AZT 750/300 2015 Planning

[REV]

Good advice, mikepro -- they have a pretty good tutorial.

Perhaps I should offer statewide .IMG file for the AZT to make it easier to load some basemaps (I already have one for the divide).  You just have to copy the IMG file onto your GPS.

Sadly I did just this and still at an impasse... beating head on desk

[JosiahM]

along the lines of gps topo maps etc.  Does anyone know what the battery life difference might be on an etrex 30 between watching track with no map compared to track on topo map? is there a notable battery life difference?

[THE LONG RANGER]

I've run some particular hefty maps, with no discernible difference in battery life. Printing the map on the screen takes little extra power and I'm guessing the eTrex does a pretty OK job caching maps tile that are out of view, and a good algorithm with all the zooming in and such. You'll notice that it will take a good second for the screen to refresh if you navigate around the screen using the little nubin, or if you change direction drastically. It's probably another concession to preserve battery power.

A perhaps surprising things that drains the battery is keeping the back light light on.

[Yogi the Barry]

Re: eTrex 30
I'm not an expert on the 30, just in a love-hate relationship with one, but I'd say that the run time difference will be minimal... If you can detect it at all. I couldn't. Biggest drain on that battery is backlight usage. Make sure the backlight isn't cranked-up bright and that it doesn't stay on a long time. Number two battery drain is probably display brightness. If you can afford it, run lithiums for the race. Don't forget to change the battery type in setup when/if you do change battery types.
Also, make sure you have the latest firmware. However, don't update the firmware unless you have a few days to make sure a new bug didn't get introduced with the update.
Say a prayer when you boot it and don't cuss at it when/if it misbehaves. That little device can make or break your day. Don't piss it off!

Edit2: First link gives power consumption comparisons of backlight settings and scrolling. Scroll down...
http://www.takeadventure.com/index.php%3Foption%3Dcom_content%26view%3Darticle%26id%3D372:garmin-etrex-30-review%26catid%3D11%26Itemid%3D45
This link digs into power consumption of WAAS and the Compass [may or may not apply to eTrex series.
http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=262344
An eTrex 10 teardown
http://goughlui.com/2014/05/24/quick-review-teardown-garmin-etrex-10-handheld-gps/
Somewhere out there is a link [I've lost it] that really dug into a Garmin GPS and analyzed the power consumption of every component and mode. Guess I've more than beat up the dead horse...

along the lines of gps topo maps etc.  Does anyone know what the battery life difference might be on an etrex 30 between watching track with no map compared to track on topo map? is there a notable battery life difference?

[JosiahM]

I've never thought of the north up vs track up for battery usage.
I do know that on the ctr a couple years ago, my battery lasted me like 2-3 solid days for the first battery set... but after that, I could hardly get batteries to last a day because I started getting tired and weary of riding so I was zooming in and out constantly to try to see how much farther I had to go till my next destination.

[THE LONG RANGER]

I'm a little skeptical about north up vs track up for saving battery life. The code to rotate the map data on screen would be highly optimized by this point. It would cause much confusion for me personally. The AZTR generally runs S -> N, so North Up mode would have a similar bearing to your course, but isn't always the case, and those cases are when you're going to get fubared. North up is super useful when you're comparing a physical map though.

I guess one way to figure it out is to have two units, and just run them in the different modes, and see how the batteries compare.

I've been highly impressed with the eTrex and running just rechargable batteries. One pair can run about 24 hours straight. Starting to save some money on all those lithiums! (for racing though, I'd stick to the lithiums)

[Yogi the Barry]

Re: North vs. Track-Up - I can't confirm the north-up vs. track-up battery drain difference, just reporting what I've heard [as in read] off another GPS forum. The main reason I run north-up is as follows...
My 30 has the habit of flip-flopping 180 degrees when stopped. Once you move a few feet the direction locks in, but the direction cursor usually can't determine the stopped direction. This is the second 30 and the first did the same thing. For a while I ran track up, until a couple of episodes made me change. During a backcountry ski trip, I got caught out in a white-out and got totally turned around because the GPS was flip-flopping every time I stopped and started. I had the same thing happen while biking at night while totally brain dead - the GPS display kept redrawing as I stopped and started and the display flip-flopped. The GPS had become a bad video game. After a while I couldn't figure which way to go or where I came from. Until this happens to you a few times, it probably makes no sense.
I now run north-up because it gives my brain something easier to process, as I have to reconcile the movement arrow and my journey with the map. When I stop the direction cursor might flip-flop, but not the entire map. IMHO, this is an easier situation to deal with when brain dead tired.
Very confusing to run north-up in a car [I don't], as you drive thru a multi-lane interchange at high speed and need a WYSIWYG display, but I like it for bikepacking using the eTrex 30.
Re: batts - I usually run NiMH, but Li is a nice splurge for races. I can usually get 2 to 2-1/2 days of biking if I turn it off for long and obvious sections and really try to avoid the backlight [**See link below. I get to cheat a bit because I run a LED dashlight off my Revo USB tailight output and hardly ever use the backlight].
Re: The comment about zooming and scrolling - Best way to avoid any of that is to look down at your GPS before you get into the middle of an intersection and figure out ahead of time if you need to turn or flush thru. It's easier said that done though.

**http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/question-and-answer/hub-dynamo-and-electronics-thread/msg61115/#msg61115

I'm a little skeptical about north up vs track up for saving battery life. The code to rotate the map data on screen would be highly optimized by this point. It would cause much confusion for me personally. The AZTR generally runs S -> N, so North Up mode would have a similar bearing to your course, but isn't always the case, and those cases are when you're going to get fubared. North up is super useful when you're comparing a physical map though.

I guess one way to figure it out is to have two units, and just run them in the different modes, and see how the batteries compare.

I've been highly impressed with the eTrex and running just rechargable batteries. One pair can run about 24 hours straight. Starting to save some money on all those lithiums! (for racing though, I'd stick to the lithiums)

[rick miller]

If anyone is still looking for 750 transportation, Slowride and I are renting a car in St. George, driving it to Flagstaff (leaving a vehicle at the finish) and catching a shuttle to PCL.  We'd be willing to upgrade to a mini van to take one more person if you cover the upgrade cost, ~ $80.

[geekonabike]

What's the advisability of leaving a motorcycle at the Picketpost trailhead for the duration? The scooter is my bike hauling rig:  https://instagram.com/p/z-mntQkJYV/
 Plan is to ride to Sierra Vista to Sun n' Spoke shuttle or  to take the shuttle from Superior.

[bigportions]

PM sent on shuttle

[ScottM]

Sadly I did just this and still at an impasse... beating head on desk

Even copying a .IMG file straight up didn't work for you?  I assume you tried the divide one I prepared? 

Maybe shoot me an email and we can avoid cluttering the thread with too much GPS stuff.

[ScottM]

Re: eTrex battery life.  I always run mine in North Up, just because I prefer it -- but I also doubt using Track Up has any significant drain.  I agree that backlight is probably more of a drain, and that gets activated (by default) on any zoom/pan/etc.

[ScottM]

Pretty great set of rules. Gotta text today about joining an armada of riders down to the start. Uuuuuugh, I'd do it too, even if this race is brutal, I'm ill prepared - just  don't have a bike I'd wanna do it with! Considering something foolhardy like "borrowing" a Krampus and having no set goal of finishing.

Good luck, all out there!

Do it, do it, do it.  You know you want to.

[REV]

Even copying a .IMG file straight up didn't work for you?  I assume you tried the divide one I prepared? 

Maybe shoot me an email and we can avoid cluttering the thread with too much GPS stuff.

Email has been sent and thanks

[Adam Alphabet]

How many are actually bringing a rain jacket for the 300 this year? Game day decision as we get closer?

Apologies if this sounds like a dumb question but where I'm from you pretty much always bring one when going out into the hills over night.

[schillingsworth]

If the extended forecast holds firm over the next few days, not only would I leave the rain jacket home, I'd pass on the tent/bivy as well. That's me though. In '13 the forecast was warm & dry so I only took a ground cover & sleeping bag, skipped the pad too and it was fine.

[Adam Alphabet]

If the extended forecast holds firm over the next few days, not only would I leave the rain jacket home, I'd pass on the tent/bivy as well. That's me though. In '13 the forecast was warm & dry so I only took a ground cover & sleeping bag, skipped the pad too and it was fine.

Thanks for that. I'm hoping the precip stays away, I've had more than enough up here! I'd also like to carry as little extra as possible and leaving the rain jacket behind would be a nice start.

[rick miller]

A bit of incentive to get up early on Saturday (at least for those of us who sleep), eclipse maximum at 05:00: http://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa/tucson

[DblRdblT]

Anybody know of a shuttle available for April 2nd to Parker Lake?

[rick miller]

Anybody know of a shuttle available for April 2nd to Parker Lake?

you could try Rob at sonoranmtb.com, tho it might be full