and the VMS competitor but then I have a larger unit, not ruggard and small battery life away from power.
Is there the 'perfect' GPS that has the mapping quality of Hema and VMS in a hand held? If not I will have to prioritise which is the most important to me and buy that type.
Ta,
Reply By: HGMonaro - Friday, Oct 02, 2009 at 11:47
Friday, Oct 02, 2009 at 11:47
buy one of each! Navigator, etc not suitable for lugging around on foot. I have a cheapo car based Chinese GPS running OziCE ($160 inc OziCE licence using freebie maps floating around) & a non-mapping handheld GPS which I use for geocaching mostly but originally bought for recording my fishing hotspots) and they do quite different tasks. Most handhelds these days have good weather proof ratings, the car based one don't, so taking a car based one kayaking is going to be a problem!
good luck with your search!
AnswerID:
385444
Follow Up By: Gossy - Friday, Oct 02, 2009 at 11:49
Friday, Oct 02, 2009 at 11:49
I have a basic ETrex at the moment without any mapping which I bought years ago. I was hoping that technology was now going to give me vehicle based GPS technology in a handheld (with their obvious advantages of power usage,
water proof, small etc). Doesn't look like this is going to be the case yet.
FollowupID:
653109
Follow Up By: The Explorer - Saturday, Oct 03, 2009 at 09:03
Saturday, Oct 03, 2009 at 09:03
Hi - many of the latest Garmins and Magellan handheld models that have mapping capabilities will run "street nav" maps and have autorouting i.e. so you can type in an address and it will give directions. Typically they dont however have voice prompts (just sounds like a beep for a corner). There is also a comprimise in screen size with handhelds.
Cheers
Greg
| I sent one final shout after him to stick to the track, to which he replied “All right,” That was the last ever seen of Gibson - E Giles 23 April 1874 Lifetime Member
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Reply By: bgreeni - Friday, Oct 02, 2009 at 11:48
Friday, Oct 02, 2009 at 11:48
I have been looking at what to replace the system I use. I have a HP 4700 and a blue tooth GPS.
After looking at many options I have decided to go with the HP 212 using OziCE and my existing GPS.
With this I can use it in car or take it with me. By the reports the battery life should be OK for up to 10 hours away from car if I keep use of the screen light down.
This enables me to use any maps i want or make, and including scanned charts when in my boat.
Also can use it to review photos as it uses same card as in my camera.
I seriously considered a double DIN unit in the car but that does away with the portability offered by the HP.
It is always a matter of compromise.
AnswerID:
385445
Reply By: Gossy - Friday, Oct 02, 2009 at 11:54
Friday, Oct 02, 2009 at 11:54
at this stage I'm veering towards the VMS gps. Apparantly their topo maps are a bit better. More research ;)
AnswerID:
385446
Reply By: Robin Miller - Friday, Oct 02, 2009 at 12:01
Friday, Oct 02, 2009 at 12:01
Its always an issue Gossy , the unit you mentioned is a very good
and I use its bigger brother the 276c.
Even main tracks like Simpson change and are not all represented correctly.
Even the very latest maps have errors.
The stratergy to win is to have a unit that you can download your own
tracks and waypoints into using UTM co-ords , I tend to do this with every
trip now.
AnswerID:
385447
Reply By: obee1212 - Friday, Oct 02, 2009 at 15:41
Friday, Oct 02, 2009 at 15:41
I bought a garmin legend $330 plus map $220. the map will operate direct line or it will take you down roads to an address you choose. It takes AA batteries so I use rechargables and carry spare. They boast 25 hours of use.
the map will run in my garmin navigator too and shows all the topo. The only thing it wont do is talk when using in the handheld.
Much better than the $700 dollars I spent three years ago to get a brand that provided a very basic map and the cable used to stuff up and cost money. If I wanted a good map it would have cost a lot more than the garmin topo.
The legend will connect to the computer with a generic usb cable and it is easy to load all the waypoints to the hard drive and retrieve them.
Owen
AnswerID:
385466
Reply By: Member - Sigmund (VIC) - Saturday, Oct 03, 2009 at 08:27
Saturday, Oct 03, 2009 at 08:27
GArmins Topo Aus v 2 won't replace paper maps. Just not enough geographic detail for navigating on foot or in kayak. (Doesn't even recognise the Sturt Hway as such).
AnswerID:
385542
Follow Up By: That Troopy Bloke (SA) - Saturday, Oct 03, 2009 at 09:46
Saturday, Oct 03, 2009 at 09:46
Quote: "Doesn't even recognise the Sturt Hway as such"
You're kidding, right??
Have you actually used Topo Australia v2?
Cheers
Glenn
FollowupID:
653165
Follow Up By: Member - Sigmund (VIC) - Saturday, Oct 03, 2009 at 16:18
Saturday, Oct 03, 2009 at 16:18
Just driven it. Says 'driving on unpaved road' or '... paved road'.
The Stuart Hway in NT it tells you is 87.
FollowupID:
653195
Follow Up By: That Troopy Bloke (SA) - Saturday, Oct 03, 2009 at 16:42
Saturday, Oct 03, 2009 at 16:42
Quote: "Says 'driving on unpaved road' or '... paved road'. "
I don't think so.....screen cap from my own Nuvi running Topo Aus v2.
BTW...the Stuart Hwy _is_ route 87.
Cheers
Glenn
FollowupID:
653197
Follow Up By: Member - Sigmund (VIC) - Sunday, Oct 11, 2009 at 08:07
Sunday, Oct 11, 2009 at 08:07
My mistake. The road I meant was that running south of
Lyndhurst. The B83.
And in Wilpena I asked for a route to
Blinman - about an hour more or less straight Nth - and it opted for a 4 hour route via
Hawker.
So I'd say forget auto-routing in this part of SA.
Used on a Nuvi 760.
FollowupID:
654123
Reply By: The Explorer - Saturday, Oct 03, 2009 at 08:51
Saturday, Oct 03, 2009 at 08:51
I just got one of these
TwoNav (OctaPc)TwoNav (Manufacturers website)
Can show raster maps (ie same as OziExploreCE) and also has street nav in vector format as an overlay. I havent used the street nav so cant comment on how good it is. Basically a ruggerised PDA ...though it only comes with the TwoNav software (ie no other applications).
Cheers
Greg
| I sent one final shout after him to stick to the track, to which he replied “All right,” That was the last ever seen of Gibson - E Giles 23 April 1874 Lifetime Member
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AnswerID:
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