What GPS unit do you all have/use?
what do you like about it/dislike about it.
if you could do it all over again what would you get? would you keep yours?

I want one with map feature. I will use it mostly in my rig...for streets and also to find some back trails here in texas.

I am looking at:

Magellan Sportrak Map GPS
Garmin Legend
Magellan meridian platinum
Magellan meridian color
Magellan sportrak color

any suggestions?
I have only used the ones we have in our survival gear ( wich are not that great...) So I am not too up to speed on them..
Most of the stores around here only have one or two of the lowest price ones ( none with maps) and do not let you play with them...
so I am just going off of epinions and stuff..
but I value your opinions much more because I am sure you use them like I will..

thanks in advance,
todd

 

Hi
I just got the Sport Trak and tested it out a few days ago. It is easy to use and precise, but the basemap that comes with it on show mayor roads such highways. You can get a map upgrade but I think they are pretty expensive. They sell some GPSs at best buys with a $30 mail-in rebate.
Carsten

 

Todd,

I've got the Magellan Merdian Marine and I like it but if I were to do it over I would get the Platinum becuase the comapss works even if your not moving.

Lots of nice features on both.

 

I have the Magellan Meridian Gold... and love everything about it. I bought my daughter the Magellan SporTrak Map and love it as well - it's light _and_ floats!

The only thing I miss is having an electronic compass. The Gold uses sat's to figure out your direction, which means you have to move 10-15' in order for it to register.

The Platinum that you're looking at _does_ have the electronic compass though.

When you get ready to buy, be sure to check eBay - there are deals to be had!


btw, there have been a number of threads on GPS's... Using , I found:

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/show...threadid=23546
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/show...threadid=16138
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/show...threadid=14590
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/show...threadid=13577
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/show...&threadid=6760

 

I did do a search..and after looking at 20 with only one wrod ( gps) I figured I would post new..and ask what I wanted to know..
true there are a couple of those threads that did help out a little..
thanks

 

midiwall,
I just read what I posted in responce to you..and it sort of sounded rude..I was not trying to be rude..or was I trying to lash back and be a smart ass..I was just trying to explain that I know how to use the search and I had done one..

 

My dad has a Magellen, not sure which model, but its the cheapy $100 one, and I have a Garmin Legend and love it except for one thing. The antenna in the Magellen is a lot stronger that the Garmin.....

 

Garmin Etrex Vista.
I got it for Christmas and I still playing with it and familiarizing myself with the features. I got it for hunting, camping, hiking and offroad use.

 

do you have to buy all the CDroms with maps for that one ..or does it have a basemap already on it?

 

http://www.garmin.com/products/rino120/#

This is what I got for Christmas. I love it! I use it all the time. It works with other FRS radios so I take it snowboarding and I'm able to talk with my other friends on their radios, and I can track my speed while snowboarding(current top speed is 49.4mph). A lot of people swear by the Garmin Etrex Yellow. Simple, accurate, and very affordable. It's the most used by Geocachers. If you want good info on GPSr's, go to Geocaching Homepage

There is a link to the forums on the left under "discuss geocaching". TONS of good info on GPSr's and tech info.

 

No sweat! It's hard to convey emotions in writing, so unless it's really clear that someone's PO'd, I just take it as "all good".

and yeah, hitting on "GPS" is tough... I found a couple of those threads by using "gps garmin" or "gps magellan" figuring that someone would ask "what you got fer a GPS" and people would respond with one of those two brands.


Good luck!

 

 

Lemme jump in sideways on Ian (RoadRunner)...

All of the GPS's I know of on the market today have a basemap built in. Plus, all of the models that have downloadable maps will come with some sort of map software that will allow you to download detailed maps (street level) into the unit.

There are a number of software packages that you can buy to further enhance the mapping, including doing things like 3D topographic plots and the like.

 

I'll be attempting to break this speed next Saturday. I'd love to hit 60mph. Be able to say I've ridden at freeway speeds!!! I literally aimed downhill and only turned when the run curved. The straight sections that were downhill I tucked and leaned forward to get the best aerodynamics. I think with a fresh wax I could easily hit 60mph. The only problem is making sure the run is clear of slowpokes and telemarkers. Don't want someone cutting me off at that speed or I will DEFINATELY break a few bones. Think I should get a helmet?? The doctor urged me to back in HS when I cut off the top 1/4 of my ear while snowboarding... I might just buy one in the not too distant future.

 

I got myself a 99 dollar Garmin ETrex, its super easy to use but doesnt have road maps or anything, but who really drives on the road s anyway right?!

 

My dad has a Magellan Meridian Platinum that I have been "borrowing".

I like it, its really easy to use and has a lot of features. He just bought the mapsend map and a 32mb card. The map software is pretty nice, it shows all streets and even places of interest!

 

I have the Garman Legend and just got the Magellan Platinum

 

Herkengineer
The Etrex Vista has a basemap in it with, I believe, all major highways and roads. I've notice it dosen't include the smaller roads and subdivisions. Not a big deal right now. Eventually I'm going to use Topo USA on a laptop connected to my GPS to track offroad runs for my club and look on Ebay for more detailed road maps.

 

Do you use the two for differient things? or was it an upgrade?

 

I've been using a Garmin Emap. I like the map functions very much. The screen is a bit small. With the 128 meg card I can have several states of street level maps at once, it also know graded roads and some of the more challenging dirt roads as well.

When traveling cross country I can ask it where is the closest gas, food or Hotels. I can also plug in addresses to find and in most cases it works great. Every now and then Garmin the company was not up to date on that street. Such as if the town or city as gone through a bunch of growth lately.

The nice thing is it's just a bit bigger than an Etrex so it's pretty compact. If I were going to do it over I would get the Garmin III. For me it uses the same cards but the screen is bigger and uses colors to differentiate between major and surface streets. Also if I understand it correctly you can have the III create directions for you at device level on the fly. On the Emap I need to program that trip via the computer and upload the directions to the Emap before the trip.

I don't know if this will help. Even though the video is a bit corny there is still a lot of info relayed. Every now and then a voice would be been nice to prompt an up coming turn. Might have saved a couple of lengthy turn a rounds.:pat:

16 meg video clip
http://www.garmin.com/movie/SPIIIHI.mpg

6 meg video clip
http://www.garmin.com/movie/SPIIILO.mpg