I've been considering getting a standalone but i have no experience with them.......is it worth the money? is it going to do anything (or anything better) my smartphone GPS/google maps app doesnt do?
It depends what you do with it I guess. I ride a motorcycle which means I need something water- & shock-proof. And I also like to travel through different countries, which would make navigation via google maps expensive & unreliable (I like unpopulated areas). Smart-phones also get too hot after extended use to put them in a waterproof encasements unfortunately, but this goes for many dedicated GPSes too nowadays (less of a problem with older models ime).
Why are you considering getting one though, since you state your smart-phone works fine for you?
Post by HunterHype on Jul 10, 2013 12:33:00 GMT -8
When I started geocaching, I bought myself a Garmin eTrex Vista HCx . It´s really a great small gps device. I think when it comes to more extreme or outdoor activities, then this is much better as a smartphone, it can withstand a lot more is waterproof etc. etc. The battery holds also much longer as the usual smartphones batteries, mine has even some nice digital maps stored on the memory, and the GPS antenna receives signals much faster and better from the satellites...also in the woods.
I´m happy with mine so far... and I think I will get a Garmin GPSMap 62 or a Garmin Oregon 450 in the future.
:)
Last Edit: Jul 10, 2013 12:34:46 GMT -8 by HunterHype
"Without EDC is wirklich Everything für the Katz!"
It depends what you do with it I guess. I ride a motorcycle which means I need something water- & shock-proof. And I also like to travel through different countries, which would make navigation via google maps expensive & unreliable (I like unpopulated areas). Smart-phones also get too hot after extended use to put them in a waterproof encasements unfortunately, but this goes for many dedicated GPSes too nowadays (less of a problem with older models ime).
Why are you considering getting one though, since you state your smart-phone works fine for you?
good things to consider......
thinking about it since GPS does suck a fair amount of battery.....would be nice to have something in my car that wouldn't occupy my phone
but all that aside, I'm always looking for an excuse to tell my wife "we need this piece of electronics"
When I started geocaching, I bought myself a Garmin eTrex Vista HCx . It´s really a great small gps device. I think when it comes to more extreme or outdoor activities, then this is much better as a smartphone, it can withstand a lot more is waterproof etc. etc. The battery holds also much longer as the usual smartphones batteries, mine has even some nice digital maps stored on the memory, and the GPS antenna receives signals much faster and better from the satellites...also in the woods.
I´m happy with mine so far... and I think I will get a Garmin GPSMap 62 or a Garmin Oregon 450 in the future.
:)
right battery was one thing im thinkg about......and not haveing my maps interupted my notifications, calls, texts, etc......
im curious, do you know of hand what the average accuracy of the GPS lock is? my phone usually shows 3 meters, on the good side. doesnt seem to be a problem for driving, but i can see that sometimes the lock gets very loose for a minute or two, like 10, 15 meters
It depends what you do with it I guess. I ride a motorcycle which means I need something water- & shock-proof. And I also like to travel through different countries, which would make navigation via google maps expensive & unreliable (I like unpopulated areas). Smart-phones also get too hot after extended use to put them in a waterproof encasements unfortunately, but this goes for many dedicated GPSes too nowadays (less of a problem with older models ime).
Why are you considering getting one though, since you state your smart-phone works fine for you?
good things to consider......
thinking about it since GPS does suck a fair amount of battery.....would be nice to have something in my car that wouldn't occupy my phone
but all that aside, I'm always looking for an excuse to tell my wife "we need this piece of electronics"
Haha, you should've just titled this thread "give me arguments to convince the wife we need a GPS" then :gloat:
But saving your bats is a good reason imo. It would sure suck to be out of battery on your phone from navigating when you need it for an emergency, or vice versa. Or when one device malfunctions or gets lost for another reason you'll at least still have the other.
Sorry, I'm single. I was pretty good at it once, but I kinda forgot how to make a good argument to sell stuff I want to the other sex :quix:
My Zumo 220 is rated for 2 meters accuracy I believe, but I haven't used it enough to know if it doesn't drift off every now & then yet. I only took it for a test-spin yesterday, haha, but it did handle every test I threw it well so far. I just need it to stop bitching when I'm speeding. I haven't found the setting for that yet & the alarms get pretty annoying when you really open up. Distractions like that at those speeds are pretty dangerous, Garmin, you might want to re-think that function :nana:
Reasons why I picked this one is because it has the best battery life of the Garmin Zulu series & it also is the only model from that range that can be used for hiking and bicycling like an eTrex. I also liked that it's small so it's easy to put in your pocket or find a spot to mount it on the handlebars than larger wide-screen models. I happened to get a really good deal on a package including all EU maps & RAM motorcycle-mount etc. but that was more of a bonus than a motivation.
TomTom also makes a simple but good bike-GPS, but their flaw is that they don't have an expandable memory,non of their GPSes asfar as I know. You can buy one with maps of all of Europe, but when you try to install them you have to pick one of 3 pre-selected packages because the device simply can't store them all, & you'd need to bring a PC if you need to change your maps-package on your journey. Not well thought out at all, Garmin solved this by simply adding a micro-SD card slot. TomTom doesn't really advertise this so I ended up buying one & then going through the fun process of getting them to take it back & getting my money back, all just days before I was heading out to a month long journey & had plenty of things to do already.
I was looking at the eTrex 20 initially and had almost bought one, but I ended up deciding against it because I was afraid the screen would be too small for biking (I don't like taking my eyes off the road for too long) & the fact that I had to buy more maps before I could use it on the road like I wanted to as well.
Sorry, most of my reasoning is clearly from a biker's perspective and as a European at that(no experience with American maps & their availability whatsoever), but I hope it's still helpful in some way though.
How fast do those Car gps lock on after turning them on? The very first ones took a few mins to lock onto a satellite. That is why I have strayed from stand alones and use my phone. Besdies, I dont think I would be using my phone since I am the one always driving!!
How fast do those Car gps lock on after turning them on? The very first ones took a few mins to lock onto a satellite. That is why I have strayed from stand alones and use my phone. Besdies, I dont think I would be using my phone since I am the one always driving!!
I just timed my Zummo 220 for ya, it took exactly 26 seconds before it was all fired up & knew where it was. Keep in mind this is an older model (2010 I believe), the latest generation is suppose to be even quicker.
How fast do those Car gps lock on after turning them on? The very first ones took a few mins to lock onto a satellite. That is why I have strayed from stand alones and use my phone. Besdies, I dont think I would be using my phone since I am the one always driving!!
I just timed my Zummo 220 for ya, it took exactly 26 seconds before it was all fired up & knew where it was. Keep in mind this is an older model (2010 I believe), the latest generation is suppose to be even quicker.
Cool. thanks for that. I may have to reinvest in a standalone GPS. But I like to use my phone granted there is cell phone coverage.
I just timed my Zummo 220 for ya, it took exactly 26 seconds before it was all fired up & knew where it was. Keep in mind this is an older model (2010 I believe), the latest generation is suppose to be even quicker.
Cool. thanks for that. I may have to reinvest in a standalone GPS. But I like to use my phone granted there is cell phone coverage.
Hey, if it works it works.
What phone do you use though? There's a full working version of Copilot Live for Android on piratebay if you'd like to be covered when there's no phone reception too. I have it on my Tab as a back up, it works pretty good & comes with maps of the entire world if you like (you don't have to install all the maps if you don't need them).
Cool. thanks for that. I may have to reinvest in a standalone GPS. But I like to use my phone granted there is cell phone coverage.
Hey, if it works it works.
What phone do you use though? There's a full working version of Copilot Live for Android on piratebay if you'd like to be covered when there's no phone reception too. I have it on my Tab as a back up, it works pretty good & comes with maps of the entire world if you like (you don't have to install all the maps if you don't need them).
Oh thats sweet!! Ya I currently use my Samsung S3. Never been to piratebay. I may have to check it out, unless you wanna send me the api??
What phone do you use though? There's a full working version of Copilot Live for Android on piratebay if you'd like to be covered when there's no phone reception too. I have it on my Tab as a back up, it works pretty good & comes with maps of the entire world if you like (you don't have to install all the maps if you don't need them).
Oh thats sweet!! Ya I currently use my Samsung S3. Never been to piratebay. I may have to check it out, unless you wanna send me the api??
I have some router problems at the address I currently am and have no internet connection with my Tablet at the moment. But it's almost 3gb incl. maps anyway.
I stay away from the bay. I'd use kickass.to if you don't wanna sign up to the one I use. This message will self destruct in... a few.
It's not that bad as long as you check the comments & uploader first. I have downloaded so many stuff without problems over the last few years myself anyways.