Garmin GPS - Which GPS to purchase?

Author

Which GPS to purchase?

Larry

2006-11-17, 10:33 pm

I know, an old question that gets even older answering. I've
looked at some of the newer units and can't find one that has
the features that I'm looking for. I currently have a GPS V with
an older version of Mapsource (with a bad CD that I've been
unable to find a replacement for).

Here's my priority list:

Must be able to save tracks without compressing them. Ideally
that would be to some internal memory. I currently download to
an older Palm III that I carry with me. Alternatively if it
stored about 20,000 points that would probably do it.

A relatively large display. B&W or color is fine. Older eyes
aren't what they used to be.

The ability to use some or all of the accessories I've purchased
for the V. External antenna w/BNC connector, mounts, power
connectors, etc.

Preferably the unit would have mapping but auto routing is not a
big plus. Really I'm content with the City Select 4 that I have
and it's only tied to one unit.

Any suggestions?

Thanks for your time.
Larry

emanon

2006-11-21, 10:33 pm

"Larry" <riding@my.valkyrie> wrote in message
news:Xns987EC0A6E132
5none@207.115.17.102...
> I know, an old question that gets even older answering. I've
> looked at some of the newer units and can't find one that has
> the features that I'm looking for. I currently have a GPS V with
> an older version of Mapsource (with a bad CD that I've been
> unable to find a replacement for).
>
> Here's my priority list:
>
> Must be able to save tracks without compressing them. Ideally
> that would be to some internal memory. I currently download to
> an older Palm III that I carry with me. Alternatively if it
> stored about 20,000 points that would probably do it.
>
> A relatively large display. B&W or color is fine. Older eyes
> aren't what they used to be.
>
> The ability to use some or all of the accessories I've purchased
> for the V. External antenna w/BNC connector, mounts, power
> connectors, etc.
>
> Preferably the unit would have mapping but auto routing is not a
> big plus. Really I'm content with the City Select 4 that I have
> and it's only tied to one unit.
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> Thanks for your time.
> Larry

You may be out of luck with the connector issue and reuse accessories. Other
than that . . .
I have a Garmin Vista Cx and I love it. If I had to buy again, I'd go for a
Garmin 60 CSx. The Vista Cx was my first GPS and it has yet to fail me. The
primary reason I'd change to the 60 CSx is the more sensitive antenna.

Good luck with whatever you get!

Steve Calvin

2006-11-21, 10:33 pm

emanon wrote:
> "Larry" <riding@my.valkyrie> wrote in message
>
> You may be out of luck with the connector issue and reuse accessories. Other
> than that . . .
> I have a Garmin Vista Cx and I love it. If I had to buy again, I'd go for a
> Garmin 60 CSx. The Vista Cx was my first GPS and it has yet to fail me. The
> primary reason I'd change to the 60 CSx is the more sensitive antenna.
>
> Good luck with whatever you get!
>
>

I "poo-pooed" auto routing as well, until I got it. Won't be
without it now.

Anyhow. I have a Garmin GPSMAP 76CSx and absolutely love it.
Same functionality of the 60CSx mentioned above but the
unit is structured differently. Personal preference.

--
Steve

Larry

2006-11-22, 10:33 pm

"emanon" <emanon@erehwon.com> wrote in
news:B6ednWFUDuJ5Nv7
YnZ2dnUVZ_rydnZ2d@co
mcast.com:

>
> "Larry" <riding@my.valkyrie> wrote in message
> news:Xns987EC0A6E132
5none@207.115.17.102...
>
> You may be out of luck with the connector issue and reuse
> accessories. Other than that . . .
> I have a Garmin Vista Cx and I love it. If I had to buy
> again, I'd go for a Garmin 60 CSx. The Vista Cx was my
> first GPS and it has yet to fail me. The primary reason I'd
> change to the 60 CSx is the more sensitive antenna.
>
> Good luck with whatever you get!
>

From the Garmin website... "10,000-point automatic track log;
20 saved tracks (500 points each) let you retrace your path in
both directions". Is there something I'm missing? A method to
transfer tracks to the memory card that I'm not seeing?

Larry

Larry

2006-11-22, 10:33 pm

Steve Calvin <calvins@optonline.net> wrote in
news:G1O8h.154$5W1.88@newsfe09.lga:

> emanon wrote:
>
> I "poo-pooed" auto routing as well, until I got it. Won't
> be without it now.
>
> Anyhow. I have a Garmin GPSMAP 76CSx and absolutely love
> it.
> Same functionality of the 60CSx mentioned above but the
> unit is structured differently. Personal preference.
>

Mine gets used mostly to document motorcycle trips. If I get
lost I just ride longer ;o}

I have auto routing now with the V but usually load maps
without the routing info. I can fit about 3 times the maps in
memory. That said, it is a nice feature to have somtimes. Just
not as important as the others.

Larry

Jack Erbes

2006-11-23, 10:33 am

Larry wrote:
<snip>
> From the Garmin website... "10,000-point automatic track log;
> 20 saved tracks (500 points each) let you retrace your path in
> both directions". Is there something I'm missing? A method to
> transfer tracks to the memory card that I'm not seeing?
>

The 20 "saved tracks" are compressed and do not contain all the
trackpoints collected. And the saved tracks are saved to track memory,
not to the microSD card.

But if you turn on the "Log track to data card" feature the Cx and CSx
models will save all track data collected to a *.gpx file on the microSD
card.

Those *.gpx file tracks cannot be viewed from the handheld but you can
view them in MapSource and a number of utility softwares (GPS Utility,
GPSBabel, g7towin, etc.).

If you open a *.gpx file with MapSource, you can upload it to the track
memory on the GPS if you want to display them there. You just have to
make sure that you don't have anything you want in track memory when you
do that as it may get overwritten.

And from MapSource you can take the *.gpx file track data and edit it,
save it to *.gdb files, make multiple track files from one track, place
waypoints, create routes, etc., etc.

And MapSource will use the *.gpx file data to calculate speeds,
distances, and elapsed distances.

The *.gpx files contain lat/long, date/time, and elevation and and a
file is created for each day. And the file will contain every single
trackpoint collected for a given day, even if you are collecting at a
high density and the track memory starts overwriting itself at 10,000
points.

Jack

--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA (jackerbes at adelphia dot net)
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine dot com)

Larry

2006-11-24, 4:33 am

Jack Erbes <jackerbes@adelphia.net> wrote in
news:GNOdnaQTyedFKvj
YnZ2dnUVZ_rOdnZ2d@ad
elphia.com:

> Larry wrote:
><snip>
>
> The 20 "saved tracks" are compressed and do not contain all
> the trackpoints collected. And the saved tracks are saved
> to track memory, not to the microSD card.
>
> But if you turn on the "Log track to data card" feature the
> Cx and CSx models will save all track data collected to a
> *.gpx file on the microSD card.
>
> Those *.gpx file tracks cannot be viewed from the handheld
> but you can view them in MapSource and a number of utility
> softwares (GPS Utility, GPSBabel, g7towin, etc.).
>
> If you open a *.gpx file with MapSource, you can upload it
> to the track memory on the GPS if you want to display them
> there. You just have to make sure that you don't have
> anything you want in track memory when you do that as it
> may get overwritten.
>
> And from MapSource you can take the *.gpx file track data
> and edit it, save it to *.gdb files, make multiple track
> files from one track, place waypoints, create routes, etc.,
> etc.
>
> And MapSource will use the *.gpx file data to calculate
> speeds, distances, and elapsed distances.
>
> The *.gpx files contain lat/long, date/time, and elevation
> and and a file is created for each day. And the file will
> contain every single trackpoint collected for a given day,
> even if you are collecting at a high density and the track
> memory starts overwriting itself at 10,000 points.
>
> Jack
>

Thanks! that was exactly the info I was looking for. I guess
it's not published anywhere except the owners manuals. Is
there not a unit with a larger screen that has the same
capabilities?

Larry

Jack Erbes

2006-11-24, 7:33 am

Larry wrote:
<snip>>
> Thanks! that was exactly the info I was looking for. I guess
> it's not published anywhere except the owners manuals. Is
> there not a unit with a larger screen that has the same
> capabilities?
>

The 27xx and 28xx series StreetPilots are the last of the models that
have the track, multi destination, and other features.

I've been toying with the idea of buying a StreetPilot primarily to get
a larger display in the car and have been considering he older 2610's.

The now discontinued 2610 has all the navigation features I want on it
and can still be found new, refurbished, and used of course. I'm not at
all fixated on the non-navigation features on the newest 2820 and would
be perfectly happy with a 2610. The refurbs come with the same 1 year
warranty as the new one and show no evidence of previous use in the
reports I've read.

Jack

--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA (jackerbes at adelphia dot net)
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine dot com)

Larry

2006-11-24, 12:33 pm

Jack Erbes <jackerbes@adelphia.net> wrote in
news:XPWdnenDIJJcdfv
YnZ2dnUVZ_uadnZ2d@ad
elphia.com:

> Larry wrote:
><snip>>
>
> The 27xx and 28xx series StreetPilots are the last of the
> models that have the track, multi destination, and other
> features.
>
> I've been toying with the idea of buying a StreetPilot
> primarily to get a larger display in the car and have been
> considering he older 2610's.
>
> The now discontinued 2610 has all the navigation features I
> want on it and can still be found new, refurbished, and
> used of course. I'm not at all fixated on the
> non-navigation features on the newest 2820 and would be
> perfectly happy with a 2610. The refurbs come with the
> same 1 year warranty as the new one and show no evidence of
> previous use in the reports I've read.
>
> Jack
>

I spent some time on the Garmin website last night looking at
features and reading manuals and have come to the conclusion
that they don't make what I want in one unit. It doesn't
appear that any of the other manufacturers do either.
Everything's a compromise.

It looks like the 60CSx comes the closest. I'll probably get
one before the rebate ends at the end of the year.

Thanks again for your input, it was very valuable.

Larry

Phil Wheeler

2006-11-24, 12:33 pm

Jack Erbes wrote:
> Larry wrote:
> <snip>>
>
> The 27xx and 28xx series StreetPilots are the last of the models that
> have the track, multi destination, and other features.
>
> I've been toying with the idea of buying a StreetPilot primarily to get
> a larger display in the car and have been considering he older 2610's.
>
> The now discontinued 2610 has all the navigation features I want on it
> and can still be found new, refurbished, and used of course. I'm not at
> all fixated on the non-navigation features on the newest 2820 and would
> be perfectly happy with a 2610. The refurbs come with the same 1 year
> warranty as the new one and show no evidence of previous use in the
> reports I've read.
>

That's where I'm at, too, Jack. Have an SP-III
which works great but is really slow. And none of
the newer units festooned with bells and whistles
really excite me.

Keep us posted on what you do.

Phil

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