Which GPS

oafc0000

Hi All

Sick of getting lost on trails so im looking at getting a GPS unit for the bike.

Dont really need any fancy just something which will let me plan a route in memory-map and then make it easier to get from waypoint to waypoint.

Been looking at the garmin 205 but wondering what it like for navigating a route ? Any other suggestion ?

Cheers

oafc0000

The edge 205 seems to only be able to take 100 way points. What is the eTrex like on a bike ?

forgotrafe

I have an Etrex with bike mount and it's pretty good.

But I've just bought a 205 as it gives more relevant stuff on the screen plus I like the idea of the virtual rider. Unfortunately the courier lost it so now I have to wait for a claim to go through so can't offer a comparison.

Rafe

oafc0000

forgotrafe wrote:

I have an Etrex with bike mount and it's pretty good.

But I've just bought a 205 as it gives more relevant stuff on the screen plus I like the idea of the virtual rider. Unfortunately the courier lost it so now I have to wait for a claim to go through so can't offer a comparison.

Rafe

Whats the Extex navigation like and which version do you have ? Does it do like a pointer to the next way point and once you reach it does it automatically point to the next one ? Do you find this an ok way to navigate ?? Also if you still need a map will it help you with the grid reference ?

The edge sounds great but it only allows you to have a 100 way points which dosent sound very useful. Although I have no experience on how many way points you need for lets say a five hour bike ride. And also it says you can have 50 routes... Does that mean 50 routes each having 100 way points. In which case i could just split into serveral routes.

Cheers for any help

scholarsgate

I've got an etrex venture and a edge 305.

The etrex is better for navigation but has a annoying habit of shutting down on really bumpy trails. The Edge is more suited to training and cycling in general and hasn't shut down on me yet.

papasmurf.

the edge is a gps enabled cycle computer where as something like etrex is a hand held navigation gps unit..

take a look at the edge 705 which covers all but if its just navigation you want then the etrex maybe a cheaper opotion

stumpyjon

The eTrex (Vista HCx) will display your route on screen as a purple line and will show some map detail (although it's not very useful). It also plots your actual route as a red line so you can see if you've diverged from where you intended. If you've got the scale turned up you can see quite accurately when you've missed a turning after a couple of yards (great when you're going downhill, stops all those annoying retrace your steps issues). You can also see the general direction you're going in, i.e. sharp turn coming up.

The Legend and the Vista will hold 1000 waypoints and the others 500.

(it still does most of the cycle computer stuff, e.g. average speed, distance, trip distance as well as height etc).

I also use my vista as a sat nav in the car .

Noodoo

if you're clever, patient and like scanning maps into your PC, you can use a Nokia n95... I can't remember what the software is called, but there's a program out there that lets you scan your own map and use the built in GPS to plot your position on it.

oafc0000

stumpyjon wrote:

The eTrex (Vista HCx) will display your route on screen as a purple line and will show some map detail (although it's not very useful). It also plots your actual route as a red line so you can see if you've diverged from where you intended. If you've got the scale turned up you can see quite accurately when you've missed a turning after a couple of yards (great when you're going downhill, stops all those annoying retrace your steps issues). You can also see the general direction you're going in, i.e. sharp turn coming up.

The Legend and the Vista will hold 1000 waypoints and the others 500.

(it still does most of the cycle computer stuff, e.g. average speed, distance, trip distance as well as height etc).

I also use my vista as a sat nav in the car .

Is there a bracket to attach the eTrex to your bike ??

Also does the edge navigate in the same manner ? aka a line that you can see yourself vere off if your going the wrong way ?

Cheers

stumpyjon

Don't know about the way the edge navigates.

Yes you can get a quick release bracket to attach the eTrex to your bars, only downside is that it doesn't fit really fat bars and you have to buy it as an extra which is a bit cheeky. I have mine mounted just inboard of my brake leavers, just wish they did a stem mounted bracket.

(Ignore any stuff about the 'x' range eTrexs not fitting the bracket they do).

oafc0000

Cheers!

Anyone got an edge ? If so can u let me know how the navigation works.

forgotrafe

If my Edge ever gets here I'll gladly tell you how it navigates. The courier claim is, apparently, still going through and supplier won't ship another till it's complete (which I kind of appreciate, I could be trying to pull a fast one). The fact it was only £70ish new inc. delivery makes it more bearable.

If it helps you can download the Edge manual from Garmin's website.

Rafe

boingboing12345

I have had an edge for about a year now, and combined with memory map it is easy.

If you are worried about waypoints once you have drawn your route out you can reduce the points with memory map. I have had two 60mile plus tracks stored in the memory for a two-day drip with space to spare!

Also all the added bike specific stuff makes it great and relatively cheap.

oafc0000

boingboing12345 wrote:

I have had an edge for about a year now, and combined with memory map it is easy.

If you are worried about waypoints once you have drawn your route out you can reduce the points with memory map. I have had two 60mile plus tracks stored in the memory for a two-day drip with space to spare!

Also all the added bike specific stuff makes it great and relatively cheap.

It says 100 way points and 50 routes...so is it possible to set up a route with 100 way points in route 1 and then another 100 way points in another route ?

forgotrafe

Forgot to mention - one thing I suspect I'll miss if I use the Edge vs. the Etrex is that the latter can give your grid position. So if you're just out and about navigating by map not following a pre-planned route, you can't confirm where you are. The Edge can only give your pos in lat/lon.

My solutions are: Email Garmin and ask for a national grid option. Find a lat/lon to grid convertor for mobile phones. Follow pre-planned routes only. Don't care

Rafe

oafc0000

forgotrafe wrote:

Forgot to mention - one thing I suspect I'll miss if I use the Edge vs. the Etrex is that the latter can give your grid position. So if you're just out and about navigating by map not following a pre-planned route, you can't confirm where you are. The Edge can only give your pos in lat/lon.

My solutions are: Email Garmin and ask for a national grid option. Find a lat/lon to grid convertor for mobile phones. Follow pre-planned routes only. Don't care

Rafe

Grid postion is really useful!

Its sounding like the extrex is my best bet..

oafc0000

oafc0000 wrote:

forgotrafe wrote:

Forgot to mention - one thing I suspect I'll miss if I use the Edge vs. the Etrex is that the latter can give your grid position. So if you're just out and about navigating by map not following a pre-planned route, you can't confirm where you are. The Edge can only give your pos in lat/lon.

My solutions are: Email Garmin and ask for a national grid option. Find a lat/lon to grid convertor for mobile phones. Follow pre-planned routes only. Don't care

Rafe

Grid postion is really useful!

Its sounding like the extrex is my best bet..

Thinking off getting this one:

eTrex Venture

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... 20HC%20GPS


or this one

eTrex Summit HC

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... 20HC%20GPS

Has addtional Barometric Altimeter and Electronic compass which would be useful for both cycling and hiking...

Thoughts ?

Brianh

The Etrex has a much longer battery life.

I have the Legend and it is fantastic. I would literally be lost without it on Audax ride. I had the whole of the PBP on mine 1200km.

The audax riders who use the 305, and its sisters, seem to be dissatisfied and many have upgraded to Etrex. They do like some of the cycling gimmics though i.e. a training partner. Not for me, I like to talk to my riding companions and solve the ills of the world as we ride.

The latest HCX versions have a much more sensiteve arial and NAVCITY is giving the computer sofware away free until the end of the month which normally sells for £150

Go onto the Audax Uk website and read Francis Cookes excellent articles