GPS recomendation ?

[Bluebullet]

I have GPS and trail maps on my Droid X2 but in cold temps it kills the battery and I have to leave plugged in to work at all. The phone keeps trying to find a regular phone signal. I use it in populated ares around home and the navigation works great. I do still have to keep on charge. Satellite signal works good. I have been looking at some Magellan 200.300.400 models that are within my price range. Anyone use these or recommend a couple and why?
Blue

 

[Nytro40th]

Garmin would be my choice, I have one for personal use and for when I am on duty, the 60csx would be my top pick or the model that replaced it.

 

[WANN4STROKE]

I'm with Nytro. Have the 60 and like it.

David

 

[CaptCaper]

I have had many many GPS's since 1996. I just bought the Garmin Montana and it is so nice..the best. Screen shows the best in daylight and night. Mount with their Tuff Mount hardwired to 12V. on the riser with a ram system.

$400 then buy the USA TOPO 24 K ...shaded relief..It does everything. Lot's of setup choices..

Expensive but the best.

 

[Grimm]

Garmin Nuvi 500...large screen, waterproof, works well in the cold, inexpensive, plenty of free maps available and uncomplicated.

Having it plugged in directly to the battery is the best way to go, as the battery will discarge in about 2 hours in the cold. If you want a gps to last a long time using it's own battery, then you have to keep it warm in your pocket...which it a pain if you want to use it often. I have it mounted to my handlebar riser so I can look at it while riding, plugged into the sled's battery...so convenient.

 

[Bluebullet]

Thanks guys, Anyone no how to use your cell phone( Droid X2 ) without having it search for cell service and just use GPS funtion?
Blue

 

[actionjack]

Assuming its aGPS it think it will find the birds automagically and indicate you location on any cached maps. Look for a GPS app that can use offline maps.

 

[Vmax4]

I own a GARMIN Oregon T. Came with all the USA topo maps. Rechargable batteries last all day in the mountains. Love it. Really only carry it for that emergency, but do on occassion look at the topo or try to see what a particular geographical landmark is called.

I suspenct if you are using it on groomed trails, you may have a different purpose than me. Since we are in back country areas, I really only carry it for that rare time when either something really bad happens and you need to get a GPS Coordinate to search and rescue, or if the weather moved in andI needed it to navigate out of the alpine areas.

 

[Bluebullet]

Thanks guys. Sounds like Garmin Nuvi 500 will be the one next year now. I will keep an eye out for one.
Terry

 

[favarcat]

X2 for Garmin Montana

 

[gutterboy2ca]

i have the Garmin 60csx, but only for ATV/Fishing/Hunting, for sledding i mounted my Garmin Nuvi up front by the Tach, wired in to Battery, Loaded Snowmobile Trakmaps New Brunswick on it, I absolutely love it.Its Routable, so you can touch a point on screen and hit GO TO, it will keep you on sled trails only,same as driving in a car.Pick up a Nuvi for $30 at any pawn shop,D/L sled map ffor your area, Rock on for under $100..
PS. Auto Switching to Nightmode in evening is a great Plus so your not blinded by the Bright screen..Also they are not Waterproof, but mines been on the sled since Fall, works fine for $30

 

[CaptCaper]

Thanks guys. Sounds like Garmin Nuvi 500 will be the one next year now. I will keep an eye out for one.
Terry

You should research carefully.
The Nuvi is very limited and it does not show a track well or that you can change colors of the track. The Montana has a Nuvi mode but I won't use it. It' only good for cars. You can sav 200 trails in the Montana. Plus Temp gauge and many ways to customize the menu. More data fields and many custom data field box's to chose to show. The Nuvi does only a fraction of what the montana can do. Also the Montana doesn't rubber band to a road like the Nuvi. You can shut off Auto Zoom. Like I said the list is outstanding. The Shaded Relief is awesome showing the 24K Topo terrain. It uses WAAS for pin point accuracy. These are things we need. I have had many Nuvi's. I have too now for work and travel.

 

[NFLD-Nytro]

The Montana is an awesome unit, and the only thing I don't like about it is the touch screen. I'm sure you'd get used to that, though, and all the guys running Cain's Quest use Montana's, so they must be good to use even in the winter.

I've got a 276, which is no longer available, but there are similar models that have replaced it. I really can't imagine not having it now, and it's pretty much the standard for trappers and backcountry travelers here.

Here it is on the Nytro

The 276 has been moved over to my XF and I now have an old Etrex on the Nytro

The Etrex is good if you're on a lake in bad weather and want to stay on a previous track, but that's about it.

My suggestion: get something with an external power supply. You want your GPS to be running all the time. Make sure you can put topo maps in it, and not just street maps. And the bigger the screen the better. Honestly, even the 276 is about half the size I'd like to have.

 

[CaptCaper]

I just sold my 276 C ...good unit. But I'll never go back. You could program the shut off switch to perform functions. Also The touch screen works for the most part with my heavy leather gloves zooming in or changing screens. You can customize the programs so one button brings you to where you want to go. Called Short Cuts.
Screen is much better too. That's why I dumped the 276C. But I had no idea the Montana did what is does or I would have dumped the 276 long ago.

 

[lockburner2000]

I have a Garmin Oregon and it works good its Smaller then the Montana and costs much less. I have sledgps.com maps and there not very good. Next i will try Red Pine Maps.