| Stannehi |
I've been looking for a portable GPS unit that will work both as an outdoor/mt. biking/backpacking unit, and as a unit for my MDX (I did not buy the NAV system).
I've pretty much settled on the Garmin GPS V. While it clearly is no match for the NAV system, it appears to offer the detailed maps / autorouting features that are the key to making it work in a car environment (at least in my mind), while at the same time being small and portable and having the features you need for back country use.
Does anyone have any familiarity with using this unit in a car situation? Positives? Negatives? |
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| jimfr |
It's a pretty good unit, and, unless you compare it with a large color screen model (such as the StreetPilot III), it acquits itself rather nicely.
The biggest cons for me are the small screen, the hard to read screen (I'm [well] over 40), the slow route calcuation times and the rather limited memory.
Advantages: Small size, reliability, price.
hope this helps. |
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| BlueStreak |
The Acura will provide step-by-step instructions. Will the Garmin do this? I have a Megellan Map GPS and while it has maps, it does not calculate directions (or recalculate). No voice, obviously.
I've tested my Magellan vs the MDX and I do see slight differences in reading. Especially with respect to elevation and exact positions (deg, min, sec). They are very close but not exact.
Screen size is also key when driving. You want a large screen so you can keep an eye on the road. Too much time looking at the GPS screen will lead to unsafe driving. |
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| riseboi |
quote:
Originally posted by Stannehi
I've been looking for a portable GPS unit that will work both as an outdoor/mt. biking/backpacking unit, and as a unit for my MDX (I did not buy the NAV system).
It'll be hard to get the best of both worlds. IMO, I think the SPIII is a great deal. It even has voice commands so you don't constantly have to keep an eye on the screen. Also, the SPIII has actually gone down in price, probably because of Garmin's new iQue 3600 and the upcoming Street Pilot 2610/2650. You should check them out at Garmin's website. Maybe the iQue 3600 would be an ideal fit for what you want. I guess it also depends on your price range. Hope this helps. |
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| RPitterle |
quote:
Originally posted by Stannehi
I've been looking for a portable GPS unit that will work both as an outdoor/mt. biking/backpacking unit, and as a unit for my MDX (I did not buy the NAV system).
Can the SPIII be used for "outdoor/mt. biking/backpacking unit"? |
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| shootist |
quote:
Originally posted by Stannehi
I've been looking for a portable GPS unit that will work both as an outdoor/mt. biking/backpacking unit, and as a unit for my MDX (I did not buy the NAV system).
The really hot setup is a handheld PDA with a GPS compact flash card, running Mapopolis software. The total cost will be about the same as a StreetPilot 3, but you'll get pocket portability, faster re-routing, better screen, lower battery drain for hiking, as much memory as you want to buy, and all the features of a PDA to boot.
THe feature set of Mapopolis is far bigger than the garmin 5, and includes street navigation, voice prompts, points of interest, and more. |
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| cp_ssrebba |
quote:
Originally posted by Stannehi
Does anyone have any familiarity with using this unit in a car situation? Positives? Negatives?
I have Garmin eTrex. this is the basic version of GPS. this doesnt come with any map. but you can hook this to the labtop using separate cable and get whatever the software provides: voice direction, map...). I have old Street Atlas.
Cons.
if the weather isnt somewhat nice i dont think this eTrak works well. And even the weather is nice, you have to find a good spot to put this unit (like really really, like touching, close to the front windshield). but with $100, i think it does the job well. |
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| Stannehi |
Went ahead and picked up the Garmin GPS V. It's an awesome little machine. It has the auto route feature and is, in my opinion, fully usable on the dash EXCEPT it's not programmable while you're driving (it's too small). Also c/b tough to read if the sun was in your eyes.
Also the memory is limited. We're going from LA to Lake Powell and it can't hold all the maps in memory. We had to jettison most of LA and begin the maps about 5 miles east of our house.
But that's the trade off for a small, portable unit. We used it in our boat over the weekend. Was fantastic. Also useful for hiking and mt. biking (tho at 9 oz it isn't exactly for the ultralight backpacker).
All in all an excellent multi function unit. Not as full featured, big or colorful as the MDX built-in unit. But the price ($400 thru amazon.com) and flexibility are awesome.
If you want a portable unit that has auto routing capabilities (w/ audio reminders), this will do a great job. |
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| Skewbeedeaux |
See if your unit can be attached to a PC. Up until I left it on my car's rooftop and drove off, I had a Garmin eTrex Legend 8MB handheld GPS. It had a good resolution display when handheld. When attached to my laptop with PC cable, I was able to use the my 15" laptop display to track travel and upload map regions using Garmin's Navigator software. The 8MB was sufficient for my use.
I also have used a Garmin Streetpilot III Color which is designed for dashtop use nice color display(approx. 2.5x2.5") and voice routing. This unit operated closest to the Acura NAV among the portable GPS' I've tried. |
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| Stannehi |
Your loss of the eTrex points to another weakness in the handheld approach. You can lose it!
The PC advice is right on. The Garmin V comes with a CD w/ detailed road maps of the whole country. If you're doing a trip you set the trip up on the PC w/ routes, waypts, etc., then upload it to the handheld.
The V has 19 mb of memory - enuf to hold detailed maps from Saugus, CA to Lake Powell, but as I said I had to drop the Valencia area because that exceeded the mem capabilities. However I'm 5 miles from Saugus so it doesn't impede the usage, it just impedes the coolness of pulling out of your house and getting directions/stats from there (I know . . . it's geeky . . .)
Loaded it up w/ GPS locations for cool Lake Powell spots which s/b a kick. A neighbor gave me the GPS for a great campsite on one of the arms; it's in my GPS now; s/b able to navigate right to it.
I imagine the Street Pilot is killer, what with the larger, color screen, voice commands and greater memory.
Of course I got started on all this by riding in an MDX w/ the NAVI (which I didn't get) and seeing how cool it was, and hearing all the great comments about the MDX's NAVI on this site. Since I couldn't retrofit, I had to find another solution.
V. happy w/ what I found. |
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