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which gps ?
hello,
which gps would you recommand to go round the world ? is it necessary/ a big help ? thanks |
Here's a place to start, it is an overview I posted a few weeks ago: Topic: Garmin StreetPilot III, Considerations when choosing a GPS
[This message has been edited by PanEuropean (edited 01 February 2002).] |
I myself am very happy with the Garmin III (not the III+).
It has a build in base-map from the entire world, it's fast and acurate. Ofcourse... others probably have other goodies. Anyway, take one with a built in map. I myself am not crazy with the up-loadable map's... what happens if you "loose" it on the road.. You need a laptop etc.. to put it in there again. But.... probably the III is no longer in production http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/frown.gif One more piece of advice, If you fix it to the bike, take care of vibration's. If there is a lot of it, let a "specialized company" fill your unit with polyester to make it "bomb-proof" Maarten |
Garmin seem to have a cool little one called eTrex. You can get all the extras that will allow it to fir onto bike handlebars and is also waterproof. I am considering this one.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/products/product.php?cartid=0202061318001454690&mod uleno=26467&manufacturer [This message has been edited by Spud (edited 06 February 2002).] [This message has been edited by Spud (edited 06 February 2002).] |
Spud, be carefull with the bike-mount set from Garmin. Don' know what you are plannito do with it but that set is meant for easy nice tarmac roads. It won't last in off road conditions. go check this out: http://www.touratech.de/english/products/enter.html
They have really good stuff to mount a gps etrex on your bike. |
The Garmin mounting bracket for the StreetPilot III, GPS III, etc. has a set-screw in it, which provides a supplemental (backup) method of retaining the GPS unit in the holder in case a very rough bump would cause it to come out of the snap-in brackets.
I have found this mounting bracket to be very secure, on my motorcycle for over 18,000 km, at prolonged speeds in excess of 200 km/h in Germany, as well as over the really crappy country roads found in the Republic of Ireland. Also the GPS has stayed in its bracket through very rough turbulence in the aircraft, when the flight bag and coffee cups were bouncing all over. So far as the mount for this GPS goes, I think as long as the Garmin mounting clip is attached to equally solid mounting hardware - such as a Ram-Mount, you have nothing to worry about. I don't know if the smaller size GPS units, such as the GPS V, have an equally sturdy mounting bracket. Check to see if there is a set-screw. If you have a set-screw, I think you should be OK. If you don't, then I think Fireboomer has given a good warning. |
Paneuropean, has a point. The bigger models have a screw to fixate them. They will hold. But the smaller models (the etrex models) don't have this option.
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cheers for your suggestions guys.. maybe won't bother with that bracket then!
Spud ps. just seen the special bracket for the eTrex.. cool [This message has been edited by Spud (edited 07 February 2002).] |
I had used the Garmin 3+ for a couple of years(and liked it) until recently upgraded to the GPSmap176c. The 176c has a much larger screen
has upload capabilities and is much faster than the 3+. I was told by a Garmin dealer that the 3 series(now 5) is of old technology and is being phased out of use. I put a 64mb card in mine and loaded Metro Guide for the Southwestern US, Worldmap for Mexico to Panama, eastern Canada and central Europe to Nordkapp. I am happy so far. Mine is mounted on a Ram mount which seems to be taking the abuse I give with a lot of off road travel. ------------------ Safe Travels Jay Kaminsky Happily Homeless http://jkam.home.att.net |
I have also seen two motorcycles that have the Garmin model 176 or 176C (colour) mounted on them.
If you do NOT need auto-routing information (meaning, to have the GPS choose the route for you and advise you of when to turn left and right), then by far the best unit to consider purchasing is either the 176 or 176C, as Jay suggests in his post above. These two units were designed primarily for marine use, and they offer the user much more control over the display on the screen - for example, to have compass heading displayed, to view the map from different perspectives, etc. For 'off road' (dual sport or pure off road work, like crossing deserts) the 176 or 176C would be a far better (and less expensive) choice than the StreetPilot III. In my case, riding a ST1100, I am almost always on streets or roads, this is why I chose the StreetPilot III. StreetPilot = fantastic for 'streets'. 176 or 176C = fantastic for 'navigation'. Note that the 176 and 176C will also display the same street information as the StreetPilot III, if you load the appropriate cartographic data into it. They just don't have the auto route creation capability. Note also that auto route creation ability is only available in Canada, the US, and Western Europe. So if you will not be spending your time in these three areas, there is no advantage at all to buying the StreetPilot III. [This message has been edited by PanEuropean (edited 08 February 2002).] |
Most GPS will come loaded with either North America basemaps or rest of world, not both, so if you're going everywhere, get one with uploadability.
Other than that it's a matter of budget and if you want to use it for everything, or just to keep from getting permanently lost. For full features and big display I agree on the 176 as a good choice. For a small unit the emap is really nice. On a bike an external antenna isn't necessary, in a car it is. Factory mounts are Ok for on road travel, but if you're in the dessert or vibrating hard get a solid mount. Factory mounts do nothing to protect the unit from shock, and i have seen them fall apart. Ram mounts are good, touratech are better. (and I'm not saying that just because I sell them) No matter what mount yo use if your gps has a hand strap, use that to strap it to the bike. ------------------ |
I am considering to mount a Garmin Etrex. Reasons are: price, small, waterproof and I can also use it when backpacking.
I do realise that it will not be possible to read anything on the screen when riding. Also I do not expect it to tell me were to go. I will only use it as a navigational aid togather with a map and compass. Any remarks, considirations, hints and tips concerning wich version,... are welcome. |
hi,
thanks to everyone for answers :-) i saw the etrex too, quite cheap, simple if i understood how it works, it gives you your point then you put other points (towns, etc, ...) in it and it will help you to find your way ??? enough to avoid getting lost, with a local map of the country and a compas maybe i would keep it in the pocket. i also saw the 76 and map76, same one as 176 (i don't know) ? what's the advantage with a map : you can follow your route on the map, that's all ? do you have to buy maps seperately or it is included ? i guess the maps are perfect for the major cities or countries, finding a helpfull map for mongolia, i'm not sure ??? streetpilot looks perfect for our countires and cities. in fact, i just need to avoid getting too much lost, put some points (towns, etc ...) where i'll go, like anybody i guess :-) where do you find the points to put in ? thanks a lot for answers again :-) |
Hai Vincent,
The nice thing about a build-in map is that you can recognize where you are in a glance. The base-map build in my GPSIII covers the entiere world. It show's citty's, lake's, rivers, main-road's, rail-road's. In this you see a little arow, that's you. In this way it's easy to see if you are near that town already, or maybe you missed that junction. http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/cool.gif Also it's easyer to "project" your position on a (paper) map. Even if a map has coordinate's (witch a lot do not http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/frown.gif ) it's usually in a very rough scale (every 10 degree's) while you want your position as clearly as possible (want to find that well in the dessert?). I hope this clearafy's the ease of a build-in map. Maarten |
Note that on all of the newer (meaning, made in the last 2 years) Garmin units, you can upload maps of different countries into the units. By 'maps', I mean topographical maps (available for USA only) or street and road maps (available for North America and Western Europe).
Garmin also makes a product called 'WorldMap'. This provides reasonable geographical information - cities, towns, lakes, railroads, and major roads and highways - for the whole world. It can be uploaded to any of the newer units - although some of the Garmin units come with portions of the WorldMap already 'burned in' (meaning, permanantly loaded) into the unit. The different map products come on CD's. You buy the CD, then use a computer (any computer) to upload the information into your GPS, using a serial cable. The CD's range in price from about US$ 60 (for worldmap) to US$ 200 (all of Europe, or all of North America). Frequently, used CD's are advertised on eBay. Do a keyword search on 'Garmin' and 'MapSource' together (both words) and you will find them. |
I have an old garmin 12 mounted on my klr with a RAM mount. the mount isolates most vibrations, and makes it easy to position the unit for easy viewing. they make mounts for the nicer map units that i am druling over also.
------------------ Ian aka "Maniac" 93' KLR650 [This message has been edited by Maniac28 (edited 14 February 2002).] |
hi,
thanks a lot for your answers i think i'll go for a basic cheap etrex : 50 points maximum recordable the most important is to find the gps points somewhere on internet or whatever does anyone has a good website to recommend to find the points on the globe ? thanks, safe travels |
I have been looking around on the net for coordinates and they are not easy to find. Actually haven't found a good searchable database.
There is a CD-rom ecyclopedia on wich you can find all the coordinates of almost all the cities / villages of the world. If I could just think of the name of the damn thing... Nobody else who has an idea? |
Asked for "GPS waypoints database", Google returns on top of a very long list:
http://www.waypoint.org/ http://www.swopnet.com/waypoints/ ------------------ Pierre http://www.geocities.com/skypie999/bikes/ |
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Whoops - the correct address is WWW.CALLE.COM/world/
Anything after the first slash ( / ) is CaSe-SensiTiVe! |
Whow, impressive link. Thanks!
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Anything after the first slash ( / ) is CaSe-SensiTiVe!
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/redface.gif |
hi,
calle.com/world/ perfect, amazing ! so, just have to enter the spots or waypoints then the gps can tell you the direction to go thanks a lot shouldn't get lost even with a basic gps, like the etrex for example, 6 or 7 000 kms in russia can be disorientating :-) safe travels, |
Has anyone tried the Garmin Emap? It is cheaper then the Garmin III+ and the V. Has a screen that is just a bit bigger and 16MB of memory.
I am trying to make a choice inbetween the Garmin III+, the Garmin V and the Emap. III+ will do the job when travelling in Marocco, but won't be of much use in Belgium. The V will also do the job in Marocco, but will also be very helpfull in Belgium when I am riding as a express courier. (streetlevel guidance) The Emap is (as far as I know) mostly like the III+, but cheaper. The money I save I can use on other stuff later. Can anyone help me out with some convincing remarks? |
Fireboomer:
The choice between the GPS V and the StreetPilot III should be influenced a bit by the quality of your vision. If you are approaching 40 years, or have anything less than perfect near and distant vision (corrected or uncorrected), then you should get the StreetPilot III. The StreetPilot III has a much bigger screen than the GPS V, and that makes a HUGE difference when you are threading through urban traffic, when all the car drivers are trying to kill you, and you only have half a second to look at the GPS display. If you are planning to use the unit for everyday professional work (as a courier), I highly recommend you get the StreetPilot III. Although both the GPS V and the StreetPilot III support autorouting, and show the same streets (same visual map data), the amount of data contained about each street - turn restrictions, number of lanes, time of day restrictions, etc. - is greater and more sophisticated on the "City Navigator" CD that comes with the SP III than on the "City Select" CD that comes with the GPS V. For a tourist or recreational driver, this might not make a difference. For someone who rides for a living, where time=money, it would make a difference. Michael [This message has been edited by PanEuropean (edited 27 February 2002).] |
Thanks for the info Michael. I am not considering the Streetpilot. The courier riding is a 'side job' I do in my freetime. Time is money, but time on a motorbike is also fun, so I don't race around afraid to make less money. And the investment is just too high.
The Garmin V is half the price and would be a good help from time to time I think. Especially or the Iong routes. For in city navigation I will still have a streetlevel map in my tankbag and use both. Other question: who can tell if I can use a Macitosh in combination with my Garmin? Some say it works, other say it doesn't. I would need a USB link. And is it worth to buy the cable and the software? |
More information about connecting a Mac to a GPS can be found at http://www.macgpspro.com/
I'll buy their software very soon. The feature list seems quite complete but I haven't tried it yet and I don't know how good is the UI. It lets you import maps from anywhere (any JPG will do). They have cables too but they seem bulkier than those on http://www.allusb.com/products/P11471.html ------------------ Pierre http://www.geocities.com/skypie999/bikes/ |
Some independent software vendors have produced programs to enable Macs to be used with the Garmin products. How effective these are, I don't know. Garmin themselves don't support Macs at all - strictly the Wintel platforms.
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hi
i read all these people's comments on the topic of gps. i bought one for my trip because a friend (not an overlander) insisted i should not leave home without one. i never used it. if you are planning to drive into the middle of the sahara or similar (i.e cross an area without landmarks) a gps would be useful. if you plan to drive on 'roads', buy a map, a compass (there is nothing worse than driving 180 degrees the wrong way :-) ) and ask directions. half the fun of overlanding is meeting the locals. the more gadgets you have, the more likely they are to break, get stolen or distract you. if you're crossing an ocean, flying a plane or planning to drop a smart bomb on somebody, a gps is good. otherwise, don't bother. think of how many gallons of fuel/pints of beer you could buy with the money you did not spend on a gps. later cb |
Hi Chris:
Not sure I agree with your opinion. A map and a GPS serve two entirely different, but complimentary functions. The map tells you where you plan to go, and the GPS tells you where you are at the moment. The map is and will always be the primary source of navigation information, however, I am sure you have had moments in your life when you have looked at a map and not been certain exactly where you are on it. The GPS solves that problem. The GPS also has the advantage that you can zoom in the scale easily, allowing it to serve as a momentary 'detail map' when you need to determine exactly which of the 4 or 5 turnoffs up ahead is the small regional road that will take you to your destination. I have toured extensively (North America, Europe from Ireland to Ukraine) on a motorcycle equipped with both a map and a GPS, and would not like to be without either one. As for your comment "If you're... flying a plane... a GPS is good" - ironically, I fly a plane professionally, that's how I make my living, and I use the GPS in the aircraft much less than I do the GPS on the motorcycle. I could easily do without it on the aircraft, but I would not enjoy long distance motorcycle touring in unfamiliar countries as much if I didn't have the GPS on the motorcycle. Perhaps your own disappointing experience was caused by having the wrong type of GPS with you on your trip. A GPS that only shows position (lat/long) or major towns and cities would be as useless on a motorcycle as one that shows every small street, on and off ramp, and service station would be on an aircraft. The key issue in choosing GPS receivers for overland touring is not the ability of the unit to display present position, it is the ability of the unit to show street, road and highway information, along with cultural and service information. This is determined by the choice of cartographic software you purchase along with the GPS as much as it is by the receiver itself. It is rare to find really good cartographic software included with the purchase price of the GPS unit. |
chris,
i do agree with your comments finally, i'm leaving without one i'll buy local maps and compass, speak to the locals to find directions lost, i will be the only one to understand it, the locals won't understand it gps is a ggod security, but you need to put the waypoints inside etc etc ... so, i'm leaving without one i was a bit confused for russia and mongolia (huge countries, not many roads) but i'll find people anyway and it gonna be fun :-) thanks a lot to eveyone for your replies, it was not useless safe travels http://vincent.danna.free.fr/ |
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A GPS without appropriate cartographic software would have very limited use, agreed. http://pics.tdiclub.com/members/PanE...stallation.jpg |
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And even if they understand you... They have never left the vilage, but don't want to disapoint you, so they give you directions... any directions....
Be sure to ask 10 people, and take the directon that is mentioned the most. My thoughts about a GPS? It is absolutely not an nessecary item, but it sure helps and it is fun. And isn't that what it's all about? (for me it is) Note: This does not mean that going without a GPS means you won't have fun! Maarten |
Does anyone have an idea what the accuracy is like at the moment ?I know that the DOD switched off the error/HDOP last year sometime but what is the real accuracy?
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It depends very much on the receiver you use. The more acurate the clock, the more acurate the position.
A good receiver shows the EPE(estimated position error) Mine, a Garmin GPSIII (no not the +) is usually around 15 to 20 meter's in good conditions (enaugh satalite's evenly spread in the sky) By the way, the EPE is very acurate, my house alway's move's the same amount as the EPE tells me. http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/wink.gif Maarten |
Pierre,
Did you already by the MacGPS Pro software? Would you recommend it? Pieter |
Huan:
The most recent generation of receivers, designed specifically for motor vehicle navigation - such as the one in the photo above - are usually accurate to within 3 to 5 meters. The Americans turned off the deliberate degradation of the GPS signals (SA) about 2 years ago. I can navigate to a specific parking spot over and over again with the StreetPilot III, as long as that spot is not under a tree or something else that would block the view of the sky. Accuracy and reliability may be less for the general public in certain areas of the world - like Kabul, Bagdahd, etc. http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/cool.gif |
hello,
a friend told me that in some countries, especially russia, gps are not allowed, you risk fines even jail have you heard such stories ? otherwise, he recommended me the magellan 315, 20 000 waypoints already inside, kind of maps too to help you find directions safe travels |
An interesting debate has developed. Referring to my last comment and the feedback than it generated: In my opinion, you do NOT NEED a GPS (of whatever brand, type or specification) to navigate yourself around the world, or smaller section thereof.
Where there is a road, there are road signs (mostly, some are even misleading, inaccurate or wrong, but 95% of the time they are correct), there are people, and with the aid of a compass and a map you will be fine. It is a question of how you ask directions and to whom. Talking to people is fun: Working out if what they say is correct or feasible. Rather than worrying about all these gadgets that you can take with you (and break, and get stolen, and distract you), just drive, take it easy, smile, don’t hit any wildlife and enjoy. Western consumerism tells us that we need all these machines to make our life better. We don’t. And you don’t if you want to undertake a big bike trip. I made it to some very out of the way places on my little 2 ½ year 60.000 mile viaje en todo del mundo and found a GPS was not required. (I would also recommend you take an air cooled bike with a carburettor and no fuel injection, but that is another story…) How did travellers make it around the world before the advent of GPS, satellite phone, ATM, and computers?? Spend your money on important things like a good shock absorber, good wine and some octane booster so that your steed can still run on Ethiopian 78 octane leaded fuel. There is a German saying: 'Ein GPS zeigt dir wo du stirbst'. In English: 'A GPS shows you where you die'. Enjoy Chris |
Chris:
You made the comment "How did travellers make it around the world before the advent of GPS, satellite phone, ATM, and computers??". I think (and I am throwing this in to tweak you a little, not to flame you) that you might have let a little elitism slip by into your post, which was otherwise very PC, containing the appropriate phrases about Western consumerism and the like. Obviously, travelers did make it around the world before GPS, INMARSAT, ATM's and the like. But the point you miss is that much fewer of them did it back then. Conveniences such as we have today make world travel more accessible for people who might previously not have considered it. I do realize that all the hoi-polloi out there as a result of these modern conveniences may well disturb a 'true' traveler such as yourself http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/wink.gif, however, consider how much better off Shackleton would have been if he had access to a satellite phone.... mind you, he would not have had the honour of keeping a stiff upper lip for the Empire while he suffered if he could have phoned out for a pizza. [This message has been edited by PanEuropean (edited 09 April 2002).] |
Chris,
I think you said that you carried a GPS but never used it. I think that if you had the right GPS and had used it you might have been suprised at how useful it is. I was the first time I used a GPS! I consider a good GPS to be an invaluable aid to overlanding, just like a properly setup motorcycle, a good helmet, and the right riding gear. Sure, you can do an RTW trip without any of these, but I wouldn't even consider it. Story |
I can understand the argument why you need a GPS and I can also see why you don't really need it.
Gues it depends on what kind of 'taste' you want to give to your adventure. And as we all know you can't argue about taste http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/wink.gif For the records, I bought one and will use it. |
Hai guy's (and girls ofcourse)
I guess it also depends a bit on your skills with the good old sextant... shoot a star to know where you are.. roughly. http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/wink.gif Maarten ------------------ - www.maartensworld.tmfweb.nl - |
If you want to cross a desert on your own, does a GPS make it significantly less dangerous? (This would be my main reason for buying one.) Would the desert experts amongst you consider a solo desert crossing to be stupidly reckless, even with a GPS?
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Hai,
Although I am no desert expert I do know the awnser to both questions: Yes, a GPS significantly helps with dessert-crossing. It's hard to navigate by a map if there are little or no landmarks. GPS helps with this. Yes, atempting to cross the dessert on your own for the first time is .... not very smart. Hope this helps. Maarten ------------------ - www.maartensworld.tmfweb.nl - |
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