GPS Units

marple_dave

I am going to buy a Garmin GPS unit. Undecided on 500 or 800. Can you upload routes onto the 500 so you don't get lost, or is that what the extra cash is for on the 800? Also with the 800 I note that you can buy it with "city navigator maps". I have read that the base maps on the 800 are poor but also that the better suplementary mapping system (as advised on Bike Radar review) is the OS suite yet I can't find this "bundle" for sale anywhere.

Any advice would be welcome before I inevitably blow my wedge on the wrong kit. :roll:

Cheers!

n1ckster

As far as I know, you can upload a route to a 500 and it will navigate along the route, but only by simple arrows on the screen and an audible tone. With the 800 (and specifically with city navigator maps) it is more like a tradtional car sat nav, in that there is a viewable map, routes by post codes and an uploaded route will be displayed on the screen.

The base maps are 'basic' and show main roads. The CN maps allow for navigation by post code and are a lot more detailed (side roads, geographical features etc). Alternatively, there are readily available 'free' open source maps which can be installed, similar (or some would argue better) to the CN maps. I have installed some open source contour mapping in conjunction with European City Navigator with no issues.

edit: the CN maps can be bought on SD card direct from Garmin or various 3rd parties on Amazon; not sure how much they cost, but I would expect it to be cheaper if bought as part of the Performance bundle.

Nick

Monty Dog

The main difference is no mapping on the 500 - you can upload / download routes, but all you get is a direction arrow and breadcrumb trail on the screen. Works OK if you plan a route on Bikeroutetoaster and upload it to the unit.

Wrath Rob

Plus the 800 has a bigger, colour touch screen. The 500 is great for racing/TT or if you don't care about proper routing/navigation. I've got an 800 and occasionally head out solo on rides to unfamiliar places. Having a pre-loaded route map is great plus the safety net of navigation to points of interest if required (think mechanical failure, accident, bonk etc).

Check out DC Rainmaker for in-depth reviews

jim453

Save some cash and get this.

http://www.holux-uk.co.uk/holux-gpsport-260.php?it=215&s=2

Same as the edge 500 more or less but way way way cheaper.

I've got one and at works absolutely brilliantly.

deadhead1971

If you do decide to get a Garmin Edge 800, you can get good, routable free open source maps (like Velomap), to save money on buying the Discoverer Maps. But there are pros and cons.
I wrote an article which might help you figure out which you'd prefer -
http://www.scarletfire.co.uk/2012/01/garmin-edge-800-why-you-shouldnt-bother-with-custom-osm-maps/

marple_dave

Thanks all. A little more research then.

marple_dave

jim453 wrote:

Save some cash and get this.

http://www.holux-uk.co.uk/holux-gpsport-260.php?it=215&s=2

Same as the edge 500 more or less but way way way cheaper.

I've got one and at works absolutely brilliantly.

Hmmmm. looks good but not Ant+ compatible and I'm hoping to pair it up with something that is.

marple_dave

deadhead1971 wrote:

If you do decide to get a Garmin Edge 800, you can get good, routable free open source maps (like Velomap), to save money on buying the Discoverer Maps. But there are pros and cons.
I wrote an article which might help you figure out which you'd prefer -
http://www.scarletfire.co.uk/2012/01/garmin-edge-800-why-you-shouldnt-bother-with-custom-osm-maps/

Nice article, thanks.

jim453

marple_dave wrote:

jim453 wrote:

Save some cash and get this.

http://www.holux-uk.co.uk/holux-gpsport-260.php?it=215&s=2

Same as the edge 500 more or less but way way way cheaper.

I've got one and at works absolutely brilliantly.

Hmmmm. looks good but not Ant+ compatible and I'm hoping to pair it up with something that is.

Try this one then

http://www.holux-uk.co.uk/holux-gpsport-260-pro-plus.php?it=354&ca=53&p=1&so=0

Price includes cadence sensor and HRM band.

marple_dave

Cheers jim453. Some serious thinking to do now then.

Demonsnapper

Hi Dave - had my Edge 800 for just over a year now, and I am still absolutely in love with it!

Last year was my first year getting back into some reasonable mileage, and we used it loads to find routes around my new hometown of Poole - was great to use other people's routes early on, and then have the option to build our own once we got to know the area a bit more.

Had no issues with it at all.... It is a lot of money to shell-out, but I'd say you'll enjoy it if you use it regularly. Hope this helps!

marple_dave

Well, after much to-ing and fro-ing I've ordered a 500. Very tempted by the 800, in fact nearly ordered it but although I would have used the OS mapping and pucka route finding facility occasionally in the end I couldn't justify the extra £100 - £150 for what would have been a rarely used luxury. Plus, it is a bit big, isn't it?

Thanks again all for your advice.

Dave

deadhead1971

marple_dave wrote:

Well, after much to-ing and fro-ing I've ordered a 500. Very tempted by the 800. <cut> it is a bit big, isn't it?

When I first got mine, I remember being quite surprised at how small it was actually...

rolf_f

deadhead1971 wrote:

marple_dave wrote:

Well, after much to-ing and fro-ing I've ordered a 500. Very tempted by the 800. <cut> it is a bit big, isn't it?

When I first got mine, I remember being quite surprised at how small it was actually...

Compared to a non mapping GPS, they are pretty vast. I use a Bryton 35 most of the time with a 50 for mapping (which is certainly bulkier than an 800) - have to admit that even an 800 would be way larger than I'd want on the bike unless I was actively using the mapping functionality.

marple_dave

When I first got mine, I remember being quite surprised at how small it was actually...[/quote]

Yeah but I'm still trying to get my head aroung how much bigger they are than the Cateye "speedo" it's replaced! I know they're so much more and after a couple of rides with the 500 I 'm WELL impressed.

Still can't download routes from my mapping site of choice (Ride with GPS) though. Having to use the Garmin site to map routes, download to unit, then upload to my preferred site after the ride. :?

deadhead1971

Have you tried using a different browser? Eg. If you use Internet explorer, try using Google chrome, or firefox. Does it let you download a gpx or tcx file? Do you have the garmin communicator plugin installed?