samdajellybeenie14
New member
What does everyone use as a GPS? I am thinking of getting one but I can't decide on which one is the best. Any opinions/suggestions?
GPS Unit
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angrydog
New member
I personally use the Garmin Nuvi 3750 [LINK HERE]; I didn't care for Bluetooth since the 4R has it nor traffic as that technology IMO needs to mature a bit more. The unit itself is pretty fast (i.e. at rerouting, going through menu's and etc.) I also love the form-factor, it's very thin and light weight that I can take it with me for when I go to a public lot and don't feel safe leaving it in the vehicle. My brother bought the high end Tomtom and he returned it to get the same Garmin I have because the Tomtom unit he bought didn't have a "Go Back" button in its' menu's! - My .02 cents
thorrunner
New member
Are you looking for a street based GPS or are you looking for an off road GPS for trail riding and using topo maps?
I have a Nuvi for the road and a etrex lengend hcx for off road, both get the job done very well.
I have a Nuvi for the road and a etrex lengend hcx for off road, both get the job done very well.
gptoy96
New member
Hopefully not hijacking too bad as hopefully this is useful to the OP too.
I've been considering a unit and noticed the Garmin's have topo maps available to the road-style Nuvi GPS's. Anyone run the combo of the car style GPS (Nuvi) with topo. maps for the offroad? I like the style of the Nuvi's but the maps of the handhelds, it'd be great to combine the two.
034RUNNER
New member
Garmin Nuvi, not sure which one it is off hand but I love the thing. We have a Magellan as well and it's good enough, but I like the added featured of the Garmin. I also like how it will show you a picture of the highway to help you not be confused sometimes.
My only issue is that sometimes it takes FOREVER to get signal upon start up, even if I used it just the day before. It could be the fact that I'm a very wooded valley for a road, but even if I let it sit before leaving, it can take a while to finally know where it is.
My only issue is that sometimes it takes FOREVER to get signal upon start up, even if I used it just the day before. It could be the fact that I'm a very wooded valley for a road, but even if I let it sit before leaving, it can take a while to finally know where it is.
thorrunner
New member
I really don't know how that works...?? When I bought the SW USA topo map for my etrex, it came on a micro SD card. My nuvi doesn't have expandable memory but the newer / higher end models might have that ability. Also, I think you can get the topo map on CD then download it to the unit via USB... Sorry long answer to a short question, but I don't know!!
gptoy96
New member
Not sure how it would work either, I was looking at a Nuvi 1350LMT (lifetime updates included) and checked the available maps for it and they have a topo map of my area that can be used with it. Sounds like either direct download or with an SD card. Was curious if it worked as well in real life as I imagine it would in my head with combined road navigation as well as back country topo areas. That would be a winning combo for me.
Trevloc
New member
i have a tomtom (given as a christmas gift)
and i like it for what it is (free :bravo
but i would recommend the garmin more.
the tomtom just has a slow load time. at times it has taken up to 15 minutes to find my location. i have even just given up at certain times. now i dont know if that is tomtom, or the satalites or something else. but yeah. also it is rather large compared to the new garmins. but mine is also like 3 years old. it was small for its time....
ooooooh technology. :whipping2
and i like it for what it is (free :bravo
but i would recommend the garmin more.the tomtom just has a slow load time. at times it has taken up to 15 minutes to find my location. i have even just given up at certain times. now i dont know if that is tomtom, or the satalites or something else. but yeah. also it is rather large compared to the new garmins. but mine is also like 3 years old. it was small for its time....
ooooooh technology. :whipping2
thorrunner
New member
I bought mine at Sportsman's Warehouse (not sure about how many locations they have) but they offered a free GPS class a few times per month. We went into the parking lot and pretended to go hunting. It was a little cheesey but I really learned a lot about entering waypoints, following the breadcrumb trail and geocaching. Of course I am more of a 4 wheeler than a hunter but the info still applies!! The guy that ran the class was REALLY knowledgeable about Garmin, maybe you can call your local Cabelas / Sportmans etc...?
The group that I go 4 wheeling with (AZFJ › News) is really big on meeting and camping at GPS co ordinates.... they say 'air down at N..... W....' not 'air down by the big rock / cactus.....'
Anyway, let me know what you find out!
Pikeman
New member
I have a Nuvi 275 and it has the Micro SD card. I put the TOPO maps on the Micro SD and then go into Tools, Settings, Map information, click on the map source you want and unclick the other one. Sometimes if you leave the US Street on it overwrites the Topo. So once I get into the Mtns I just switch map the GPS is using. Hopefully this was helpfull. Also Garmin is coming out with a new unit that is really cool with real time weather satellite imagary(like you see on the news). You will find alot more software programming and files available for the Garmin GPS operating system. Magellan makes real nice ones for hiking but sometimes their vehicle mount ones are lacking, Lowrance is good but sometimes is picky when trying to load new files too.
Another option if you have a smart phone is Back Country Navigator application, I just ended the trial period and it seemed pretty decent.
Another option if you have a smart phone is Back Country Navigator application, I just ended the trial period and it seemed pretty decent.
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gptoy96
New member
Cool, that'd be handy to have that class available. I don't remember hearing of something like that available here but I'll keep my eyes open. I live in a smaller city so we have Future Shop/Best Buy who just sell electronics, they don't actually know anything about add ons like the maps, and an Outdoor Outfitters which you'd think would be a bit more knowledgable on the GPS's but don't know any of it either. They all say "check the website...". So I'm trying to dig up my knowledge from the net. It's looking like I'll do it regardless so I'll try to remember to update on my findings. The budget's tight right now so just waiting for the opportunity that I can really justify picking one up and going from there.
Looks like a great group to be involved with for your wheeling. And smart giving coordinates for meets.
gptoy96
New member
Thanks Pikeman. Apparantly I was typing when you responded so my post seems a bit behind now after reading this.
So sounds like it acts as two different GPS's depending on the source of info. that it's using? That new GPS sounds sweet with the weather feature, maybe I'll hold off and see what those are like when they come around.
IanB
New member
I've been using a Garmin 265WT for years now, and I love it. The screen/touch inputs suck, but they all did back then. The software and updateability is the best in the business though, and when I replace this unit it will be with another Garmin.
I would love for them to come out with a new version of the Nuvi 550, which performs both street and hiking/Geocaching functions, but with the new form factor and screen technology of the new units. When they build that, I'll buy it.
I would love for them to come out with a new version of the Nuvi 550, which performs both street and hiking/Geocaching functions, but with the new form factor and screen technology of the new units. When they build that, I'll buy it.
Pikeman
New member
Yes it is like two different GPS units in a way. It is more about just the map. My Nuvi came with Europe and US loaded on it new and had to select the US map when I first turned it on. Now when I want to use the TOPO or any other map loaded onto the SD card I simply go into settings and select the map source. As mentioned by another member you can get the TOPO on a CD and load into your system via USB cable. One of the guys I volunteer with for the Forest writes some of the software for Garmin so he gets some of the latest gear. I just went through a basic class with him and all I can say is wow, I never knew a lot of the stuff even the basic units can do. I cant wait to go to his advanced class and really learn what you can do, although I have a feeling it will cost me a lot of money. Not for the class but because I will want to get all the mapping software and better GPS unit overall.
gptoy96
New member
Sounds interesting. It'd be great to have someone available with that kind of knowledge to really show you it's capabilities.
I have a feeling it'll drain a bit out of the mod fund for me too. It's one of those things that I really don't need, but it's a cool toy. I know my City like the back of my hand and don't go to unknown ones very often, nor get out in the back country as much as I'd like but I still have this urge to have one. Hoping maybe when I have it I'll get more opportunities to get out and use it, lol. We'll see...
I guess if I splurge for a lifetime update one it'll still be ready for me even if it is a while before I actually need to use it in an unknown City.
I have a feeling it'll drain a bit out of the mod fund for me too. It's one of those things that I really don't need, but it's a cool toy. I know my City like the back of my hand and don't go to unknown ones very often, nor get out in the back country as much as I'd like but I still have this urge to have one. Hoping maybe when I have it I'll get more opportunities to get out and use it, lol. We'll see...
I guess if I splurge for a lifetime update one it'll still be ready for me even if it is a while before I actually need to use it in an unknown City.
I'm a Garmin fan personally.
The first one I bought back in 2007 resembled a tiny projection tv- pretty thick. It worked awesome up until I got my 3790 a few months ago, just was starting to get really outdated with new roads and interstates being built around the country.
I got a used Garmin Nuvi from a co-worker that didn't use it anymore. Worked good for a few months until the charge port on the GPS must have broken inside. Could have been abused, I don't know how old it was when I got it.
A couple months ago I cashed in some of my Chase rewards points on a Garmin 3790. I hadn't actually seen any of these in person, they're pretty slick. They're incredibly thin, and could almost pass as an iPhone when powered off. To be honest though, I'm disappointed in it. The touch screen kinda sucks, and it gets stuck while loading a route a lot more than either of my past Garmins ever did. I don't regret getting it, but it doesn't seem to be of the same quality as my other 2.
I've used Magellans and Tom-Toms in the past, and Garmins are so much easier to use in my opinion.
The first one I bought back in 2007 resembled a tiny projection tv- pretty thick. It worked awesome up until I got my 3790 a few months ago, just was starting to get really outdated with new roads and interstates being built around the country.
I got a used Garmin Nuvi from a co-worker that didn't use it anymore. Worked good for a few months until the charge port on the GPS must have broken inside. Could have been abused, I don't know how old it was when I got it.
A couple months ago I cashed in some of my Chase rewards points on a Garmin 3790. I hadn't actually seen any of these in person, they're pretty slick. They're incredibly thin, and could almost pass as an iPhone when powered off. To be honest though, I'm disappointed in it. The touch screen kinda sucks, and it gets stuck while loading a route a lot more than either of my past Garmins ever did. I don't regret getting it, but it doesn't seem to be of the same quality as my other 2.
I've used Magellans and Tom-Toms in the past, and Garmins are so much easier to use in my opinion.
IanB
New member
I've got the topo maps loaded on my 265WT and I've always been disappointed in that there doesn't appear to be any additional detail. I'd always chalked it up to living where it's flat, so there was just no detail to be seen, I assumed it overlayed the 2 maps info but it may not have been displaying topo data at all! I'm going to have to play with this, thanks for the tip!
Edit: makes no difference, there's just no topographical data to display where I live, lol.
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