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| Thread ID: 77834 | 2007-03-24 07:34:00 | Practicality of GPS devices. | Nomad (952) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 535470 | 2007-03-24 07:34:00 | Hi, just been looking at these devices. First up who of you actually use one? I don't need one to go out and come back home :cool: I have looked into one for a aid for traveling. There are map units and ones that is just co-ordinates. I have concluded map ones will end up costing you a lot if you are a traveler who embark on different destinations each time so the co-ord may be better, plus the street names may not mean a thing anyway. Before the trip you can upload the diff location's co-ordinates to the device. Does this sound right? Thanks Edit. By the way does NZ support traffic GPS that is they connect to the traffic management frequency and it will tell you how to avoid traffic. Just out of interest, thanks! |
Nomad (952) | ||
| 535471 | 2007-03-24 08:23:00 | Well I haven't ever owned one but judging by the continual reports of people ending up down obscure dead end gravel farm tracks they aren't too reliable. | pctek (84) | ||
| 535472 | 2007-03-24 09:32:00 | But isn't Southland mainly dead end obscure farm gravel tracks anyway??? Runs & hide under bed. PJ :D |
Poppa John (284) | ||
| 535473 | 2007-03-24 10:00:00 | I had a Navman because I do a lot of driving in/around Auckland. Way too hard to use if you are doing a lot of short trips, not so bad if you are doing long trips say auckland to tauranga and you only have to enter one lot of info. The map software is not accurate enough yet and it's very time consuming to try and find destinations because the map software covers all of NZ... you type in a road name and there could be 5 in different parts of NZ that you have to sort through. Also if you are looking for a street number it may not be in the software map, makes life hell. The map is for all of NZ, I understand that if you want an Aussie or US map they are around $400 each... and no, they don't connect up with the traffic management frequency. lots of little annoyances with it and overall I rated around 4 out of 10 for usefulness and usability. Still a gimmick and I'm guessing will be a while longer.... even if you live 'down there' :eek: |
Shortcircuit (1666) | ||
| 535474 | 2007-03-24 13:45:00 | I have a Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx unit that I use in the bush,and sometimes use in the city-(I have the South Island map on micro sd card in it,may get the North Island Map later). But mostly if I am in the city I use a map as it is quicker and easier,and the maps are in the car anyway and most of the time my gps is in my webbing ready to go. I find it a handy tool,and provides me with info. and is useful in my job as well. But the map does not need batteries/charging etc.,works in any weather conditions etc.,and is dependable and reliable, so for me, 1. = map 2. = gps. |
memphis (2869) | ||
| 535475 | 2007-03-24 21:21:00 | Dad uses his Garmin eTrex, a lot. www.geocaching.com | pcuser42 (130) | ||
| 535476 | 2007-03-24 21:38:00 | I had the pleasure of using mates one up in Tauranga,found it marvellous. Turn left here she said,now aright and so on, and there I was right outside the door. |
Cicero (40) | ||
| 535477 | 2007-03-24 22:29:00 | I have a Garmin Etrex which I take with me everywhere. I bought it in Canada for NZ $250 - they cost twice that here. I mainly use it when we're hiking. I record waypoints whenever we stop, then when we get home I enter them into a Google Earth .kml file and that plots our route onto a Google Earth image. As for reliability, mine always works and is accurate within a few m in the horizontal. Vertical gets screwed up sometimes when we come down a mountain. It takes a while for it to adjust to the drop in altitude. I think that's because its using a barometer. I haven't had to use it for any serious purpose yet, but its fun. |
TideMan (4279) | ||
| 535478 | 2007-03-24 22:47:00 | Thanks, I been looking at the Garmins handheld eTrex or the eMap (I think). Maybe just the eTrex as I don't need map and when I do I can get it cheaper and later in the future. I just want it for plot points. Like travelling, at railway station to accomodation to diff areas CBD, diff attractions so I am not wasting time or walk down a street for 30 minutes before I figure out I need to turn back. Not going to use it all the time but when I get stuck and maps placed around the place isn't oriented so you still need a analogue compass or pinpoint 2 landmarks before you know which direction to travel towards. |
Nomad (952) | ||
| 535479 | 2007-03-24 23:08:00 | Not sure if you live in Godzone Nomad, but if you do, the latest edition of Wilderness magazine has a review article of a number of GPS models. Obviously they are more from the point of view of using them in the bush and mountains, but you may get something out of the article. | John H (8) | ||
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