GPS device

Craig24
Craig24 Posts: 150
edited November 2014 in MTB buying advice
Hi,

I'm not sure what device I should be looking for. I want something that I can upload routes I've found on the internet, and be able to see myself on a map and see the route also. I've found lots of new routes for local areas close to me and would love to ride them, but I'm useless with a map! Not really bothered about any other features like timing or speed. Please can someone advise, cheaper the better! :lol:
My Giant Trance X3

My Cannondale Trail SL - SOLD

Comments

  • Craig24
    Craig24 Posts: 150
    The Garmin Edge 800 looks like it's the sort of thing I'm after. Anyone used one of these for navigating trails?
    My Giant Trance X3

    My Cannondale Trail SL - SOLD
  • Craig24
    Craig24 Posts: 150
    Incase anyone stumbles onto this thread looking for advice. If your after a device just for navigation and don't want other features the 800 offers then it looks like the Garmin Etrex 20 is the way to go.
    My Giant Trance X3

    My Cannondale Trail SL - SOLD
  • njee20
    njee20 Posts: 9,613
    The Edge Touring is a bike specific model designed for navigation rather than having all the 'training' features like the other Edge models.

    The Etrex series are good because they take regular AA batteries, so you can take spares for when you're out and about for a long time. But they don't have bike specific routing or owt, if that bothers you in the least. Physically bigger too, and thus more exposed on your handlebars.
  • freezing77
    freezing77 Posts: 731
    Craig24 wrote:
    Incase anyone stumbles onto this thread looking for advice. If your after a device just for navigation and don't want other features the 800 offers then it looks like the Garmin Etrex 20 is the way to go.

    Plus one for the etrex series for on and off road use, they have more refined navigational options than any of the edge series including the edge touring which is probably the most perversely named product as it is useless for touring.
    The etrex series have bike mounts available.
  • mtbjunkie08
    mtbjunkie08 Posts: 192
    with the Etrex series can you import Openstreet map data and then follow routes along actual bridleways/trails from imported GPX routes?
  • freezing77
    freezing77 Posts: 731
    Yes and more.
    The etrex can import maps and can also differentiate between gpx track files and gpx route files, the edge series treat them both the same.
    The etrex also has a compass pointer that can be used to follow an off road track like so

    15418010561_b49189afec_o.jpg

    Map screen
    15167119274_27b6a1251a_o.jpg
  • njee20
    njee20 Posts: 9,613
    the edge series treat them both the same.

    The Edge 1000 doesn't, and I don't think the Touring does either - you can get tracks you just follow a line, or routes with proper turn by turn navigation (on or off road).
  • mtbjunkie08
    mtbjunkie08 Posts: 192
    Thanks for all the info guys, does the etrex have turn by turn navigation too?
  • freezing77
    freezing77 Posts: 731
    mtbjunkie08 wrote:
    Thanks for all the info guys, does the etrex have turn by turn navigation too?

    Yes
  • freezing77
    freezing77 Posts: 731
    njee20 wrote:
    the edge series treat them both the same.

    The Edge 1000 doesn't, and I don't think the Touring does either - you can get tracks you just follow a line, or routes with proper turn by turn navigation (on or off road).

    I am interested in this how in the menu system does the 1000 differentiate between tracks and routes?. Does it have a track manager and separate route manager a la etrex?

    On the 810 and 800 it converts both gpx tracks and gpx routes into course files with a .fit extension.
  • Craig24
    Craig24 Posts: 150
    Is there a big difference between the Etrex 20 and Etrex 30? Except the compass?
    My Giant Trance X3

    My Cannondale Trail SL - SOLD
  • freezing77
    freezing77 Posts: 731
    Craig24 wrote:
    Is there a big difference between the Etrex 20 and Etrex 30? Except the compass?

    Not really, the altimeter is barometric as opposed to interpolation of gps data on the 20.

    I beleive that the 20 does not have wireless sharing a feature of the etrex 30.
  • njee20
    njee20 Posts: 9,613
    freezing77 wrote:
    njee20 wrote:
    the edge series treat them both the same.

    The Edge 1000 doesn't, and I don't think the Touring does either - you can get tracks you just follow a line, or routes with proper turn by turn navigation (on or off road).

    I am interested in this how in the menu system does the 1000 differentiate between tracks and routes?. Does it have a track manager and separate route manager a la etrex?

    On the 810 and 800 it converts both gpx tracks and gpx routes into course files with a .fit extension.

    Dunno, not used it, just aware that it does proper turn by turn off road, unlike all the the others. It doesn't convert GXPs to FITs AFAIK. I think you can just turn that off though and follow a breadcrumb trail, or upload as TCX.

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