I've been trying to find a GPS like a Garmin or Tom Tom to install in my Jeep That has all of North America and also has a track back feature that
will put a dotted line along my route thru the desert . I want to be able to travel out thru the mt. roads and be able to back track without
downloading it into a lap-top . Garmin has that feature , called a bread crumb , but according to them you have to download it onto your lap-top to
retrieve it . I have an aviation Garmin that has that feature built in but the auto units seem to only identify the stored roads instead of your track
. Confused yet ? Anyway , does anyone have any experience with a unit that might work for me ? Thanks , Chuck mcnut - 1-6-2016 at 11:35 PM
As far as maps for Garmin units the Garmin CityNavigator North America is a good map set which includes decent street level detail in Baja. Just be
sure to buy the full NA version, not Continental USA or USA/Canada.
If you are a little more flexible and on a budget there are open source maps available for free for Garmin units.
Most all Garmin GPS record a "Track Log" but what you can do with tracks depends on the model. Basic auto units will record and display a current
track, step up to a handheld or motorcycle unit and you can import/export/save/navigate track files.
Bruce mjs - 1-7-2016 at 07:49 AM
Look at the Garmin outdoor units. The Montana is probably the best option to do what you want. It is a bit pricey compared to the cheaper auto units.PaulW - 1-7-2016 at 08:11 AM
Agree that the Montana or the smaller Oregon unit has the best of all the Garmin features. That means it does turn to turn like a Nuvi if you buy that
software. Best of all these two units will make trails and import and export bread crumb trails to other similar users.
Its really sad that Garmin does not have a larger screen unit that has the Montana attributes. The only option is to get a larger marine unit for a
big price increase.
I do not remember anyone posting the following link for off road GPS map for California (USA). http://www.californiatrailmap.com/
Reasonable price and being constantly updated as new roads come to the fore.
The link also has tech stuff for how to deal with a Garmin that does not make tracks for sharing.
For Baja GPS maps the Murdocknav is still the best, but not the cheapest. Garmin or Lowrance are the same and features kilometer waypoints for the
main highways. Such a deal.BooJumMan - 1-7-2016 at 07:06 PM
Yeah the breadcrumb feature is nice to have. My Garmin GPSMap 60csx has it, but its pretty old school. Hard to read if you're driving.
What I've been using lately is Gaia maps for Android. You can download maps offline to your phone or Tablet, and use that. As long as you have a
decent view to the sky, it is very accurate. Even in dense forest, it works well from my experience. ehall - 1-8-2016 at 05:49 AM
I believe all the Lowrance units do that. I know for sure my old Lowrance 540c does it.PaulW - 1-8-2016 at 09:23 AM
I believe all the Lowrance units do that. I know for sure my old Lowrance 540c does it.
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Definitely ALL Lowrance units do the breadcrumb tracks and allow sharing via an SD card.
Trail Garmin's like the 60, Oregon, & Montana have those features. Many older AND marine units do also. Garmin Nuvi's require special effort to
deal with somebodies track. Advantage of the Nuvi is Cheap, and better turn by turn Navigation, but we seldom (never?) use that feature in Baja.
Advantage for Lowrance (for a price) is big screens.
In a vehicle bigger is always better. I consider a 7" screen to be the minimum.chuck wagon - 1-8-2016 at 09:24 AM
Thanks all for the help . I did looked at the motorcycle Garmin but didn't find what I needed . I'll check out the Lowrance unit and see , I hadn't
considered them before . I was really hoping to get a Garmin as I already have several and I'm familiar with their operating systems . CWchuck wagon - 1-11-2016 at 08:57 PM
Decided on the Garmin Oregon 600 , $249 at cabala's . Looks like it'll do what I want to do . Thanks for the heads up on the unit . Chuck WagonPaulW - 1-13-2016 at 08:34 AM
Other models for track making/sharing are the Etrex 20 and GPS Map 64,
Also the Garmin GPSMap 62,76,78. The Oregon, Montana. The Zumo 660, 590, 350.
Basicly all Garmin handhelds and Zumo (motorcycle units) have advanced track handling capability. Their automotive line (Nuvi) not so much.
BrucePaulW - 1-13-2016 at 06:05 PM
Bruce, I was told that the older & discontinued Marine units work just like the hiker models you mentioned. I never got up to speed on which ones
are preferred to allow me to search on the web.
Older because of price. Newer marine units compete with Lowrance and are pricey.
Paulmcnut - 1-14-2016 at 12:18 AM
That is true and a lightly used, well cared for GPS can be a great value. Some of the handheld marine units are almost identical to the hiker/trail
units. The automotive units are inexpensive do to the economy of scale (size of the market), fewer features and competition.
The hiking 60 and marine 76, the hiking 62 and marine 76 are very close to identical. In these units the hiking version uses a helix antenna and the
marine a patch antenna. In my experience they perform the same. The 76/78 marine units have slightly more internal volume so they will float. The
software/firmware is also very similar.
The 60 evolved into the 62 which has now evolved into the 64. I believe the big difference is the 64 can use the Russian GLONASS satellites as well as
the US for slightly better accuracy (more is better). The marine 78 has not been updated to receive GLONASS yet, but that's a minor point.
These are all button controlled units, for full touch screen look at the Oregon or Montana.
Of course there are some other differences, but that is the quick version. I worked in the marine business for 31 years and have used GPS for many
years, if you have questions I'll do my best to answer them.
Bruce
PaulW - 1-14-2016 at 03:17 PM
For vehicle and handheld use like the above Garmin's:
And another option is a Lowrance XOG which has a larger screen than the above ones. XOG = 2.1x2.8" or 3.9" diagonal, 320x240 pixles. Compare with a
G60 which is 1.5x2.2" 160x240 pixles. (Montana is bigger). The XOG accepts SD cards and work like other Lowrance units with fewer features. It is a
touch screen and does city navigation with the correct map. Big drawback is finding maps. ORW sells a western US states map and Murdock sells Baja
map. I am still looking for free maps?? I a XOG (NOS) New Old Stock for $125 and I see they can still be bought USED for that same price.
That XOG was used for NORRA track making when flying to Cabo was required and other bigger units were less desirable. Results were good. It has an
internal Lion batt + mini USB for for batt charging & vehicle use. The XOG is very popular of moto guys.
I prefer my Lowrance IFinder which is bigger physically with a smaller screen, because it is not a touch screen. It does not do city navigation. It
uses a standard SD card. Buy used for around $50. Good bargain if it comes with a functional power cord, otherwise one would be stuck with AA battery
use.
