BajaNomad

Does the Mexico Atlas GPS map work well on the nuvi's? or whats the best unit?

mgray - 12-15-2007 at 04:27 PM

I'd like to buy a GPS unit that is capable of using those Mexican GPS maps. I'd like to be able to save my routes or at the very least be able to follow my route back where I came from since I'll be using the GPS for mainly backroads/remote beach finding and dont want to get lost. A color screen is a plus, but I dont want to spend too much and have to worry alot about losing it. So a basic unit that does what I want is all I need.

I kinda like those new nuvi's but I haven't heard much about them.

What do you think?

bajalou - 12-15-2007 at 04:31 PM

Neal Johns - now's the time for your report.

comitan - 12-15-2007 at 05:10 PM

Nuvi's on another site the reviews said they were slow compared to the Tom-Toms or Garmin.

bajaguy - 12-15-2007 at 05:16 PM

Garmin 60CSi...will use the Baja cards

805gregg - 12-15-2007 at 09:53 PM

I've got Garmin 2610 old but works good, you can get Baja maps that will download to a smart card, worked good for me except in small towns. has lots of memory I've got west US Alaska on 1 card.

Baja GPS map

TripleG - 12-16-2007 at 05:19 PM

I was going to ask this same question so will try in this thread.

I have a Garmin with the www.bicimapas.com.mx
map installed. I purchased this map from larryb@lbmaps.com. It doesn't seem to have the free road route from Tijuana to Rosarito as discussed in oher threads.

I was hoping David K would help with the acuracy of this map, as I think I have read that he has used it.?

David??

Thanks :?:

Hook - 12-16-2007 at 05:26 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by comitan
Nuvi's on another site the reviews said they were slow compared to the Tom-Toms or Garmin.


I thought Nuvis were Garmin.

My friend just got the Nuvi that is one down from the Cadillac of Nuvis. Nice interface but according to someone at Garmin, you cant use Mapsource with it. Say what?

But we have been successful uploading and downloading maps from its internal card. Just havent tried creating routes in Mapsource and uploading them yet. If it wont do that, it would be a MAJOR drawback, IMO.

Smoke - 12-16-2007 at 08:34 PM

Mgrey. I have been using gps to map fires for quite some time. I have not done much research on mexico meta data. I bought my mapdata from mexicomaps.com. I am using it on a Garmin 76CS which is failrly pricey.
The data is pretty good for the road layer but not much on seconday dirt roads. I used it in La Paz and it was very accurate. I would guess that data would work on a cheaper model of GPS. I am sure a visit to their web site would answer those questions. As far as tracking and breadcrumbs to find your way back, any gps will do that even without the map in the back ground. Hope I did not oversimplify stuff and insult your intelligence:yes:I just don't know how much help you need.

ArvadaGeorge - 12-16-2007 at 09:46 PM

I'm using the GPS map 76csx it works good with Baja Exp maps and is the one the Forest Service oked for track logs of Colorado trails

mgray - 12-16-2007 at 10:53 PM

Quote:
Nice interface but according to someone at Garmin, you cant use Mapsource with it. Say what?

But we have been successful uploading and downloading maps from its internal card. Just havent tried creating routes in Mapsource and uploading them yet. If it wont do that, it would be a MAJOR drawback, IMO.


So you are saying that the Nuvi's can't accept 3rd party maps?? Wich would make these maps useless for them??

I've just got so many things to research and find out what I need its daunting. I'm new to GPS's so all I realy know is that they come with a base map and you can sometimes add maps. I dont know if those add-on maps compliment the base map, or it replaces it. Also do you put the map on a SD card or do you flash the interneal memory? How do you back up your old map then since it would cost a couple hundred to get it from Garmin.

Even the garmin site I find is hard to find out details on their units. I just want to be able to see where I am, where I'm going, and where I've been. It is a huge bonus if I can save a history of the entire trip, all the roads I went down, mark then and leading no-where, or mark the "unknown beach" trail I found. I though I heard the Nuvi's only tell you where you are and where your going?

Basicaly I need a hand, thanks

[Edited on 12-17-2007 by mgray]

Neal Johns - 12-17-2007 at 02:30 AM

ngrey,
There are two basic types of GPS units, the nuvi is a windshield mounted GPS used mainly for following roads and telling you what turns to take to get to a location. The bicimapis maps are not made to do this kind of routing to a destination, they just show you where you are on the map. The nuvi does not give you long/lat location to plot on a paper map.

Mapping handheld GPS units such as the Garmin 60CSx with a smaller screen do the same routing with the proper maps installed without the voice instructions and on a screen. They also have more bells and whistles for long/lat navigation and show you much more information for hiking and four wheel driving such as long/lat. The newer Garmin units have a microSD chip to hold the maps rather than the non-expandable internal memory in the older units.

The bicimapas Mexico and Baja maps are very good. They have the major paved and dirt road shown but not all. They are nowhere as complete as the paper Baja Almanac, but better than the AAA paper maps. The bicmapas map for the Garmin is one of the few than have been formated to work on the Garmin. GPS manufacturers make much of their money from maps so how to make a software map to work on a Garmin is kept secret by Garmin and the other manufacturers. Hackers cracked the technique several years ago but is it not for the casual tinkerer.

Hot news:

Garmin will introduce a new handheld unit to replace the current king, the 60CSx, at the Consumer Electronics Show next month. I will attend and check it out. The new unit, the Colorado, is more menu driven and has only two buttons. The screen has a higher resolution, is slightly taller, and has shading shown to give a 3D effect on land features.

The Colorado is shown below:

Colorado GPS [800x600].jpg - 21kB

GPS

John M - 12-17-2007 at 06:36 AM

MGRAY - Neal Johns is one whose advice is solid. I spent most of yesterday afternoon with him doing gps/Garmin/DeLorme stuff - he has got his act together.

He's old enough to be my grandfather (and I'm nearly 50), and he stays away from water at all costs, but don't hold those things against him.

John M

David K - 12-17-2007 at 10:14 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by TripleG
I was going to ask this same question so will try in this thread.

I have a Garmin with the www.bicimapas.com.mx
map installed. I purchased this map from larryb@lbmaps.com. It doesn't seem to have the free road route from Tijuana to Rosarito as discussed in oher threads.

I was hoping David K would help with the acuracy of this map, as I think I have read that he has used it.?

David??

Thanks :?:


Hi GGG,

Neal John is the professor! I am but a humble student!!

LB maps look great... I have seen Neal's... The Garmin Legend hand held GPS can be purchased preloaded with them.

CG - 12-17-2007 at 02:32 PM

Quote:
The Garmin Legend hand held GPS can be purchased preloaded with them.


From where?

Thanks

Chris

Hook - 12-17-2007 at 04:28 PM

Keep in mind that the design of the Legend series (there are three, at least) makes it much more suited to hiking than using in a car. Most buttons are side-mounted. But it accepts up to at least an 8 mg card so you can store many maps with it. I also do not think it will do auto-routing, if that is important to you. It is to me, especially if you are going from A-B in an unknown area.

My friend with the Nuvi is going to try and do some uploading and downloading of routes using Mapsource tonight. We are uncertain if it will do that. Not sure if it will upload and download tracks either, so he will test that.

Tracks are the actual paths you take from point to point, based on the GPS recording your position over time and/or distance. Nice to be able to record, store and download them for future use or sharing with other GPS users.

Routes are vectors (lines) that the mapping software creates for you based on your desire to go from waypoint to waypoint. Some only do this "as the crow flies".

Auto-routing is the GPS vectoring you along existing roads in a mapping database, based on pre-set parameters you chose; the fastest route, the shortest route, the best route for cars or trucks or mortocycles, etc. With auto-routing, you select A and tell it to take you to B and it finds the "right" combination of roads to do this. Not all Garmin units (or even all map software) will do this. IF this is important to you, make sure you buy a unit and software that does this.

Unfortunately, as Neal mentions, the Garmin site sucks in terms of giving good thumbnail descriptions of capabilities of each unit and/or mapping software. You have to go into the manuals and really know what you're looking for.

BTW, if you are enamored with a voice directing you on routes and your unit doesnt have this feature (attn. 60 and 76 series users and others!), you can download a free program from Garmin called nRoute. It works in conjunction with Mapsource, the USB interface on your unit and a laptop with a USB and a sound card with speaker. Of course this assumes you have practical room for a laptop in your vehicle. I dont and I have an F350 (and a wife and dog). It's a little bit buggy (the NMEA stream seems to get momentarily interrupted every 10 minutes or so and the voice announces you have "lost satellite contact" but it returns in less than a second. I have also found that it wants to revert to NORTH UP instead of COURSE UP orientation occasionally.)

I'm not sure I'd be a big fan of that new Garmin unit. Less buttons means more navigating through menus to achieve what you want. More menu navigation means less time with eyes on the road.

I'm very happy with my 60csx. Not great in terms of displaying topographic contour interval lines but it's very versatile for boat, car or foot.

mgray - 12-17-2007 at 04:42 PM

What about those Street Pilots? Not sure what the main difference between them and the Nuvi's are?

Hook - 12-17-2007 at 05:03 PM

I know nothing about Streetpilots but the name puts me off as being too specialized for street use. Maybe they arent, though.

Find a Garmin users group or discussion board and join. That's the best way to get specific answers.

David K - 12-17-2007 at 09:30 PM

Quote:
Quote:
Originally posted by CG
The Garmin Legend hand held GPS can be purchased preloaded with them.


From where?

Thanks

Chris


Here's the web site: http://lbmaps.com/

However, I no longer see the Legend for sale there... just the map download stuff for Garmin and Lowrance... Check it out!

Hook - 12-18-2007 at 01:02 PM

The results from last night's Nuvi test. This was the 760 Nuvi.

It appears it will NOT accept the uploading of waypoints, tracks or routes from Mapsource. Even though these are listed as options at the upload prompt, these item are not recognized by the Nuvi after uploading is complete.

It will allow the uploading of maps onto the SD card, so at least you dont have to buy the preloaded ones.

Major disadvantage in my book.

Al G - 12-18-2007 at 02:53 PM

Not sure where you are at in buying or own...if you are in the market for a do anything GPS, then I would look at the 276c garmin.
I can see a bigger unit but not a better one. It can be used in any environment...also easy hand held...maybe 10% larger then the 76 series. Works great from a belly pack. 4 ozs of the total 14 ozs of weight is in the 7 hour battery...
I have yet to test the depth sounder...hopefully this year.
The mounting system is great and quick...easy to hide under seat and easy to mount on my quad...2000 miles on Baja off road and mount holds perfect. The dash is flat in both Jeep and Motorhome, so I just use the bean bag mount. Actual screen is 2X3.25 sure seems bigger in use. Hope this may help...

tripledigitken - 12-18-2007 at 03:04 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Al G
Not sure where you are at in buying or own...if you are in the market for a do anything GPS, then I would look at the 276c garmin.
I can see a bigger unit but not a better one. It can be used in any environment...also easy hand held...maybe 10% larger then the 76 series. Works great from a belly pack. 4 ozs of the total 14 ozs of weight is in the 7 hour battery...
I have yet to test the depth sounder...hopefully this year.
The mounting system is great and quick...easy to hide under seat and easy to mount on my quad...2000 miles on Baja off road and mount holds perfect. The dash is flat in both Jeep and Motorhome, so I just use the bean bag mount. Actual screen is 2X3.25 sure seems bigger in use. Hope this may help...


I'm with you Al. Have had my 276c for 4 years at least and it has been all over on my motorcycle, car and truck. It will also serve as a boat GPS with the proper maps. Works in my truck with a overcab camper without an external antenna, and with a full charge you can use it for 10 hours before it needs a new charge. Being that it is an older model you might find it on sale as well.

Regarding LB Maps they don't work seemlessly (like Garmin Maps) when it comes to routing, some of the topo data regarding elevation is wrong. On the whole it is worth having, just not up to other map software.

my 2 centavos

Ken

Hook - 12-18-2007 at 03:20 PM

Pricing on the 276c is running around 450.00 w/o the automotive kit, which is pretty much essential if you use it in a car.

Al G - 12-18-2007 at 03:31 PM

Boy...they have sure come down in price...but that just scratches the surface of the real cost. There is the cost of additional memory...Blue charts...City select v8...Baja expedition and Quad mount...easy another $500...+-
It is a very necessary issue and the price is only the issue if you can not afford it. I am broke now...he who dies with the best toys...WINS:lol::lol::lol::biggrin::cool: