GPS Recommendations

[Mickldo]

The screen size is an issue for me as well as I want to be able to see it while I am driving. That is why I want to go for the lap top and Ozi-Explorer software. That way the better half can handle nav duties from the passenger seat and if I need to I can see the screen easily too. I have every map in Australia in 1:250,000 and every map in QLD in 1:100,000 so I want to ba able to access all of these maps using the Ozi-Explorer software while on the move. For example next May I'm planning a trip to the Outback Challenge. I'll be travelling through QLD, NT, SA, NSW and VIC on the trip so basically I need to access about half of the continent. A lot of the trip will be travelling through deserts and private property so a road atlas just won't cut it. I could load all of the maps to SD cards before the trip but what a hassle that would be keeping track of what is on what card. Plus I would have all of the other advantages of the Ozi-Explorer software as well.

Is Lowrance and Magellen owned by the same company or something, my local Magellen rep tried telling me that Magellen pioneered the GPS thing and they owned the satellites or something?

 

[TexasBadlands]

The screen size is an issue for me as well as I want to be able to see it while I am driving. That is why I want to go for the lap top and Ozi-Explorer software. That way the better half can handle nav duties from the passenger seat and if I need to I can see the screen easily too. I have every map in Australia in 1:250,000 and every map in QLD in 1:100,000 so I want to ba able to access all of these maps using the Ozi-Explorer software while on the move. For example next May I'm planning a trip to the Outback Challenge. I'll be travelling through QLD, NT, SA, NSW and VIC on the trip so basically I need to access about half of the continent. A lot of the trip will be travelling through deserts and private property so a road atlas just won't cut it. I could load all of the maps to SD cards before the trip but what a hassle that would be keeping track of what is on what card. Plus I would have all of the other advantages of the Ozi-Explorer software as well.

Is Lowrance and Magellen owned by the same company or something, my local Magellen rep tried telling me that Magellen pioneered the GPS thing and they owned the satellites or something?

Your local Magellan rep is lying to you. The United States Department of Defense owns the satellites, and lets us civilians get the signal. Former President Clinton did us all a favor and had the intentional error turned off so it is much more accurate then what it used to be before his term in office as President.

When I was in the military, we used Magellan GPS units a total of one time, and the failure rate was 6 out of 8 failures under harsh conditions so they canned using them and went to Trimble at the time.

Lowrance was the pioneer in receiver technology, and all others jumped on the band wagon afterwards.

 

[Mickldo]

Your local Magellan rep is lying to you. The United States Department of Defense owns the satellites, and lets us civilians get the signal. Former President Clinton did us all a favor and had the intentional error turned off so it is much more accurate then what it used to be before his term in office as President.

When I was in the military, we used Magellan GPS units a total of one time, and the failure rate was 6 out of 8 failures under harsh conditions so they canned using them and went to Trimble at the time.

Lowrance was the pioneer in receiver technology, and all others jumped on the band wagon afterwards.

Thanks for that. I didn't believe him when he said it as I was sure the US Dept of Defense owned them but didn't know 100% to call bs.

I just checked out the Lowrance Australia website.http://www.lowrance.com.au/

The H2Oc looks like a good unit. THANKS A LOT Now I have another quality product to decide what is best for my use.

It looks as if the H2Oc comes standard with US maps preloaded even on the Aussie website. Maybe they haven't updated the site or sold any in OZ yet? US maps aren't real good to me!

Sorry to hijack your thread OUTSIDELC but hopefully the information I'm getting here is of use to you too.

So my current list of potential GPS models is;
Garmin GPS60CSx
Magellan eXplorist 600
Lowrance iFinder H2Oc

Decisions, decisions

 

[TexasBadlands]

Thanks for that. I didn't believe him when he said it as I was sure the US Dept of Defense owned them but didn't know 100% to call bs.

I just checked out the Lowrance Australia website.http://www.lowrance.com.au/

The H2Oc looks like a good unit. THANKS A LOT Now I have another quality product to decide what is best for my use.

It looks as if the H2Oc comes standard with US maps preloaded even on the Aussie website. Maybe they haven't updated the site or sold any in OZ yet? US maps aren't real good to me!

Sorry to hijack your thread OUTSIDELC but hopefully the information I'm getting here is of use to you too.

So my current list of potential GPS models is;
Garmin GPS60CSx
Magellan eXplorist 600
Lowrance iFinder H2Oc

Decisions, decisions

Right, I guess the unit is pre-loaded, but you could contact Lowrance usa and see what is available for Australia. Of course they must have maps for all areas of the world, as people use Lowrance gps on expeditions everywhere.

Good luck

 

[IBCRUSN]

I'm getting in a little late but for the vehicles and bike I use the Garmin 2720 (which has the option for XM traffic) and a Magellin Meridian for handheld use (hiking and geocache).

I may upgrade to the Streetpilot 7500 or possibly the Lowrance Baja. You guys running the Baja, does it offer turn by turn directions? I don't need the voice commands but the wife does in here car.

 

[TexasBadlands]

Lowrance offers the iWay 500 for more friendly 'on road' use with turn by turn directions. Go to www.lowrance.com and check out their GPS for automotive use there.