BajaNomad

Nav units

castaway$ - 11-20-2008 at 05:33 PM

I know this isn't a new topic but I am looking to buy a nav unit so I have been trying to see who has the most comprehensive mapping for Baja, can someone point me to the previous threads or throw out your advice.

bajaguy - 11-20-2008 at 09:04 PM

I like my Garmin 205.......it has a card slot and you can buy a card with Baja (and other parts of Mexico) for about $100USD

garmin..

msawin - 11-20-2008 at 10:11 PM

Just bought a Garmin nuvi 750 for work....right. I also bought Baja Navigator. Have loaded it and it looks like it might have enough detail to make it worth the purchase. Will try it out next week on trip to Loreto.

martin=o

Bob and Susan - 11-21-2008 at 05:40 AM

marty...i hope you don't get lost traveling hwy#1:lol:

but...

we do need a report how the gps works for tj and ensenada

we would love to have a gps guiding us thru tj:light::light:

especially when the police detour us to another crossing

we hate taking the tour of that town:?::?::?:

Santiago - 11-21-2008 at 06:51 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bob and Susan

we hate taking the tour of that town:?::?::?:


Good idea Bob. Ranks right up there with your shelf.

Garmin 76CSx

BajaRob - 11-21-2008 at 07:58 AM

with LB map of Baja. Check Amazon for best price.

Bruce R Leech - 11-21-2008 at 08:02 AM

I like the 76 CSx also. but stay with Garmin anyway

bajaguy - 11-21-2008 at 08:27 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bob and Susan
marty...i hope you don't get lost traveling hwy#1:lol:

but...

we do need a report how the gps works for tj and ensenada

we would love to have a gps guiding us thru tj:light::light:

especially when the police detour us to another crossing

we hate taking the tour of that town:?::?::?:





Bob....just ordered the card for my Garmin last night. Will try it out in TJ and Ensenada at Christmas and report back. For no confusion in crossing at TJ, I always use Blvd 2000 and Otay both north and south bound.

Garmin Sale

bajaguy - 11-21-2008 at 10:58 PM

Costco has the Garmin Nuvi 750, regular price $299 now $199, mail order only. Will accept the LB baja map card:

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11314582&am...

Hook - 11-22-2008 at 03:37 AM

Quite a few bad reviews on that Nuvi 750, even on the Costco site.

As reported here, a friend bought the 760 when it first came out. We have since discovered that he cannot import "tracks" from others, in ANY format.

I dont believe it would import routes either; even using Mapsource. You had to create a route internally. Not completely sure about that last part.

The Nuvi series has some real limitations, IMO. Really xlnt screen and pretty easy to use but it really seems geared towards city use.

wanting a gps

dianaji - 11-22-2008 at 02:05 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy
Quote:
Originally posted by Bob and Susan
marty...i hope you don't get lost traveling hwy#1:lol:

but...

we do need a report how the gps works for tj and ensenada

we would love to have a gps guiding us thru tj:light::light:

especially when the police detour us to another crossing

we hate taking the tour of that town:?::?::?:



i've been wanting to get a gps and would love some help. there is one for sale here. it says maps for U.S. how would i get maps for that for mexico?

http://mail.google.com/mail/#inbox/11dba593728dbc08

thanks, diana
thanks, diana




Bob....just ordered the card for my Garmin last night. Will try it out in TJ and Ensenada at Christmas and report back. For no confusion in crossing at TJ, I always use Blvd 2000 and Otay both north and south bound.

cftlet - 11-23-2008 at 02:28 PM

consumer report did a write up on gps navigators in thier dec. 2008 issue and they gave the garmin nuvi( all of the models ) a high ratein espeacially the 750 thru the 880. I have been researching these for some time and I think I will buy that 750 costco is selling, thats a excelllent price, about $200 less than Ive seen it anyplace else.

bajaguy - 11-23-2008 at 03:21 PM

I have a Garmin 205 and the COSTCO model looks great. Might have to get one.

mtgoat666 - 11-23-2008 at 03:26 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by castaway$
I know this isn't a new topic but I am looking to buy a nav unit so I have been trying to see who has the most comprehensive mapping for Baja, can someone point me to the previous threads or throw out your advice.


depends on what you want to use it for. if primarily for car, then get car type unit. if for hiking, get unit for hiking. the hiking units really blow when using them in cars (the driver can't easily use them solo, so you need a "navigator" to use the tiny screens/buttons), and the car units cannot be used hiking. in cars, if you are solo, you will want the touch screen for entering data, looking up things.

my GPS is a garmin hiking unit, rarely gets used, because paper maps are of such higher quality and usability than the simple maps that show on GPS screens. if you know how to use maps for navigating while hiking, then I suggest you get a car type touch-screen GPS unit and skip the hiking models --- the tiny screens and poor map detail are useless for hiking. but if you are hansel and gretel hiker that likes to leave electronic footprints, then get a hiking unit.

LancairDriver - 11-23-2008 at 04:00 PM

The only reason you see Garmin lowering the price on any GPS is that they will soon introduce a new model with more bells and whistles. Between cars and airplanes I have about 5 and they are all obsolete. Cameras, GPS's, Ipods and computers are all moving targets as far as keeping up with the latest.

castaway$ - 11-23-2008 at 04:39 PM

I have a handheld that I use for hunting and as a backup on my boat so I am looking for a good unit for my truck that will show everything from I-5, Mex 1 and the little backroads in Baja. Iv'e never had one in my truck but I want to do more exploring of the backroads in Baja thats why I would like one that offers the most comprhensive mapping software I can find for Baja. Goat, as far as hand helds I have the Lowrance Ifinder Ihunt unit with map create 7, I don't know if you have checked out the map create 7 but it's pretty good cartography for a handheld but it isn't as good as the National Geographic software I have for my home computer.

cftlet - 11-23-2008 at 05:34 PM

hey castaway, we are almost neighbors, Im in grants pass dreaming of baja this winter. I have a hand held gps and one in my boat. they are both garmin and I really like them . My son has a nuvi and we used it going back to montana this year and it was great . when are you headed to baja?

norte - 11-23-2008 at 07:25 PM

The original post has it correct. Which is the best mapping software for Baja California? There are many good GPS units out there. but most don't have maps for Baja.

bajaguy - 11-23-2008 at 07:40 PM

Do a search on this site for LB maps, or click on:

http://www.lbmaps.com/

bajaguy - 11-23-2008 at 07:52 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by dianaji

i've been wanting to get a gps and would love some help. there is one for sale here. it says maps for U.S. how would i get maps for that for mexico?

thanks, diana




Diana:

The GPS unit you buy must have the capability to download map programs from a computer, or have a SD card slot. My Garmin 205 (and the above mentioned Garmin 755) have the SD card slots. The mapping program must be compatable with your GPS.

I ordered a Mexico map program on a SD card from Larry Buck at LB Maps ( http://www.lbmaps.com/ ). This SD card will plug into the card slot of my Garmin 205, and then I will be ready to hit the road.

norte - 11-23-2008 at 08:17 PM

I have the software from Larry. Be aware (as he states) it does not do any autorouting. Once off the Highway and on to the "baja" roads it can be very inaccurate.. but you can always send him updates.

bajaguy - 11-23-2008 at 08:23 PM

Norte:...I ordered the Mexico Atlas which comes with autorouting.............

norte - 11-24-2008 at 08:01 AM

post a review after you use it. I have considered that purchase, hoping the dirt road portion is more accurate.

Nuvi 750

schwlind - 11-24-2008 at 09:53 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Hook


I dont believe it would import routes either; even using Mapsource. You had to create a route internally. Not completely sure about that last part.

The Nuvi series has some real limitations, IMO. Really xlnt screen and pretty easy to use but it really seems geared towards city use.



We have been using the Nuvi 750 for over a year and think it is a great unit. It has built in battery so it can be used for walking, biking, etc. The battery should last up to 5 hours.

Using Mapsource, up to 10 routes can be imported into the unit either on internal memory or the card. The waypoints can be autoarranged for the most efficient travel.

Once the route has been transferred to the Nuvi, simply use the 'import from file' menu option to see it.

Tools > My Data > Import Route from File

The US Maps are preloaded but for Baja we have found a really good source at www.bicimapas.com.mx. These guys are constantly updating and are beginning to incorporate autorouting.

Hope this helps

[Edited on 11-24-2008 by schwlind]

Garmin 750 .. bonus..

msawin - 11-25-2008 at 09:20 PM

Let me tell you what I did today... Got 8 more hours to go before the Baja run.....


Today , Free... I down loaded a few books online into my Garmin... Hours of storys... My wife got her latest Jackie Robins.. Can't wait.....

Really.. this is way cool. My Zune will blast the tunes.. and now my Garmin will rip some "books"... wow..

I will post how my unit works on our drive to Loreto...

Marty

Sur2baja - 11-28-2008 at 08:50 PM

I picked up the Garmin 60 csx today. I have a home in the Suth Campos (Nuevo Mazatlan) of San Felipe. I know there are a few mapping options but can anyone recommend a better GPS map for the area, side roads, mines, sites, etc for south of San Felipe? Thanks in advance.