GPS Newbie - Need Some Advice

[funkyfedaykin]

We've been doing a lot of travel recently, & have more planned, so the time has come, I need to bite the bullet & get my GPS setup up to date. I'm not very knowledgeable in this area, and google searches & forum searches usually get me lost, rather than increasing my understanding.

Currently I run the google maps app on my Iphone 4, but this lacks turn by turn ability and is useless outside network coverage.
I also use my 5 year old Garmin (Nuvi in think) where I need to, but the maps are all out of date (and battery life sucks!).

I'm chasing your wisdom to meet the following criteria, in a hopefully low cost, uncomplicated way;

Need:
- Turn by turn
- No update fees/subscription
- Tracking (e.g. get home & be able to upload where you've been into kml or something)

Want:
- Ability to load on extra maps (e.g. Topografic)
- Ability to import extra information over top of maps (kml info, GIS info. I'd also like to know how to transport AutoCAD information into a format that can go strait onto the GPS if anyone knows)

I don't know if I'm asking too much, or how complicated it would be.

[Basil135]

You may find the following thread of interest:

AULRO Subscriber Offer - cheap on-road/off-road GPS units

A number of people here, me included, have bought these units, and modified them to suit our needs.

You dont need to be a full blown techo, as there are step by step instructions available.

The best thing with these units, apart from the price, is that they can run both turn by turn mapping, as well as off road mapping.

Good luck in your search.

[Yorkshire_Jon]

I personally would keep the nuvi, maybe looking at updating the maps (you can buy them from Garmin) and run it on 12V (basic 12V-mini USB off ebay).

Then, Id buy Memory Map AusTour or Memory Map Hema 4WD and run those on your laptop with a gps unit connected (I use an GlobalSat MR-350, available anywhere), or iPad or iPhone. For the apple devices you'll need to buy the memory map app.

The alternative is one of the more expensive all in one devices, like the Hema Navigator.

Depends on budget and what you see as most applicable to your needs.

The memory map software is probably the most intuative to use, others swear by OziExplorer and the plethara of maps that are "available".

R
Jon

[funkyfedaykin]

I personally would keep the nuvi, maybe looking at updating the maps (you can buy them from Garmin) and run it on 12V (basic 12V-mini USB off ebay).

Then, Id buy Memory Map AusTour or Memory Map Hema 4WD and run those on your laptop with a gps unit connected (I use an GlobalSat MR-350, available anywhere), or iPad or iPhone. For the apple devices you'll need to buy the memory map app.

The alternative is one of the more expensive all in one devices, like the Hema Navigator.

Depends on budget and what you see as most applicable to your needs.

The memory map software is probably the most intuative to use, others swear by OziExplorer and the plethara of maps that are "available".

R
Jon

I've got a 12v charger for the Garmin, but it's battery doesn't last long if i have to unplug it to charge something else.

I've had a look at the Memory Map stuff, & it looks pretty good & easy to use. I'd use memory-map on my phone & PC, & if i were to keep my Garmin as a "street directory", i can still interface with memory maps on the PC for way points & routes if need be.

It would be relatively inexpensive to go that way. My laptop is a bit big to haul around for tracking & stuff, so i would just use it for route planning.

The Hema navigator is way out of my price range. & i'll have a look at OziExplorer shortly.

[mikehzz]

Turn by turn using Sygic or Tom Tom is fine on an iphone and under $100. So is Memory Map. I use them on my iphone and ipad. I have several other gps units with up to date maps but I leave them at home now. You don't need data or phone reception for the gps to work fine on an iphone or ipad. The ipad is better, I leave my laptop at home now as well. I load up the maps, music and movies before I leave and no other device is needed. Usually I have the iphone running the street mapping and the ipad running Memory Map at the same time. You don't have to pay twice either, it will load on both through itunes. Cheers

[Nera Donna]

I agree with ‘mikehzz’ in regards to running Tom Tom software on your iPhone. I reckon GPS systems are like computers and cell phones. Every 5 minutes the one you own becomes obsolete and there’s a new swanky model out with all the bells and whistles.
Upgrade the software on what you have, just don’t over capitalize (over spend). When the price of the software becomes close to the price of a new unit, update the unit.
I run two older units. A Tom Tom for the city and a Magellan cross-over for normal every day running and bush guidance. Both are four odd years old. Remember GPS systems are only a guide, you should have proper maps when venturing into the unknown.
Last price I paid for topo maps at DOLA in WA. $25 for a laminated copy, cheap!
Cheers
Craig

[John W]

Nothing more than a suggestion.

Garmin are offering lifetime updates on their Australia/NZ maps with a new Nuvi at present . You can get these starting at about $200 not much different to the price of lifetime map updates on their own. On a new one battery should be good for more than 6 hrs. I suspect that the processor in your old one will be a lot slower than a new one so may be worth the update?
I also have the latest garmin Topo aus/nz on a micro SD card and that has an amazing number of off road tracks on it. It is not a lifetime update thing but is very good for both bushwalking using a hand held and for the Nuvi in car doing a little 4X4 in state forests etc.
I have not looked into it but the iPad with inbuilt GPS and with memory maps also sound a great option with the bigger screen. Ask others about it.

[funkyfedaykin]

I've just picked up a Garmin 1390T, it's the outgoing model but it was on sale & i couldn't justify $100 more for voice activation & a thinner design.
It has come with the Life time updates, worth the cost of the device & comes with extras like Bluetooth hands free & traffic updates I believe.

I may pick up the Topo maps from Garmin a bit later down the track, but for now I'll use Memory Map for non urban route planning. Do the maps downloaded in Memory Map get updated automatically?

The memory map stuff has been working rather well for me, however I'm a little disappointed in the lack of a PC to iOS interface. For example, if i want to put my waymarks on the phone from the PC, i have to connect to a wifi network & do the transfer through a web browser, or if coming from the phone to PC I have to email it to myself which needs data network, and both of which are a bit cumbersome & messy.

Just out of curiosity, what kinds of add on's / modifications are available for newer Garmins?

[woody]

I know it's not Apple related but I'm using Sygic on an android smartphone for turn by turn and Oziexplorer for offroad navigation with topographic maps (hema etc).

One plus with android (other than price over apple) is that I can install the same apps on more than one device (linked to email address). I just purchased a 10 inch tablet for a bigger screen and have installed the programs on this device as well.

The Iphone and smartphone gives portability with all functions in one device, trade off is screen size, but you will always have the phone with you.

Darren

[mikehzz]

Woody, you can install the same apps on multiple devices with Apple. I have installed the same apps on ipad and iphone linked by the one itunes account. I'm not sure but I think it allows 5 devices?