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Posted by: stuck
I have a Garmin Vista that has been great for what I want to do. I have the Mapsource Topo CD. I also have the yellow Garmin E-Trex that I got years ago and it simply doesn't have enough features IMO.
Posted by: Scooter86
I have a Garmin eTrex legend, and it does accept maps, gives you speed/altitude/major points of interest/etc. They run around $100.00 or so. The only bad thing is it can be hard to read in direct sunlight. I have taken it riding a few times, but what was really beneficial to me was using it to geocache a few times. I really started getting the hang of it then. For now, this seems to be all the model I need, but you could definately get a nicer one for $250.00. Don't forget to budget in accessories, as you may need to buy a map program, an adapter to mount the thing to your quad, etc.
Posted by: CaptainQuint
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Originally posted by: montyh
i always carry topo maps and compass anyway, no matter which gps i have working. i am always fully prepared to navigate with paper maps if need be. the Garmin Mapsource is 100k, so detail is not great at all. if it were a serious matter you should have 24k maps and compass to work with. it would be risky to try cross country navigating with just the 100k map. so i guess i can't agree with using the current gps systems in our price range for a safety device. monty
Wise advice. Everyone should know how to to navigate with a map and compass. Might be a fun thing for your riding group to do sometime. Turn off the GPS units, drag out the maps and compasses and start trying to navigate the old fashioned way again at least a time or two a year to keep sharp. Never know when that GPS will quit or get bounced off a rock when you're out on a trip. That's when your map and compass and the skills to use the properly will serve you well. Besides they only weigh a couple of ounces after all and orienteering is a lot of fun. A lot more fun that geocaching I always thought which I never found too thrilling.
Posted by: alwaysride
Ok, I really want to get a gps unit. I dont know the differences between any of them and what to expect. I dont want to spend more then 300 preferebly 250. I saw on a site were sombody uses his to mark all the trails so he has a map of the land and terrain and also he has the trails he took marked. I want one that can do that(maybe all of them do that, i dont know). I dont want to sound stupid but i really am out of the loop on these gps units and i think they are pretty cool. Anybody want to chime in a help me in a certain direction of what i wanna get. Thanks
Posted by: alwaysride
so you can get a cheapo gps and load the topo and you can have maps of your own??. I dont know if you guys know la matrix (or somthing like that), but on his site he has his trails mapped out and its on a topo graph so you can see the terrain and elevations. That sounds like a good idea if you can just get the cheapy gps and get a topo add on if i am understanding this right.
Posted by: alwaysride
Dang, all the options. I just want one that maps my trails on a topo map. haha. i wish i could just find one. I hate all the crazy things after the garmin.
Posted by: alwaysride
V2rider, you gps sounds like what im looking for, can you give me more info on it.
Posted by: alwaysride
thanks for the info guys. I really appreciate it. I was looking at the magellan explorist and it already has a "detailed" map or whatnot. I was wondering if i get the 100 doller downloadable map, would that be better for seeing the mountainis terrain i ride in. I think i found the gps i want but still just figuring out the details. thanks guys.
Posted by: alwaysride
how much was the mount to the handlebar. They dont seem to be very expensive.
Posted by: alwaysride
yup, i think the exploris series is what im looking at also.
Posted by: redmtn
I have a garmin GPSIII+, I don't think they make them anymore but I've seen them on sale for around $250. It has maps and can do more than what you actually need. I think the GPSIII+ was upgraded to GPSV. Check out my pictures. I think Garmin makes the best GPS unit.
Posted by: tencubed
I don't use GPS on the quad but have had quite a bit of experience with them on the boat. Garmin is my brand of choice. I would suggest you go to a few dealers with different brands and tell them what you want to do and see what they have. Some models are very easy to use and others are a real PITA. Lots of bells and whistles available and I fell for one unit that had so much stuff on it it was almost impossible to use. Unless you really want to spend a lot of time learning to use the unit you buy, and plan on using it a lot so you stay familiar with it, I would really recommend staying with one of the simpler units that is easy to use.
Screen brightness and contrast is another major issue. Some units look fine in the store but get them out in the sun and you can't even tell if they are on. I know of nothing other than direct sunlight that you can use to test this. Any artificial light source won't wash out the screen like the sun.
Good luck with your purchase.
Posted by: tencubed
I was looking for some info on my boat GPS. Went to the Garmin home page (you can google garmin.com and it comes right up) and found more info than I really ever wanted to know about GPS. Lots of free downloadable generic info that you can study at your leisure.
Posted by: tencubed
Quote
Originally posted by: CaptainQuint
Quote
Originally posted by: montyh
i always carry topo maps and compass anyway, no matter which gps i have working. i am always fully prepared to navigate with paper maps if need be. the Garmin Mapsource is 100k, so detail is not great at all. if it were a serious matter you should have 24k maps and compass to work with. it would be risky to try cross country navigating with just the 100k map. so i guess i can't agree with using the current gps systems in our price range for a safety device. monty
Wise advice. Everyone should know how to to navigate with a map and compass. Might be a fun thing for your riding group to do sometime. Turn off the GPS units, drag out the maps and compasses and start trying to navigate the old fashioned way again at least a time or two a year to keep sharp. Never know when that GPS will quit or get bounced off a rock when you're out on a trip. That's when your map and compass and the skills to use the properly will serve you well. Besides they only weigh a couple of ounces after all and orienteering is a lot of fun. A lot more fun that geocaching I always thought which I never found too thrilling.
Couple of very good posts here. Very few of the riders I go out with can tell which way is North with a watch or about what time it is with a compass when the sun is visible. Even fewer have the ability to backtrack themselves since they never look behind them as they travel. I do like GPS and use it as a handy tool when out on the boat. May even add one to the quad as backtracking is really easy with a course plotter that leaves a trail. But a good compass, I have an ex-army unit my uncle carried in Africa in WW2, is one thing that should always be in a survival pack.
Posted by: montyh
i have the basic yellow etrex (about $100) and the etrex vista cx. on the atv i usually use the basic yellow etrex. it plots my tracks and waypoints so i can find my way back to the truck, and is easier to work while on the go. i can download the waypoints and tracks into Topo! or Mapsource to work with on the computer. the basic yellow etrex will not accept maps but you can upload waypoints and tracks from the computer.
the vista CX has all the features, expandable memory with the micro sd slot, and it accepts maps from any garmin Mapsource cds, and has a basic built-in map of the major roads.
so what i would do is get the basic yellow etrex and the National Geographic TOPO! Ohio software. this will get you your maps with your tracks and waypoints, and you can print out topo maps with your personal trails and stuff like that. you can free hand a route in the topo software and upload it into the etrex. the cost of the two of these should be around $200 total or less, and will give you lots of features. and with a little of the money you have left over, you can get the RAM gps mount for your atv.
monty
Posted by: montyh
i always carry topo maps and compass anyway, no matter which gps i have working. i am always fully prepared to navigate with paper maps if need be. the Garmin Mapsource is 100k, so detail is not great at all. if it were a serious matter you should have 24k maps and compass to work with. it would be risky to try cross country navigating with just the 100k map. so i guess i can't agree with using the current gps systems in our price range for a safety device.
i have the yellow etrex and the Vista CX. i use the cheap one on the atv most of the time.
but yea, the yellow etrex will not accept maps. it will just show your tracks and waypoints. it will, however, download those tracks and waypoints into mapping software in your computer so you can see on your computer the topo map with your tracks and waypoints on it. the national geographic TOPO! software will show the elevation chart of your tracks, too. these maps can be printed or saved to CD also, so if you want to take that trail again, you can upload it again and have that trail in your gps.
this is only my opinion of course.
monty
Posted by: GrnXnham
We are very active geocachers and we have found a lot of caches while we ride our quads so we spent a lot of time using our GPSr's while riding. We currently have 3 GPS units--1 Greyscale/B&W and 2 color units. All three units are Garmins.
Whatever you get, I'd recommend spending the xtra money to get a color screen as opposed to the greyscale screens. When you are bouncing around on some trail on your quad while trying to read your GPS, you will find it's much easier to read the screen on the color models due to the better contrast between the colors. Yeah, the color screens cost more but it's worth every penny. I didn't realize the difference until I bought a color unit. Now I find the greyscale unit almost annoying to use.
I believe that nearly all of the color units have mapping capability so you should be okay there.
Don't forget to add $100 to the cost of your GPS to pay for the mapping software. The basemaps on most GPS units are VERY basic. You'll want the better maps and they are about $100 for a detailed map of the USA
Posted by: skrambler500
I have the garmin V. It is a great unit. I was up in the mts this past week and the gps was shoing forest service roads. I did not have topo on my unit at the time but I will have it soon. What every you decide to get make sure it is one that you can download maos to it...
Posted by: skrambler500
This is were I ordered my ram mount from great service and fast shipping..
http://www.cycoactive.com/
Posted by: ddrumman2004
I have the basic GPS unit from Garmin...the eTrex. It was cheap enough and is nothing special as all I wanted from it was to clock speed on my atv. I would like to get one that has maps etc....but no more than I use mine, why pay the money.
I have a handlebar mount and a 12v adapter so I can plug it into the Rancher's 12v outlet. I t keeps up with total miles and hours when I go out plus the compass etc.
For the money you want to spend, you can get a good unit.
Others will chime in here hopefully to give you some suggestions. I do know that if I buy another one....it will be a Garmin.
Posted by: DamnYankee
I found this site very informative.
http://gpsinformation.net/
Posted by: v2rider
I have the Magellan explorist 300. It has a compass, barometer for weather, altimeter, and is completely waterproof. Its next to the best of them, imo, and it was 200 dollars. It follows your route, and when you want, it marks points of interest and saves them. It automatically has all major roads, airports, highways, ect.... stored and mapped on it in north america
Posted by: v2rider
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Originally posted by: alwaysride
V2rider, you gps sounds like what im looking for, can you give me more info on it.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I sure can, what do you want to know? Actually, if you go to www.magellangps.com and click on "explorist series" you will find all the info you need. Then which ever one you want, look on Ebay for it, and you will find a new one for alot lower price
Posted by: v2rider
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Originally posted by: alwaysride
how much was the mount to the handlebar. They dont seem to be very expensive.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Once again on Ebay, i purchased the mount for around 20 bucks
Posted by: maxxedouty
i have 2, 1 with maps and 1 without. in my opinion you only need the cheapo because you will be using it to follow you tracks back.
Posted by: maxxedouty
heartland america has a megellam meridan color for only 179. i have purchased 2 gps thru them with good luck.
Posted by: caperinmuskoka
I just bought the Lowrance H2Oc color unit and the topo SD card that goes in it GREAT UNIT.....also bought the RAM mount for the handlebars. The12 volt plug-in even came with the GPS.....GREAT to HAVE COLOR..........any questions just post I will reply......caper.....
Posted by: caperinmuskoka
Quote
Originally posted by: alwaysride
thanks for the info guys. I really appreciate it. I was looking at the magellan explorist and it already has a "detailed" map or whatnot. I was wondering if i get the 100 doller downloadable map, would that be better for seeing the mountainis terrain i ride in. I think i found the gps i want but still just figuring out the details. thanks guys.
The Lowrance I bought you don't need to worry about downloading anything unless you buy the MAP CREATE software,witch I didn't get do to the fact of buying the SD card with all the info RIGHT on the secure digital card(SD). The topo card is all I need for my area ....and if I need more I can get another card for ANY area I want. It even has shipwrecks listed in the great lakes for divers....NOW THAT'S DETAIL.....caper...
Posted by: caperinmuskoka
My RAM mount for the Lowrance H2Oc was $54.94 canadian.I bought the Gps mount and topo SD card all from LE BARON mail order. ......caper.......
Posted by: caperinmuskoka
Was It a RAM mount for Lowrance or Garmin.....My was MB-12 bracket with arm and cradle......power coated Alum. .....caper......That 20.00 was U.S. funds also.
Posted by: LtSniper
I would suggest Garmin brand as they seem to offer the best support and "on line" updates avail through their website (www.garmin.com). I like a GPS that has a daylight readable screen (TFT) and mapping. The Garmin ETrex Vista CX or GPSMap 60CSx have expandable memory available through smart media cards (some of which can be purchased from Garmin with maps already configured).
I have a Garmin ETrex Vista C (color screen - daylight readable) with 24 megs of memory (not expandable) and purchased a mapping program (CD rom) from Amazon .com. This combination allows me to download the maps for the area I am interested in before I go, and yes, I carry the GPS on my Polaris Sportsman 500 on a homemade cross bar made out of PVC pipe pained black. It is water proof, dust proof and I have yet to destroy it (very unusual for me). I can see the map and compass the whole time I ride, I can mark waypoints (points of interest) on my laptop map before I go and download everything to my portable unit. It will last for 20 plus hours on batteries alone, but I plug it in to the 12v outlet on my quad. If I find something interesting, I can mark it on my handheld unit and transfer it to my laptop and save it there for later use.
The GPSMap 60CSx has one of the fastest microprocessors on the market (not important until you miss and turn and are waiting for the unit to recalculate your route!!). If I were to buy one today, I would purchase the Garmin GPSMap 60CSx. One of the greatest mistakes you can make is not buying "enough" GPS at the start. You will learn to use it quickly (on both your quad and other vehicles) and will later appreciate the $$ you spend now.
Posted by: LtSniper
Ten dollar helmets are for ten dollar heads.
You get what you pay for.
I like maps. I don't always go home the way I came. I like to have options. I want to see where I am on a map, not just a track on a screen.
I like a GPS with a compass. I like a GPS with an altimeter.
If someone in my party gets hurt and I need to know a shortcut back to help (if there is one), I would hate to think that my plan would be foiled because I didn't have the best equipment possible.
If I see something in the distance, I want to know a way to get there.
To me, the downloadable mapping is worth the extra money.
In answer to your question, you can only download maps to "map capable" GPS units (such as the ones I mentioned in my first post).
Posted by: eksob
Great information in this thread.
After reading through everyone's posts, and doing a little research I think the eXplorist Series is what I am looking for...but I am not really sure. My budget is 100-200$, and it is mainly used for ATV riding in the mountains. I want the device to be able to withstand a lot of vibration, and any type of weather. The Magellan eXplorist 500, looks really nice with the color screen.
I also like the weather feature, do all the eXplorists have it? I didn't see it on the feature list, but I know I read the 300 had it. It is nice to have the speed because I don't have a speed-o-meter on my ATV. If anyone else has any recommendations, I will check them out as well.
Thanks
Posted by: eksob
So now I am comparing these two models:
Magellen eXplorist 600 or Magellan eXplorist XL Large-Screen
with
Garmin GPSMap 60CSx
The major difference to me is the features, and +/- $50.00, but I found a couple places that are reliable with a nice price. I think the Magellen 600 they had listed for $300.00 which is a good price from what I can tell. They are both higher than what I wanted to spend, but I do want to be happy with my purchase, and not have to worry about "upgrading" later.
After reading some reviews, a major concern is connectivity, screensize, expandability with maps, and cost. I am a technological person, so complicated units or longer learning curves is not something I care about.
Out of the two I have compared above, which one would you guys recommend?
