+kennamatic Posted July 23, 2003 Share Posted July 23, 2003 I have a friend who is looking to buy a GPSr. He wants one on which he can display maps and it will be used mainly for travel whilst on his bicycle, thus the usefulness of having the map on screen in front of him. As I am only of humble beginnings as the owner of a basic yellow etrex advice as to the best and most suitable model would be most welcome. He has read through all sorts of fora and groups and just got himself confused as to which would be best. In addition, if the model had a clamp system for handlebars that would be a big plus, as would keeping the price towards the lower end of the price spectrum. I told him someone here would be the fount of all knowledge! Who knows, once he's kitted out I might well get him turned on to geocaching. Finding your caches - Losing my marbles. Quote Link to comment
+stu_and_sarah Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 We upgraded from our Garmin yellow eTrex to an eTrex Legend. It has an OK basemap, but add mapsource, and you're really rocking. It's suitable for loading several counties into, or a couple of large cities - it all depends on the detail in the map area. This one (unlike the yellow) comes with the PC lead. We're very happy with it. Recommended list: - eTrex Venture - Mapsource Metroguide - Handlebar Mount - NiMh Batteries + Charger The next one up (can't remember the name - it's silver) has 3 times the memory for maps, but also an electronic compass and altimeter. We couldn't justify the extra 100 or so quid for those features. Hope this helps, Stu Quote Link to comment
+Flackadder Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 I am considering upgrading as well. I am very happy with my yellow Etrex, but would like something that would disaplay both grid ref and long-lat at the same time (is there such a device?). Still not really convinced with maps on GPSr's yet. Find paper type maps MUCH more detailed, easy to read, and convenient. Just the way I think I guess. Bob.... http://www.bobh.co.uk Quote Link to comment
+Pharisee Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Stu & Sarah:We upgraded from our Garmin yellow eTrex to an eTrex Legend. It has an OK basemap, but add mapsource, and you're really rocking. It's suitable for loading several counties into, or a couple of large cities - it all depends on the detail in the map area. This one (unlike the yellow) comes with the PC lead. We're very happy with it. Recommended list: - eTrex Venture - Mapsource Metroguide - Handlebar Mount - NiMh Batteries + Charger The next one up (can't remember the name - it's silver) has 3 times the memory for maps, but also an electronic compass and altimeter. We couldn't justify the extra 100 or so quid for those features. Hope this helps, Stu If you're just going to use it with a bicycle then MapSource Metroguide Europe will probably be OK but personally, I would get Roads & Recreaction instead. The map detail is identical but the 'tiles' use far less memory. You can get most of SE England into the Legend's 8Mb of memory. The down-side is that it doesn't support auto-routing and doesn't include the POI or the 'goto and address' function but I can live without them John Age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability Quote Link to comment
+Pooter Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 Just be a bit careful with the Etrex cycle mount, as it uses a replacement battery cover to attach to the mount and I wouldn't trust it if you were planning to hurl your mountain bike down a bumpy slope. When time comes, we'll all be drownded, lad Quote Link to comment
+Daisy&me Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 A Magellan Sportrak Pro + Mapsend will give you what you want and a cycle mount is available and it displays coordinates as OSGB map references as well as lat/long. Quote Link to comment
+stu_and_sarah Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 quote:Originally posted by golddust1000:I am considering upgrading as well. I am very happy with my yellow Etrex, but would like something that would disaplay both grid ref and long-lat at the same time (is there such a device?). Yes, the eTrex Legend (and others in that family, I believe) have options to view "Location (lat/lon)" and "Location (selected)". So if you select British Grid, then you can view both on the same screen. Quote Link to comment
+Pharisee Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Stu & Sarah:Yes, the eTrex Legend (and others in that family, I believe) have options to view "Location (lat/lon)" and "Location (selected)". So if you select British Grid, then you can view both on the same screen. Hmmmm.... I didn't know that !!! Guess I should read the manual occasionally John Age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability Quote Link to comment
+stu_and_sarah Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Pharisee:If you're just going to use it with a bicycle then MapSource Metroguide Europe will probably be OK but personally, I would get Roads & Recreaction instead. The map detail is identical but the 'tiles' use far less memory. You can get most of SE England into the Legend's 8Mb of memory. The down-side is that it doesn't support auto-routing and doesn't include the POI or the 'goto and address' function but I can live without them A couple of questions... does roads & rec work on a Legend? Garmins site doesn't say it does, but then again, their lists aren't very good. Next, can you load a selection of maps from metroguide AND roads & rec at the same time? I can imagine wanting metroguide for a destination city, and roads & rec for the surrounding area. Quote Link to comment
+Chris n Maria Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 If your friend will be mostly off-road cycling then mapping GPSs arn't really much of an advantage as with no UK topo maps available all you can really see are roads and major features. For mountain biking Memorymap or similar is a better place to spend your dosh as you can put the trails in very acuratley. Then all you need do is follow the pointer. Chris If only life had an undo button.... London & UK Geocaching Resources: http://www.sheps.clara.net Quote Link to comment
+Flackadder Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Stu & Sarah: quote:Originally posted by golddust1000:I am considering upgrading as well. I am very happy with my yellow Etrex, but would like something that would disaplay both grid ref and long-lat at the same time (is there such a device?). Yes, the eTrex Legend (and others in that family, I believe) have options to view "Location (lat/lon)" and "Location (selected)". So if you select British Grid, then you can view both on the same screen. Legend it is then Bob.... http://www.bobh.co.uk Quote Link to comment
+Pharisee Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Stu & Sarah:A couple of questions... does roads & rec work on a Legend? Garmins site doesn't say it does, but then again, their lists aren't very good. Next, can you load a selection of maps from metroguide AND roads & rec at the same time? I can imagine wanting metroguide for a destination city, and roads & rec for the surrounding area. Yes... R&R certainly works with the Legend. Probably but I've never tried... MapSource will allow you to select maps from both packages on the same 'screen' but you would still be restricted to the 8Mb limit. You would have to select them all before you initiate a download as the the map data currently in the GPSr is deleted prior to the new information being downloaded. One thing, though, the map tiles are not the same in both packages. The map tiles in R&R cover a smaller area. For instance, in Metroguide, to cover all of greater London you need to load 4 tiles and that is a total of around 12Mb (tough, if you only have 8 available). In R&R you would select 15 tiles for a total of 3Mb !!! I very often use Metroguide to do the Auto-routing' and download the routes to the Legend and then switch to R&R to download the map set. Waypoints can be done from either. John Age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability Quote Link to comment
+stu_and_sarah Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Pharisee:Yes... R&R certainly works with the Legend. [...] I very often use Metroguide to do the Auto-routing' and download the routes to the Legend and then switch to R&R to download the map set. Waypoints can be done from either. Thanks. I'll try to arrange for Garmin to send you your sales commission Stu Quote Link to comment
Warby Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Pooter:Just be a bit careful with the Etrex cycle mount, as it uses a replacement battery cover to attach to the mount and I wouldn't trust it if you were planning to hurl your mountain bike down a bumpy slope. When time comes, we'll all be drownded, lad I use RAM mounts for my GPS MAP76 - one in the car and another on the cycle. They are very solid and I would recommend them (available from globalpositioningsystems,co.uk) Quote Link to comment
+kennamatic Posted July 25, 2003 Author Share Posted July 25, 2003 Thanks for the help. Finding your caches - Losing my marbles. Quote Link to comment
+Pharisee Posted July 29, 2003 Share Posted July 29, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Stu & Sarah: quote:Originally posted by golddust1000:I am considering upgrading as well. I am very happy with my yellow Etrex, but would like something that would disaplay both grid ref and long-lat at the same time (is there such a device?). Yes, the eTrex Legend (and others in that family, I believe) have options to view "Location (lat/lon)" and "Location (selected)". So if you select British Grid, then you can view both on the same screen. Would you like to give me a hint (encrypted, if you want ) because I can't find a way to get my Legend to display both on the same screen John Age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability Quote Link to comment
+Omally Posted July 29, 2003 Share Posted July 29, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Pharisee:Would you like to give me a hint (encrypted, if you want ) because I can't find a way to get my Legend to display both on the same screen I have a Vista, so it's probably the same: have you got a Trip Computer page? If so, highlight one of the fields on it with the rocker button, press enter and select "location(selected)" from the pop-up menu. Now change another field to "location (lat/lon)" and hey presto: you have OS and lat/lon at the same time. It's not something I use that much, but it comes in handy sometimes. "Woof" quoth he. Oh, and "Grrr" also. Omally Quote Link to comment
+Pharisee Posted July 29, 2003 Share Posted July 29, 2003 Right.... thanks, Omally. John Age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability Quote Link to comment
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