GPS use discussion

[P455]

How many of you riders are using a GPS unit?
What makes them so useful? (so I can justify it to the wife )
What's your recommendation for someone who's considering buying one?
What features are "must have" and what are "nice to have"?

I see the Garmin eTREX Legend unit for sale for around $150 online... It has 8mb of memory and can download CD ROM maps. Is this a good deal? I'd like one that displays realtime map info but don't "think" I need some of the Pilot models with all the bells and whistles.

School me on all things GPS, please.

[Radon222]

Originally posted by P455
School me on all things GPS, please.

Are you sure you really want me to?? I use GPS systems ranging in value from $200 to $120,000 dollars.

Mostly on boats though, not motorcycles.

[Thunderstruck]

I currently have a Garmin GPS III, but am going to get a GPS V as it has more features I can use on a trip I am planning. I believe the Garmin GPS V has most of the features that one could want in both an off road unit and for street use. It has the ability to link with your PC or Laptop for downloading of specific routes to a destination with turn by turn directions. It will also reroute you if you miss a turn or decide not to follow its directions due to traffic or construction. You can also get software with topo maps that you can input into the GPS if you want to follow a specific off highway trail or fire road. It is a very compact and robust unit comparable with the e-trex Legend but with controls better suited for use on the bike. I have used my GPS III since 98 on my concours and it is very easy to change your display settings on the fly as all of the controls are on the face. It is really nice to be able to zoom out and see the intesection ahead of you and then zoom back in for closer detail. I do not believe the e-trex series is as vibration resistant as the mobile units as it is listed as a hand held unit. Even with the vibration resistance of the mobile units I am going to mount mine with an even more vibration resistant mount made by TouraTech it is expensive but could save the unit in extreme off road conditions. The GPS V is a little more expensive but there are several listed on E-Bay at the moment. I will link to both of the items I have mentioned so you can check them out.
http://www.garmin.com/products/gps5/


http://www.touratech-usa.com/shop/na...Cat=GPS_Mounts

The mount is about halfway down the page and is listed as TT GPS mount III,V (MvG) Part number is 065-0035. It installs on the cross bar or with Ram mounts. I know several people that have used this mount for around the world trips and it works great according to them. As soon as I get my set up installed I will post pictures probably will not be before the end of next month. Hope this helps you some.

Chuck

[UK Rob KLR650]

Never used one and never well. same as i always switch my mobile phone off etc. I like freedom and the possibility maybe of getting lost. I dont like the thought of technology telling me where to go.
I also do a lot of trekking etc and dont use one for that. Technology takes away you freedom of choice by tying you to what it thinks is right.
Obviously this is just a personal choice

[RhinoWERX]

I use a Garmin GPSV and love it.

Take the time to understand the features and how to use them corretly and you'll wonder how you did without it.

One of the more useful features, IMHO, is the statistics it provides - distance, time stopped, travel time, average speed, elevation, etc. It also automaticaly plots (tracks) your route. When I get home, I download the track, review it, give it a rating and save it. My buddy (who lives here in SoCal and also has a GPSV) and I often share files with each other of trips that weve done - so much to see, so little time

[P455]

Cool, thanks for the input.

For general "adventure motorcycling" including desert and back-country use, would I be happy with a basic "handheld" like the Legend vs. one of the III, IV, or V models? They seem to do the same stuff, but the handhelds (legend, vista, etc) seem like they might be a bit more fragile.

[Radon222]

Originally posted by P455
Cool, thanks for the input.

For general "adventure motorcycling" including desert and back-country use, would I be happy with a basic "handheld" like the Legend vs. one of the III, IV, or V models? They seem to do the same stuff, but the handhelds (legend, vista, etc) seem like they might be a bit more fragile.

I had used the GPS III+ about 7 years ago when it first came out and loved it. At that time it was the bee's knees! When Garmin started delivering the E-Map/E-Trex series I got really excited about the additional internal memory that units started to offer.

The 2MB internal memory of the III+ is pretty small and really limits the amount of map data it will store. But that case is more waterproof than the Etrex series and I wanted a GPS that I could use on my seakayak. So I patiently waited for Garmin to update the III+.

And finally they did and introduced the V. Now I just need to save my pennies....

[Mike_McLarty]

Well, I bit the bullet and bought a GPS receiver a few months ago. I wanted to buy a Garmin because I knew they had been around forever and they probably made the best units. However, after researching the subject to death and reading bazillions of comments from users of numerous models, I decided that the best bang for the buck and the best unit for "me" was the Magellan Meridian Gold. Prior to that decision though I came very close to buying one of the Garmin Etrex models until I read many complaints about the operation and location of the keys.

Every time I use mine I am very impressed with it. From what I understand the Garmin units have higher resolution displays, but the Meridian is apparently a LOT more sensitive and can lock onto satellites in areas where some Garmin units are unable to. So if you're riding trails through forested areas where satellites might be obscured somewhat by tree cover, that might be something to consider.

The model I bought came with the Canadian Mapsend software; which just blows me away with its detail and accuracy. It shows dirt roads in my area that I never knew existed! If I go for a ride it will record my trip and I can actually download it into the computer when I get home and play it back. Amazing! It will show me the time at any interval of the trip, what my speed was and even the elevation of that location. Now, that may not be a critical feature to have in a GPS receiver but it sure is nifty to play with and I didn't even know it existed ... just stumbled across it by accident.

The Meridian Gold has numerous display screens which tell you just about anything you can imagine and then some. I am so thrilled with it I would not hesitate to highly recommend it to anyone. Oh ya ... it comes with 16 Mb secure digital card which is capable of storing incredible amounts of information from the Mapsend software package, and if you want you can always buy another card with more storage space. So far I haven't needed it.

Anyway, I'm sure Garmin owners are just as pleased with their units. I can only speak for the one I have first hand experience with.

So for you guys and gals who don't already have a GPS receiver ... take it from me ... you really really NEED one <smile>.

Mike

[Mike_McLarty]

Hmmm ...

How did this happen? My post showed up twice and I don't know how to delete it so I am just typing something in the message field cuz it's mandatory ...

sorry ...

[Judjonzz]

I have the Etrex Legend, and have slowly been learning its features. One of the most useful is the speed readout, which gives me an idea of the accuracy of any vehicle I am using. Just running the base map, even without any downloaded detail, is very handy when poking around the backcountry, especially when gray days make it too easy to get disoriented. I haven't tried downloading any detail, or routes, and suspect I may want a unit with larger buttons before I try using GPS to replace a roll-chart.

[Treborb]

I run a Garmin Legend myself. Got the bicycle mount and mounted it on the handlebar. Also mounted a cig lighter on the headlight casing plugged that into the spare accessory wires then I plug the Garmin 12v cable into that.

I found that bouncing around on trails can cause the batteries to prematurely drain where as using the cig lighter and 12v cable I havent had a power problem.

Like Jud was saying, knowing exactly how fast you are going can be helpful, besides the compass and built-in maps.

Another thing I have gotten into is Geocaching http://www.geocaching.com/ and using the KLR to get yourself there with the GPS is all the more fun.

Sometime I will buy the topography cd so I can load trails, streams and backroads but for now, I am running it stock.

Bob

[Old_Six_Fitty]

What features do you consider "must have" versus those that are only niceties?

I learned to read maps a long time ago, and with a compass if you can see the terrain around you and have a topo, you can usually locate your position. I think a portable little map would be handy but unless you drop a wad of cash the screen seems pretty small. I know lotsa folks swear by them.

Just wondering what the real value is with the GPS thing...

MarkB

[gpsdualsport]

GPS units!! There is a full blown adventure series that uses GPS as the main navigation tool. Go to Kawasaki "GPS" Dual Sport Series 2003 for more information.

[Cra_fizzer]

Mike_McLarty

That the same reason I bought the Magellan Sportak Pro. From all the reviews I read it is suppose to be more accurate and the button layout is good. My brother in law has an Etrex and I find the buttons rather cumbersome BUT it does have a better screen resolution.

[ram600]

Never used one and never well. same as i always switch my mobile phone off etc. I like freedom and the possibility maybe of getting lost. I dont like the thought of technology telling me where to go.

I'm thinking that the UK has no offroad areas that you really can get lost in. I live in Oregon and can travel pretty far in a hour in the back country. I could see the freeway a couple weeks agon but for a while we could not find our way to backtrack our route.

I just bought a Garmin etrex Legend and was wondering about some things. Can I upload a route into my computer? Where do I find software for that? What is the difference in the maps that come in the GPS and the others you have to purchase? How much memory did the existing map take and can I unload the map of South America?

I have found the Legend fairly intuitive after reading the book, but am still learning how to use it and what to expect from it. I read that some will tell you where gas is. Is that a function ofthe Legend?

Thanks
New Here

[RGVKLR]

I’ve been using GPS at work and at play for years now. I find them indispensable. All my bikes have mounts on them as well as our cars. I don’t know about the rest of the country, but where I live “Life flight” emergency helicopters are also equipped with them. If your ever in the middle of nowhere and need help fast they will pay for themselves. Another benefit is that I now have an exact answered for that nagging question from the back seat, “When will we get there?” I always get lots of questions about them from the locals whenever I ride in Mexico and stop for gas. South of the border it’s good for collecting a lot of disbelieving looks.

[gpsdualsport]

Originally posted by Old_Six_Fitty
What features do you consider "must have" versus those that are only niceties?

MarkB

Which GPS Should I Purchase?


The Million $$ Question


-You may want to justify your purchase.


-Are you a Hiker? Will you use the GPS in your car? In an airplane?

-For some other reason?

-These should all be secondary!

-Justify on the basis of navigating on your dual sport motorcycle.


Your GPS Should:

-Have at least 20 routes of 30 waypoint capability.

-Be able to store 500 waypoints or more.

-Have external power capability.

-Be able to be read from the handlebar area of your
motorcycle.

-Be attached to your motorcycle using one of the commercially
available GPS mounting systems.

-Have large face mounted buttons!

-Waterproof to IEC-529 IPX7 specs (submersable for 30
minutes)

-Mapping or non mapping is really not an issue

-Stay away from color units as they wash out in direct sunlight.


Notes about GPS receivers for use in the woods:


1) eTrex models (due to their small size patch type antenna) have slightly less antenna gain and sensitivity and may not perform quite as well as others in difficult receiving conditions._ They work just fine "out in the clear".

2) Helix type antennas tend to get "detuned" and have lower sensitivity if the antenna is placed close to a metal surface._ Some
detuning can result if the antenna is placed in a pocket or in a
knapsack with metallic items or your body in close proximity._ Patch type antennas suffer less and work better if you want your GPS to receive with the unit close to your body or in your pocket._ NO GPS will perform properly in these conditions unless it has an external <maybe amplified> antenna out in the clear._ GPS receivers are DESIGNED to operate properly WITH A CLEAR SKY VIEW._ Any time you compromise with less than a full sky view,_ you are compromising the operation of the GPS and the accuracy of your position fix.

Check ot http://www.kawasakidualsport.com for more info on GPS use on your KLR.

[BurnieM]

A mapping GPSR is very useful and useable and great on a bike.



I prefer the Garmins for their more straight forward user interface, but do not believe that the Etrex and Emaps are robust enough.

With a mapping GPSR the quality of the maps should be 50% of your decision.
For Canada this means going with Magellan for their better coverage and accuracy.

Don't forget the mount.
The plastic bicycle mounts belong on a bicycle.
Tourtech make some good mounts but they are a bit pricey.

I use a RAM mount with my Garmin GPS V and Metroguide Australia.

Cheers,
Burnie M
burniem@gpsriders.net

[Attilla]

I bought the eTrex Legend also. It is very valuable at certain critical points when you are navigating in wilderness areas, but the other 98% of the time it is just a compass and speedometer.

My first eTrex kept shutting off due to handlebar vibrations. The Garmin Tech said it should be able to handle it though and they replaced it with no problem. I mounted some softer material (velcro layers) under the handlebar mount to get better isolation...we'll see.

[Dbl_aitch]

It is very valuable at certain critical points when you are navigating in wilderness areas, but the other 98% of the time it is just a compass and speedometer.

Yeah, it's a great ADDITION to any other navigation aids you might have. I made the mistake of going with a buddy who had "downloaded all the maps" into his GPS. The real dumb thing was leaving my maps at home... I have a GPS, but am smart enough (now...) to carry maps.