My old garmin etrex has given up the ghost. While I might just go for the cheaper option and get myself another one, I've always fancied a GPS unit with a decent screen and OS mapping. The Satmap looks like a great unit, but the price gets shocking when you factor in all the extras for OS mapping, online route planning and accessories. Do you reckon its worth the extra bucks?
Whats the bike mount like? Is it secure enough for a good off road battering?
How quick is panning/zooming and general visibility of the screen? As a map, is it a viable alternative to a paper map? My etrex had road and basemaps installed, but was next to useless as an electonic map due to the small low res screen and sluggish pan/zoom.
Whats the online mapping software like? It looks like they're charging £80 a year, in which case I'll probably give it a miss. Is it now easy to transfer gpx files from other mapping software to the unit or are there any problems in this area?
ta for your help, any other thoughts on the unit would be appreciated.
And before the technophones pipe in, I already carry a compass and map...I'd just much prefer not to have to bother with it on the trail!
I bought a Garmin Edge 205 last year. I've misplaced it. It's in the house somewhere, but TBH I'm not missing it. Yet.
It's good in a "look where you've been" kind of way but I've never used it for a "how to get where you're going" thing - for that I use either (a) local knowledge (b) someone else's local knowledge or (c) paper maps.
But when I was using it, I used Anquet Maps.
I've been using one of the new Nokia touch screen phones with ViewRanger software and it's ace, better and faster, I think, than the Satmap, which I've also been running. Seriously decent screen, very clear mapping, good battery life with a 30-second screen sleep set.
ViewRanger is OS-based mapping software which runs on smart phones. Obviously a phone isn't going to be as rugged as a purpose-built outdoors GPS unit, but there are loads of case options on the market.
I'm not saying the Active 10 is poor, but it scrolls a lot slower than the ViewRanger stuff.
As far as the Satmap goes: the screen is big enough, if you're on a PC, uploading and downloading gpx files is straightforward using Satmap's own synch software - Mac still not supported - the rechargeable power pack is a must imho, panning and zooming is adequate. The online route planning thing is promising - OS maps for the entire country in 1:50,000 and 1:25,000 scale, but it seems to be a bit of a work in progress at the moment. As you add waypoints to your route, it gets slower and slower until you can make a tea while it adds the points, also at the moment, there's no total ascent shown, which seems a bit daft, though they say they're working on it. The screen's just about big enough for planning on the unit, but ideally used in conjunction with a map or mapping software on a big screen for better perspective.
The Garmin alternative I've used, Colorado 400, is pants really. At the moment, I'm leaning towards the ViewRanger software + phone option to be honest, though I do think the Satmap is the best of the dedicated GPS units with OS mapping. The Colorado does double as a car satnav mind, which can be useful...
The bike mount is sturdy enough but sits the unit very high above the bars. I haven't crashed it big time yet, but I suspect the back will rip away from the unit... I'd rather it gave you the option of sitting the unit lower down and more protected. Also, from new, the fit on the unit was slightly loose, I just fitted a thicker o-ring which took up the excess clearance.
Sorry, that was a novel and a half. Until I'd used ViewRanger, I'd have said, yes, it's good, but see above 🙂
Thanks for the write up! The viewranger stuff sounds good but isn't compatible with my phone...otherwise I'd be in like flynn!
Apparently Satmap are constantly improving the firmware with updates and the panning/zoom has improved with it, how recent is your software?
We use a Road Angel, with Memory Map
[url= http://www.memory-map.co.uk/road_angel_adventurer_satnav.htm ]Road Angel Adventurer 7000[/url]
Very useful to see your position on a standard OS map
The Satmap is awesome. I've used it for about 7months now for my welshcoast2coast.
The uni is updated often, so it shows that they listen to us when we have a niggle.
Reading the os map is easier at full zoom on a paper map, and you can use it and fiddle with the buttons when riding, if you want to.
If I was buying again, I would go for the "Plus" kit. It's basically what I've got, but I don't yet have the world basemap.
It's too nice to get dirty, so I put it in a poly bag on the bike mount, but it is weatherproof.
If you want a fiddle wit it then we can meet up one day if you like. You can track me down via my website www.davebuchanan.co.uk
There is also a little write up on the satmap, if you are interested.
I loves it.
Apparently Satmap are constantly improving the firmware with updates and the panning/zoom has improved with it, how recent is your software?
It's all up to date, panning/zooming's okay, but subjectively, it seems to slow down when you have a large map card loaded, though that may just be subjective. They are good at updating and the latest software is far, far better than what it originally had at launch a year or so back. They've taken user feedback on board and improved stuff a lot.
I know my earlier post sounded a little equivocal, but I do think it's the best thing on the market if you want to use OS mapping on a standalone, ruggedised GPS. The Road Angel thing, I've not used, but basically it's a bastardised car satnav and I'm a little dubious about how long it would last in full-on biking foulness.
i have sat map,
its fantastic
panning and zooming are great, no delay, they update the software regularly, and the bar mount is very sturdy
maps are expensive, i got the online planner included when i registered?