Experienced fell walker, novice at GPS

[iamian16]

I'm very happy with Ordnance Survey 1:25000 (Explorer) maps and can navigate with this and a compass, so why do I need a GPS?

I guess because I like the idea of being sure where I am and to give a little more confidence in poorer conditions.

I need a hand-held device with OS datum and maps of say 1:25000 resolution. I like the idea of having a graphical presentation, I'd also like to be able to programme in way points from a PC (preferably from an OS map) before I set out, but also to update the route with new points if we change our minds mid-trek. For example to stop and set a way point / reference point for where we are "now".

Battery life should be 6 - 8 hours which may rule out a PDA?

Most of our walking is in the UK, but not necessarily in the National Parks.

Just where do I start?

[mikealder]

You can take a look at the established products such as Memory Map which will run on the PC and a PDA, the downside is the PDA it is vulnerable to damage from the elements, to house it you need something like an Otter box to afford it some protection.
As for battery life it is possible to get 8 hours from a PDA running Memory Map, but only if you take precautions to save power, minimal backlight etc.

An alternative is the SatMap active10 which does offer ten hours from a single set of 3 AA batteries (and you can swap them if need be for a replacement set) - mapping is available at 50K and 25K, as yet we are still waiting for the PC planning software to show up, so this is a bit of an unknown at the moment - Mike

[iamian16]

Thanks Mike.

Do I infer that there is nothing that quite does what I want other than the power hungry PDA?

[mikealder]

As it stands I don't think there is anything that can met your full needs, OS maps on a device are rather limited, there are a couple of suppliers for the maps/ application but you are stuck with the PDA to run it effectively, I have tried OS maps on a Smart Phone, but the screen is very small and the application is somewhat lacking in terms of capability.
As I said in the last post take a look at the SatMap device, see This forum section for some additional information, but as yet this cannot do PC based route planning - Mike

[bradders2]

Hi,
I have used an extended battery with an HP iPAQ and Memory Map. This will give the battery usage required, but makes the package a lot more bulky. As Mike stated, the unit is extremely vulnerable to the elements and also knocks. I tried a Proporta PDA Crystal Case (which I had to modify for the larger battery) to give a measure of splash protection. Additionally, I found that the screen was not properly daylight readable, even at full brightness. After persevering for a number of walks, I gave up and went for a Garmin Etrex Summit, which I have found to be quite adequate. However, I do miss the graphical route display with your track superimposed!

_________________
Chris B

Garmin nuvi 2595LMT
Garmin nuvi 760T
Memory Map Adventurer 2800

[mikealder]

Well I did used to have a custom battery pack built into my Otter box, until I stupidly charged it up using the wrong charger, the net result was battery parts all over the kitchen the following morning! - I have since built another one though I find the active 10 is a better device out on the fells - even more so now its getting cold

Here is some information from a previous post:

[bradders2]

Nice photo Mike, but does look a bit of a Heath Robinson to be taking out on the fells!!! I suppose one currently available alternative (at some cost) is the Garmin etrex Vista Cx or similar. I've only seen one in a shop, unpowered and my opinion was that the screen seemed extremely small and looked like it would only cover a small map area at a readable zoom setting.
Chris B
_________________
Chris B

Garmin nuvi 2595LMT
Garmin nuvi 760T
Memory Map Adventurer 2800

[tanda]

I was going to say, Is something like THIS
What you are looking for. Its a bit like my e-trek, but it has maps.
_________________
Audi A3 Sline sat nav

[philpugh]

If you are used to using 1:25000 OSGB maps then nothing else will do for walking. Nothing else has the level of detail that is required for navigation. Things like wall boundaries are often the only detail visible to you. (But you aren't meant to use electricity pylons for navigation - their positions are not correctly surveyed in many instances.)

So it's down to 'Heath Robinson' solutions with boxes and batteries. I've tried Proporta power pack and a Pelibox (waterproof box with foam padding) but it gets too bulky. As I have mentioned elsewhere I prefer to use Anquet/Memory Map to plan a route and use a non-mapping GPS to hold the route(s) and waypoints (including some contingency waypoints). Then you can print off a specific map(s) with routes and waypoints marked on them. These can be used instead of the regular OS maps on the walk. With the paper map it is possible to manually enter 'emergency' waypoints for escape (or resort to good old compass bearings).

Devices like the SATMAP, hopefully, will develop into reliable solutions for rugged UK mapping - it's just the cost of "re-buying" the maps that is annoying at this point in time.
_________________
Phil

[bradders2]

philpugh wrote:

[philpugh]

[iamian16]

Thanks again for these responses.

Remembering I'm a novice at GPS! If I get say, a Garmin® etrex GPS Vista® Cx for example, can I plot the route using Memory Map on a PC and download the waypoints (Hope I'm getting this terminology right) onto the Garmin? What sort of image do I then get on the Garmin?

I would like to exploit the accuracy of the GPS device without the weak link being my +/- 100m precision in quoting a 6 figure OS reference, so loading waypoints digitally would be helpful.

I'm more than happy to take a paper map in any form. I very likely already have the 1:25000 sheet and usually laminate anything which won't be in the map case.

[bradders2]

iamian16 wrote:

Quote:

Remembering I'm a novice at GPS! If I get say, a Garmin® etrex GPS Vista® Cx for example, can I plot the route using Memory Map on a PC and download the waypoints (Hope I'm getting this terminology right) onto the Garmin? What sort of image do I then get on the Garmin? I would like to exploit the accuracy of the GPS device without the weak link being my +/- 100m precision in quoting a 6 figure OS reference, so loading waypoints digitally would be helpful.

You can download a route to a Garmin etrex using Memory Map. You plot your route with waypoints on Memory Map which uses 10 figure OS Grid Refs, so they are pretty accurate. On completion of your walk, you can upload your actual track back into Memory Map superimposed on your original route. I have found that using an etrex Summit (with no graphical map display) that my waypoints are usually within 8 metres of the intended position, which is quite acceptable (to me).

My etrex Summit and the basic etrex show a bearing and a distance to go with respect to the next waypoint. On arrival, it switches to the next waypoint. As has been said earlier, if the waypoints have been marked on a map, then navigation can progress along the route.

The Garmin etrex Venture, Legend??? and Vista have a map display with the route superimposed (I think). I have not seen one of these in action, but the screen area is quite small, so I would imagine they would be quite difficult to read unless you are displaying only a small map area.


Chris B


_________________
Chris B

Garmin nuvi 2595LMT
Garmin nuvi 760T
Memory Map Adventurer 2800

[philpugh]

[quote="bradders2]
The Garmin etrex Venture, Legend??? and Vista have a map display with the route superimposed (I think). I have not seen one of these in action, but the screen area is quite small, so I would imagine they would be quite difficult to read unless you are displaying only a small map area.
[/quote]

This is the usual problem with these devices - you don't get enough of a view on the small screen. The device you mention will only come with a base map - marking centres of large towns and some major roads. This is of zero use to an experienced walker. I'm with ChrisB here - use the basic function of the GPS device alongside familiar maps.
_________________
Phil

[iamian16]

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