Portable GPS Nav Unit

[Heyspike]

Just starting to look at portable GPS - Nav units. I want to mount it on the dash, but take it with me in the woods.
It would have to be somewhat rugged, good battery power, waterproof, easily carried in a pocket, good directions, easy to use, good topos, Am I asking too much or are they out there?
Thanks.

[kenny Kustom]

I use the Garmin 60 csx. Great unit.

[Macavity]

I've got the Garmin Nuvi 500. Great on the road; pretty good off of it. The price is a bit higher, but when you realize it comes with full City and Topo maps, it isn't so bad.

[09SUNBURSTJK]

x2 on the Garmin 60csx. I have had mine for over a year now and use it all the time. :thumbsup:

[vs_jk]

I've had the Garmin 750 for the past several months. Have used it several times including a trip to Colorado. It works great and has all the features I need. And it's available at a great price too. Sam's Club carries it for $299.

[2008x]

Magellan crossover is a combo hiking, driving, boating with mp3, picture storage, etc. I believe it is discontinued but you can find them on ebay. I've had one for about a year only used it for driving so far. I have played in the yard with the hiking one, but I'm not a serious hiker.

[sixt7gt350]

My (Staples) Omnitech works great for both, but it doesn't do topo out of the box.
It takes a bit of geeking and OziExplorer to get topo. (and foreign countries and detailed satellite maps)

[JackMac4]

Got a 60csx last week and love it!

[qf4phlyer]

You can pick up a refurbished Magellan Crossover on ebay for $96.00 last time I looked. I like mine, can't beat the price.

[HarryBallz]

I would agree with the Garmin 60csx. I have an Etrex Vista Cx, but the 60 seems to have the same software but has a better antenna.

Another option to check out would be the Delorme PN-20. It is about $250 with all of the Topo & street maps.

[Littlejon]

I would go with Delorme if you are looking for something that is geared more towards a handheld that can be used in the Jeep. In side by side comparisons with any other brand they always blow them out of the water with the software, and performance. If you are looking for more of one that can be used in the Jeep, and can be taken out for handheld use then the Lowrance XOG is the one that perfoms better. Here is a comparison of the maps so you can really see who has the best maps out there.

http://rwamf.com/xog/Delormetopo7.JPG
http://rwamf.com/xog/mapcreate.JPG
http://rwamf.com/xog/Garmintopo.JPG

[Desert Fox]

I have been using Garmin GPS units since 1999. I currently have a Garmin
GPSMAP 276C which is a big, heavy duty unit with a big bright screen. I have loaded City Navigator and Garmin Topo maps for SoCal and AZ into the unit. While it has an 18 hour battery, it is too big to fit into a pocket. A day pack maybe. It has several screens. The ones I use most often are the (1) Map Screen, (2) the Navigate Screen and (3) what I call the "cockpit" screen which includes your course, speed over the ground, elapsed time, time of day, date, lat/long, sunrise/sunset, distance traveled, battery life, etc. There are about six more elements you can add to this screen. It is very useful. This unit also came with a DVD showing you all the features and how to set it up for use. I highly recommend this unit for vehicle use. The cost from Garmin is about $600As I remember, I got it for around $400 on line. eBay as I remember

[rwamf]

http://www.jk-forum.com/showthread.php?t=50149

and

http://www.jk-forum.com/showthread.php?t=55050

[Woods]

Here's what I'd like. But gotta wait for the price to come down. Check out the 3D view of the hills, in the second picture.:yup:

http://www.gpsmagazine.com/assets/review-oregon400t/Oregon400t-cf.jpg

http://www.gpsmagazine.com/assets/review-oregon400t/preview2.jpg

[OffTheGrid]

I use a Garmin 76CSx handheld loaded with topo maps. The 76CSx is funtionally identical to the 60CSx but a different shape. I also have a RAM suction mount for it that is attached to the windshield right next to the A piller. It doesn't block my view while I'm driving and it's very quick to pop it out of the mount and take it with me. If you want I can post a pic of my setup.

[Heyspike]

Sure, post a photo if it's not too much trouble.
thanks.

[HarryBallz]

I would definitely go with the RAM mounts as well. They make cradles for most units, they are universal with other RAM parts (in case you have other things in other places to mount) and just really well built. You can pay the same amount for Garmin's suction cup mount, but RAM is MUCH better (my Garmin mount had a suction cup that only held marginally, and eventually broke).

We attach laptops to windshields at work with RAM components, and they work great.:thumbsup:

[OffTheGrid]

Here is a picture of my setup...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3287/3039367987_144bd0f161_b.jpg

And here is a link to the RAM web site, it has a good photo of the mount from the side.

http://products.ram-mount.com/rammount/productdetail.aspx?partnumber=RAM-B-166-GA14U
(http://products.ram-mount.com/rammount/productdetail.aspx?partnumber=RAM-B-166-GA14U)

[YellowToy]

If your looking for something primarily for driving the Garmin 60's can be a bit small. I have the Magellan Crossover & think it's a good deal for the price. The routing can be a bit quirky at times & the ETA is always off by 20% (or maybe I drive too fast). I mainly got it because it was the best price for an automobile based GPS that can track you trail offroad.

My Garmin (I forget the number, it's one of the lower end models) in my wife's car does a better job of street routing, ETA, & has more Points of Interest. It however does not leave breadcrumbs.

If I could afford the Garmin 500 (it tracks your offroad route) I would get it.

If you are looking for something primarily handheld then get the Garmin 60. Or, get a Garmin Nuvi for onroad & a Garmin eTrex for offroad/hiking.

[Choppus]

I think the Lowerance topo maps are the best by far!!! :yup:

[dryrock]

Another happy 60CSx owner. I've owned about 5 Garmins over the years. Absolutely love them. The 60CSx is waterproof and the new receiver is fantastic. Picks up under heavy tree cover with no issues. I installed a 2GB microSD card and already had the City Navigator for it. I also have Topo installed on the card and Topo24k East (National Parks higher rez topo). Switch back and forth between mapsets easily.

I use a Ram mount on the back of the aftermarket top center dash tray.

It also runs off 2AA so you can use it in the field longer with only a battery swap.

[Rescue X]

Magellan crossover is a combo hiking, driving, boating with mp3, picture storage, etc. I believe it is discontinued but you can find them on ebay. I've had one for about a year only used it for driving so far. I have played in the yard with the hiking one, but I'm not a serious hiker.


This is the setup I have...I've used it for hiking and on/off road and it's been perfect!

[CATCHONE]

Magellan crossover is a combo hiking, driving, boating with mp3, picture storage, etc. I believe it is discontinued but you can find them on ebay. I've had one for about a year only used it for driving so far. I have played in the yard with the hiking one, but I'm not a serious hiker.

I have one of these. It has a lot of features but it does not excel in any of them.

I like it but the receiver does not pick up the satelites very well. It takes a long time and drops quickly.

If you are on a trail doing alot of switchbacks it locks up.

I have done all the updates but still some of the cheaper and less featured work better.

I would go with a Garmin even there cheapest version picks up signal bettter.

[Redrock_JK]

x2 on the Garmin 60csx. I have had mine for over a year now and use it all the time. :thumbsup:

X3 I use this one and love it got it mounted on a ram mount, I'll try and post some pictures soon.

[Heyspike]

Ok all, thanks for the replies. I have decided to go with the Delorme PN-40.
Going to use my Christmas money:clap:

[rwamf]

Ok all, thanks for the replies. I have decided to go with the Delorme PN-40.
Going to use my Christmas money:clap:
Good Choice and don't forget to subscribe to the download service, The color aerial photos are awesome, on both the handheld and the PC.
Spend some time with the GPS and the software, get to know it and you will be amazed at what they can do. I love my PN40, It is so much better for off road adventures than my Garmin 60c or my Lowrance XOG,
:clap: