Tracking your trail with GPS! Whatta ya got?

[JKFreek]

Does anyone know some good GPS manufacturers that make a GPS with tracking capability. I'd like to be able to track the trails im using that go into the woods, and save them for future reference!

Anyone have any ideas? Id prefer not to a pile of money on a really exspensive unit ie: Mopar trail guide

Whats everyone using?

[GreytSilly]

Are you looking for a handheld unit or a dashboard type? I use a Garmin eTrex Legend and that will log your track for later download into a computer if you have the software to do it. Don't know about a dashboard type. I have a Mio 230 for the road and that won't save a track for later downloading. Most of the better handhelds will save a track.

[silver rubicon]

i got the factory mygig--works great! and a lot of the trails are already in there.

[Jsr]

I'm interested in know as well:popcorn:

[KenB1010]

I use a Garmin 60 CSx handheld. I mount it on the dash using a Pro-Clip mount that way I can still take it on hikes.

[beverheart]

have to agree with the post above re the garmin etrex legend hcx......it has goto function and leaves tracks. also has a hi sensitivity hidden antenna on it that works well under a deep tree canopy. got mine off ebay for around 180. had 4 other garmins, they are the best.

[MELONHED]

http://my.project-jk.com/data/1119/medium/gpsmount.JPG

Garmin eTrex Vista Cx, works awesome and tracks everywhere you go.

[trip0d199]

I Have the factory MyGIG. Works great.

[rwamf]

Tracks are the best feature in an Off-Road GPS, The Moppar Trail Guide is a Garmin Quest and it SUCKS for tracking, It does have a "Active Track" but you cannot change the color to make it more visible, and you can not "Import tracks" Plus the screen is too damm small, it is way too EXPENSIVE, and is seriously lacking in features. IMO
The Garmin 60/76 series are very good GPS's and do tracks, but with limits, you can only import track files with a max of 20 tracks @ 500 points each, ( less points = less resolution) the active track is 10,000 points which is good. you can change the color of your tracks ( ex: red = 5 difficulty rated, Magenta = 3 etc.)
I have switched to the Lowrance units as they will allow you to import track files with up to 100 tracks per file @ up 10,000 points in each track. The XOG (http://www.tigergps.com/lowrancexog.html) (less than $250)is a very nice 3.5" screen GPS that comes with US/Canada Nav-Teq map data built in, and you can also load Topo data on a SD card ( $100)
The Lowrance 600c (http://www.tigergps.com/lowranceiway600c.html) is a 5" screen and it comes with not only US/Canada Street maps but also has complete US Topo maps built in,,
The lowrance units will also let you zoom out much farther and still see minor road detail, the Garmin units loose minor detail at the .5 mile level, but with Lowrance it is very nice to zoom out and see where a dirt road goes.
Tracks are great way to display your trails that you get from fellow explorers , I have track files for most of the western states, so Where ever I go I can see trails that I have done or a trail that I got from someone.
Because most topo maps show you trails but they are far from accurate, Plus it saves you a bunch of wasted time going down dead ends etc.

[JKFreek]

Tracks are the best feature in an Off-Road GPS, The Moppar Trail Guide is a Garmin Quest and it SUCKS for tracking, It does have a "Active Track" but you cannot change the color to make it more visible, and you can not "Import tracks" Plus the screen is too damm small, it is way too EXPENSIVE, and is seriously lacking in features. IMO
The Garmin 60/76 series are very good GPS's and do tracks, but with limits, you can only import track files with a max of 20 tracks @ 500 points each, ( less points = less resolution) the active track is 10,000 points which is good. you can change the color of your tracks ( ex: red = 5 difficulty rated, Magenta = 3 etc.)
I have switched to the Lowrance units as they will allow you to import track files with up to 100 tracks per file @ up 10,000 points in each track. The XOG (http://www.tigergps.com/lowrancexog.html) (less than $250)is a very nice 3.5" screen GPS that comes with US/Canada Nav-Teq map data built in, and you can also load Topo data on a SD card ( $100)
The Lowrance 600c (http://www.tigergps.com/lowranceiway600c.html) is a 5" screen and it comes with not only US/Canada Street maps but also has complete US Topo maps built in,,
The lowrance units will also let you zoom out much farther and still see minor road detail, the Garmin units loose minor detail at the .5 mile level, but with Lowrance it is very nice to zoom out and see where a dirt road goes.
Tracks are great way to show you trails that you get from fellow explorers , I have track files for most of the western states, so Where ever I go I can see trails that I have done or a trail that I got from someone.
Because most topo maps show you trails but they are far from accurate, Plus it saves you a bunch of wasted time going down dead ends etc.






Wow you seriously know your GPS systems. After reading that Id be interested in the Garmins. But is that a handheld? Im looking for a dash mount, and with the canadian and US maps is perfect!!! Thanks a lot for the reply!

[JKFreek]

i got the factory mygig--works great! and a lot of the trails are already in there.


Do you do any long trail tracking with it? I lot of the trails around here definelty would not be on any gps map, and would need to be tracked by myself and then used later for reference. I will say though it does look great!

[JKFreek]

Sorry but I love the Jeep Trail Guide Navigation System with Topo. It works great in and out of the Jeep! You get what you pay for.
http://www.aaof.us/images/gps.jpg
http://www.aaof.us/images/gps1.jpg


Sig, thats a nice setup. Does it come with that Jeep cover? That looks sick. Do you do any trail tracking with it? Any limitations on length of trails ect?

[JKFreek]

Tracks are the best feature in an Off-Road GPS, The Moppar Trail Guide is a Garmin Quest and it SUCKS for tracking, It does have a "Active Track" but you cannot change the color to make it more visible, and you can not "Import tracks" Plus the screen is too damm small, it is way too EXPENSIVE, and is seriously lacking in features. IMO
The Garmin 60/76 series are very good GPS's and do tracks, but with limits, you can only import track files with a max of 20 tracks @ 500 points each, ( less points = less resolution) the active track is 10,000 points which is good. you can change the color of your tracks ( ex: red = 5 difficulty rated, Magenta = 3 etc.)
I have switched to the Lowrance units as they will allow you to import track files with up to 100 tracks per file @ up 10,000 points in each track. The XOG (http://www.tigergps.com/lowrancexog.html) (less than $250)is a very nice 3.5" screen GPS that comes with US/Canada Nav-Teq map data built in, and you can also load Topo data on a SD card ( $100)
The Lowrance 600c (http://www.tigergps.com/lowranceiway600c.html) is a 5" screen and it comes with not only US/Canada Street maps but also has complete US Topo maps built in,,
The lowrance units will also let you zoom out much farther and still see minor road detail, the Garmin units loose minor detail at the .5 mile level, but with Lowrance it is very nice to zoom out and see where a dirt road goes.
Tracks are great way to show you trails that you get from fellow explorers , I have track files for most of the western states, so Where ever I go I can see trails that I have done or a trail that I got from someone.
Because most topo maps show you trails but they are far from accurate, Plus it saves you a bunch of wasted time going down dead ends etc.



rwamf, When I read the details on those GPS units (Lowrance) they do not say they have tracking capability, any ideas what they might refer to it as?

[rwamf]

rwamf, When I read the details on those GPS units (Lowrance) they do not say they have tracking capability, any ideas what they might refer to it as?

Lowrance does not advertise that feature and are idiots for not doing so, but all Lowrance GPS's, Street, Trail and Marine do tracks,
Here are some photos of the XOG screen with both the Built in Nav-Teq and Lowrance's Mapcreate Topo. By the way most of these I tracked with my Garmin 60c years ago, and just transfered them to the Lowrance, That is also nice as you can convert most tracks from different manufactures.
http://www.hydindser.com/xogphts/31.JPGhttp://www.hydindser.com/xogphts/34.JPG
http://www.hydindser.com/xogphts/35.JPGhttp://www.hydindser.com/xogphts/36.JPG
And here is an area that I am going to explore this summer, so I bought the SAT images
http://www.rwamf.com/xog/DSC03954.JPGhttp://www.rwamf.com/xog/DSC03953.JPG
http://www.rwamf.com/xog/DSC03948.JPG
Here is the XOG in my JK
http://rwamf.com/JK/xoggps4.jpg
and another screen shot of the Trails, You can change not only the color but the way they look also, ( from a dotted line to solid etc) The red trails are from one of my trail files, and the green dots are from the track we did this evening.
Also you can just touch the track and the name will appear on the screen. Very cool
http://www.rwamf.com/xog/DSC04228.JPG

[rwamf]

Do you do any long trail tracking with it? I lot of the trails around here definelty would not be on any gps map, and would need to be tracked by myself and then used later for reference. I will say though it does look great!

The Garmin Quest( Jeep unit) will record a track that you can down load to a PC but you cannot import a saved track back into the unit, Or I should say not like most GPS's, There is a way to import saved tracks but you have to turn off active tracking and rename them all, "ACTIVE TRACK 001, 002 etc" and then the total points of all the tracks must not exceed 9999 points. So you cannot change the color etc, they just show up as black dots, and you can't move the cursor over them to get the name like "POISON SPIDER" all you will see is "ACTIVE TRACK 003", so it is kinda worthless.

[atomicmecha]

I use my ppc device as my all in one wonder device. It does my navigation via iGuidance and for off roading, I use a neat program called "GPSTuner". It’s an application made for off road driving. it automatically leaves a bread crumb trail can save your track info in several formats and can even include details like highest altitude, fastest speed, etc. also, it has a fancy compass, can get weather forecast for the area (if I have service and can get online :-P ).

One nice thing about the program is that you can import any image file as your map background as long as you set a few calibration points. So I can either use topo maps, or get road maps or use satellite images as my maps.



That’s what I use. Once I get all the parts together and I make a carputor, I’ll have to look around and find something else again.

[MFalcon]

Delorme makes a great handheld (color screen) that you can get windshield mounts for. I chose it because of the software that came with but after using it I wouldn't have anything else. After each trip I download from my handset and I have a USGS topo with my tracks and waypoints mapped out. You can also preload routes on and offroad as well as download various sat imagery. The downside is that the starter package is about $300.

[rwamf]

Delorme makes a great handheld (color screen) that you can get windshield mounts for. I chose it because of the software that came with but after using it I wouldn't have anything else. After each trip I download from my handset and I have a USGS topo with my tracks and waypoints mapped out. You can also preload routes on and offroad as well as download various sat imagery. The downside is that the starter package is about $300.

I also have a PN-20 and I do love the Delorme software as it is the only one you can add your "Routable Roads and Trails" to the Maps, You can save all your tracks as a "Draw Layer" which is very cool. I also love it for a Data Logging, but as a GPS it is very Slow and the screen is too small.
For a vehicle GPS it is way below average, The XOG is much faster and has a bigger screen, routes very fast, has voice, mp3 player etc.

[JKFreek]

The Garmin Quest( Jeep unit) will record a track that you can down load to a PC but you cannot import a saved track back into the unit, Or I should say not like most GPS's, There is a way to import saved tracks but you have to turn off active tracking and rename them all, "ACTIVE TRACK 001, 002 etc" and then the total points of all the tracks must not exceed 9999 points. So you cannot change the color etc, they just show up as black dots, and you can't move the cursor over them to get the name like "POISON SPIDER" all you will see is "ACTIVE TRACK 003", so it is kinda worthless.

I gotta tell ya im right into the Lowrance GPS. IT looks great and has some great utilities. Both Canada and US maps as well!!! And TRACKING!!! ITs a good price 2. I might jsut ahve to go with this unit

[JeepinMass]

My earthmate is awesome. THE BEST topo maps out. Same maps USGS uses. I love mine!

[JKFreek]

My earthmate is awesome. THE BEST topo maps out. Same maps USGS uses. I love mine!

is that a handheld or dashmount?

[rwamf]

is that a handheld or dashmount?

The only Delorme GPS (http://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/DELibeCCtdItemDetail.jsp?item=27626&section=10106) http://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/PN20/images/PN20EarthmateSectionIcon.jpgout right now is the PN-20, Not very good for a vehicle, I only use mine for data logging now. It does routing but it is faster to drive there than it routes, The Maps are very good, and I still use them for trip planning on the PC. The GPS is very accurate, but has slow screen refreshes, the cursor moves on the screen instead of the map moving under your cursor.
You can get a RAM mount (http://www.ram-mount.com/mount/delorme_mounts_earthmate_mount.htm) for it so mounting is not an issue.

[JeepinMass]

The only Delorme GPS (http://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/DELibeCCtdItemDetail.jsp?item=27626&section=10106) http://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/PN20/images/PN20EarthmateSectionIcon.jpgout right now is the PN-20, Not very good for a vehicle, I only use mine for data logging now. It does routing but it is faster to drive there than it routes, The Maps are very good, and I still use them for trip planning on the PC. The GPS is very accurate, but has slow screen refreshes, the cursor moves on the screen instead of the map moving under your cursor.
You can get a RAM mount (http://www.ram-mount.com/mount/delorme_mounts_earthmate_mount.htm) for it so mounting is not an issue.
I'll have to correct you just a bit. It's not ideal for the primary ON STREET driving. If someone were to looking to go to the grocery story and what not then this isn't the unit. It does the job on the street but it really shines on the trail. My refresh rates are pretty quick, I never out drive the location on the screen.

[MI MudBoss]

i got the factory mygig--works great! and a lot of the trails are already in there.

i have the MyGig in my 08 JK. with kids,work,etc i don't get any time to "play" with my JK. what trails are already in the system? trails like "black bear" and "cinnamon pass" or state land like power line trails? how do i get to them?
i'm running version 9.713
thanx

[DadsCJ]

I have been using the Garmin Quest and it is very nice.

Really a very tough system and I have both the Street and TOPO maps.

[JKFreek]

I have been using the Garmin Quest and it is very nice.

Really a very tough system and I have both the Street and TOPO maps.

Im assuming it comes with both street and topo maps?

[JKFreek]

The only Delorme GPS (http://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/DELibeCCtdItemDetail.jsp?item=27626&section=10106) http://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/PN20/images/PN20EarthmateSectionIcon.jpgout right now is the PN-20, Not very good for a vehicle, I only use mine for data logging now. It does routing but it is faster to drive there than it routes, The Maps are very good, and I still use them for trip planning on the PC. The GPS is very accurate, but has slow screen refreshes, the cursor moves on the screen instead of the map moving under your cursor.
You can get a RAM mount (http://www.ram-mount.com/mount/delorme_mounts_earthmate_mount.htm) for it so mounting is not an issue.

Thats a nice rig, but for a vehicle dash mount with road maps aswell this wouldn't do it for me. Im still game on the Lowrance systems. And there not overly exspensive.

[rwamf]

Im assuming it comes with both street and topo maps?
The Quest comes in two flavors, The original Quest and the QuestII The orginal comes with City Select Software on a CD and you have to load the maps you want into the units 119mb memory, The Quest II comes with the maps built in.
You have to but Garmin Topo maps separately. Garmin Topo is not very good once you see the Topo maps from Lowrance, Delorme or Magellan , The garmin maps are way too confusing because of the Topo lines are Too Dark, and it is hard to see roads and trails, I have the Garmin Topo but never use it as it is just not as good as the others.

[DadsCJ]

Im assuming it comes with both street and topo maps?

No it only comes with the street maps. They are nice and show most forest trails, but the TOPO is amazing.

This is not the Jeep Trail System, it is the original Quest.

[JKFreek]

The Quest comes in two flavors, The original Quest and the QuestII The orginal comes with City Select Software on a CD and you have to load the maps you want into the units 119mb memory, The Quest II comes with the maps built in.
You have to but Garmin Topo maps separately. Garmin Topo is not very good once you see the Topo maps from Lowrance, Delorme or Magellan , The garmin maps are way too confusing because of the Topo lines are Too Dark, and it is hard to see roads and trails, I have the Garmin Topo but never use it as it is just not as good as the others.

What exactly is meant by TOPO? I take it this means tracking, and i take it some conpanies call it track log? and some TOPO?

[zoomzoomjr]

I went with a Magellan eXplorist 210. It tracks my location, shows me on the map, differentiates the roads and my trail with a solid and dashed line (respectively) it is only 2d, has lots of software to buy (if you ever want it) built in memory, grayscale, came with a usb cable, "jeep" power cable (sorry, didn't want to kill a kitten today), full USA map, and carrycase for under $150. It is discontinued, but that is why the price is so low. I love it.
http://www.gps-systems-direct.com/images/medium/expl210outdoorbundle.jpg
http://www.magellangps.com/products/getProdImage.asp?PRODID=1112&ATTR=ProductImageLarge
http://www.magellangps.com/products/product.asp?segID=355

[JKFreek]

I went with a Magellan eXplorist 210. It tracks my location, shows me on the map, differentiates the roads and my trail with a solid and dashed line (respectively) it is only 2d, has lots of software to buy (if you ever want it) built in memory, grayscale, came with a usb cable, "jeep" power cable (sorry, didn't want to kill a kitten today), full USA map, and carrycase for under $150. It is discontinued, but that is why the price is so low. I love it.
http://www.gps-systems-direct.com/images/medium/expl210outdoorbundle.jpg
http://www.magellangps.com/products/getProdImage.asp?PRODID=1112&ATTR=ProductImageLarge
http://www.magellangps.com/products/product.asp?segID=355

Thats actually a nice rig! I wonder are most handhelds a lot cheaper than dash mounts?

[rwamf]

What exactly is meant by TOPO? I take it this means tracking, and i take it some conpanies call it track log? and some TOPO?

TOPO maps are different from your street maps, They will show you elevation contours, See the sample maps below,
This first picture is of my XOG near Moab, Standard Base map ( red dotted lines are Tracks Displayed)
http://www.hydindser.com/xogphts/35.JPG

Now this is with the TOPO map, you can see elevation Contours
http://www.hydindser.com/xogphts/36.JPG

[rwamf]

No it only comes with the street maps. They are nice and show most forest trails, but the TOPO is amazing.

This is not the Jeep Trail System, it is the original Quest.

May be the TOPO works in Florida, but out west it sucks, The Garmin TOPO is all to cluttered and all you see is the Contour lines and it is next to impossible to see any roads or trails..
One of the main problems I have with the Quest is it's lack of track support, and you can not change the color of your track either ( ACTIVE LOG)
It is just not as easy to use as other Garmin units like the 60/76 series
JMO

Here are some samples of the same map area and you can clearly see the minor roads in both the Delorme and Lowrance maps but the Garmin is all topo lines ,look close and you might find a road or trail.
http://rwamf.com/xog/Delormetopo7.JPG
http://rwamf.com/xog/mapcreate.JPG
http://rwamf.com/xog/Garmintopo.JPG

[silver rubicon]

Do you do any long trail tracking with it? I lot of the trails around here definelty would not be on any gps map, and would need to be tracked by myself and then used later for reference. I will say though it does look great!

i dont know what you mean by "long trail tracking" but just yesterday, i recorded a trail that was not in the mygig. i was in the san bernardino forest and came across a us forest road that was not coming up on the nav screen. i got onto the main menu and pressed the "record new trail" key and drove about 10 miles into it. my new trail came up on screen as a yellow line. at the end of the trail, i pushed the "stop/save trail" key then the "stop and save the current trail" key. the new trail was automatically named with the date and time i saved it. at that time, the screen asked if i wanted to change the name (i did). the trail was saved in the "saved locations" menu. now when i want to go back to that location, i just go onto the nav menu and pull it up under the "saved locations."

so far this is working out well for me. :thumbsup:

[njjeepthing]

I'm thinking about one of these.
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=402&locale=en_US

Dual purpose, both water and land maps.

[rwamf]

I'm thinking about one of these.
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=402&locale=en_US

Dual purpose, both water and land maps.

Very nice albeit very pricey, the 276/376/ series are also very good units.
The bad thing about them are it uses an older gps chip and proprietary garmin memory cards.
Garmin should be updating this line soon.

[JKFreek]

i dont know what you mean by "long trail tracking" but just yesterday, i recorded a trail that was not in the mygig. i was in the san bernardino forest and came across a us forest road that was not coming up on the nav screen. i got onto the main menu and pressed the "record new trail" key and drove about 10 miles into it. my new trail came up on screen as a yellow line. at the end of the trail, i pushed the "stop/save trail" key then the "stop and save the current trail" key. the new trail was automatically named with the date and time i saved it. at that time, the screen asked if i wanted to change the name (i did). the trail was saved in the "saved locations" menu. now when i want to go back to that location, i just go onto the nav menu and pull it up under the "saved locations."

so far this is working out well for me. :thumbsup:

I really like that idea, Sounds user friendly anyhow! By long trail runs I mean would it record your path for say... 50 miles or more.

[JKFreek]

May be the TOPO works in Florida, but out west it sucks, The Garmin TOPO is all to cluttered and all you see is the Contour lines and it is next to impossible to see any roads or trails..
One of the main problems I have with the Quest is it's lack of track support, and you can not change the color of your track either ( ACTIVE LOG)
It is just not as easy to use as other Garmin units like the 60/76 series
JMO

Here are some samples of the same map area and you can clearly see the minor roads in both the Delorme and Lowrance maps but the Garmin is all topo lines ,look close and you might find a road or trail.


Thanks for that reply rwamf, that makes much more scence!!!

[JKFreek]

Very nice albeit very pricey, the 276/376/ series are also very good units.
The bad thing about them are it uses an older gps chip and proprietary garmin memory cards.
Garmin should be updating this line soon.

rwamf your knowledge of the various gps units seems to be pritty insane!

so for a dash mount and tracking abilities you still recommend the lowarnce?

also, any ideas if the unit does a GREAT job on the US maps, and a not so great job on the Canadian Maps? As I'll be looking for a unit thats great in Canada.

[silver rubicon]

I really like that idea, Sounds user friendly anyhow! By long trail runs I mean would it record your path for say... 50 miles or more.

the manual doesnt indicate any limits on distance, so i dont see why it wouldnt record a 50 mile trail so long as you dont push the "stop/save trail" key. anyway, you can test it out by recording any long drive you make on the highway and see if it works (just use the steps i outlined earlier). the more i think about it, the more i think there is no reason for it not to work.....

[rwamf]

rwamf your knowledge of the various gps units seems to be pritty insane!

so for a dash mount and tracking abilities you still recommend the lowarnce?

also, any ideas if the unit does a GREAT job on the US maps, and a not so great job on the Canadian Maps? As I'll be looking for a unit thats great in Canada.

The problem with many of the gps's is they all will do something, like tracking but the hard part is what do you do with it after you record it, How to get it into your PC, Display the track on Google Earth, etc.???
There is a program that works great for File sharing, it is called "GPS BABEL (http://www.gpsbabel.org/download.html)" you can use it to convert files to other file formats to share with friends or post the files on the web.
Garmin uses files with extension "gpd" and will also use "gpx" GPX files, seem to be the most widely used format, you can import "gpx" files into Garmin or Delorme for editing ,or Google Earth just to display your track on the PC,etc.
The Lowrance units will record a track and you can save it to the SD card and it is easy to transfer the saved "usr" file to a PC, and if you convert it using "GPS BABEL" you can send it in an email to a friend etc.
But how do you edit it??? You can edit track files in numerous programs , and I like Garmin Mapsource the best, It has very easy track editing features, next would be Delorme Topo 7.0, a little harder to edit but very capable. You see I build track files that are very usable, I clean up any wrong turns, or paved highway stretches etc. In Mapsource I build single track files with up to 100 tracks for a given area, ( track files are like a second map layer ) So I have track files for say,, MOAB which has about 56 trails in it, and with a Lowrance unit I can put all my track files ( Idaho, CA, NV, UT, MOAB, CO, etc) on the SD card and load them into the GPS from the card at any time. Then if I want to go and do the trail "Kane Creek" I can select it turn it to a Contrasting color from my Active track and just follow the line, that way if you make a wrong turn you will clearly see your active track and the one you should be on.
I hope this helps explain a few things. So to answer your question , Yes the Lowrance is the GPS I like the best right now, it fits my needs.

[JKFreek]

The problem with many of the gps's is they all will do something, like tracking but the hard part is what do you do with it after you record it, How to get it into your PC, Display the track on Google Earth, etc.???
There is a program that works great for File sharing, it is called "GPS BABEL (http://www.gpsbabel.org/download.html)" you can use it to convert files to other file formats to share with friends or post the files on the web.
Garmin uses files with extension "gpl" and will also use "gpx" GPX files seem to be the most widely used format, you can import "gpx" files into Garmin or Delorme for editing ,or Google Earth just to display your track on the PC,etc.
The Lowrance units will record a track and you can save it to the SD card and it is easy to transfer the saved "usr" file to a PC, and if you convert it using "GPS BABEL" you can send it in an email to a friend etc.
But how do you edit it??? You can edit track files in numerous programs , and I like Garmin Mapsource the best, It has very easy track editing features, next would be Delorme Topo 7.0, a little harder to edit but very capable. You see I build track files that are very usable, I clean up any wrong turns, or paved highway stretches etc. In Mapsource I build single track files with up to 100 tracks for a given area, ( track files are like a second map layer ) So I have track files for say,, MOAB which has about 56 trails in it, and with a Lowrance unit I can put all my track files ( Idaho, CA, NV, UT, MOAB, CO, etc) on the SD card and load them into the GPS from the card at any time. Then if I want to go and do the trail "Kane Creek" I can select it turn it to a Contrasting color from my Active track and just follow the line, that way if you make a wrong turn you will clearly see your active track and the one you should be on.
I hope this helps explain a few things. So to answer your question , Yes the Lowrance is the GPS I like the best right now, it fits my needs.



Excellent. Thats great info... Another incredibly stupid question though. With editing the tracks, why would you do this?

[rwamf]

Excellent. Thats great info... Another incredibly stupid question though. With editing the tracks, why would you do this?

Your gps will track you where ever you go, if you go down a dead end ,wrong turns, stop at the local pub etc. So you can clean them up so the track is exactly want you want, You can also break up a track, let's say you do three different trails in one day, and you don't save your track at the end of each one? You can save the whole long track and edit it into three different tracks and rename each one.

[JKFreek]

Your gps will track you where ever you go, if you go down a dead end ,wrong turns, stop at the local pub etc. So you can clean them up so the track is exactly want you want, You can also break up a track, let's say you do three different trails in one day, and you don't save your track at the end of each one? You can save the whole long track and edit it into three different tracks and rename each one.

Thats awesome stuff. I really need to get myself one of these units. My current unit does not track at all, and it drives me nuts. So i guess a new Lowrance gps is on the bill!

[biglynny]

I have the Magellan Crossover, a little expensive at $399; it has a good car mount and is small enough to fit in my coat pocket. This thread made me go out to my car and start dicking aound with it. I use it mostly in finding addresses and for something to look at on long road trips but now I wonder about this option to save trail trips to my home computer. It came with a usb so I just have to do some more research.

[neoxxis]

I use a 80$ USB GPS connected to my laptop.
Laptop runs on batteries or power inverter (400 watts - 32$).
Laptop stays on the passenger seat or passenger knees with a table cushion (you know that thing to eat on the couch... Wooden top with cushion stitched under...).
I'm looking for a RAM Mount soon but I dont like the price$...

On the laptop you can have any map software you want...
I use Mapsource, Softmap Plus, Fugawi Global Navigator, Google Earth Plus, etc...
I can "follow my trail live" over satellite images, aerian photos, Topo maps, etc...
It's not handheld at all but in the Jeep it does the job perfectly.
And you can work on your stuff on the laptop without having to import and convert your files...

10-4.

[JKFreek]

I have the Magellan Crossover, a little expensive at $399; it has a good car mount and is small enough to fit in my coat pocket. This thread made me go out to my car and start dicking aound with it. I use it mostly in finding addresses and for something to look at on long road trips but now I wonder about this option to save trail trips to my home computer. It came with a usb so I just have to do some more research.


biglynny, if you figure your tracking out let me know how it turns out!

[JKFreek]

I use a 80$ USB GPS connected to my laptop.
Laptop runs on batteries or power inverter (400 watts - 32$).
Laptop stays on the passenger seat or passenger knees with a table cushion (you know that thing to eat on the couch... Wooden top with cushion stitched under...).
I'm looking for a RAM Mount soon but I dont like the price$...

On the laptop you can have any map software you want...
I use Mapsource, Softmap Plus, Fugawi Global Navigator, Google Earth Plus, etc...
I can "follow my trail live" over satellite images, aerian photos, Topo maps, etc...
It's not handheld at all but in the Jeep it does the job perfectly.
And you can work on your stuff on the laptop without having to import and convert your files...

10-4.

The more I hear about this option the more i want to do it. Ive got a lap top sitting here collecting dust. I suppose I could use it for this feature. Sure is a lot cheaper

[JKFreek]

I have the Magellan Triton 2000. Supports NG TOPO! Software direct uploads of map quads (Triton series is the only GPS that does) - so has highest resolution USGS maps available. (AFAIK, I don't know of any software that has greater resolution than 1:24,000 w/ USGS maps.)

Also, once they get the kinks worked out with the new TOPO! Explorer software (I just got in on the beta, expecting delivery of the software next week), should be able to buy map quads and satellite overlays, and download trails/etc. for free. All of these should be uploadable to the Triton.

As an aside, Primordial is in a deal with Magellan to produce their Guidance software for the Triton (same stuff used by the military to create routes based on driveability, stealth, or speed across uncharted territory) - and are currently in beta-test. I can't wait to try it when it comes out!

Like the Delorme, it has its software issues, but otherwise is a great GPS (I mean, it has a voice recorder, camera, flashlight and mp3 player built in, and it's IPX-7 waterproof =)

The big drawback is that Magellan has not yet produced the turn-by-turn driving software, but this is a trail GPS, not a street GPS.



Edit: on another note, I saw that someone mentioned 'GPS Babel' and talked about GPS's that support it; it's the other way around - GPS babel supports the GPS, not the GPS supports GPS Babel. (It's a file conversion utility.) And, IIRC, GPS Babel supports pretty much every modern GPS by Magellan, Garmin, Delorme, etc, etc.

Every modern GPS you buy should come with 'decent' software to download and manage tracks off it. I know every one from Garmin and Magellan do. Magellan's software also exports GPX format (an XML file format) just fine (it uses GPS Bable to do this) that can be loaded into google earth or edited by hand.

!c



HOlly crap!!! thanks for all the info! That system looks really nice. And by checkign out the pic it looks as though the map itself onthe display is very detailed.

[JKFreek]

Can anyone tell me what to look for in a GPS specs, to tell if it has tracking capabilities?

for example does a nuvi 650?

[rwamf]

Most Garmin street units do not do tracking, The Top line Nuvi ( 760) I heard does some sort of tracking, but generally Garmin does not include that feature in the street units. You have to get into their "GPSMAP series" for decent tracking.

[Jonny Ryan Mac]

I roll with a Garmin venture HC. Not a trail guide by any strech, but a fun toy to have no less.

[Mike72771]

I have the Magellan Crossover, a little expensive at $399; it has a good car mount and is small enough to fit in my coat pocket. This thread made me go out to my car and start dicking aound with it. I use it mostly in finding addresses and for something to look at on long road trips but now I wonder about this option to save trail trips to my home computer. It came with a usb so I just have to do some more research.



Bleh, after all the crap I just typed I went to the Megellan website and a few GPS websites and found out there are in fact updates for the Crossover. Megellan is not known for their customer support and I never did get an e-mail with an update on the new firmware release of 2.36 (You have to buy it). It comes in the CrossoverGPS NA Map and Software Update V2 package for $80.

[LIG4X4]

I'm thinking of the Lowrance Baja 540 anyone has one?

[rwamf]

I'm thinking of the Lowrance Baja 540 anyone has one?

Nice Unit for the Hardcore, Nice 480x480 high res screen, but it will not do Auto routing, does not come with maps and only has an external ant.
Does tracking , very easy to see screen
A better unit for the money s the Iway 600c, as it comes with Navteq street maps, does auto routing, Comes with complete set of Topo maps, Marine maps, and satellite images for most metropolitan areas
The 600c also has a high res screen 640x480, touch screen, and MP3 player

[JKCobra]

Ok, so thinking about getting a Mygig for the nav / trail logging / dvd, etc. as I like the in dash look rather than the other options. Question though, can you download your trails from the mygig to edit and then reload them?

Thanks!

[jfreeddo]

Ok, so thinking about getting a Mygig for the nav / trail logging / dvd, etc. as I like the in dash look rather than the other options. Question though, can you download your trails from the mygig to edit and then reload them?

Thanks!

not as far as i know, if someone knows how to do this, I would be thrilled.

[JeepinMass]

Ok, so thinking about getting a Mygig for the nav / trail logging / dvd, etc. as I like the in dash look rather than the other options. Question though, can you download your trails from the mygig to edit and then reload them?

Thanks!

I didn't think mygig did topo maps.

[07crawler]

i got the factory mygig--works great! and a lot of the trails are already in there.

hmmmm...where did you find the (alot of trails are already in it) place???..I haven't looked but don't want to work too hard trying to find it

[J2H]

I use a TomTom Go 910, I don't know if it shows trails, as I never off-roaded with it.

[JKFreek]

Anyone else have anything that has tracking capabilities?

[meljr]

This thread has loads of useful information. I really wasn't in the market for a new GPS (I have a 5 year old Garmin eTrex Vista that has served me well), but I think maybe I should get the Lowrance. For the money, I don't see how you can beat it.

-meljr

[Dirt101]

Cabelas has the XOG right now for 149.00 plus 20$ off any order of 100$ or more. Im ordering one.

[DataByte]

Talk about Lowrance salesmanship! I'm almost completely sold..

I don't think anyone mentioned this, but the Garmin Trail guide is completely waterproof. So depending on where you are using it, may be a very useful thing. However, you will pay for that feature as well as the very slick look that comes with the Jeep speaker mount.

If I had the disposable income I would probably go with the Garmin unit just for the slick look and speakers you can't get anywhere else.... Unfortunately, I work for the Fire Department and NO ONE there has a disposable income... The Lowrance XOG may just win out this race.

[DataByte]

I found a decent write up comparing the Lowrance XOG and Magellan Crossover.

http://w w w.greatlakes4x4.com/showthread.php?t=71447

[BrianJK]

We use a garmin 60csx. It does have tracks, shows you were you have been and can follow your tracks out. Great feature. :thumbsup:

[JungleJeep]

If you havde a laptop, check out Microsoft streets and trips. About $130 and you get a huge screen(laptop). I use it for work, but it has a tracer that can be set to show where you've been.

[ECHO]

I picked up a Cobra 500 handheld Tracking GPS.. Very cheap, seems to do the trick.. doesn't always hold the Lock while in the Jeep though. works great clipped to my belt when hiking. for $65.00 it does alot

[zoomzoomjr]

Does anyone know some good GPS manufacturers that make a GPS with tracking capability. I'd like to be able to track the trails im using that go into the woods, and save them for future reference!

Anyone have any ideas? Id prefer not to a pile of money on a really exspensive unit ie: Mopar trail guide

Whats everyone using?

I'm interested in know as well:popcorn:

Anyone else have anything that has tracking capabilities?

This is a post update for #32... I have the Magellan, and here are some of the mapping features....
http://www.jk-forum.com/showpost.php?p=885291&postcount=393