gps_dr

I've had good luck with my GPS units - all still work.... Garmin 12XL purchased in 98 for hunting - still works but don't use it anymore for fear memory battery will crap out. Garmin 76 - not map 76 used for 3 years mapping bike trails. Brunton MNS - AKA Lowrance Explorer - good reception - topo with Game Management boundaries but B&W Garmin 76CSx - used for 20 months now - a real workhorse - hunting & geobiking DeLorme PN20 - great maps - use it for trail mapping along with the 76CSx for last 18 months Garmin Colorado 400t - had for 6 months w/heart rate monitor - display was not good on handlebars & only single track display caused me to sell this one. DeLorme PN40 beta test unit - Awesome unit with color aerial imagery cheap - best all round unit for GeoBiking & Hunting - 76CSx next in line

Hi, I've had the priviledge of testing the new DeLorme PN40 while hunting this fall. The 1 Meter aerial imagery was great for finding my way through timer. I could pick out continuous logging cuts from dead ends to avoid lots of dead-fall climbing. The contour line overlay on the imagery let me know the terrain.

I have: Garmin 12XL, 76, 76CSX & Colorado Brunton MNS (AKA Lowrance Explorer) DeLorme PN-20 & Beta PN-40 I map bicycle trails and rely on the DeLorme & 76CSx to record them and help me navigate. Only the PNs allow me display all 1200 miles of my mapped trails (105) on the device. The 76CSx displays 20 tracks, enough for many uses. The aerial imagery with overlayed contours are great. (Didn't have color imagery fully loaded on this trip). There's a cliff ahead: Picking trail down thru heavy timber: Following old trail via imagery: I used the PN-40 below the Flat Tops Wilderness Area in Colorado last month. It was great for finding continuous openings in heavy timber, making travel so much easier. Anybody that's climbed over deadfalls very far knows what I mean. The imagery is displayable on both the PN20 & PN40.

Again, I call BS. Let's see proof. I have carefully compared 60csx track log versus the CO in very poor conditions. No measurable difference. If anything, the CO was better. I suspect you are basing your opinion on "feelings" and not on science. Which one is a 60csx and which is the CO?? Using Google Earth to compare tracklogs, my 76CSx is usually a little better aligned than my Colorado 400t. Also easier to read 76CSx screen on handlebars. Biggest issue for me is the inability of the Colorado to display more than one tracklog.

Go to some heavy tree cover. The 76 has a high sensetivity receiver. Mine seems to do well when friends with other units go nuts in the woods. The 76 seems to be more stable and hold accuracy better. I did do that and it wasn't heavy enough, even with clouds - the 72 lost signal only once but got it back and the disturbance to the track log was easily fixed. I used a 76 (not map76, 72 twin with higher resolution & external antenna connection) for several years before upgrading to the 76CSx. On cold starts, the CSx is noticeably quicker. It does get signals and holds them better than the older unit. For me the biggest improvements were more track points in active and saved tracks and the ability to store 20 of them that are color differentiated from each other instead of 10. Somewhat easier to enter data on the newer version, and better selection of waypoint icons. The street & topo maps on it help me in my explorations as well.

Placing the two units so close to each other is problematic: Being that close with same chipset could allow the units to interfere with each other. Also one unit may be blocking signal to the other & as noted, birds were to one side. I would be surprised to see them report the same under these conditions.

The 1 Meter color aerial imagery I used on the Beta PN-40 was invaluable for going cross country in the Colorado mountains last week. I could pick out the continuous logging cuts (now game trails) from the dead end ones. I really hate maneuvering thru-over-under-around dead-falls. It is a great unit for biking as well. I have over 1200 miles of Colorado Front Range bike trails as a map overlay on it. I use my DeLorme PN20 & Garmin 76CSx units together to map bike trails - both have been very reliable. It is an awesome unit! Currently own: Garmin Colorado 400t DeLorme PN-20 Garmin 76CSx DeLorme PN-20 Brunton/Lowrance MNS/Expedition Garmin 76 Garmin 12XL

The other Garmin handhelds use the older USB standard also. I don't remember stats on Magellan Triton series. The DeLorme PN-40 (In beta test) uses USB 2.0.

BUT The display on the PN-20 is similar to that on the eTrex Color & 60/76 Color units in being more readable in diverse lighting situations. Doesn't need backlight as much as the Colorado. (I have a PN-20, Garmin 76CSX & Colorado)

My number one request. Ditto for me too! Regarding showing distance while panning, I asked Garmin about that. It shows if you press <ENTER> However, it doesn't show the bearing! Pressing <Enter> again gives navigation line.

I use a categorization method that allows me to still use appropriate waypoint symbols: When I'm mapping bike trails, I prefix the waypoint name with a three letter key. When I'm mapping in the forest, I prefix the waypoints with the forest road number. This allows me to easily group them and delete them in software. The key is also used as the track and route names.

I like seeing the total ascent information on the S models (Barometric Altimeter). It gives a much more accurate reading than one from Satellite information or getting it from overlaying on a topo map (DeLorme, National Geographic or whatever) and doing a profile. I of course am in the camp that the logical choice is the 76 style.... Better with gloves (larger buttons), larger cursor pad Better for entering data when it is laying on flat surface Easier for me to hold and enter data one handed w/o worrying about it dropping. (younger, smaller handed people may feel otherwise.)

Isn't it part of your current tracklog data by default? I haven't seen this myself but I thought the sensor data would be included as a data field in each trackpoint. GO$Rs That's what I thought, but that is not the case. The heart rate data is not included within the "current.gpx" file. I communicated with the developer of Ascent, and sent him a "current.gpx" file. He said that it doesn't include heart rate data. He also said that a user of Ascent who has a Colorado, sent him a "current.gpx" file that does include the heart rate data. Strange. . It shows up in the tracklog of my 400t: (Showing heartrate of 111 with air temp of 30.1) <extensions><gpxtpx:TrackPointExtension><gpxtpx:atemp>30.1</gpxtpx:atemp><gpxtpx:hr>111</gpxtpx:hr></gpxtpx:TrackPointExtension></extensions>

First GPS was an early Garmin 12XL - no special waypoint symbols. Did some research before I bought it and new I didn't want a non-parallel channel unit. Worked the last time I tried it. Replaced it with a Garmin GPS 76 (no-mapping) about 4 years ago because I needed a unit that displayed multiple tracks. Earned a Brunton MNS (AKA Lowrance Ifinder Explorer equivalent)about 18 months later. Sensitive - detailed topo. It did not replace the 76. Earned a DeLorme PN20 (Alpha & Beta tested) Still use it - USGS Topo, aerial imagery etc - use today. Earned a Garmin 76CSX a little over a year ago - My workhorse - TOPO & Street maps - Easy - Use today. Earned a Garmin Colorado 400t about a month ago. Nifty - still has some birth pains - use today (yes all 3).

The NG maps ONLY work with the Triton series. They are raster maps and as such are not useful at higher zoom levels - Display reverts to basemap (or vector Mapsend map) when you zoom in close. They are compatible otherwise yo many GPS devices - Transfer of Routes/Waypoints/Tracks from GPS - Routes/Tracks to GPS

As I said in the above posting, and as shown on my copy of the PC Companion. (Version 1.5 - Current) There is no provision for importing or opening anything other than a Bushnell Project file. The rep from Bushnell told me that you have to enter them manually via their software The above snippet from the manual does nothing to contradict what I said - the snippet says you can transfer the information you entered via the PC software to the GPS - NOTHING ELSE!.

The Go2 has a more detailed base map than the Go & different color. They both operate pitifully slowly! Your best bet for Lowrance support is via the Yahoo iFinder group. Even thought the Go series and iFinder are different, they do answer questions. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ifinder_gps/messages Looks like you can upload waypoints etc to the unit, but not the other way (via serial cable).

Unless they've changed things, there is no way to import data from other sources other than manual entry. I don't know how they think they are operating in a vacuum. So many sources of data someone might want to use. That, the poor sunlight visibility & being unusable with polarized glasses were deal killers for my applications. Any maps you want on the unit have to be downloaded from Bushnell. They were charging a dollar/unit. Units varied in size from 3Mi and smaller. smaller units gave more detail. (per talking with them on phone.)

When you plug the USB cable into the Colorado, it converts tracks, waypoints, routes to GPX format. You then open the file using import button on draw tab. Creates waypoint & track layer as well as routes. It doesn't map all the waypoint icons (similar to use with other Garmins.) Haven't tried going the other way. I did use routable trails in Topo USA 7 to map out a ride covering a number of different trails. It highlighted the track segments used (on PN-20). Helped make it easier to navigate on bike. (Nicer than direct routing).

OF course, my Colorado is the same size & doesn't cover all of it either. 39.5 x 71 should cover enough. Waiting for the "Fellows" screen protector on my 76CSX to die before I put the Invisishield on that I bought for it at the same time.

Ram-Mounts reply to me a while back was they would be available mid March. Re the carabiner clip strap being sewn wrong - I assume it was something beyond merely taking the strap off & replacing the right way.....

I took my 400t on a 23 mile test ride Wednesday alongside my 76CSx & DeLorme PN20. I was leery of the 400t in the sun. It was better than expected. My polarized prescription sunglasses seemed to help make it more visible. The White background on the PN20 USGS maps was most visible. (With sat photos not that good) 76CSx (old topo) showed local streets more visibly. (400t shows them light gray) I did like the 3D view on the 400t. I could see terrain bumps via shading & hills nearby. I did not try my HR monitor on that ride. Converted the 3 tracks to gpx (& joined segments together) - viewed in Google Earth. The PN20 displayed the most accurate log 76CSx second - 400t third. The two Garmins were almost touching with the 400t using a lower mount. This may account for differences. On my next ride, I'll use an external antenna on 400t to eliminate it's being "shadowed".

I use the PN-20 and a 76CSX (60CSX twin) together on my mountain bike when I map trails. They both have great sunlight viewable screens The Garmin allows display of up to 20 tracklogs at a time. The DeLorme allows viewing one track, but I can display all 85 of my tracks (over a thousand miles) on my DeLorme by making them part of my map with the supplied software. I can enter data a little quicker on the Garmin while on the trail, maybe part of it is several years of experience using a plain non-mapping 76. Having USGS maps & satellite photos on the unit is cool. Can't live without the TOPO 7 vector data at higher zooms though. I've played with the new Magellan Tritons, currently a no-go for me. Hope to go for a short mapping ride on Wednesday with the above duo and my new Garmin 400t in betwen them on the bars. Will try to take photos in various lighting conditions. (It is mounted where the cycle computer was & have a slimmer headlight now.) They use different GPS receiver chipsets internally, so I'm hoping the 400t won't interfere with either existing unit. The current pair seem to work fine separated by a short distance. I had to switch sides of the units from what is pictured above, because the cycle computer didn't seem to like the PN-20 on that side of the bar if I was using WAAS. The slight distance change to the other side cured that problem. The 400t & PN-20 also allow me to take screen snapshots internally afield! I've used DeLorme mapping products for many years. It has helped me greatly in planning rides by creating tracks to follow as a guide (using the various mapping sources to plot the trail)

When we got some at the store I work at, I took one home to check it out. Bushnell told me if you want to enter waypoints you have to do it on the unit. Killer for my application & Geocaching, not to mention the screen hates polarized eyeware.

Sportsmans Warehouse is clearancing their Garmin 12V/serial cable setups for half of retail. I have a 76 (higher resolution & external antenna version of the 72) It came with a serial cable. Same cable can also be used on 12XL, GPS III, GPS IV, GPS V, 60 series & 76 series.