DianaT
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GPS ????
We are considering GPS and wonder if it really is useful in Baja, and what are people using?
We understand the basics of map coordinates, but know nothing about the new technology---
Thanks
Diane
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vagabond
Junior Nomad
Posts: 27
Registered: 1-13-2006
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ON HANDHELD UNITS
Garmin is probably the #1 seller with Magellan #2 and Lowrance #3
Although I have been a Magellan user for about 5 years, having the Mag. gold, and the exp 500 and having no real problems with either unit
Magellan has had some problems with their customer service and that has alienated a lot of Magellan users, Garmin from what I have heard has had a
lot less of a problem with their customer service, Lowrance I have heard neither good nor bad about them.
If your wanting a handheld I would go with one that has mapping capabilities.
Garmin uses the sirf III chip in their higher priced units, as I believe does Lowrance, Magellan uses their own chip which is about as accurate as
the sirf III chips.
One thing to remember is all the mapping units have just basic mapping which will be just the major highways in the US, and it shows the major
highways in Baja at least my Magellans do. Mapping for Mexico is available for both th the Garmin and the Magellan.
Hopefully someone else will chime in on the larger Dash units
[Edited on 3-9-2007 by vagabond]
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Diver
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Really depends how you are considering using it.
For things like recording the locatiion of an offshore reef or plotting a course to an off-the-road spot, they are great.
If you want it for street finding, they are good also.
For multiple uses, you will want one that you can download any of your considered programs or maps.
I'd call a few 1-800 GPS salesmen and let them tell you what they think you need after you've done some research. It worked for me.
Garmin is the way to go.
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Ken Bondy
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Diane I use a Garmin Street Pilot 2620. Now that I've used it on a few Baja trips I couldn't live without it  . Like fax machines, cellphones, ipods, etc.
++Ken++
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Dave
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Unless one were doing lots of off-roading or hiking I would question the need for one. They're fun, though and with waypoints you won't get lost.
I use a basic handheld when on the water, a Garmin 72. All I'm looking for is coordinates. I have excellent charts.
Remember, GPS only tells you where you are. You still need a reference. Are there accurate driving maps for Baja? Don't know.
[Edited on 3-9-2007 by Dave]
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DianaT
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Thanks
We are thinking about one of the hand held ones mostly for when we are on dirt roads----the inevitable fork in the road problems. Also, we still do
like to hike---not as far as in the past, however.
Tha Baja Almanac does have cordinates, and we thought with it, the other might help. We are, however, also wondering about maping for Baja with
precise cordinates. Does the mexico mapping include the back roads?
They are having a member sale at REI, plus we have a few credits, so we will check them out. I know one of them is a Garmin.
Thanks for all the information so far, and look forward to more.
I still have hope that I could learn to use it. It was not so long ago I swore I would never have a computer.
Diane
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DavidT
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http://www.mapworld.com/
They have a store in San Diego. Pretty cool place.
David
Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious.
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DianaT
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Thanks, can't believe I forgot about that place. When we were teaching we spent a ton of money there for our classrooms!
Diane
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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I have a Garmin eTrex Legend (blue) and the base eTrex (yellow).
The base eTrex is great and easy to use for your first GPS.
The legend is more complex, but you can load (good) Baja maps into it... Neal Johns can tell you more when he and John M return from Baja.
I used to play the geocaching game as it was a great way to practice using a GPS... If you like to hike and find hidden caches, go to http://www.geocaching.com They are all over Baja, too!
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David K
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The San Diego store is called Map Centre on Clairmont Mesa Drive. Their other store (Map World) was in Encinitas, but long closed now. The website is
still mapworld.com, however...
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wornout
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Location: San Felipe, Baja California
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All of the big three, Garmin, Magellin and Lowrance are in heavy use by a lot of us here in San Felipe. The Lowrance has the biggest screen and cost
more than the others. I have a Garmin 60cs and my friends have the Garmin 76csx. From what I have seen, I am going to get that unit for our off-road
trips. If you are not going to use it out of the car, get one of the above. If it is going to sit on the dashboard, I would try one of the nuvi's.
I bought my first Garmin in 1998 at REI and have been buying them ever since. Good luck and have fun. www.LBMaps.com is the place to get your digital Baja Map when you get ready.
[Edited on 3-9-2007 by wornout]
This Space Available, E-Mail Me If Interested.
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tripledigitken
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I am on my 3rd Garmin GPS a 276c (dashboard and/or marine application). Can't speak to the other units. But very happy with Garmin. Also have LB
Baja Map. They are just OK compared to maps stateside.
Very usefull tool. I don't leave on a trip without it. A must for any trip to Baja especially wandering off the pavement, IMHO.
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bajalou
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Have had Garmins since 96 first a 40, (lost in desert) then a 38, then a 12XL, then a 12 (as a backup in case I lost the other one), and now a 76CSx.
Also have a big one you put a paper map on and it locates you on that map. Keeping tracks of where I've been for return trips is great, Also having
waypoints of known locations can be a help when wandering around.
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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Bruce R Leech
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Dave
Unless one were doing lots of off-roading or hiking I would question the need for one. They're fun, though and with waypoints you won't get lost.
I use a basic handheld when on the water, a Garmin 72. All I'm looking for is coordinates. I have excellent charts.
Remember, GPS only tells you where you are. You still need a reference. Are there accurate driving maps for Baja? Don't know.
[Edited on 3-9-2007 by Dave] |
Dave you say GPS only tells you where you are. You still need a reference. Are there accurate driving maps for Baja? Don't know.
wrong
it also will tell you exactly how to get back to where you started or anywhere in between also if you punch in some numbers it will point you to
places you have never been.
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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Bruce R Leech
Elite Nomad
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Mood: A lot cooler than Mulege
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Garmin rules don't give your money to the French
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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Ken Bondy
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My Garmin Street Pilot doesn't claim to have any Mexico information in the basic US database, however it does in fact contain a lot of Baja
information. It shows the Transpeninsular Highway (Mex 1) very accurately, and it shows the locations of the larger cities. Over the course of
several trips I have marked some 30-40 waypoints, both on and off the highway. This information is extremely useful.
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DianaT
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Registered: 12-17-2004
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Call the Geek Squad
Went to the Map Store today and bought the Legend CX --- like the size, and the memory that can be expanded up to 2GB. Small, and seems to have what
we want.
Home, and installed the software---can't unlock the maps---no 25 character code. Tried the other method, says need to download newer version of
software---go to Garmin, and download---doesn't work. 
I know that we will get it all worked out, but losing lots of hair in the process.
Sometimes I long for the days where the newest, and highest technology was the transistor radio.
Also bought the Baja map software, but it is no good untill I can unlock those dang maps. 
Diane
On edit---the 20% discount for REI members excludes GPS devices---pays to read the fine print.
[Edited on 3-11-2007 by jdtrotter]
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
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we have a garmin...
i wonder sometimes how we rely on our life with this $100 unit when out to sea 60 miles
well at least i have 2 incase one fails
Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in the Cayman Islands, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.
Dr. Min H Kao of Taiwan is the largest shareholder
t's like everything else...america selling out
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