GPS Units

[KaiserM715]

I run a Lowrance HDS-5 Baja with an LGC-4000 biscuit. Buy Once, Cry Once....

Why did you pick it and what did it cost?

 

[treypal]

Lowrance XOG is garmin sized, does turn by turn nav, and you can load course maps. This is the only unit that does both. PCI race radios has some in stock, but they are discontinued otherwise.

If not I'd go Lowrance Elite 5m or hds. The hds has an internal antenna, but if you go with an external you're looking at an extra $200.

 

[BigJ]

Got an iPhone? Try this: Topo Maps :: Introduction

Got an Android phone? Try this: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.crittermap.backcountrynavigator.license&hl=en (free demo version here: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.crittermap.backcountrynavigator&hl=en)

DO NOT choose either of these as a survival tool. Devices fail. Software crashes. Hardware breaks. And that's true of any GPS unit. Always carry a mechanical compass and hard copy topo map of the area you plan to cover. Something like these: Trails Illustrated Hiking and Recreation Maps - National Geographic Store

I'm an Android user, and have been very happy with BCN. Unlimited waypoints, live route tracing, gpx file import and export, Google MyMaps integration, distance calculations, downloadable (free!) topo maps for offline use... basically BCN does everything I've asked it to do when it comes to navigating 'out there'.

There are a couple negatives though:
-those free downloadable maps can take forever. Once you have 'em, you don't have to worry about it again. But getting them can be a chore since BCN draws from public domain sources, and those sources can get pretty cranky when serving more than a few people at a time. For example, I downloaded 15x zoom maps covering Death Valley and all surrounding areas, and it took almost 12 hours over WiFi.

-Battery life; you're going to struggle with this given any handheld you chose, but BCN running off battery on my Motorola Photon lasts just south of 4hrs. This isn't a problem for me though, since I always keep the phone plugged into a power source in the cab.

I've used BCN now for half a dozen multi day trips, and its performed admirably. I have had to restart it a couple times, but I think that had more to do with whatever Android was doing in the background than it did with BCN.

I had similar success when I was an iPhone user with Topo Maps for iPhone, but I haven't kept tabs on that app in maybe a year. I'm sure its only gotten better since then.

 

[GRT4DRT]

It had the most features and the sample rate... The Elite 5m is a great unit too. Check Outlaw for prices. That's where I got mine along with the trick dash mount....

 

[BigJ]

trey, can you send me an example "course map"? I'd like to see how BCN handles it. If it won't, I'll need to know that before Texas.

 

[KaiserM715]

Lowrance XOG is garmin sized, does turn by turn nav, and you can load course maps. This is the only unit that does both. PCI race radios has some in stock, but they are discontinued otherwise.

If not I'd go Lowrance Elite 5m or hds. The hds has an internal antenna, but if you go with an external you're looking at an extra $200.

I will give the XOG a look. Good to know on the extra cost of the puck.

DO NOT choose either of these as a survival tool. Devices fail. Software crashes. Hardware breaks. And that's true of any GPS unit. Always carry a mechanical compass and hard copy topo map of the area you plan to cover. Something like these: Trails Illustrated Hiking and Recreation Maps - National Geographic Store

Completely agree and a good point to reemphasize.

 

[Droid]

Personally won't buy a Garmin anything if there's any alternative after the piece-of-shit Zumo 660 GPS I bought for my bike. As an example, one of its features was supposed to be a built-in SDcard-based stereo-bluetooth MP3 player. They decided to cheap out on their bluetooth chipset though and use one that can't actually pair with a helmet headset at a high enough bitrate to play music at a reasonable quality (unlike say every other smartphone/bluetooth mp3 player ever made). Not exactly mission critical, but I see it as an indicator of their attitude. Their tech support reinforced my opinion with a "well that's just too damn bad" response.

 

[KaiserM715]

Personally won't buy a Garmin anything if there's any alternative ...[snip] Their tech support reinforced my opinion with a "well that's just too damn bad" response.

That is one reason I was looking at the discontinued models as they were rated so well. I have heard quite a few stories in line with yours on the tech support.

 

[Vettster]

Personally won't buy a Garmin anything if there's any alternative after the piece-of-shit Zumo 660 GPS I bought for my bike. As an example, one of its features was supposed to be a built-in SDcard-based stereo-bluetooth MP3 player. They decided to cheap out on their bluetooth chipset though and use one that can't actually pair with a helmet headset at a high enough bitrate to play music at a reasonable quality (unlike say every other smartphone/bluetooth mp3 player ever made). Not exactly mission critical, but I see it as an indicator of their attitude. Their tech support reinforced my opinion with a "well that's just too damn bad" response.

Count me in as another "satisfied garmin customer".
The last 3 units that I have bought from them have had to been sent back.
Add that to hours (i am not exaggerating) on the telephone with tech support. They finally gave up and told me to send it in.
This sucks as the always want to send you some refurbished POS instead of the new one you just bought.
They used to be a good brand way back when.

 

[treypal]

It had the most features and the sample rate... The Elite 5m is a great unit too. Check Outlaw for prices. That's where I got mine along with the trick dash mount....

I like the 5M, but I am thinking of upgrading to the HDS 5 or 7.

Here is a link to the Lowrance XOG, along with good deals on all the other Lowrance units. If your looking for a unit for offroading, lowrance is your only option. They are pretty good though

PCI Race Radios GPS Systems, Lowrance, Garmin