Best GPS unit?

**Zapf** · 13th November 2006, 18:49

I do a good bit of road riding and I have recently bought a Garmin 60CSx, I find the buttons are workable with gloved hand. I have put it thru around 4'000km on the road and used it during the Grand challange at night.

With it just on battaries, it lasted around 20 hours on battery saver mode with the backlight off most of the time.

I find it does all the things I want and I would buy it again.

**Street Gerbil** · 13th November 2006, 19:06

I am absolutely happy with my Garmin LegendC. It has a nice colour screen visible in direct sunlight, runs 20 hours off 2 AA batteries (or can be powered by a motorbike2usb adapter which I'll build one day).

**Ghost Lemur** · 13th November 2006, 19:07

Added some more links.

Thanks far queue for the article, it was a good read.

Originally Posted by Zebedee

I’ve currently using a Garmin GPS III+ which will do all you are asking, and has the advantage of being older and therefore cheaper to buy and replace if it all turns to custard.

Chances are I probably will end up going of an older model off the the bat. The GPS III+ is certainly on that list. Although it's missing some of the features I'd like (like colour screen, memory slot), it's durable that's for sure.
So is the next model up the GPS V. Read a few reviews relating to it like here for example.

Originally Posted by XR250 Si

If you pick up a copy of the November of NZ Fishing News, they have a big write up on a wide range of handheld gps units with lists of features and how they compare to each other.

Thanks, will check it out tomorrow.

**Hammer** · 13th November 2006, 19:07

The Garmin 60CX or 60CSX are great. I recently got the 60CSX with maps from Brent's Maps. Great compact unit with all the features you would need. Have a look at Laying Down Tracks on Adventure Rider for product comparisons: http://www.advrider.com/forums/index.php

**Zukin** · 13th November 2006, 21:13

Originally Posted by Street Gerbil

I am absolutely happy with my Garmin LegendC. It has a nice colour screen visible in direct sunlight, runs 20 hours off 2 AA batteries (or can be powered by a motorbike2usb adapter which I'll build one day).

Yes I agree with the Legend, although mine is the previos version without the colour screen

Damn good
I have used it on my bike, 4wd and for hunting etc
It has been through torrential rain, dropped into a river, onto rocks etc and still goes good!
Easy to use and to make routes and waypoints.
Can find them cheap on Trade Me too

I used the free map software from NZ mapped projects, and have to say it is brilliant!!! ( I think Graeme is a KBer, the guy that made the program

)

My thoughts

**Zapf** · 13th November 2006, 23:00

Originally Posted by Street Gerbil

I am absolutely happy with my Garmin LegendC. It has a nice colour screen visible in direct sunlight, runs 20 hours off 2 AA batteries (or can be powered by a motorbike2usb adapter which I'll build one day).

Jaycar sells a 12V car lighter adapter to 5V USB gaget. I think you can wire the insides for motorbike use.

**Zebedee** · 14th November 2006, 12:01

Originally Posted by Ghost Lemur

… it's missing some of the features I'd like (like colour screen, memory slot) …

After having run with used the GPS III+ for a while now, I’d agree that a colour screen certainly looks nicer, but I do question how much easier is would be to read whilst you are out on the trail.

Also, I’m not sure how much of a benefit having access to a memory card would be in this application, because if I’m outside the range of maps that I can store in the III+’ s humble 1.4 Mb, then I’ve managed to stray all the way to Auckland … god forbid

Having said all of that, it would be nice to upgrade if the funds ever allow

One other thing that I’ve found is that whilst the unit itself is extremely robust, I have had problems with it switching off on bumpy roads. The best explanation I can come up with is that the batteries are being rattled off the contacts, because it hasn’t happened since I’ve wired the unit into the bikes electrics.

**NordieBoy** · 14th November 2006, 15:23

Smear the batteries all over (inc the ends) with vasaline.
Stops them vibrating and breaking contact.

My eTrex Legend used to turn off at about 4000rpm before I started doing this

Garmin should put a damn capacitor across the battery connectors.

**Zebedee** · 14th November 2006, 22:10

Originally Posted by NordieBoy

... batteries ... smeared with vasaline ... (inc the ends) ...

I'm not that kind of boy, I'll have you know.

Sincerely,

Disgusted of Kerikeri.

**NordieBoy** · 15th November 2006, 08:32

Originally Posted by Zebedee

I'm not that kind of boy, I'll have you know.

Sincerely,

Disgusted of Kerikeri.

"Ohh look I've got a battery covered with vasaline in one hand and a GPS in the other. Decisions decisions, what am I to do..."

"Ohh, it tingles!"

Disgusted of Nelson.

**paulj** · 18th November 2006, 05:57

As promised - some views on the Garmin eTrex Vista Cx and supporting software.

The Garmin was purchased along with the NZ Topo's on SD disk and TopoMap for the lower half - Timarua <> Greymouth south, for the PC.

1) Garmin have pretty well locked up their software/hardware - the Garmin Topo Sd costs ~2/3 the price of the handheld. Loading other's maps into the unit maybe a mission.

2) TopoMap for the PC is a fabulous prg - very detailed and accurate although a little out of date 2002 - here in fast moving Queenstown. Easy to use and interfaces to and from the Garmin for routes, tracks, waypoints ... a great piece of software even without a GPS unit - requires formal registration to interconnect with a GPS - includes Landsat and 3D imaging - jeeesus - all for 70 samolians - if you're a trail rider and you have a PC, go get it - 2GB for loading tho! NB - this is not a Garmin product - it is LINZ based.

3) GPS - works well - been in my work car for a week or so - track logging, waypoint calc'ing ... does not autoroute well on main roads - better around town. Won't work inside buildings etc.

The Vista is rugged, waterproof, well designed, and easy to read in sunlight (in fact better than in my lounge) and for an old fart like me, I can read it without my glasses.

It is customisable, has a trip logger, altimeter, tracking and route finder ... interfaces with TopoMap very well - a few functions on TopoMap will not work on the GPS (BMP image files for waypoints, naming conventions...) but nothing that really matters.

I put it into my golf bag set to logging every 10M and then uploaded the track into TopoMap - a perfect map of the route I took including some buggering about looking for a wayward shot into the rough, then back to the carpark and the trip back home - amazing.

Downs:- for big handed twats like me, their toggle control is a pain in the arse - very fiddly to get it pushed straight down (= ENTER key in PC parlance) - a slight lateral movement in any direction and another bunch of menu's zips into view and then you're away on an adventure tour - this ENTER key is used a lot so it IS a pain.

Garmin's basemap (supplied with the unit) is next to useless so don't even consider a purchase without sorting your loadable map options. However the SD contour map, although expensive, is a cracker and with this on board my cross country navigation will be a breeze.

On balance - great unit, somewhat expensive all up, but I'm very pleased - although I am an engineer with a great deal of computer experience, the setup was straightforward and almost intuitive. I haven't read the manual(s) yet!

GPS was purchased from Trig - NZ agents - who make it very clear that if you purchase a parallel import unit, say off TrdMe, then they will not service it at all - back to the USA or wherever - I gather this is more about parts, compatibility, software and licencing than sour grapes.

Any questions or help - post back here or drop me an email.

Cheers -

**NordieBoy** · 18th November 2006, 08:27

Originally Posted by paulj

1) Garmin have pretty well locked up their software/hardware - the Garmin Topo Sd costs ~2/3 the price of the handheld. Loading other's maps into the unit maybe a mission.

Check out BrentC on TradeMe.
Fully routable, street searchable maps of NZ for $165.
Been using them since being a tester for his original free ones.
Well worth the $$$

**Hammer** · 18th November 2006, 11:50

Originally Posted by NordieBoy

Check out BrentC on TradeMe.
Fully routable, street searchable maps of NZ for $165.
Been using them since being a tester for his original free ones.
Well worth the $$$

Worth being aware with Brent's current autoraoutable NZ package the north island is not autoroutable for the north island if you have to cross different map segments. To get around this you use another autoroutable version of just the north island or you manualy plot in waypoints around the map segment edges and create your own route. Everything else works really well. Brent is working on an upgrade that will fix this and it is near to releaseand anyone who buys the current version will get the beta of the next release to work with.

**Gibbo13p** · 22nd April 2008, 19:11

Got another week or so before it turns up, looking forward to it....Boss brought a Garmin etrex high senitivity job for hunting which got me interested and I'd played with the older types while in the Army.

Discovered Geo caching while researching and think thats mainly what I'll use mine for, but wish I'd had one when I was a transport section Comd as I had a tendancy to get lost on the bike during trips to shitty wee training area's lol.

Some of these ones on trademe you can get with the same base maps as the ebay ones for bugga all....

**Hoon** · 23rd April 2008, 12:51

Heh, my Garmin 60Cx just turned up yesterday as well. Being a grunt in the Army I'm more interested in hiking in dense bush/shitty weather and a little off track geocaching for pack march training. I've used the Army 12XL and 72/76 models a lot and am well aware of their shortcomings.

I threw on the NZ Open Source road maps coz they are free and tried it out on the way home. I was pretty impressed with the Autorouting, does everything a car GPS does except talk so that was an added bonus. The missus always gets lost driving so I think a dash mount will be needed for her car.
The funny thing is once seeing the autorouting I also thought damn this will be great for the Army when driving out to shitty training areas you only visit once every few years. It sucks getting lost and having to do U-turns with a truck full of troops and the Company Commander in the passenger seat

But yeah I'm after some satellite/topomaps as my main interest is bush work. If anyone can help me out for a small fee send me a PM