Which GPS?

[grahamzr]

I was wondering if anyone had any experience with garmin vs. magellan gps? I can't really decipher the differences. I'm looking for a GPS with basic mapping capabilities i.e. Garmin Etrex Legend or the new Magellan eXpolorist 200. Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

-Zach

 

[Leslie]

I used to not like Magellans, but, they've come a long way. I do like Garmin, that's what I currently have.

eTrex would be good if you need a smaller one to carry along. However, you won't have an external antenna port, so that use in vehicle will be limited to what it can pick up when sitting on the dash.... it still works, just not as well as having an external antenna, especially if under a forest canopy.

You need to think about how you're going to use it. If its strictly for vehicle use, then the external antenna is something I would look for, and not worry about the size as much. But if you're going to be always using it away from the vehicle, when hiking, etc., then smaller would be better.

How big of an area do you cover? What kind of map detail do you want? If you want a lot of detail over a good-sized region, then you need a lot of memory. If all you need is major highways across the country, then you can stick with the built-in database.

Best o' luck....


-L

 

[antichrist]

You might want to check out the "GPS Units and Software" forums over at Geocaching.com.
Those are folks who use them alot and want really good accuracy.

FWIW I have a Magellan Meridian Platinum. For the car I use my laptop, Delorme Street Atlas or Topo USA and a Delorme USB GPS receiver.

 

[mikem]

Check out http://gpsinformation.net/

I have had a Garmin etrex vista and gps60cs. Garmin makes nice hardware, but their software (Mapsource) sucks. Garmin devices don't play well with others, so you are stuck with using their software most of the time.

The vista had a really nice basemap with lots of details so you can get by without buying extra maps. The basemap in the newer gps60cs is almost useless, so you need to use the mapsource software to upload maps. The gps60cs has an extrenal antenna port, color screen and the controls are easier to use.

Mike

 

[smenzel]

Garmin and Magellan offer pretty much the same thing these days -- just in different packaging with different interface. Ultimately, it's going to boil down to individual features and which interface works better for you (kind of like cell phones these days).

On my wish list for my next GPS -- built-in compass, enough memory to load maps as well as the ability to handle external battery source and antenna.

 

[PHARAOHDISCO]

I am using the Garmin176C which in my opinion is a great reliable GPS and user friendly. It's very suitable for offroad driving with a nice large screen and it doesn't suffer from high ambient temperatures which in our area are sometimes very high, especially in a closed vehicle.

 

[syoung]

I run the 182C and love the large display and tons of features... An eTrex legend for a handheld. The Garmins default to a proprietary data type on the serial port, but after dorking with them for a few minutes they can be changed in the software to NMEA standards so they'll play well with others.
Their customer service has always been so good I've never considered getting another brand, but some of the new Magellan stuff certainly looks like they've gotten a lot better recently.

 

[FIVESPDDISCO]

I use Garmin gps V i am very happy with it.

 

[El Ed]

Graham,
Saw your post on sellling the suspension. Sorry it didn't work out. Anyway, I don't know if you remember but I work for REI and sell most of the Garmin line and few of the Megellans. I all comes down to what you are going to use it for and where you will be using it most of the time. Secondly, what features are most important to you and thirdly will be price range. Somethings to consider will be ease of use, size of screen, memory size if you are going to download software, antenna type and Waas feature which I recommend. The exporist is a good basic Topo "out of the box" unit for mostly back packing applications. The etrex line is very reliable and great starter units too but if you can afford it, look into the Garmin 60c and the 60cs. They have one of the largest, most versitile color displays plus all the buttons on the front as opposed to the sides like most other models including the etrexs.
The bottom line is the Megellan and Garmin are very simular overall.
Other options to consider are compass, barameter, altimeter, # way pts., routes, etc. if seriously don't need any or all of these features, why pay for them. If you don't already know how to use a GPS unit to its potential, consider taking a hand on course thru your local REI. You have to pay for the course but well worth it. Most of the returns we get on GPS units are due to lazy people not reading the manual and not able to figure out how to use them. They call it defective. Anyway, I hope that helps. Everyone's comments above me are all correct and which unit is better is personal choice.
Good luck,
Eddie
REI Encinitas, CA

PS I really like the 60CS.

 

[grahamzr]

Yeah bummer about the lift.....college expenses, bummer. Anywho, thanks for the info. I'm leaning towards the magellan explorist...or garmin extrex basic one (yellow case) I figure they're cheap and i'll be able to use on my bike and most likely in the disco. Either of them have better reception?

 

[DeanBrown3D]

Zach, keep in mind for a vehicle you can pick up a used laptop ($50) and Garmin antenna gps ($120) and delorme software ($100) and have the biggest display ever. You'll need a laptop mount also.

 

[antichrist]

Zach, keep in mind for a vehicle you can pick up a used laptop ($50) and Garmin antenna gps ($120) and delorme software ($100) and have the biggest display ever. You'll need a laptop mount also.

That's what I do, only using the delorme GPS receiver cause it was under $100 and I was too cheap to buy a hand held (I got my Magellan later as a "reward" at work).

For the laptop mount I took the lid off my cubby, replaced it with a piece of 3/4" plywood, Went to home depot and got lazy-susan hardware and made a little cradle (out of 1/4" ply and 1/4x1 oak) for my laptop and mounted it. Cost me about $15-20 in materials and an hour or so of time.
Someday I'll get around to making another tray to go on that one upside down with padding and cover on it.
I put the lazy susan hardware on it cause my kids like to watch the map sometimes from the back seat, or if someone is riding with me they can keep an eye on it.

 

[NorCalDiscoII]

GPS for Dell Axim PDA?

Does anyone have any experience using the Pharaos GPS for Dell Axim X5 or any other GPS add-on for this PDA? Got lost for about 40 min on El Dorado national forest trails today, local maps weren't much of a help, time for GPS!

 

[grahamzr]

If i were to do the laptop gps thing. Which sounds really cool. Any suggestions on a laptop that is super reliable that is cheap....doesn't have to be a speed demon but the ability to word process check e-mail and such would be nice. I was looking @ Apple Ibooks on ebay, I think apples a renowned for their reliability. Comments?

-Zach

 

[iansoady]

Which laptop

I use an IBM hinkpad 240 which is a great little machine (1.3kg) although a bit slow by current standards. I use Memory Map software (I believe it's available in the US) in the UK which has full Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 mapping. I also use Microsoft Autoroute for main road routing. The 240 is hooked up to a Garmin Etrex. Both Garmin and IBM bought on Ebay: 95 GBP for the Extrex, 180 GBP for the Thinkpad.