GPS

[Waytec]

     The wife and I want to a GPS unit for the car and the jeep. I went down to GPS central and looked at what thy had to offer. Cool gadgets. They have ones that would do every thing but drive the car ( that one has not been released to north America yet ) not joking they have it in Japan.
     I was wondering what others are using. I want one that is for on road and off road, and the ability's to download local trail maps.

[SmilinVamp]

I think the Garmin brand is the only one with Canadian Topographic Maps currently if you are interested in that type stuff...

[JohnB]

If you want trail maps.  If you want free maps....  You must get a Garmin.

The Nuvi 250W is really cheap now.  Just keep in mid, it is a car unit.  Not waterproof, not to be used out of the car.

$210 newly overhauled, http://www.gpscentral.ca/products/garmin/nuvi250w.html

[Dragonmaster]

I've got a Garmin Legend Cx with city navigator NT and topo canada that is great.  Even use it for hiking and touring large cities on foot.  Highly recommend going the handheld route if you are at all interested in aything outdoors.

Of course always go Garmin.

[Tribal Jeep]

If you want trail maps.  If you want free maps....  You must get a Garmin.

The Nuvi 250W is really cheap now.  Just keep in mid, it is a car unit.  Not waterproof, not to be used out of the car.

$210 newly overhauled, http://www.gpscentral.ca/products/garmin/nuvi250w.html

I have a garmin nuvi650. awesome capability, downloadable trail maps, on foot or in the jeep.
garmin does make a specific model for jeep. it has a docking station that you install in your jeep. on the dash under you rear view, in the little dish thing (wrangler only?). i saw it in a JP or a petersons mag.. been meaning to find it see if its capable with my model... will update this post later.

[Tribal Jeep]

here it is, the garmin trail guide for jeep:

http://www.gpslodge.com/archives/002312.php

fits wranglers '97+

also found here at gamrmin:

http://www8.garmin.com/products/trailguide/

[cLAY]

I have topo maps for my Magellan. Other than being an older model and not having a touch screen it work great. In 5 years I've lost reception on it 3 times, and even then only briefly. Has NEVER locked up on me.

My Garmin Nuvi350 has been a nightmare. I'm on my third unit, first two were replaced under warrenty. The 2nd unit arrieved broke.  Coast me over $100 in shipping and duty fees. Hopefully this one is good as the week it arrieved the warrenty ran out.

Most GPSs don't work well for on and off road navigation, they are usually geared to one or the other(my Nuvi350 has no provisons for downloading topo maps or saving waypoints). Magellan makes a cross over unit that is supposed to do both but when I looked at it it was brand new to the market(1 year ago) and it still had some issues to work out.

I've owned one Garmin(Nuvi350) and 3 Magellan's. Thought I tr the Garmin as I do like the ease of the Nuvi for street navigation, just wish it was as reliable as my Magellan. This fall I'll be upgrading my off road GPS again and I don't know what to get. All my friends have Garmins so it would be nice to share files with them but the also have had problems with their units freezing while on the trail and losing signal whereas my Magellan was so rock steady I'll have a hard time moving away from it. Especially after my Nuvi experience!


Some things to look for no matter what you get. Removable storage media such as an SD card, then you can upgrade to whatever size memory you want, USB cable interface(I think they all do now anyway), battery life and type, personally I like something that takes regular AAs. Easy to find and carry spares. Waterproof isn't needed unless you like fording deep water. Get a good mount, something that bolts/screws in. Suction cups don't cut it when bouncing on the trail. GER THE LARGEST TOUCH SCREEN POSSIBLE. Bigger IS better.

Go to GPS central and try different units out. Each time I have bought a GPS I've done research on the net, walked into the store intent on buying one unit but after playing with them and comparable units I've ended up buying a completly different unit.

[SmilinVamp]

...then there is a whole different animal... the Delorme Earthmate.  Bluetooth receiver - Works with a standard Laptop or PDA (or PDA cell phone).  For myself I like this option best...  (yer probably more confused now  )

[Waytec]

Some where saying that I can get trail maps. Where do I get them from?

I am thinking about the Garmin 750 it has all the Canadian maps already in it, I can download the topos and memory cards are separate.

what are your options on the 750 and dose anyone have it or its predecessor.

[JohnB]

...my Nuvi350 has no provisons for downloading topo maps or saving waypoints

Yes it does.  You don't know what you are doing....

[JohnB]

Some where saying that I can get trail maps. Where do I get them from?

Trail maps.
http://www.calgarycachers.net/trailmaps/maps.htm

Free Topo Maps.
http://www.ibycus.com/ibycustopo/

[frenchy]

here it is, the garmin trail guide for jeep:

http://www.gpslodge.com/archives/002312.php

fits wranglers '97+

also found here at gamrmin:

http://www8.garmin.com/products/trailguide/

I love the clean install on these. No window suction cups is a good thing!! HaHa.
Just don't buy it from Chrysler for $700.
Can get the base mount for just over $100 from the dealer, then get the GPS unit for $200 or less anywhere else.

[JohnB]

The only problem is that it is a Quest, which is pretty old technology.  Quite small, low resolution screens.  Relatively poor gps reception.  They are waterproof though and can be used outside of the car.

[frenchy]

What about the 'quest 2' ?
It's the same size, just not sure about it's functionality...

[JohnB]

The Quest 2 is the same basic unit.  It has pre-loaded maps and supports custom POIs.  Other than that they are the same.  The Quest 2 might have a faster processor.

A Nuvi 250W screen is 3.3 times larger with 3.4 times the amount of pixels...  The Quest screen size is the same as the normal Garmin handhelds.  IMO, too small for automotive use.