My 1st GPS, questions

[OverlandZJ]

My lovely wife saw a deal on this GPS and ordered one for me.

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=13431

Does this model have the "breadcrumb" feature to back track my route?

Would it be compatible with Google mapping or topo software?

Sorry if my questions are vague, i have no experience with GPS and hope to learn how to use it in such a way as Alex and Randy have in their reports on the GPS section.

 

[karstic]

From looking at the specs I'm going to have to say, no.
If you look under "Maps and Memory" It shows Routes : 0.

 

[sjkimmel99]

If you intend to use the breadcrumb feature on-road then to return to the start of your journey either set a waypoint / point of interest (say home) and from your destination tell it to calculate a route to that (new / original) destination.

If you want to use it off-road (assume so if you mentioned topo maps) I don't know how good it will be.

I'm sure there are other GPS forums but this one at the Geocaching.com site (http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showforum=11) has a lot knowledgeable people.

 

[Handlebars]

That Nuvi does not do tracks or topos. See if your lovely wife will let you trade it in on the Nuvi 500:

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=134&pID=13424

It looks like Garmin's best effort yet at making a GPS that suits the needs of a Jeeper. It still isn't perfect, it only holds 10 routes and you can only navigate one at a time. If it is like my Zumo, you can store an unlimited number of routes and waypoints on the Micro SD card and import them as you need them. Note that tracks have to be converted to routes by the unit before you can navigate them. But it does leave a track and offers the TrackBack feature that has been absent from their recent units. You get City Navigator and Topo USA preloaded on the unit, a suction cup mount and 12 power cord.

It should come with MapSource on a DVD to install on your computer. This program has really cool track editing features, you can even build a track from scratch and upload it to your GPS to follow. MapSource also has a "view in Google Earth" option, putting your open GPS file directly into Google Earth to manipulate however you like. Be sure to update MapSource to get all of those features, but don't use the current one (version 6.14.1) on the Garmin website. They put a lot of work into making it look "pretty", unfortunately it works very slowly. Get version 6.13.7 here:

http://www8.garmin.com/software/MapSource_6137.exe

Good luck with it, John!

 

[OverlandZJ]

Thank You gents, exactly what i needed to know.

Heres the thing, i would rather not hurt the wifes feelings with not being satisfied with what she bought for me. I'll look for a Garmin 60/76 to supplement this unit for the time being. From what i understand this unit should be fine on the forest roads out east here as most are mapped and usually recognized by these units (from what i read), then i'll see what Garmin is offering in the next year or so for a replacement, once i learn some basics.

My friends/son who i travel with all have handhelds that do track so i'll be covered in the event it's needed till then. Maybe i'll come across a deal on a Nuvi500 and can slip it in..

Thanks again..

Oh, and thanks for the link sjkimmel99. I'm sure that will help educate.

 

[OverlandZJ]

My GPS arrived yesterday. I was right, all the forest roads i run here in PA for camping are listed. This will do me fine till i get out west again.

I sure like that touchscreen.

 

[Handlebars]

To have forest roads you first need a forest.

 

[OverlandZJ]

I swear you and Randy love to torment me..

Nice touch on the steering wheel.

 

[karstic]

Yup, not too many forests around here

 

[OverlandZJ]

OK, so i installed my Nuvi 255w in my buds YJ yesterday as he's heading out west ( WY,UT,TX ) in a few weeks. He loved the widescreen and asked if i wanted to sell it... i must have said yes too quickly because he thinks he's getting screwed now. :laugh:


I'm looking for a great deal on the Nuvi500 as described by Alex above. Anyone heard any rumors of a widescreen 500 version? I think my old eyes are gonna miss that feature.

 

[OverlandZJ]

Bringing this back.

My bud loves the 255W i loaned him for his trip out west and he wants to buy me a Nuvi500 to replace it. I am afraid i'll miss the widescreen with my aging eyes.

But now that i'm starting to read a little i see some people are designing programs to download to Garmin units to add Topo and the tracking feature?

Am i correct in assuming i'll get the widescreen benefit and topo/mapping simply with a download to a 255W? Anyone have any more info on this for me?

I'm hoping i can easily make my own version of a WS Nuvi500.

 

[OverlandZJ]

Disregard the post above, i just bought a Magellan Meridian Platinum to supplement my Nuvi255W and give me the options i was lacking.