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Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 2:23 pm Post subject: Active 10 advice needed
I use a Garmin Foretrex for off-road biking, but I would like a device onto which I can load a pre-planned route and which will then show me (with an idiot-proof 'blob' rather than a GR) where I am in relation to the route. (Hopefully not too far off!)
I was considering a Garmin Edge 605 (c.£190 complete with bike mount) plus Memory Map (c.£190 for complete GB)
However, the Active 10 (c.£290) plus SatMap complete GB (c.£190) is a possibility. Trouble is, I have to add another £25 for a bike mount and £44 for the (apparently advisable) power pack.
So, the Active 10 package would cost me an extra £170 over the Garmin/MM package.
My question (finally) is: what advantage is there, apart from getting the maps already on SD rather than CD and not having to plan/load routes through a PC, in the Active 10 ?
Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 5:30 pm Post subject: Re: Active 10 advice needed
SaintsmanPaul wrote:
I use a Garmin Foretrex for off-road biking, but I would like a device onto which I can load a pre-planned route and which will then show me (with an idiot-proof 'blob' rather than a GR) where I am in relation to the route. (Hopefully not too far off!)
I was considering a Garmin Edge 605 (c.£190 complete with bike mount) plus Memory Map (c.£190 for complete GB)
However, the Active 10 (c.£290) plus SatMap complete GB (c.£190) is a possibility. Trouble is, I have to add another £25 for a bike mount and £44 for the (apparently advisable) power pack.
So, the Active 10 package would cost me an extra £170 over the Garmin/MM package.
My question (finally) is: what advantage is there, apart from getting the maps already on SD rather than CD and not having to plan/load routes through a PC, in the Active 10 ?Paul
First you need to establish what sort of use you intend for whatever device you get. If it's only off-road cycling you're doing and you would be happy to stop moving to consult your GPS (which is actually the way the Satmap people tested the A10 for "cycling"!) you are basically using it in the same manner as a walker would. Clarity of screen isn't an issue, which it is if you're using it road cycling and trying to read it at speed and especially if you're in a pack of riders. I imagine you'd need to stop to read any GPS when off-road cycling because of the vibration. In these circumstances, I'd go for the Satmap every time, because you can get very good battery life, especially using the "Advanced (power saving) mode and if you allow the screen to shut down frequently. Yes the Li-pol pack improves this considerably, but you could try rechargeables first and get the Li-pol if you find you're out for very long periods. The Satmap is also a better bet if you want to divert from a loaded route and navigate "free-form" just by looking at the map. You can zoom out to larger scale maps to get a good overall view and then zoom in to fine tune your direction. With my Garmin, if I zoom out much, the map loses all detail and I can't tell where I am. The Satmap bike mount is a bit clunky, as it's actually made to carry a heavy Abus D-lock, but it's pretty secure and Satmap say they tested it off-road . There's no way my Garmin bike mount would survive off-road, although more current models than mine have different fittings and the Edge range may well be OK as they're purpose built for bikes.
Where my Garmin scores over my Satmap is: (a) the Trip Data (distance, speed, etc.) seems rather more accurate (when I download the track into Memory Map the distance agrees with the MMap track data; the Satmap is usually short by a good 5%, largely because it shortcuts corners because it doesn't lay down as many trackpoints, at least as far as the Trip Data is concerned); (b) the Garmin (GPSmap 60 CSx) screen is very clear compared with the A10 and can be easily read in strong sunlight without any backlight on at all; and (c) the simplicity of the Garmin maps makes it easy to read a track at speed on a bike.
Now that Satmap have put out their new software and cured the early bugs (fingers crossed) and given the type of use (I think) you want to put it to I think it's the way to go. Bear in mind though that if you want to download routes from others and upload them to the A10, not all .gpx files go easily into the Satmap (although I haven't tried the very latest version of SatSYNC yet, so this may be better now - ?) Also, composing routes on the Satmap if you haven't any separate mapping software e.g. Memory Map is a bit tiresome by comparison - it rather depends upon the length of route you'll be doing.
After more research, I've finally twigged that the Active 10 is the only one where you get actual OS maps on your device screen as you are riding/walking/crawling.
That makes a difference, and as they gradually seem to be ironing out the glitches, I am leaning more towards the Active 10
Joined: Jun 13, 2006 Posts: 45 Location: Berkshire
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 4:48 pm Post subject:
I pondered quite a bit as well.
I was going for another Garmin initially before I spotted the Satmap. They certainly have ironed out a lot of the initial niggles and I for one certainly don't regret taking the plunge. I use to run an Ipaq 2210 with Anquet OS mapping and a seperate GPS reciever connected via Bluetooth as well as a Garmin Vista. Satmap does everything they do and more besides but in one convenient rugged unit.
Satmap as a company are extremely helpful and obliging if you do have problems and deal with it straight away, well that has been my experience anyway.
Map cards can get expensive if you travel to different areas to walk/cycle or crawl but that is the only downside and personally I don't mind paying that for OS mapping that is conveniently stored on a tiny SD card to pop into the A10 and have it all there on a screen in front of you. Very convenient on a hilltop in a howling gale! _________________ I Go To The Hills.............
Garmin 12XL
Garmin Vista
Satmap A10
Anquet Maps 6.2.10
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