GPS adventure and road

[barny7]

Looking for 1 GPS that will do it all.  I'm new to endurance events and want a GPS for my vehicle.  Is there 1 GPS that i can use for both.  The Garmin Dakota, Colorado and Oregon look like they may fit my needs.  Any thoughts?  Again I'm new so any insight will be much appreciated.

thanks,
B7

[Majcolo]

I'm no expert but usually a unit small enough for endurance events is too small to read safely while driving. If you have a navigator any handheld unit you like will do.

[ScottM]

Kinda tough to get a GPS that works well for both.  I don't have much experience with car GPS units, but you can get fairly large screen ones that give verbal directions for ~$150.  None of the good outdoors ones can talk, or have a screen large enough to read while driving.  But they can navigate around and perform basic driving stuff.

The 3 GPS units you listed do have screen visibility problems.  For that I still recommend looking at something like the VistaHCx.  Good deal on one right now:

http://bestgpsdeals.net/garmin-etrex-vista-hcx-deal/716/

[DaveH]

Looking for 1 GPS that will do it all.  I'm new to endurance events and want a GPS for my vehicle.  Is there 1 GPS that i can use for both.  The Garmin Dakota, Colorado and Oregon look like they may fit my needs.  Any thoughts?  Again I'm new so any insight will be much appreciated.

thanks,
B7

Ha, I'm in New Jersey on a business trip right now.  After using my Oregon 550 for the last trip and getting hopelessly lost for a week, I rented a nuvi for this trip.  The difference is amazing.  The thing even tells me when to turn right to turn left.

As far as I know, there isn't a one size fits all.  City navigation is a different beast.  That said, I think there are city street cards you can plug into the models you mentioned and I haven't used those.

[Done]

Like Dave, I have a Garmin nuvi for business, and a eTrex Vista (upgrading to a HCx this winter) for pleasure. I've never tried swapping them, as I don't think that it would work terribly well. Maybe someday!

[jonesy792]

A lot of cell phones nowadays have gps with turn-by-turn directions that are far superior to any outdoor gps's

[naked indian]

Kinda tough to get a GPS that works well for both.  I don't have much experience with car GPS units, but you can get fairly large screen ones that give verbal directions for ~$150.  None of the good outdoors ones can talk, or have a screen large enough to read while driving.  But they can navigate around and perform basic driving stuff.

The 3 GPS units you listed do have screen visibility problems.  For that I still recommend looking at something like the VistaHCx.  Good deal on one right now:

http://bestgpsdeals.net/garmin-etrex-vista-hcx-deal/716/

Scotts right.  If you read the documentation with the Etrex and load the appropriate maps, it wont talk, but the screen will give you turn by turn directions.

[barny7]

So Scottm sent a link for a eTrex vista hex for $150.   Is this something that will work for me for a while? Or is it lacking features that will force  me to upgrade in a couple months?  Also my vehicle is a motorcycle (dual sport).  So trail and top maps are still more important then road but I'll still find my way to a job interview (yuck) just in case.  I plan on reading up on the units but Santa is pressuring me to give him a list.  Does it sound like the Erek Vista hex will do the job?    I have my eye on the Sedan Big Friggin Loop for the AES.  Hope this will get me started!

thanks again,
B7

[Done]

The Vista hcx should keep you happy for a long time--at least for biking, running, sailing, backpacking, hiking, etc. But I personally would HATE to use it for driving. I'd rather just print out some Mapquest or Google driving directions than depend on a hand-held GPS for city navigation. The screen is too small to read while driving, there's no voice prompting, decent maps cost extra money, etc. If I were you, I'd buy the $150 Vista hcx, and a cheap nuvi (probably less than $100).

[naked indian]

Or a Tom tom which is selling for $50 bucks or so.

[barny7]

Thanks everyone! just ordered the Vista hcx.  Merry Christmas to me.

Thank again,
B7

[Done]

Or a Tom tom which is selling for $50 bucks or so.

Agreed. That would make about $200 for everything. Damn, toys are getting cheap these days, eh?

[intheways]

My Iphone does a decent job with Motion-X Drive.  I'm just waiting for a good bicycle mounting system, before I use it out on the trail or in the rain.

[barny7]

Should of asked this question sooner.  To participate in the AES races is there any other software or maps that I will need to purchase?  Its fine if I do, since the unit shipped this morning.  If so what does a typical map cost?  Also, with a full rigid bike are there any GPS mounts that will work well or just store it in my camelbak???

[AZTtripper]

All you need is Topofusion http://topofusion.com/ all of the maps and aerial photos down load for free off of line I have the pro version one time only payment of $40. TF will take care of all of your GPS to PC interactions, down load tracks from the net then up load them into the GPS for races, down load active tracks from the GPS of the ride you just did. Multiple known tracks can be linked with hand drawn tracks to create new routes, then the file can be manipulated to fit in GPS for use in the field. Way points can be created in TF and loaded into the GPS and points taken in the field can be loaded into TF. You can also see all of the elevation/grade data and a profile for tracks, as well as travel times and difficulty and effort index.

Not sure about putting it on the handle bar rigid I should think it could wear out faster that way. My first one lasted a couple of years with lots of use taking it on every ride with suspension. There are times when it is a big help to have the unit on the bars I think you will want the handle bar mount, it is great to be able to just look down and know the right way to go at a junction.

[barny7]

Wow! looks like there is some reading and studying to do.  Should see the unit on monday then i can start toying w/ it.  Sounds like TopoFusion is my new best friend.

Thanks for all the great info!

B7

[AZTtripper]

Yep TF is a great resource for GPS users along with this website's route section not the forum part the the database page you can literally put together an entire AZT through trip and get it loaded into the unit.

When I did the AZT in 06 I had to go over to Scott's house go through all of the tracks from his 05 trips and come up with my track. Now I could do all of that myself as well as plotting out several other long trips.