Which GPS is most usefull?
 

Hi there,
I am planning a trip from Zurich to Capetown and wonder which GPS system is most usefull (Garmin Zumo 660 or a normal outdoor navigation) especially in the more remote areas?
Could anyone give me some advise?
Best thanks and regards
Maatle

Usefulness
 

I dont think there is much difference if your question is "will they work?" They all will work.

The 660 will give you much more screen space than a handheld. That is useful ... as you can read it clearly on the move when on dirt roads. Additionally, it will come with a motorcycle mounting cradle - which is useful. A handheld will not - you probably have to buy a very expensive one from touratech.

The most useful feature will be a GPS that you can get good maps for. Generally speaking that means Garmin - Whether Zumo or Handheld.

OpenStreetMap maps are free, Tracks for Africa maps cost not too much. Both will work with Garmin devices.

note: The Zumos are very tough ... well ruggedised ... which partially explains why they cost 4-5 times as much as a statistically identical non-ruggedised Garmin unit.

Handheld outdoor navigation devices are made for handheld use. A small screen is easy to read when you are walking but not if you are riding a bike in busy traffic.
I would go for the ZUMO because it is made for motorcycle use.

I'm in the same situation of buying a gps for my bike... What about the Garmin 60Csx? It seems to have very good reviews

I used my Etrex Vista Csx on that trip. It needed batteries which I recharged but a power cable is available (microsd). GPS means different things in different environments. Off the beaten track there few routing maps available but often only a couple of roads you can take. In cities GPS can offer accurate routing or just be used as a 'replay' function for navigating and not getting lost. The thing I wanted most on the trip was a michelin west africa map because it is so good for planning where to go and it has cool distances on it. The GPS was useful for logging the trip, exchanging waypoints and finding otherpeople's POI. I missed the routing the most in Europe where a handheld/ruggedized GPS is much less useful and you're better off with a practical turn-by-turn one.
Walter has a good approach - the GPS does good routing, takes openstreetmap waypoints, has a big enough screen that you can use on route and most importantly - he has it straight infront where you can easily see it and use it on route. This makes for very efficient travelling.

I use the 60csx on my various bikes in all sorts of places, on and off pavement. Assuming you have a decent map loaded, I recon it's superb in terms of features and functionality.

With ref to "expensive" cradles (e.g. Touratech), why not buy a RAM cradle (us$10 approx = not expensive) and make the rest youself. If I can do it, it can't be difficult.
cheers
Chris

Hi Chris,

re :
'I use the 60csx on my various bikes in all sorts of places, on and off pavement. Assuming you have a decent map loaded, I recon it's superb in terms of features and functionality.'

I also have a 60csx and find it really useful for logging tracks when out trail riding, but the smaller screen compared to other units (eg 2610) does sometimes cause me issues in workign out where I am .....

'Assuming you have a decent map loaded'
Do you use the standard Garmin Topo maps when in the UK?
Or are there better maps available for the 60csx for UK?

Cheers

For western Europe I'm running "City Navigator Europe".
HTH
Chris

PS. You can also get Garmin compatible OS maps. I don't have these however. I get by with CNE

'For western Europe I'm running "City Navigator Europe".
HTH
Chris

PS. You can also get Garmin compatible OS maps. I don't have these however. I get by with CNE'


Thanks for that Chris, well I'm running CNE as well, and have also added the Garmin Topo GB maps.

I also googled 'Garmin compatible OS maps' just now and it appears the 60csx is not on the supported list for OS maps ... :


'OS Maps for your Garmin eTrex or GPS 60
Garmin have told us that the new range of OS Discoverer maps will only be compatible with the Oregon and perhaps the soon to be released Dakota range of GPS units, leaving eTrex & GPS 60 users with either the
choice of Topo GB or no maps....'

Gps
 

Hi Maatle,

go on to MOTORRAD online and look for Produkttest: Motorrad-Navis.

Interessting test and might help.

Good luck.

Cheers Helgo

What's helpful with the Zumo 660 is that it has a practically unlimited tracklog facility that means if you are not carrying a notebook PC with you, you can download the entire tracklog later.

I've got the Garmin map60, same as above but not colour, and less memory.

Ruggedly built, feels like you could bash nails in with it, the battery compartment has a rubber bead all around the inside, and is apparently waterproof, could probably get away with dropping it in a puddle and leaving it there.

Big plus is that it uses normal AA batteries, not some high-tech built-in lithium block.

You can choose to display many formats of position, long-lat, grid etc.

Cons- You have two hopes of reading the display whilst riding, Bob Hope and no-hope, and Bob Hope's dead.

John.