maps

[+theniffs]

Ok, so Im a total newb when it comes to this gps stuff. I just bought a vista hcx, I dont have my sd card yet it comes today, but I want local streets too, I want to be able to use it for geocaching and for navigation. Can I just buy the topo 2008 or do i need to buy city navigator too? What if a friend has these disks can I 'borrow' them?

[+Miragee]

You need to purchase City Navigator maps, which can be unlocked to only one GPS unit. Or, you can buy MetroGuide which can be "hacked" for auto-routing. I bought the older Topo maps on eBay to save some money on those.

[+theniffs]

You need to purchase City Navigator maps, which can be unlocked to only one GPS unit. Or, you can buy MetroGuide which can be "hacked" for auto-routing. I bought the older Topo maps on eBay to save some money on those.

 

If I buy the city navigator autorouting will work correctly? If I have to buy it Im fine with that, but I want to make sure that what I buy is going to work.

 

BTW is it just me or do the manuals for these things stink.

 

I guess I should feel good that I was actually able to load some waypoints on, now if I could just figure out how to get paperless caching working on my iphone I would be happy

 

Thanks for the info.

[+XopherN71]

Manual? Yours came with one?

 

Here's some screenshots of my Colorado running City Navigator and showing off its Geocaching ability a little:

 

Edited May 6, 2008 by XopherN71

[+Airstream 65]

Nice shots! Is that City Navigator NT you are running there?

[+theniffs]

wait, it essentially looks like you are able to do paperless geocaching with that. Is that only with the colorado or is it if I get the city navagator or can mine do it and im just such a huge nub i dont know it lol.

 

I totally need to meet up with someone that knows how to do this and soak it all up from them

[+theniffs]

I just looked it looks like yours has a special geocaching mode that is paperless :/ sigh, maybe i can get one in a few years. That is an awesome feature.

 

I bought the etrax vista hcx

[+XopherN71]

Yeah, that's 2008 NT there - 2009 is the same. The display will vary from GPS to GPS however.

 

The Colorado is the only one I know of with built in paperless caching.

[+JSWilson64]

If I buy the city navigator autorouting will work correctly? If I have to buy it Im fine with that, but I want to make sure that what I buy is going to work.

CityNavigator has auto-routing built in, but only unlocks to one GPSr.

MetroGuide unlocks to as many compatible Garmin units as you want, but has the routing disabled. There's a free program called Metrowizzz (www.geodude.nl) that rebuilds the routing index. Upshot: you can buy a cheaper used copy of MetroGuide and still have routing, and use it on more GPSrs for less money than CN.

[+XopherN71]

Along with out of date POI information and roads. Cheaper doesn't do you much good if the road you are looking for isn't on map... I just looked at the 'latest' MetroGuide and it doesn't have a major highway that was built here over 5 years ago.

Edited May 6, 2008 by XopherN71

[+JSWilson64]

Along with out of date POI information and roads. Cheaper doesn't do you much good if the road you are looking for isn't on map... I just looked at the 'latest' MetroGuide and it doesn't have a major highway that was built here over 5 years ago.

MetroGuide's not the only one with issues - City Navigator 2008 showed me riding my bike in a lake yesterday. That shoreline's only been like that since the mid-1990s. Or was it mid-1980s?... :-)