Thread: GPS systems who uses what and why?

I am using a Garmin GPS11 plus. Pretty basic but OK for the price. I am in the process of setting it up through my laptop using Natmaps Raster and TrackRanger software. Should be awesome and a lot cheaper than buying a new colour GPS. Having said that my Brother in law has a Magellen Gold which is great and fairly simple to use.

The Garmin 276 is a great unit but cannot ever hope to match a PDA or laptop for mapping. The advantage of the PDA/laptop is that it can run *any* map at all, digital or otherwise. If it's not already digital you scan it.

The screen on late-model GPSRs are good, but still not as good as a VGA PocketPC like the Toshiba e8xx or iPaq 47xx series.

However, PDAs aren't robust and if you're a boater avoid them or protect them.

My personal setup is a GPS V with an e800 VGA PocketPC PDA running Oziexplorer. I use a laptop and/or a Magellan FX324 for competitions.

The Geko is ok but I recommend against the basic ones as for 4WD use you really want external power, a data port and an external antenna is handy too.

Both Garmin and Magellan will be updating their maps in the next few months. Upgrade pricing will apply, except of course to pirates who will drive prices up for all.

PDAs can also run autorouting, as can Navmans and some Garmins.

I have a Garmin eMap which does have an Australian base-map built in (although it's a good 20+ years out of date - the local M4 motorway is shown ending at Blacktown and Penrith).

I was given it as a farewell present when I was made redundant from Telstra 3-1/2 years ago. The reason for selecting it was that it did have the base map and was portable in the sense of only needing two 1.5v batteries which is probably good for bush walking. It's very easy to use and it is very light and will easily fit into one's pocket. I quite like it.

Disadvantages?

1. Very expensive to fit a proprietary Garmin data card for uploading new maps.

2. The limited memory restricts one to 2048 data records before it starts overwriting data. it needs more memory or an external data recorder (which I have recently been given).

3. The screen is nowhere as easy to read in the car as a colour display (but that's not what it was designed for). For car use, my view is that colour is essential.

4. The eMap is very tight in its power supply requirements - about 3.13 volts max - I made a regulated supply for use in the car. A 12 volt unit would be easier in a car.

5. The external antenna socket is tiny and the plug that fits isn't very robust.

6. For car use, it doesn't give any voice prompts. This may not seem important but having just come back from Victoria, I can assure you this is essential for an in-car unit. Victoria has appalling signposting on major roads. NSW is far, far superior in this respect.

7. The data link is the older serial port and getting it to work with the USB adaptor is problematical. My new laptop doesn't have an RS232 serial port.

8. The flat 4-pin power/data plug sometimes disconnects in a mobile (car) environment and has to be pushed back in. Other Garmins with the round plugs are probably better in this respect.

Re mapping software, I have OziExplorer and the eMap interfaces to OziExplorer quite well (when the USB converter works) and it's interesting to look at one's track plot when overlaid onto the Auslig Raster 250K maps (or other maps I have loaded). Too bad OziExplorer won't read the UBD 5 Cities on Disc maps (UBD haven't made it easy) - I could have used that function in Melbourne.

I'll have to buy Robert Pepper's book to learn more about mapping and track plotting.

Ron

Ive read this thread, I get the idea, but to be honest im still lost as to what to look for in a GPS. I like the idea of the PDA only because I can see other uses for i.e. work, which also means I could probably depreciate it like a home computer. But are they robust enough to go 4 wheeling with? I see a lot of you have the Magellan units, this probably is cheaper than a PDA+GPS unit?

From a map point of view my main interest is for 4x4 tracks in the bush, desert driving, which provides the best Australia wide coverage? And like Ron said when interstate a GPS would be awesome, I hate driving in Sydney with the volume of traffic etc and the number of streets etc.

I think I need to get together with some of you more knowledgable folks and get a demo!

Gotta say I like the idea of voice prompting, though I dont know if SWMBO will like competeing for my attention [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]

Think I might get a copy of RMP's book and have a good read first!

Originally posted by RobG65
Think I might get a copy of RMP's book and have a good read first!

i'm with you rob, been reading through all the posts on this and still lost 8O :wink: :wink:

just not sure which is the best way to go


RMP................helpppppppppppppppppppppppppppp ppp please [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]

OK, ask any questions you want...but I can't do much with a general "I'm lost!"

Ron's given a good summary of the eMap, but bear in mind the eMaps are about 5 years old now and many of the points he makes would be addressed in newer models. However, his post does indicate the disadvantages of older units.

If you have a USB-only laptop (no serial port) then you can get a USB to serial converter. As Ron found some of these, especially the early ones, are problematic although they're getting better. I'd keep the receipt.

PDAs and robustness. My PDAs have been everywhere, including on the Outback Challenge '04, through various deserts and many hard day trips. Yes they are robust enough provided you take care of them. You can claim the tax back too, not depreciate them. Handy to know.

The Magellans would be cheaper than a PDA/GPSR combo like I run. The great advantage of the Magellans is mapping coverage. However, the screen, controls and features aren't the best so though the detail is there it's not that easy to actually use. Garmin's maps are nowhere near as good as Magellans for offroad use, but in reviews I've found their receivers to be better-featured and more user-friendly.

If you want mapping coverage for 4WDing then either get a Magellan with the optional DiscoverAus maps, or any other GPSR linked to a PDA or laptop where you can run any map you like.

If you want on-road turn-by-turn directions, known as autorouting (also see a review in this month's Overlander mag) then Garmin and Navman are two main options. There is also autorouting software for PDAs and laptops.

OziexplorerCE (the PDA version) will give you voice prompts after you've set it up to do so with a route you've put in it. For autorouting the dedicated autorouting GPSRs from Garmin and Navman will generally voice prompt. All software voice prompts. Voice is much safer than looking at a screen.

If you know you will buy a GPSR and intend to hook it up to either a laptop or PDA then I would spend less on the GPSR compared to if you know you'd only ever use it by itself. This is because you can get a less fully-featured GPSR and compensate with the laptop/PDA.

Everyone has a personal preference, and having tried pretty much everything mine is a PDA.

Next month's Overlander will contain a review of the top-end Magellan, the Meridian Colour. I'm also thinking about one on the topic of PDAs and GPSRs, seems like there's enough interest.

Originally posted by rmp
I'm also thinking about one on the topic of PDAs and GPSRs, seems like there's enough interest.

Thanks Rob....and yes I think there is a heap of interest in this area of PDAs and GPSRs...go for it.