GPS Things

[sazzaa]

So I think I need a mapping device for the bike as I seem to get lost as soon as I'm a few mile outside the city.

I don't care about heart rate or cadence or any of that guff. Just maps, directions, and uploadability.

Garmin Etrex (20?) and the Touring one seem to be what I'm looking for... Just wondering which is best for me having an actual map on a screen to look at? And if they can have routes uploaded to them without a whole ton of hassle?

 

[smokeysmoo]

I don't know the Etrex but the Edge 200 only gives you a breadcrumb trail for routes you've uploaded in advance like this,

but TBH that's all I want to see so it's perfect for me, (no interest in HR or Cad either TBH).

However, I think if you want to see a full sat nav style page then you may have to dig deep for an 800, deeper for an 810 or sell your soul for the new 1000

FWIW Bryton alternatives are usually cheaper than their Garmin equivalents, but IME are nowhere near as intuitive to use.

 

[sazzaa]

I don't know the Etrex but the Edge 200 only gives you a breadcrumb trail for routes you've uploaded in advance like this,

but TBH that's all I want to see so it's perfect for me, (no interest in HR or Cad either TBH).

However, I think if you want to see a full sat nav style page then you may have to dig deep for an 800, deeper for an 810 or sell your soul for the new 1000

FWIW Bryton alternatives are usually cheaper than their Garmin equivalents, but IME are nowhere near as intuitive to use.

Ahh so that's what a breadcrumb trail looks like! Take it you don't get to search local points of interest with the 200 though? I don't need all the stuff on 800/810, so don't really want to spend a wedge on things I don't need. Ease of use would be good so I'll give the Bryton's a miss.

 

[MikeW-71]

You could look at the 800 Touring which has the full mapping but without the HR and cadence capabilities. That makes it cheaper.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Take it you don't get to search local points of interest with the 200 though?

No, it is as basic a form of navigation as you can get TBH, but it does al I ever need and it does it really well.

You can plan routes in advance, or just use somebody elses route, drop it on the unit and then select it and go.

If you miss a turn then it beeps at you and flashes course alert until you're back on track. Perhaps you could borrow one to try, or pick one up second hand like THIS, then if it doesn't tick all your boxes you should get your money back for it anyway as the used market is really strong for them.

 

[ColinJ]

I have an extermely old and basic Garmin Etrex which only does the breadcrumb trail (and a daft direction arrow mode which I never use). It does not support maps at all, and I don't miss them! I do my map reading at home on a nice big screen. When I am out on the bike, I just want to see that I go straight on at these lights, left at that junction and so on.

The only time that lack of mapping is a problem is if you go off the pre-plotted route, either due to road closures or a desire to go and explore. If you are happy to return from your exploration by the route you went out on, simply do a trackback to give you a breadcrumb trail home.

 

[sazzaa]

200 might be all I need really... Although I like the sound of the feature on the Touring one where you put in a distance and it makes three route options for you... I'm guessing this wouldn't put you along a dualler or anything? Is that feature only found on the Garmin Touring or is it on the higher spec ones too?

 

[Deleted member 23692]

Etrex20 and free OpenCycleMap is easily the best bang for buck, and far more verstile than a gamin edge in the same price bracket

 

[sazzaa]

Have gone for the Garmin Edge Touring. Hope it's worth the cash!

 

[cyberknight]

uhm what about google maps on a smart phone?

 

[smokeysmoo]

uhm what about google maps on a smart phone?

Battery killer. I only get away with using Google maps on my S4 at work because I can plug it in, and I even have a heavy duty battery on it as well.

 

[sazzaa]

uhm what about google maps on a smart phone?

I don't get much signal outside the city up here.

 

[cyberknight]

Battery killer. I only get away with using Google maps on my S4 at work because I can plug it in, and I even have a heavy duty battery on it as well.

I carry my smartphone as a just in case i am lost and look at the maps if i was lost , use the 200 like you otherwise .

I don't get much signal outside the city up here.

Naff service provider
The edge touring does look nice .

 

[sazzaa]

I carry my smartphone as a just in case i am lost and look at the maps if i was lost , use the 200 like you otherwise .

Naff service provider
The edge touring does look nice .

I'm on o2. Aberdeenshire has a sh*te signal with every phone provider as far as I'm aware.

 

[Tyke]

I don't get much signal outside the city up here.

You don`t need a signal to use GPS if you pre load the maps for the area onto your phone before you go