GPS help needed

[steveindenmark]

At the moment I am using a Garmin Edge 305 and it has been excellent over the past 3 years.

I now want a GPS mapping system but am finding the choice to be overwhelming.

I would really appreciate your input as to which ones would suit me.

This is what I need:

1. To be able to have topo maps which can cover most of Europe, as I ride off road a lot.

2. To be able to customise my own routes on the PC.

3. To record routes as I ride them and put them on my PC.

4. Must record, speed distance and elevation.

5. Not bothered about cadence or heart rate monitor.

6. Be able to take batteries.

7. Have a decent size screen.

If it helps the decision, I am in Denmark and will riding in France this year.

I am sure there are lots of devices that will fill my needs. I just do not know which one to choose.

I hope you can help.

Steve

 

[J-Lo]

Take a look at the Garmin eTrex Vista HCx - ive used it a fair bit on my bike and love it!

It does everything you listed and takes batteries, one set will easily do a full days cycling plus more.

You can pick it up for around £130 from Amazon and buy the bike mount seperately for £10. On top of that they do lots of maps you can buy but there not cheap. You can buy 2nd hand map CDs from eBay or try OSM.

 

[ufkacbln]

At the moment I am using a Garmin Edge 305 and it has been excellent over the past 3 years.

I now want a GPS mapping system but am finding the choice to be overwhelming.

I would really appreciate your input as to which ones would suit me.

This is what I need:

1. To be able to have topo maps which can cover most of Europe, as I ride off road a lot.

Why not look at the Open Street Map series that are available for most of europe, compatible with many units and FREE!

2. To be able to customise my own routes on the PC.

Using on line systems like BikeRouteToaster or others will download in the almost universal GPX format that will be accepted by the majority of systems

3. To record routes as I ride them and put them on my PC.

Downloading simple routes is not a problem, but it will depend on the system. Most can download to online systems

4. Must record, speed distance and elevation.

Now it gets complicated, some like the SatMap do not do speed. Check the individual specs

5. Not bothered about cadence or heart rate monitor.

Most will come with these as an option

6. Be able to take batteries.

Excludes the Garmin 800 and and others

7. Have a decent size screen.

Again excludes some units, and will also eat you batteries!

The big one in the Garmin range is the Montana, but takes an interchangeable battery pack as the powerhouse

If it helps the decision, I am in Denmark and will riding in France this year.

I am sure there are lots of devices that will fill my needs. I just do not know which one to choose.

I hope you can help.

Steve

 

[RhythMick]

At the moment I am using a Garmin Edge 305 and it has been excellent over the past 3 years.

I now want a GPS mapping system but am finding the choice to be overwhelming.

I would really appreciate your input as to which ones would suit me.

This is what I need:

1. To be able to have topo maps which can cover most of Europe, as I ride off road a lot.

2. To be able to customise my own routes on the PC.

3. To record routes as I ride them and put them on my PC.

4. Must record, speed distance and elevation.

5. Not bothered about cadence or heart rate monitor.

6. Be able to take batteries.

7. Have a decent size screen.

If it helps the decision, I am in Denmark and will riding in France this year.

I am sure there are lots of devices that will fill my needs. I just do not know which one to choose.

I hope you can help.

Steve

If you have an iPhone or Android phone consider some of the excellent apps out there. After trying many I settled on ViewRanger as the clear winner. 77p to buy and works with free OpenCycle maps and others.

... every day is a winding road...

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Etrex Vista HCx user here. But take care, the next generation units are now on sale. Etrex 10 / 20 /30 so watch what you pay for a Vista.

 

[srw]

If you can do distance and time (and all GPS units will do that) you can do speed!

 

[PpPete]

Etrex Vista HCX + OSM mapping will meet all your requirements at minimum cost.

 

[doog]

Etrex Vista HCX + OSM mapping will meet all your requirements at minimum cost.

I use an Extrex Legend and OSM but found large chunks missing in rural France..not a major problem as I resorted to a map and had pre- loaded the route using bike route toaster.
If you dont have rechargeables / charger or worry about charging en route its worth buying Lithiums.

 

[ufkacbln]

If you can do distance and time (and all GPS units will do that) you can do speed!

You can do overall average, not speed itself.

 

[srw]

With readings taken every 10 seconds or so you can do as close an approximation to instantaneous speed as makes no practical difference. Unless your GPS just draws a straight line between start and end points?

 

[Alberto]

I've been a Garmin Legend HCx user for some years, but unfortunately the device started to fail about about 1.5 years ago. It is a problem that has to do with the connecting pins from batteries to device. After a lot of research online (the GPS was out of warranty) I found out that it was a common problem that is exacerbated if you used it in rough conditions (i.e. mtb). So, although it was great while it worked, I would be aware of this problem. I believe the Vista may be have the same problem. I did try to fix it following some webs online, but messed up some cables and could not get the information from the memory card back, so it became no longer usable with maps.

I had pretty much the same requirements as you do, except for the elevation. Came across the Garmin 60 series and the updated 62 series. Ended up buying a 60CX (no altimeter) and am very happy so far. The 62 series have a faster processor, and a better screen, but nothing that I would worry about too much. Same capacities as the Legend/Vista, but a much larger screen. Battery duration is similar in my experience. It is chunky though, and won't look that great on your handlebars, but other than that it is very good value for money. The bar mount would set you back £15.

 

[steveindenmark]

I looked at the 60scx but the only thing putting me off is the massive price of the maps. I live in Denmark and so copying a UK map is of no use to me.

Is there a cheap way of getting the topo maps?

Steve

 

[Alberto]

I guess it does not matter what GPS you have as official Garmin topo maps are very expensive anyway?

I use openstreetmaps for the UK and as far as I remember they do have some topo on them? I found these free topo maps available on the net. I would be interested to hear if these are any good for DK.

http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/maps/view/301/

 

[Glow worm]

Memory Map is good if rather pricey.

 

[Flying Dodo]

Now it gets complicated, some like the SatMap do not do speed. Check the individual specs

The SatMap show current speed, maximum speed, moving average and overall average - probably same as other GPS units.