Jump to content

Delorme


BlueGoldGoat (BGG)

Recommended Posts

I swear by my Delorme PN 40. I haven't had a chance to play with all the maps. I just loaded the standard. It does paperless very easily, the accuracy is great, the battery life is very comparable to other units, the compass is amazing and always points me in the right direction while others are doing the drunken bee dance, and it's cheaper than a lot of comparable units.

Link to comment

Considering a new GPS and was looking at the Garmin 60csx or the DeLorme PN 30 - thoughts? Problems?

 

Not sure about the 60csx for loading pocket queries for caches. But the Delorme PN-40 gets another vote. I've had mine for a few weeks. Fantastic unit for geocaching. Works slick for quick downloads of ALL the info. The accuracy is balls on! And very fast to acquire satellites. Even the street navigation isn't the worst. Not as good as my Nuvi for street, but that's not why I bought it. All the maps that come with it are GREAT. You don't have to spend another nickle. The Garmin is a great unit as well, but plan on dropping another +$100 to get any kind of decent map. Plus with Delorme coming out with the PN-60, there are some really good deals on the PN-40 right now. Best bang for the buck. IMHO Plus the company has really great service.

Link to comment

I'm really no help, but my PN-40 is on it's way:) FYI, I ordered mine through Wal-Mart you can pick it up at your local store or have it delivered for $.97. I wanted to have a little insurance if anything was wrong with it so stayed away from ebay for this purchase. Good luck with whatever you choose!

Link to comment

The PN-40 is an excellent GPSr and has some very nice paperless Geocaching features, and is great bang-for-the-buck :laughing: Some small issues with it though, it's car navigation is pretty basic, and be sure to carry extra batteries with you as it won't last a full day on one set.

 

The 60CSx is also an excellent unit but it doesn't support paperless Geocaching. It's now a fairly old model yet has some great qualities, such as it's proven ruggedness. LOTS of people have-or-had used a 60CSx on this forum!

Link to comment

I'm really no help, but my PN-40 is on it's way:) FYI, I ordered mine through Wal-Mart you can pick it up at your local store or have it delivered for $.97. I wanted to have a little insurance if anything was wrong with it so stayed away from ebay for this purchase. Good luck with whatever you choose!

 

Wow, Wal-mart beat most other places in pricing. Thanks for the tip. BGG

Link to comment

With the PN 40 can you see satellite photo imagery? As it looks on google earth? Is that downloadble to this unit?

While I don't know whether you could get the photo imagery, I would ask why would you want it?

The draw to good mapping is the topo imagery. A photo overlay would probably render the topo useless or close to it.

 

EDIT: Just checked Topo 8®. With subscription, Delorme is actively providing download/updates with photo imagery. Integrated so that it wouldn't eradicate the topo features.

Edited by Gitchee-Gummee
Link to comment

With the PN 40 can you see satellite photo imagery? As it looks on google earth? Is that downloadble to this unit?

Yes you can order aerial images using the TOPO8 software included with the -40. While not quite google quality, it is better than nothing.

 

I have been a PN-40 user for 8 months and will never consider another brand GPSr for geocaching. I also recommend GSAK for loading the PN with caches.

Link to comment

With the PN 40 can you see satellite photo imagery? As it looks on google earth? Is that downloadble to this unit?

 

You get a $40.00 gift credit included with the PN-40 for additional map uploads from Delorme. I uploaded a few satellite and areal maps to play with. Pretty cool feature. You can overlay these maps on top of the Topo 8 & street maps, or hide them once in the field.

 

You also get a 30 day free premium geocache membership too!

Edited by jsdad
Link to comment

Depends on what is important to you.

 

The 60CSx is an excellent model. Easy to load. Holds 1000 geocaches and as many POIs as the memory will hold. Accurate with great visibility - just won't do paperless.

 

Don't know a lot about the PN-40. I was excited to try them out but when I looked at them found the font used to small for easy reading. If you have better eye sight it maybe perfect for you, or they may have increased the size of the font by now.

 

I would suggest a hands on evaluation prior to purchase to see if whatever device you are thinking of is right for you.

Link to comment

Not to throw a wet blanket on all this PN love... since I feel the same way about mine... but I glanced at BGGs profile (I was curious whether Blue and Gold meant my local Winnipeg Blue Bombers football team - in which case I would start giving you advice for using a PN in Canada) and I noticed that all of your finds are in Europe... I'm not sure how good international support is in the PN at this time. I know they are working on it, and will likely have more to say in the next week or two, but you might want to make sure you check into that fully.

Link to comment

I have a PN40 and a 60CSX. If I lost the 60CSX I would buy another 60CSX. If I lost the PN40 I would buy a different unit. If I was carrying both and someone put a gun to my head demanded one of my GPSes I would hand over the PN40 in a heartbeat.

 

The 60CSX beats the PN40 in every important category. Features, ease of use, screen readability, reception, battery life. The only advantage that the PN40 has is the paperless caching feature. Not that the PN40 is a bad unit. It's not, but it's no 60CSX.

Link to comment

I have a PN40 and a 60CSX. If I lost the 60CSX I would buy another 60CSX. If I lost the PN40 I would buy a different unit. If I was carrying both and someone put a gun to my head demanded one of my GPSes I would hand over the PN40 in a heartbeat.

 

The 60CSX beats the PN40 in every important category. Features, ease of use, screen readability, reception, battery life. The only advantage that the PN40 has is the paperless caching feature. Not that the PN40 is a bad unit. It's not, but it's no 60CSX.

 

I also own both and feel exactly as briansat does. I love my 60CSX and really like my PN-40.

Link to comment

I just received by PN30 today and am trying to download some pocket queries. The computer keeps saying it can't find a device. I put the SD card in and new batteries - don't know what else to do :)

SD card in the PN-30/40 series is typically for maps. You can also store other info and files on it. Your device alone will hold 1000 caches internally, so that is not your problem.

 

Are you loading through GSAK or Cache Register? I think (not positive) that you need one or the other, that manages the PQ info for delivery to the unit.

 

What you are probably finding is a "connectivity" problem. I have it occasionally (have heard of others, too) with my PN-40. Sometimes there is a connectivity problem with the USB ports on the front of the CPU -- the backside ones (I have heard) usually work better.

 

When I happen across this problem, I check the connection(s) at both ends of the cord to make sure it is well established. Once done, the upload through Cache Register takes over, automatically.

Link to comment

PN-30 works great, accuracy is spot on. However, I have a question: Is it possible to enter coordinates directly into the GPS, or do you always have to download them via computer. Occasionally, we read a log sheet where the owner has noted his coordinates were a bit off, and he give a new set. Also, we've found a few multiple caches where the first find has a set of coordinates leading to the actual cache.

 

Thanks in advance for the info!

 

You can also reply to me directly - dicklewis@aol.com

Link to comment

PN-30 works great, accuracy is spot on. However, I have a question: Is it possible to enter coordinates directly into the GPS, or do you always have to download them via computer. Occasionally, we read a log sheet where the owner has noted his coordinates were a bit off, and he give a new set. Also, we've found a few multiple caches where the first find has a set of coordinates leading to the actual cache.

 

Thanks in advance for the info!

 

You can also reply to me directly - dicklewis@aol.com

 

You can enter coordinates in every hand held unit that I'm aware of by marking a waypoint, then editing the coordinates to match those of your desired destination.

Edited by briansnat
Link to comment

I just received my PN30 today and am trying to download some pocket queries. The computer keeps saying it can't find a device. I put the SD card in and new batteries - don't know what else to do :)

You can use GSAK, Cache Register or the Topo software that came with your 30 to load PQs to the device. Which method are you trying to use?

Link to comment

Considering a new GPS and was looking at the Garmin 60csx or the DeLorme PN 30 - thoughts? Problems?

As was mentioned by Missionmode, Delorme does not currently offer much in the way of maps outside North America although some new things seem to be in the pipeline. For now you may be better off with a Garmin handheld if you are indeed outside the U.S., Canada, or Mexico.

Link to comment

PN-30 works great, accuracy is spot on. However, I have a question: Is it possible to enter coordinates directly into the GPS, or do you always have to download them via computer. Occasionally, we read a log sheet where the owner has noted his coordinates were a bit off, and he give a new set. Also, we've found a few multiple caches where the first find has a set of coordinates leading to the actual cache.

 

Thanks in advance for the info!

 

You can also reply to me directly - dicklewis@aol.com

Yes you can, this is a sweet feature of the PN's. Find the cache on the unit

hit enter

hit the arrow button up to the coords on the page

enter and move the arrow buttons till you have the new coords

enter

arrow down and hit route.

You can also use this for multi's. It will have all of your cache info and you do not need to make a waypoint like on the garmins.

Thanks

Link to comment

I just received my PN30 today and am trying to download some pocket queries. The computer keeps saying it can't find a device. I put the SD card in and new batteries - don't know what else to do :)

If you are trying to transfer caches via the web page "Send to GPS" function, note that the plug-in doesn't work with Firefox 3.6. You need either an earlier firefox version or Internet Explorer.

If you are trying to use Cache Register, Topo USA, or GSAK, you might not be getting good connection on the usb cacble. Try rubbing the contacts on the cable and on the PN-40 and see if that helps. If not, then it would be time to contact customer service at Delorme.

Link to comment

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...