GPS

tofu21

Hello,

I've been looking at Garmin GPSs and I'm getting really confused (

I'd like to be able to download on and off road routes to it from Memory Map, websites etc and to be able to navigate on a OS or road map while riding. Unless I'm getting this wrong it looks like i'd need to spend a small fortune on a device, maps, mounts etc....

Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.

thanks
Simon

Jenks66

Depends on what you want to see on the GPS screen when riding I have the Garmin topograpic maps which show contours, roads and rivers which is all I need as a backdrop, I have tried using it without a background map when I forgot to load it and it is possible but much harder to assess the route while riding when say you cone to a route cross roads with the contours I can usulay see I need to continue up hill so can easily guess which route to take.
Without a backdrop you have to wait for the route to deviate and then back track and try again.
So yes you do need maps on both in my opinion

tofu21

Has anyone used the Memory Map devices?

The 2800 looks like a better value solution than the Garmins but I could be missing something.

FSR_XC

tofu21 wrote:

Has anyone used the Memory Map devices?

The 2800 looks like a better value solution than the Garmins but I could be missing something.

Unless you want heart rate and other fitness functions it is better value.

£210 at Amazon + £16 for the bike mount.

camerauk

I use the Dakota 20 with free maps from http://talkytoaster.info/ukmaps.htm
works a treat you can have heart rate on it with a heart rate monitor
and if I want OS maps on it i use custom maps using this program http://mobac.dnsalias.org/
again free
I think you can get a Dakota 20 for around £200 now

FSR_XC

Interesting, didn't know you could use a heart rate strap with the Dakota.

On www.handtec.co.uk the '20' is £188 and the '10' £128

Bar mount £12

antfly

tofu21 wrote:

Has anyone used the Memory Map devices?

The 2800 looks like a better value solution than the Garmins but I could be missing something.

You can't use memmap with Garmin, you have to use their inferior maps.

tofu21

Can you get proper OS style maps on the Garmin 705s or Dekotas?

I spoke to Garmin yesterday and they said to get proper OS maps 1:50,000 I'd need the Edge 800 trail edition for £400. But that's them trying to sell there new kit so I took it with a pinch of salt.

camerauk

You can if u use custom maps on them

Jenks66

OS maps should go on the 705 but you will need to purchase them from Garmin as due to OS copyright the map data has to be locked to the device and not transferable betwen devices

alfablue

Jenks66 wrote:

OS maps should go on the 705 but you will need to purchase them from Garmin as due to OS copyright the map data has to be locked to the device and not transferable betwen devices

I don't think OS maps are compatable with the 705, they are on other Garmins such as the Dakota 20 (which was one reason for my choice of the Dakota).

alfablue

Somone on eBay sells Garmin GB Discoverer mapping for about £100 (full uk). Currently I am using OpenStreetMaps and Velomaps mtb mapping for free and its very good, and I did an entire tour in the Netherlands using the NL velomap.

tofu21

alfablue wrote:

Somone on eBay sells Garmin GB Discoverer mapping for about £100 (full uk). Currently I am using OpenStreetMaps and Velomaps mtb mapping for free and its very good, and I did an entire tour in the Netherlands using the NL velomap.

do you get turn by turn instructions with the OpenSteeetMaps?

alfablue

tofu21 wrote:

alfablue wrote:

Somone on eBay sells Garmin GB Discoverer mapping for about £100 (full uk). Currently I am using OpenStreetMaps and Velomaps mtb mapping for free and its very good, and I did an entire tour in the Netherlands using the NL velomap.

do you get turn by turn instructions with the OpenSteeetMaps?

Yes, there are "routable" versions, see here:

http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/OSM_ ... n/Download

However, for my tour I preplanned the routes on a dutch cycleroute site and downloaded them to the Dakota and they overlayed the velomap. I could alsdo use the Garmin for routing but it wouldn't necessarily choose what I would consider the optimum, still works though.

pshore

I have been using the Dakota for MTB rides for about 8 months now.

Edit: OpenMtbMap has now been fixed since Dec 2010 so I can again recommend it as the best OpenStreetMap/Free map for UK Mountain Bikers.

Up until a couple of months ago, the OpenMtbMap was the best map for mountain bikers in the UK. Routing was intelligent, and it has/had good display of offroad routes. About two months ago there was an update that means some bridleways are missing on the Dakota which makes it pretty useless for UK mountain bikers.

I have fallen back to the talkytoaster maps which are fine but the display doesn't distinguish between footpaths, bridleways, byways and fast tracks. If you preplan your ride on the computer (bikeroutetoaster) and upload a gpx this isn't a great problem. I just did a day ride in the peak district like this. Not all offroad routes are on OpenStreetMap but you can add them yourself and for everybody else.

Re the Garmin Custom Maps. Yes, you can use mobileatlas creator and upload a bitmap image map to your device but to be honest they make the Dakota a bit slow to pan and zoom and the maps are never quite readable enough.


If I can find the time I am going to do my own OpenStreetMap Garmin map. I think I can do a good job of it.

Phil.

camerauk

pshore wrote:

If I can find the time I am going to do my own OpenStreetMap Garmin map. I think I can do a good job of it.

Phil.

If you do drop me a pm as I would be very interested in using them

I know what you mean about the view not very clear its not that bad if you play with the settings I have not noticed it slowing down at any point thought

Andy

pshore

Certainly will if I make my own. I think I will have one last go at helping fix the OpenMtbMap before I make my own as I can see that it is a fair amount of effort.

I'd be interested in seeing what the official OS maps look like at different zoom levels. I think the multimap ones (via mobileatlascreator) are fine at one zoom level but not at others.
Maybe Garmin have done a good job of the OS maps. I haven't found anyone who has bought them yet.

I don't think I'd buy the OS maps though, I am too much of a convert to OpenStreetMap and open source data. Last week at the end of our ride we wanted chips in Chesterfield. I had a list of fast food places in my GPS. Thank you v.much to the locals who entered that data. In return I added a bridleway and corrected some data near Kinder.

Phil.

Briggo

Garmin 800

Nuff said.

contango

tofu21 wrote:

alfablue wrote:

Somone on eBay sells Garmin GB Discoverer mapping for about £100 (full uk). Currently I am using OpenStreetMaps and Velomaps mtb mapping for free and its very good, and I did an entire tour in the Netherlands using the NL velomap.

do you get turn by turn instructions with the OpenSteeetMaps?

If you download the routeable versions but you may find the routes it suggests are a bit unexpected.

I use the OSM maps on my Garmin GPSMap 60CSx and for the most part they are fine, it's just that sometimes it throws a weird route suggestion. A lot of the time it takes detours to avoid major roads, although turning right across the traffic to run parallel for half a mile to then turn right across the traffic again seems like a great way to lose time rather than gain it. Other times it proposes quite spectacular detours.

The main thing, as with any map on any GPS, is to be aware of where it is trying to take you and make your own judgment calls whether to follow it or not. The GPS may tell you to turn onto an alleyway that sports a No Cycling sign, it may tell you to turn onto a trail that isn't there etc.

pshore

Briggo wrote:

Garmin 800

Nuff said.

... until the credit card bill drops through the door !

The OP ....

tofu21 wrote:

Unless I'm getting this wrong it looks like i'd need to spend a small fortune on a device, maps, mounts etc....

I'm not sure what constitutes a small fortune for the OP but £450 for a device+map is a fair chunk of cash. :shock:

Briggo

pshore wrote:

Briggo wrote:

Garmin 800

Nuff said.

... until the credit card bill drops through the door !

The OP ....

tofu21 wrote:

Unless I'm getting this wrong it looks like i'd need to spend a small fortune on a device, maps, mounts etc....

I'm not sure what constitutes a small fortune for the OP but £450 for a device+map is a fair chunk of cash. :shock:

Does he mention he doesnt want to spend a small fortune? He just says he expects too.

EnglishChris

Briggo wrote:

Garmin 800

Nuff said.

Is the 800 with the discover maps that good? I met a couple of folk with them who loved them. Im in London so the warren of the North Downs / Surrey Hills is closest to me, which is great once you know where you're going but not so great if you don't, as there aren't (m)any published trail maps for the singletrack... Decent GPS with either someone elses trail map on, or with a mapped route I ride at least once with someone else seems the way forward. Though I guess you could use any GPS for that? Is the 800 worth the dosh??

contango

Coming in a little late to this... if you want to keep the price down go with a cheapish GPS and the maps someone already mentioned from the talkytoaster site. I have the Garmin UK Topo maps but never use them any more because I found the talkytoaster maps are almost invariably much better - more accurate, more detailed, and up to date. If they are wrong you can correct them yourself using openstreetmap.org

So you can get a Dakota, 60CSx, 62s or similar without going much over £200, a microSD card for virtually nothing and the UK maps for free. If you want to tie everything up with heart-rate monitors, cadence sensors etc you might need to spend more - for myself I keep track logs of my meaningful rides (i.e. anything over and above going into town for odds and ends) so I can see my speed at each stage of the trip, and I'm not interested in technical analysis of exactly how I rode.

ian220476

late as well but looking at the 800.

WHich one do I need for mountain bike riding. When looking at the 705 I waa advised it was the bundle with Topo maps and that was it. Can't see an equivelant in the range of bundles for the 800 on CRC or Wiggle. What do I need?

Thx

pshore

Just to inform you all that http://openmtbmap.org/ has now been fixed with respect to bridleways on the Dakota.

If you are after a free map for your Garmin for mountain biking, this is the one to get.

Phil.

Briggo

ian220476 wrote:

late as well but looking at the 800.

WHich one do I need for mountain bike riding. When looking at the 705 I waa advised it was the bundle with Topo maps and that was it. Can't see an equivelant in the range of bundles for the 800 on CRC or Wiggle. What do I need?

Thx

There are 2 packs

Either the trail pack which includes Garmin 800 and the whole of UK - OS 1:50k Landranger mapping or the Enduro pack which includes the above as well as a HRM and Cadence sensor.