Satmap Active 10 - In depth review now available

Type23 · Lifetime Member Joined: Jul 31, 2006 Posts: 39

Thanks for the comprehensive review. Wanted one as soon as I saw the gadget show but was waiting for your review before committing myself Very Happy

Now find that i cannot get hold of one for love nor money Sad

Anyone know of retailer who has them in stock ?
Am due to go on walking holiday to IOW late bank holiday in May. I'm a total novice regards walking gps / scale of map etc and been advised that I should forgo the IOW 1:25000 scale map which costs (£99! ouch!) and purchase the full UK map 1:50000 (£175 double ouch!) which represents better value. Looking at Satmaps site it states that you should choose the 1:25000 scale maps for walking, does anyone have an opinion/view on this ?
Do you think a book on using gps is a worthwhile companion or is using one of these devices pretty self explanatory,I consider myself technically savvy Embarassed

Your help is appreciated. Thank you.

Rgds

Rich

Darren · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 6:04 pm Post subject:

I have managed with 1:50k but 1:25k would be advised. Take a look at this post for a source of stock and a discount at the moment.

I wouldn't have thought a book was necessary, get the device, play with routes, ask questions and it'll all become clear Smile

_________________
Darren Griffin

mikealder · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 6:26 pm Post subject:

You can get the IOW map at 25K scale for £61 if you use the self centered map option, the IOW is 36KM x21KM so a self centered map sized 30x40 will do the trick, although it will contain a large area of water, I would give them a ring and discuss this as it might be possible to use the 30x30 option which gives you area for £55.
25K is far better for walking, but I use 50K from time to time, the only difference being the level of detail displayed. - Mke

FrequentFlyer · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 6:47 pm Post subject:

Don't forget...you don't 'pay for water'!

MrGumby · Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 2:31 pm Post subject:

Terrific review, well up to standard - thanks Darren!

Just one comment: I'm not at all convinced that Satmap's packaging "has clearly been given a lot of thought", at least not by them. It looks identical to the box my XDA Orbit 1 came in, bar the colour. I can't check, because I now have an Orbit 2 (with TT, had far too many routing problems with CPL7 and speed cam support seemed pretty useless), but I'd be willing to bet...

Darren · Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 3:04 pm Post subject:

Tis the same, I have an XDA that had similar packaging but it's probably a patented design, still nicer then the usual brown box though!
_________________
Darren Griffin

robs1972 · Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 6:27 pm Post subject:

FrequentFlyer · Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 6:41 pm Post subject:

MrGumby · Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 7:19 pm Post subject:

Benoit · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 14, 2008 Posts: 3

How do other peoples satellite fix times compare to those quoted in the review? I have had my A10 now for several months, and I'd say 10-20 mins is a more typical time to fix. I had just accepted this, but the review now makes me wonder if I've just got a bit of a dodgy unit. Sometimes it will lock-on pretty much straight away, but it has been known to take up to an hour! (This is with the v. 1.16 update installed, and advanced power saving on.) I also find that turning off advanced power saving reduces the accuracy/hold on a fix under tree cover, which is a nuisance, as I'd like to use the "track up" option which the advanced power saving disables more often. Does anyone else find this?

Also what classifies as a cold and a warm start? I find that if I have a fix and turn the unit off, if I turn it back on again in less than hour, it will get a sat fix almost instantly. If it's off for much more than an hour though, it seems like it has to start from scratch again.

Any info appreciated.

Darren · Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 1:42 pm Post subject:

A warm start could be classed as < 1hr between fixes. I've only ever seen TTFF as slow as you describe if I attempt a fix whilst moving though? From a cold start with device stationary and clear sky view I always get a fix within a few minutes at most?
_________________
Darren Griffin

LostMike · Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 5:46 pm Post subject:

I always find it has a fix by the time my boots are on, and that can be after a week with the machine off, and 50 miles between the last fix point and the latest.

Maybe I just tie my boots slowly!
_________________
LostMike
Satmap A10. Platform 21
Software version 1.5.9193
Satsync 1.525

mikealder · Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 5:52 pm Post subject:

Same here, I allways power up the device and put it it on the car roof and get changed, the active10 is ready to go by the time I have changed shoes for boots - Mike

FrequentFlyer · Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 7:11 pm Post subject:

Exactly...car roof as well !

	PocketGPS
	Web