GPS in Africa???

[peepers]

i am heading to africa for my honeymoon. i want to bring a GPS then map it out on some sort of software when i get back. a handheld. what can i use?

i currently have the magellan meridan color. it is a few years old. will this work? where do i get maps for africa?

 

[Herbert]

Every GPS unit works everywhere in the world. If your GPS is capable of adding maps, contact the manufacturer for a CD-Rom. Don't expect the maps from Africa to be as detailed as the ones from North America.
Some modern GPS units have basic town maps of the whole world already built in.

i am heading to africa for my honeymoon. i want to bring a GPS then map it out on some sort of software when i get back. a handheld. what can i use?

i currently have the magellan meridan color. it is a few years old. will this work? where do i get maps for africa?

 

[e9999]

contact some of our nice South African friends here on the site...
I imagine you'd have to go with Magellan maps because of compatibility issues anyway, so just call Magellan.

 

[preacherman]

I took my magellan to Africa in Jan to travel across eastern africa in a Prado and it didn't work. It was the crazyist thing. It should have worked, it worked before I left and after I got back but not on my trip. I changed the datum and verified that it was not a weather related problem becuz our backup (a non magellan) worked. I never could figure it out.

 

[GeoRoss]

I took my magellan to Africa in Jan to travel across eastern africa in a Prado and it didn't work. It was the crazyist thing. It should have worked, it worked before I left and after I got back but not on my trip. I changed the datum and verified that it was not a weather related problem becuz our backup (a non magellan) worked. I never could figure it out.

There is GPS coverage over almost the entire globe. IIRC it can be less efficient at the poles.


What was likely happening is that most handhelds have a function of using the last know location to help 'speed up' the process of displaying/fixing the location after start up.

I have found that when I have changed continents or the like, I either have to give the unit a long undisturbed time to fix its location, or better yet enter in a local waypoint and use that to determine the new location. Many handhelds have a function to help guide the unit in this way as well.


Good luck.

 

[Herbert]

GeoRoss is correct. If you change continents, it can take up to 30 minutes for the GPS to aquire a position. It took my Garmin about 10 Minutes to get a position in South America.

The Magellan will work in Africa, unless there is something physically wrong with the unit.

There is GPS coverage over almost the entire globe. IIRC it can be less efficient at the poles.


What was likely happening is that most handhelds have a function of using the last know location to help 'speed up' the process of displaying/fixing the location after start up.

I have found that when I have changed continents or the like, I either have to give the unit a long undisturbed time to fix its location, or better yet enter in a local waypoint and use that to determine the new location. Many handhelds have a function to help guide the unit in this way as well.


Good luck.

 

[jzmq]

Check out Tracks 4 Africa- they are out of South Africa and have content on Google Earth, they will definitley be able to give info about using GPS in Africa.

John

 

[peepers]

tbanks for the tips. i will check it out and report back.

 

[JohanSA]

GPS in Africa for sure !

Should you need help on Garmin GPS and maps for Africa you are welcome to mail me.