Most Popular Handheld GPS?

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FunTreks

FunTreks

10 Year
Joined
Feb 14, 2011
Threads
6
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67
Let's just say, hypothetically, that we wanted to offer data cards that included trails from our books. If we were to do that, we are wondering what the most popular handheld GPS is around here?
We use the Garmin 60 usually, but also have access to a Garmin legend. We just picked up a DeLorme PN-40 to play with as well.

What is everyone else running?
 
o-o-o-ld etrex

I have an old Garmin Etrex Venture. works fine, but old. I think this'll be the one I convert to the APRS GPS unit.

I'm looking at the Oregon as a replacement or the delorme one.
 
My GPS

I just bought a Garmin 62ST. It's supposed to be a rugged high performance handheld unit. I use handheld's a lot at work and while wheeling. Hope this one holds up.

I replaced an old Garmin 12xl and never had a problem. With the 12xl, it became problematic using the newer mapping programs.
 
hey you said:
I just bought a Garmin 62ST. It's supposed to be a rugged high performance handheld unit. I use handheld's a lot at work and while wheeling. Hope this one holds up.

I replaced an old Garmin 12xl and never had a problem. With the 12xl, it became problematic using the newer mapping programs.
Click to expand...

The 62ST looks like a solid unit, let us know how you like it :)
 
I have a 60Csx, but TBH I am using my Android phone more and more for geocaching and onroad navigation. It is a much more flexible platform and relatively open vs the Garmin. Apps provide much better customization and updates than a "fixed" product.

Can't handle rugged environments as well, but for those times it is easy enough to move waypoints and tracks to the 60. The compass and 60 keep falling further and further down in my Tuffy console.
 
yep. truth be told i have my 60cx because it replaced my dead etrex many years ago. and until my 60 dies, it will be it and a laptop in the rig at most. they DO make soem fancy cool new ones, but for what they all cost and how happy i am with my 60cx, i'm allocating toy money to other items :D
 
rusty_tlc said:
Why lock into one Mfg?

GPSBabel: file format capabilities
Click to expand...

I think he's trying to sell a locked product which adds some overhead whenever you "fork" the data into more formats. Not knowing enough about how Garmin protects their electronic data I can't really say how to go about that. It sounds like the intention is having a locked down flash card similar to how Garmin sells some of their map data.

The ultimate protection would be your own proprietary format encrypted and an Android or iOS app that can only read it.

TBH a lot of the trails in the Guidebooks are already online in some form or another that can be converted (with GPSBabel) into whatever you like. I really like the books and will continue to buy them for trips as things to do. They are really well done. The electronic routes or waypoints as I can build myself or find them somewhere online. With Google Earth/Maps and a converter it is also much easier to share this data with others.

Here is Dusy-Ershim trail after finding the GPX online, opening into Google Earth, removing unwanted bits and saving as KML. Then I imported with Google Maps and can share to nearly anyone I want. Further, if you have Mac/Win browser Google has the Google Earth viewer working within Google Maps so you can use the 3D fly-over style navigation to follow the route.

Dusy Ershim - Google Maps
 
esh said:
I think he's trying to sell a locked product which adds some overhead whenever you "fork" the data into more formats. Not knowing enough about how Garmin protects their electronic data I can't really say how to go about that. It sounds like the intention is having a locked down flash card similar to how Garmin sells some of their map data.

The ultimate protection would be your own proprietary format encrypted and an Android or iOS app that can only read it.

TBH a lot of the trails in the Guidebooks are already online in some form or another that can be converted (with GPSBabel) into whatever you like. I really like the books and will continue to buy them for trips as things to do. They are really well done. The electronic routes or waypoints as I can build myself or find them somewhere online. With Google Earth/Maps and a converter it is also much easier to share this data with others.

Here is Dusy-Ershim trail after finding the GPX online, opening into Google Earth, removing unwanted bits and saving as KML. Then I imported with Google Maps and can share to nearly anyone I want. Further, if you have Mac/Win browser Google has the Google Earth viewer working within Google Maps so you can use the 3D fly-over style navigation to follow the route.

Dusy Ershim - Google Maps
Click to expand...

You're absolutely right that the data we're looking to offer on SD cards is available anywhere online for anyone to use as they see fit, and that's a great thing :)

It sounds like you're very tech savvy and love to try things out & tinker around. Many of our customers however aren't as familiar with Google, file formats, and importing/exporting files. Those are the customers we're interested in supporting with SD cards.

The files on our SD cards will not be proprietary or locked down in any way (other than some POI information which is in Garmin format). You won't be required to 'unlock' any of the data for a specific device, and you can use it on as many personal devices as possible.

We're still working on all the details, but we basically want to offer a 'plug n play' solution if we can, and make easy for people to use our data for their personal enjoyment.

Thanks for your comments!
 
hey you said:
I replaced an old Garmin 12xl and never had a problem. With the 12xl, it became problematic using the newer mapping programs.
Click to expand...

What kind of problems did you have? I'm using a Garmin 12XL and am planning to connect it to a netbook via serial/USB data cable. I did this before successfully but it has been a while since I've used it this way.
 
It primarily was because my laptop doesn't have a serial port, only usb. I could find a program or adapters that would easily adapt. There are adapters and programs, but the time and cost wasn't worth the trouble. I use my GPS at work on occasion and I needed to keep up with the technology. Also, the 12xl is not supported anymore without going through a lot of additional work and searching the internet.
 
Maggellan Triton 1500 That is about 4 plus years old or my Samsung Wave smart phone.
 
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