BajaNomad

GPS for your car in Baja,,,what works ?

john/gerda - 11-27-2011 at 11:09 PM

Hi Everyone,,,,John and Gerda here..

Would like to know about GPS in your vehicle for driving directions and such in Baja Mexico.

Do the popular brands such as Magellan or Garmin or McNally work in Baja, and does any one know the fees?


Thanks,,,,,,

John and Gerda

David K - 11-27-2011 at 11:50 PM

Hi! Garmin with LB Maps Baja software... http://www.lbmaps.com

The Baja page: http://www.lbmaps.com/GPSMaps/Navigator.htm

Here are the models that it works with: http://www.lbmaps.com/InfoPages/GPS.htm

[Edited on 11-28-2011 by David K]

Roberto - 11-28-2011 at 03:21 AM

Lb maps are ok. They haven't been updated in a while. Depends on what you want to use them for. Main highways, yes, offroad use, ok but not great, city use, not so much. There are other, better maps, but they are all more expensive.

One good one can be found at bicimapas.com.mx. Pciraceradios.com has one as well.

GPS in Baja

skippermike - 11-28-2011 at 07:15 AM

I've used both small Nuvis and large StreetPilot, with bcimapas - worked fine.
I agree with Roberto that bcimapas is expensive - but good.
Besides off road use, we've used autorouting, like here in the states - it works fine as well. You can even have the voice in Spanish!
Good luck, Mike

Tom-Tom

bajaguy - 11-28-2011 at 08:14 AM

I hear from a reliable source that one of the new 5" screen Tom-Tom's has Mexico pre loaded and comes with free updates:

http://tinyurl.com/8xwfy3l

Russ - 11-28-2011 at 09:10 AM

TomTom has a sale going on today. Looks good so I'm getting one:P
http://www.tomtom.com/en_us/promotions/black-friday/

[Edited on 11-28-2011 by Russ]

thank you

john/gerda - 11-28-2011 at 04:15 PM

Thanks for all the info....it really helped.........john/gerda

ncampion - 11-28-2011 at 04:24 PM

Actually the Garmin North America City Streets mapset has most Baja streets but no auto-routing except in big cities.

rts551 - 12-1-2011 at 04:00 PM

lbmaps are at least 5 years out of date. and although I send updates I can not get a response.

David K - 12-1-2011 at 04:36 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by rts551
lbmaps are at least 5 years out of date. and although I send updates I can not get a response.


Too bad... Larry (LB) used to post here on Nomad, too... Is BICIMapas the best set up for topo maps on our GPS now?

GPS to Baja's Historic Missions and More

David K - 12-1-2011 at 06:07 PM

The GPS can be a tool to enhance your Baja vacation! The following waypoints were obtained from Jack Swords and my travels to the sites. These GPS waypoints have been published in my http://vivabaja.com/bajamissions web pages.


===================================================

GPS WAYPOINTS for mission sites (map datum WGS84)



EL DESCANSO 32º12'19.62" 116º54'19.24"

SAN MIGUEL 32º05'39.10" 116º51'15.03"

GUADALUPE 32º05'30.50" 116º34'30.50"

SANTA CATALINA 31º39'38.10" 115º49'16.00"

SANTO TOMAS-1 31º34'11.00" 116º28'50.00"

SANTO TOMAS-2 31º34'24.30" 116º27'58.70"

SANTO TOMAS-3 31º33'30.00" 116º24'48.90"

SAN VICENTE 31º19'47.90" 116º15'33.00"

SAN PEDRO MARTIR 30º47'24.25" 115º28'20.85"

(Visita) SAN ISIDORO 30º45'55.17" 115º32'49.81"

SANTO DOMINGO 30º46'15.20" 115º56'14.00"

ROSARIO-1 30º04'01.00" 115º43'08.00"

ROSARIO-2 30º02'29.00" 115º44'20.80"

SAN FERNANDO VELICATA 29º58'16.52" 115º14'12.20"

(Visita) SAN JUAN DE DIOS 30º10'57.61" 115º10'04.50"

(Historic spring on El Camino Real) AGUA DULCE 29º52'58.70" 114º49'25.00"

SANTA MARIA 29º43'54.50" 114º32'50.16"

CALAMAJUE 29º25'16.30" 114º11'42.36"

(Historic water hole near El Camino Real) TINAJA DE YUBAY 29º10'41.37" 113º59'15.20"

SAN BORJA 28º44'40.37" 113º45'14.39"

(Visita) SANTA ANA 28º41'25.23" 113º49'14.31"

(Water hole near Golfo Camino Real) TINAJA DE SANTA MARIA 28º26'05.20" 113º20'01.40"

SANTA GERTRUDIS 28º03'04.02" 113º05'07.17"

(Visita) SAN PABLO 27º42'07.81" 113º08'42.08"

SAN IGNACIO 27º17'02.18" 112º53'56.12"

GUADALUPE DE HUASINAPI 26º55'09.50" 112º24'20.60"

SANTA ROSALIA DE MULEGE 26º05'37.00" 111º59'09.30"

(Visita) SAN JOSE DE MAGDALENA 27º03'40.33" 112º13'24.87"

(Pila/ ag site for San Jose de Magdalena, mis-identified as Mision Santa Maria Magdalena) 27º03'29.10" 112º10'12.34"

SAN JOSE DE COMONDU (1st site, 'Comondu Viejo') 26º16'27.40" 111º43'08.50"

SAN JOSE DE COMONDU (final site) 26º03'34.59" 111º49'20.41"

LA PURISIMA (1st site, 'Purisima Vieja') 26º18'34.48" 112º09'50.98"

LA PURISIMA (final site) 26º11'25.60" 112º04'22.60"

SAN BRUNO (1683-1685 colony site) 26º13'57.50" 111º23'53.90"

LORETO 26º00'37.00" 111º20'35.80"

(Visita) SAN JUAN BAUTISTA LONDO 26º13'30.83" 111º28'24.51"

SAN JAVIER 25º51'36.86" 111º32'36.99"

(Visita) LA PRESENTACION 25º43'45.00" 111º32'37.40"

SAN JUAN BAUTISTA DE LIGUI/ DE MALIBAT 25º44'22.20" 111º15'51.00"

LOS DOLORES APATE 25º03'19.04" 110º53'03.33"

LOS DOLORES CHILLA (La Pasion) 24º53'14.4" 111º01'49.81"

SAN LUIS GONZAGA 24º54'29.00" 111º17'27.25"

PILAR DE LA PAZ AIRAPI 24º09'36.00" 110º18'59.40"

(Visita) EL NOVILLO 23º55'48.60" 110º13'28.20"

(Visita) ANGEL DE LA GUARDA (EL ZALATO) 23º53'27.60" 110º10'14.80"

(a church from the 1760's) SAN BLAS 23º53'10.40" 110º09'16.21"

SANTA ROSA DE LAS PALMAS (Todos Santos-1) 23º27'37.30" 110º13'08.31"

PILAR DE LA PAZ (Todos Santos-2) 23º26'59.16" 110º13'31.62"

(Visita) SAN JACINTO 23º14'34.21" 110º04'37.20"

gnukid - 12-1-2011 at 06:37 PM

Or you could use the sun and stars and know exactly where you are at every moment.

The Telcel iPhone 4 Series

Gypsy Jan - 12-1-2011 at 06:48 PM

Has an excellent, very up-to-date GPS feature.

It identifies the various communities by name and shows the boundary lines.

It is extremely helpful and accurate with city and highway roads.

Also, it shows the dirt roads that snake through the back country.

I have been able to track hubby's journeys on a minute-by-minute basis and then called him or he called me to verify his position.

joerover - 12-1-2011 at 07:02 PM

Quote:

GPS WAYPOINTS for mission sites (map datum WGS84)



EL DESCANSO 32º12'19.62" 116º54'19.24"

SAN MIGUEL 32º05'39.10" 116º51'15.03"

GUADALUPE 32º05'30.50" 116º34'30.50"

SANTA CATALINA 31º39'38.10" 115º49'16.00"

SANTO TOMAS-1 31º34'11.00" 116º28'50.00"

SANTO TOMAS-2 31º34'24.30" 116º27'58.70"

SANTO TOMAS-3 31º33'30.00" 116º24'48.90"

SAN VICENTE 31º19'47.90" 116º15'33.00"

SAN PEDRO MARTIR 30º47'24.25" 115º28'20.85"

(Visita) SAN ISIDORO 30º45'55.17" 115º32'49.81"

SANTO DOMINGO 30º46'15.20" 115º56'14.00"

ROSARIO-1 30º04'01.00" 115º43'08.00"

ROSARIO-2 30º02'29.00" 115º44'20.80"

SAN FERNANDO VELICATA 29º58'16.52" 115º14'12.20"

(Visita) SAN JUAN DE DIOS 30º10'57.61" 115º10'04.50"

(Historic spring on El Camino Real) AGUA DULCE 29º52'58.70" 114º49'25.00"

SANTA MARIA 29º43'54.50" 114º32'50.16"

CALAMAJUE 29º25'16.30" 114º11'42.36"

(Historic water hole near El Camino Real) TINAJA DE YUBAY 29º10'41.37" 113º59'15.20"

SAN BORJA 28º44'40.37" 113º45'14.39"

(Visita) SANTA ANA 28º41'25.23" 113º49'14.31"

(Water hole near Golfo Camino Real) TINAJA DE SANTA MARIA 28º26'05.20" 113º20'01.40"

SANTA GERTRUDIS 28º03'04.02" 113º05'07.17"

(Visita) SAN PABLO 27º42'07.81" 113º08'42.08"

SAN IGNACIO 27º17'02.18" 112º53'56.12"

GUADALUPE DE HUASINAPI 26º55'09.50" 112º24'20.60"

SANTA ROSALIA DE MULEGE 26º05'37.00" 111º59'09.30"

(Visita) SAN JOSE DE MAGDALENA 27º03'40.33" 112º13'24.87"

(Pila/ ag site for San Jose de Magdalena, mis-identified as Mision Santa Maria Magdalena) 27º03'29.10" 112º10'12.34"

SAN JOSE DE COMONDU (1st site, 'Comondu Viejo') 26º16'27.40" 111º43'08.50"

SAN JOSE DE COMONDU (final site) 26º03'34.59" 111º49'20.41"

LA PURISIMA (1st site, 'Purisima Vieja') 26º18'34.48" 112º09'50.98"

LA PURISIMA (final site) 26º11'25.60" 112º04'22.60"

SAN BRUNO (1683-1685 colony site) 26º13'57.50" 111º23'53.90"

LORETO 26º00'37.00" 111º20'35.80"

(Visita) SAN JUAN BAUTISTA LONDO 26º13'30.83" 111º28'24.51"

SAN JAVIER 25º51'36.86" 111º32'36.99"

(Visita) LA PRESENTACION 25º43'45.00" 111º32'37.40"

SAN JUAN BAUTISTA DE LIGUI/ DE MALIBAT 25º44'22.20" 111º15'51.00"

LOS DOLORES APATE 25º03'19.04" 110º53'03.33"

LOS DOLORES CHILLA (La Pasion) 24º53'14.4" 111º01'49.81"

SAN LUIS GONZAGA 24º54'29.00" 111º17'27.25"

PILAR DE LA PAZ AIRAPI 24º09'36.00" 110º18'59.40"

(Visita) EL NOVILLO 23º55'48.60" 110º13'28.20"

(Visita) ANGEL DE LA GUARDA (EL ZALATO) 23º53'27.60" 110º10'14.80"

(a church from the 1760's) SAN BLAS 23º53'10.40" 110º09'16.21"

SANTA ROSA DE LAS PALMAS (Todos Santos-1) 23º27'37.30" 110º13'08.31"

PILAR DE LA PAZ (Todos Santos-2) 23º26'59.16" 110º13'31.62"

(Visita) SAN JACINTO 23º14'34.21" 110º04'37.20"


useful

John and Gerda

KaceyJ - 12-1-2011 at 07:52 PM

If you don't mind my 2 cents,

Save your money, forget the GPS, don't be a poseur. Buy a good map.

There are 5 roads in Baja,

Mex 1 , TJ to Cabo.

Mex 2, TJ to Mexicali.

Mex 3, Tecate to Ensenada to San Felipe

Mex 19, Cabo to La Paz bypass

and one other that escapes me at the moment but it has a number and goes from La Paz to Muertos . ---And that's all off the top of my 2 margarita head this evening.

If you can figure out which way is north , you almost have to try to get lost. Baja is actually a small place. Lots of friendlys with good directions.

The only reason I can figure out to own a G P S is so you can tell everyone else on the planet how to get to spots in Baja they'd never otherwise get to on their own.

Kc

BajaGringo - 12-1-2011 at 07:54 PM

I am using the Tom-Tom in Baja with great results.

rts551 - 12-1-2011 at 08:06 PM

great for those that stay on those 5 roads.
Quote:
Originally posted by KaceyJ
If you don't mind my 2 cents,

Save your money, forget the GPS, don't be a poseur. Buy a good map.

There are 5 roads in Baja,

Mex 1 , TJ to Cabo.

Mex 2, TJ to Mexicali.

Mex 3, Tecate to Ensenada to San Felipe

Mex 19, Cabo to La Paz bypass

and one other that escapes me at the moment but it has a number and goes from La Paz to Muertos . ---And that's all off the top of my 2 margarita head this evening.

If you can figure out which way is north , you almost have to try to get lost. Baja is actually a small place. Lots of friendlys with good directions.

The only reason I can figure out to own a G P S is so you can tell everyone else on the planet how to get to spots in Baja they'd never otherwise get to on their own.

Kc

windgrrl - 12-1-2011 at 08:13 PM

Garmin Nuvi North America update gets me through most urban circumstances. :dudette:

[Edited on 12-2-2011 by windgrrl]

KaceyJ - 12-1-2011 at 08:18 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by rts551
great for those that stay on those 5 roads.

Quote:
Originally posted by KaceyJ
If you don't mind my 2 cents,

Save your money, forget the GPS, don't be a poseur. Buy a good map.

There are 5 roads in Baja,

Mex 1 , TJ to Cabo.

Mex 2, TJ to Mexicali.

Mex 3, Tecate to Ensenada to San Felipe

Mex 19, Cabo to La Paz bypass

and one other that escapes me at the moment but it has a number and goes from La Paz to Muertos . ---And that's all off the top of my 2 margarita head this evening.

If you can figure out which way is north , you almost have to try to get lost. Baja is actually a small place. Lots of friendlys with good directions.

The only reason I can figure out to own a G P S is so you can tell everyone else on the planet how to get to spots in Baja they'd never otherwise get to on their own.

Kc




That'll work for 99 +% of travelers.

Maybe you could make a point for the other <1% who don't?

thanks to all again

john/gerda - 12-2-2011 at 04:11 AM

all the advice was great,,,well most of it.

I got to say the part about "why one would want to have one" is a bit odd.

to explain and diverse a little,,long ago I saw someone holding and drinking from a smaller than gallon size bottle of water and asked about it and I was told that they can now be purchased at stores, they said the price is about what a soda goes for. I laughed. It is not possible that any one would buy that which can be obtained for free with verry little or no effort........I was wrong.....i was really wrong.

Long ago when these GPS things came out i laughed again,,really hard this time. who would buy these when all you have to do is know a few simple facts maybe buy a Thomas Bros. map......I was not only wrong again,,,but it seems stores like BestBuy no longer even sell many car radio's the whole department is now morphed into a GPS showroom........

Awhile back it took me three weeks to find a new Thomas Bros. map ...Every store I went to said "why would we carry those? no one askes for them any more "

Am I a big fan of these new GPS navIgators????? No I am not. Are they huge distractions and therfore very unsafe???? Absolutely

Am i gonna buy one right after payday??? You bet-ya I am. Becides that Gerta said I had to, she wants one really bad, and keeping her happy is a good thing......

Have fun this weekend everyone....

by-the-way

Gerda and I are scheduled to take our madien voyage , our first trip and beach launch in Baja this weekend.....Weather is supposed to lay down nice for Saturday but the swell is still supposed to be hanging around. maybe a few waves to get through.......I am sure i will be asking myself why i thought that a 7.5 hp motor was gonna be all we need ....lol

Paper maps

bajaguy - 12-2-2011 at 08:01 AM

I didn't see it posted here, but it is a good idea to back up your GPS with paper maps. Always verify the route your GPS has selected with a paper map.

As I was once told, a GPS helps you get lost faster.

Tom Tom

djh - 12-2-2011 at 08:02 AM

We have a big old, very mellow Russian Blue cat nicknamed Tom Tom (nickname for Dr. Thomas Grey aka Grey Tom Cat)...

...so naturally when Costco had the Tom Tom XXL 550 TM on sale, and it includes all of Baja, and all updates, maps, and traffic updates for FREE for life..... I succomed...

Prior to the TT, my only other GPS's were on my sailboats, beginning with a "SatNav" I installed while anchored off Cabo in the mid 80's and many smaller, smarter graphing, mapping, and chartplotting models since....

I live in N. Idaho... I know my way around here pretty darned well, so I can't wait to take it on a road trip where I'll actually get some use outta it :-).

Meantime, Tom Tom (el gato) rides in the car / van, and meows his instructions about where we should go.... He's quite energy efficient (as long as you don't count the amp hours running the vacume to "de-hair" the interior.)

Peace, Love, and FISH TACOS, ¿Right, Tom Tom?

DEVEAU - 12-2-2011 at 08:48 AM

I've been using this in my Garmin Colorado for a few years. Amazing how the faded old roads show up.

http://www.cartografiagps.com/

fishingmako - 12-2-2011 at 12:25 PM

I bought a Garmin I believe a 360 Model a few years back.

Then someone told me about a CHIP that you could buy for Mexico, sure enough I found a Chip for $75.00 that fits into my Garmin, and gives me all the streets etc. by name in ENGLISH.

David K - 12-2-2011 at 03:56 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by fishingmako
I bought a Garmin I believe a 360 Model a few years back.

Then someone told me about a CHIP that you could buy for Mexico, sure enough I found a Chip for $75.00 that fits into my Garmin, and gives me all the streets etc. by name in ENGLISH.


Some details would be great... :yes:

fishingmako - 12-3-2011 at 11:15 AM

I went on line and just looked up GPS need a chip for Mexico, I believe it was E-BAY.

David K - 11-26-2012 at 06:40 PM

Bump

willardguy - 11-26-2012 at 06:44 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Quote:
Originally posted by fishingmako
I bought a Garmin I believe a 360 Model a few years back.

Then someone told me about a CHIP that you could buy for Mexico, sure enough I found a Chip for $75.00 that fits into my Garmin, and gives me all the streets etc. by name in ENGLISH.


Some details would be great... :yes:
well how does that work? wouldnt you want it to tell you what it says on the street sign?:?:

Bruce R Leech - 11-26-2012 at 06:48 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy
I hear from a reliable source that one of the new 5" screen Tom-Tom's has Mexico pre loaded and comes with free updates:

http://tinyurl.com/8xwfy3l


I use TOM TOM in city's and hi ways there maps are the best and up to date.

I use garmen off road.

Bruce R Leech - 11-26-2012 at 06:54 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by KaceyJ
If you don't mind my 2 cents,

Save your money, forget the GPS, don't be a poseur. Buy a good map.

There are 5 roads in Baja,

Mex 1 , TJ to Cabo.

Mex 2, TJ to Mexicali.

Mex 3, Tecate to Ensenada to San Felipe

Mex 19, Cabo to La Paz bypass

and one other that escapes me at the moment but it has a number and goes from La Paz to Muertos . ---And that's all off the top of my 2 margarita head this evening.

If you can figure out which way is north , you almost have to try to get lost. Baja is actually a small place. Lots of friendlys with good directions.

The only reason I can figure out to own a G P S is so you can tell everyone else on the planet how to get to spots in Baja they'd never otherwise get to on their own.

Kc



my tomtom gets me anywhere in T.J. and is up dated every day. you cant show me a map that will do that

mrfatboy - 11-26-2012 at 08:44 PM

If you have a smartphone (iphone or android) I recommend buying the navigon Mexico app. It has excellent turn by turn voice directions. Navigon is owned by Garmin. They use the navteq maps. You can visit www.navteq.com to see if your area is covered to your satisfaction.

This app DOES NOT require a cell phone data/voice connection. The map data is already on the phone.

I have both the USA and Mexico navigon apps on my iphone. They work great for me. My iPhone uses the car stereo speakers to broadcast all audio although not necessary.

Islandbuilder - 11-26-2012 at 09:27 PM

I resisted buying an auto GPS for decades, laughed when I saw the first one!
Then I realized that most of the travel tension between myself and the superior being I'm married to is due to her unfailing ability to corrrectly identify every turn off, about 100 yards after we pass it........
Now of we miss a turn, it's the *&%&#%%^ GPS's fault, and not one of ours.
I spend way more than the cost of the GPS on counseling with a much lower return on investment.

wornout - 11-26-2012 at 09:45 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bruce R Leech
Quote:
Originally posted by KaceyJ
If you don't mind my 2 cents,

Save your money, forget the GPS, don't be a poseur. Buy a good map.

There are 5 roads in Baja,

Mex 1 , TJ to Cabo.

Mex 2, TJ to Mexicali.

Mex 3, Tecate to Ensenada to San Felipe

Mex 19, Cabo to La Paz bypass

and one other that escapes me at the moment but it has a number and goes from La Paz to Muertos . ---And that's all off the top of my 2 margarita head this evening.

If you can figure out which way is north , you almost have to try to get lost. Baja is actually a small place. Lots of friendlys with good directions.

The only reason I can figure out to own a G P S is so you can tell everyone else on the planet how to get to spots in Baja they'd never otherwise get to on their own.

Kc



my tomtom gets me anywhere in T.J. and is up dated every day. you cant show me a map that will do that


But it is so much fun to look at your co-pilot with a paper map, ruler, stopwatch, pad and pencil, figuring out 'when will we get there?' Yep, sure makes me want to give up my Garmin, ha, ha, ha.

Sweetwater - 11-26-2012 at 10:14 PM

I'm an old map and compass guy having navigated the Wind River Wilderness for 25 years before GPS applications were available.

And now?

I can Google Earth and fly through a 10 day backpacking trip in an hour. It's virtual but it's accurate...Does that make it real?

Naw, I'd much rather put in the toil to make it real.

But that's just me.;D

Bruce R Leech - 11-26-2012 at 11:34 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by whistler
The racers in Baja used the ones made by Lowrance gps.Baja 840c.



they work very well, but they make there own maps.

mojo_norte - 11-27-2012 at 08:01 AM

Last year I got a Tom Tom w/ preloaded Mexico maps- less than a 100 bucks on Amazon. Love it! I know my way around Baja but it knew all the roads I was on. I used it a lot en-route stateside on my way down and back in strange cities- find Walmart find Napa find Trader Joes etc.

Bajajorge - 11-27-2012 at 10:20 AM

I have Garmin for the past few years with Baja loaded in. It has improved over the past couple of years with upgrades, but it still needs a bit more.
One problem is the street names frequently change, or are non existent, and to get real humorous, the oriental voice mangles the street name pronunciations.:spingrin:

Bajajorge - 11-27-2012 at 10:27 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy
I didn't see it posted here, but it is a good idea to back up your GPS with paper maps. Always verify the route your GPS has selected with a paper map.

As I was once told, a GPS helps you get lost faster.


I agree, also check paper maps. One time Garmin told me to turn left onto a street. Surprise, surprise, that street had been closed for years and no longer existed.

A friend of mine almost sunk his motor home in a quagmire when his GPS told him to turn onto a road that was really a cow path through a muddy field.

Justbozo - 11-27-2012 at 08:18 PM

While traveling between Loreto and Mulege last January my Garmen kept dying. Not a battery problem. It would scramble and go black, power it up ok for a while then out again.
Finally realized it was the iron in the hills killing the signal.
Been fine eversince.
You may have to wait til daylight to read your map, but it will be there!