Can a Garmin do this? Which models?

[+user13371]

I have a client considering purchasing several handheld GPSRs to issue to various service and sales staff. Some company vehicles already have built-in GPS systems, but the handhelds would be for people using their personal vehicles on company business.

 

Client has stated a few odd requirements. The GPS must have...

A startup screen identifying the unit as belonging to the company

NO BASE MAP, but user-loadable detailed maps

No removable memory, whatever maps are loaded have to fit in built-in memory.

These requirements are meant to make the units less useful outside of the company -- thus less attractive for pilferage. That's the idea behind having no base map and no removable memory: If the GPS is out of the intended area, there's no map.

 

I have figured out how to do the necessary brain surgery on a Magellan M330 or SporTrak Map. Either of these would have enough memory to load the basic metro area -- especially since removing the basemap frees up space for detail maps.

 

Is there any Garmin unit that meets those requirements out of the box, or is at least easily hacked?

 

---

LDR.

[+Lone Duck]

Some Garmin models can be "hacked" with freely available software that rewrites the ROM so that the startup screen displays any text you want. That includes putting owner information on it if you wish.

 

Some Garmin models don't come with a base map, or can have the base map disabled or removed.

 

...and, some models don't have removable memory. Whenther or not there is a model that has all of these (non?)features in it, I don't know. You can make use of a feature at the Garmin website to compare features between the various models that they off.

 

You might want to post this same question to the sci.geo.satellite-nav newsgroup. There are individuals that who might be able to tell which model you're looking for.

 

That Quack Cacher:

Lone Duck

 

When you don't know where you're going, every road will take you there.

[Cybercam]

try the garmin etrex vista

[+user13371]

Thanks for the suggestions; I just reviewed Garmin's product matrix and it doesn't look like they'll do what was asked.

 

The closest candidates are the eTrex Legend and Vista. It doesn't look like they meet the originally stated "NO BASEMAP" requirement. From Garmin's wbesite:

quote:

---

Garmin mapping units come with built-in, permanent basemaps that cannot be altered. ... Factory-installed basemaps cannot be altered.

---

But I know sometimes the marketing info isn't 100% true. Does anyone know if the basemap can be removed or modified on these models?

 

---

LDR.

[+apersson850]

Buy European Legend or Vista versions. They have a basemap too, but it's not very useful in the United States.

As far as I know, all mapping units have a basemap to start with. Then you can augment it with maps which are more detailed.

 

Selected parts of WorldMap and MetroGuide can be loaded into the "wrong" Vista/Legend, to give an appearance that's similar to what you normally would get, as long as you are within this selected area. Outside, the land is white (almost), and the coastline is very rough.

 

Anders

[+user13371]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Anders.:

Buy European Legend or Vista versions. They have a basemap too, but it's not very useful in the United States.

---

Are these easily found in the U.S. at the same prices as the U.S. versions?

 

---

LDR.

[+TJ-Tigger]

I think this can be done with the GPSV. The startup screen text can be changed to what every you want by hacking on of the files when you update the rom on the GPS. I have also seen a page that discussed creating your own basemap with a graphics program, I would think that if you could create your own basemap you could then erase the current one as well. I will see if I bookmarked the pages or not.

[+Alan2]

Lee I'm missing something here. Your client wants to buy a "few" let's that he writes off as a business expense. He then asks his employees to use these in their own cars but is not willing to let them use these on their own let's say when they go on vacation. They should use their cars for his business but they cannot use his GPS's on their free time. What a guy!! What if the employees were willing to use their own batteries?

 

You also say he's concerned about pilferage. By who? If someone leaves a unit in the car and the car is broken into, the thief will steal it anyway not knowing it cannot be used outside the area (which cannot be setup that way anyway). How does he handle the pagers that he gives to his people? Do they turn them in when they go on vacation. Does he block their use?

 

This guy isn't only odd, he' seems pretty cheap. Glad I'm not working for him.

 

ALan

[+Lone Duck]

Basemaps

 

I know that with the GPS III+ you can turn off (but not delete) the basemap. Of course anybody who pokes around in the menus of the unit can turn it back on again.

 

If the guy is worried about pilferage, then he should register the serial numbers on those units and sign them out to the employees who use them.

 

That Quack Cacher:

Lone Duck

 

When you don't know where you're going, every road will take you there.

[+user13371]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Alan2:

Lee, I'm missing something here...

---

 

Alan, indeed you missed the point of my original post. I didn't ask for a critique of a company policy. I asked if there was a way to fulfill a specific hardware requirement.

 

Aside from "Why would someone want to do that?" editorials, do you know of any GPS (Garmin or otherwise) that can be configured with:

 

- A personailzed splash screen with owner information

 

- Detailed maps of a limited area, but no basemap

 

- No removable/add-on memory

 

I welcome any on-topic replies, thanks.

 

Lee.

 

---

LDR.

[nickyu]

Hey LDR!,

 

The only units I have delt with:

Etrex Legend,Vista or the GPSMAP 76(s)

 

By all means I am no expert.

 

Answers

1) Yes. Read this thread:

http://ubbx.Groundspeak.com/6/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=5726007311&f=7116058331&m=15660357

I hope that works. I have never changed the screen but apparently it is easy to do so.

 

2) Detail Maps for sure; No Base Map? Not really. Read others replies. But the Base maps suck anyway, so I wouldnt worry. If you ask the question "how useful are the basemaps" I think you would get alot of responses, 'not alot!'

 

3)Yes

 

You do realize that with ANY Garmin unit (maybe Magellans too?!) any modification you do can be reversed by picking up a 15$ cable to connect to home PC's. (providing employees are smart enough to research how to do so)

[+raouljan]

re: NO BASE MAP, but user-loadable detailed maps

 

I assume you are talking about maps that are over and above what if available with TOPO! or MapSource or the other comercial downloadable maps. If this is the case you might want to look at

http://www.gpsinformation.net/gpsmapper/gpsmapper.htm

which details how to generate custom maps from just about anything and make them fit for download (into Garmins only).

 

Remember, maps were the 1st items in history to be covered by copyright. I hope this company has the integrity to compensate the map source and are not using this as a dodge around buying comercial packages.

 

Like Alan2, I have some quesitons as to the this clients intent. If you don't "critique" your client's policy, you might just find yourself standing next to them in court.

 

>Personally Responsible for the Recovery of .00244% of the Benchmark Database!<--watch this number!

[+user13371]

quote:

---

I assume you are talking about maps over and above what is available with ... comercial downloadable maps.

---

No, detail map packages offered by Garmin & Magellan are adequate for this purpose, no need for other maps.

quote:

---

I have some quesitons as to the this clients intent.

---

Really? Please post them. But you should probably create the discussion as a different topic, maybe over in "General." That way, folks sharing your concerns can enjoy the discussion without being bothered by anyone here talking about GPS hardware and software features.

 

---

LDR.

[+wickedsprint]

Stop being so anal, this is a public forum, people are allowed to question your motivation for a seemingly complicated way to deal with a problem, you are asking a hardware question because of a company that is lacking in its ability to hire trustworthy employees.

[+Muskytooth]

Others are correct.

 

I have the legend. When I turn it on it loads with my address and other info I want displayed. Of course, any user with some experience could go in and change the startup message.

 

It does have the basemaps to start but the detailed maps can be loaded on. I use metro guide and I like it. It's going to be off on some things.... No removeable memory as well. The legend has a lot of neat features and I have been having a great time with it for six months now.

 

That's my 2 cents.

 

Never pet a burning dog......and never ever play leapfrog with a Unicorn.

[+user13371]

quote:

---

Originally posted by wickedsprint:

[quote...people are allowed to question your motivation...

---

Sure, and you're allowed to ask for bananas at a hardware store--but you probably get much out of it. And I doubt you'd call the clerk "anal" for directing you to the nearest fruit stand.

 

I just looked at the top of my screen. Surprisingly, I'm still in the "GPS Units and Software" section, under a specific thread about the availability of specific hardware features. Do you have any information to contribute under that heading?

 

---

LDR.

[+Criminal]

quote:

---

...Sure, and you're allowed to ask for bananas...And I doubt you'd call the clerk "anal" for directing you to the nearest fruit stand.

---

 

I find this part of the topic fascinatingly erotic. It's also the only interesting part of this whole thread. Nothing spices up a dull topic like bananas and anus’s.

 

http://fp1.centurytel.net/Criminal_Page/

[+Stunod]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Criminal:

quote:

---

...Sure, and you're allowed to ask for bananas...And I doubt you'd call the clerk "anal" for directing you to the nearest fruit stand.

---

 

I find this part of the topic fascinatingly erotic. It's also the only interesting part of this whole thread. Nothing spices up a dull topic like bananas and anus’s.

 

http://fp1.centurytel.net/Criminal_Page/

 

That would be anuses..or is it ani? dadgum...where's my dictionary?

 

"Just because I don't care doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson

[+Criminal]

Yes, I was having trouble with the plural of anus. I knew the apostrophe was incorrect but posted anyway.

 

http://fp1.centurytel.net/Criminal_Page/

[+Alan2]

Lee, Sorry if I seemed to go off topic. Actually I thought I was on-topic.

 

My point through all of the banter was this: For the few units that are going to cost really nothing since they're a business expense, maybe you can suggest to your client that it's not worth the aggravation and expense to find such a "soecial" unit. There are many good units that are relatively cheap that would serve his basic requirement of helping his staff get around while doing business in their cars. That maybe you can suggest he treat GPS like a pager would maje the selection proces easier.

 

Hope I helped.

 

Alan

[+Sluggo]

Lee David Rimir,

 

Get over your bad self.

 

Why ask a group of people that you don't know, that you have no idea about their backgrounds, education, knowledge, etc a technical question, on a non-comercial (hobby) web-site for YOUR business purposes, and then chastize (sp) them for commenting about your "client".

 

I think I would ask these questions of a consulting group or Trimble, Garmin, or Magellan. I'm sure they would give you straight answers, take your money, and not wonder (and inquire) about your client.

 

Criminal,

 

I'm thiking more about coal and ani, if we put a lump of coal up LDRs butt, in about a week we would have a diamond.

 

- Sluggo

 

This 'flying saucer' situation is not at all imaginary or seeing too much in some natural phenomena. Something is really flying around. The phenomenon is something real and not visionary or fictitious. - Gen. Nathan Twining Chief of Staff, US Air Force, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

[+GeckoGeek]

quote:

---

Client has stated a few odd requirements. The GPS must have...

+ A startup screen identifying the unit as belonging to the company

+ NO BASE MAP, but user-loadable detailed maps

+ No removable memory, whatever maps are loaded have to fit in built-in memory.

These requirements are meant to make the units less useful outside of the company -- thus less attractive for pilferage.

---

 

I have a Geko 201 and can comment on the following:

 

- Power up display: Yes, but it's set from the menu and is decribed in the owner's manual.

 

- No base map: Check. I understand I have a 1/2Meg for uploadable maps but have not done so yet.

 

- No removable memory: Check.

 

Still, I have to agree with the others. I think your client is laboring under some misconceptions. He thinks these restrictions will keep his employees from swiping the units when I had to pay $120 for exactly the same thing? What's wrong with this picture? I don't think these restrictions will make a bit of difference to what happens to them. Look for the cheapest unit that will do what's needed and forget about the rest. Otherwise he's paying more money for a unit that still gets stolen.

 

If he wants to protect the units, "vandalize" them by painting them some horrid color that hurts re-sale value and can't be used without others knowing where the unit came from.

[peter]

quote:

---

Originally posted by GeckoGeek:

 

I have a Geko 201 and can comment on the following:

I understand I have a 1/2Meg for uploadable maps but have not done so yet.

---

 

GeckoGeek,

 

Just so you don't spend money buying software for downloadable maps you should check the specs again on the 201. It has no capability for downloading maps.

 

BTW, I agree on the futility of LDR's client's 'requirements.' They'll have no significant impact on deterring theft. The hacks for changing the opening screens on Magellans and Garmins are well-known and easy to unhack, as is removal of the basemap on the Magellans.

[+GeckoGeek]

quote:

---

Originally posted by peter:

Just so you don't spend money buying software for downloadable maps you should check the specs again on the 201. It has no capability for downloading maps.

---

 

Odd, I could have sworn I saw something that indicated it had that ability when I bought it....

 

If I can find someone with the software I might give it a shot. Worst that can happen is that it doesn't go.