Do you use GPS navigation?

For on road nav Garmin all the way.

Bought my first in 2009 been updating maps whenever i remember. Off road doesn't seem likely unless its a more established road network ie gravel or still a road. for sub 100 bucks on sale with lifetime map updates its worth every penny. Won't be 7 inches but onroad i've never needed bigger than 4, they have 5 thats are pretty reasonablely priced.

Might try a tablet teathered with Google earth for offroad oriented things. Being in the US, its unlikely there is anywhere that still has sub standard sat imagery (try northern canada if you want to see vague).

For all offtrail type nav (snowmobile for example, trails not roads), i typically pre plan in Google earth and upload the paths to my other hand held garmin that i mount. DNR GPS DNRGPS Application: Minnesota DNR
can convert most objects in google earth to an exchangable format, like *.GPX. Again not a 7 inch screen but can make a road where there has never been.

What I use with a external Garmin GPS module.

I don't know about your area but here in CO they have a site with local trails and have a program compatible with Garmin to upload the trails and can be viewed multiple ways including 3D elevation.

Oh and even GPS is not infallible,look at the bottom left corner and it shows my top speed reached(yes that is Miles Per Hour),worlds fasted KJ.

ive got a garmin in the back that i use if i have to make significant detours but in general i dont need one, but ive got like a garmin d630 or whatever it is

What Mudd said...

I've been a big GPS user since before SA was turned off. I Geocache as well. I've probably owned 20 units, hand held, boat and auto. Started by using for fishing, added Geocaching then auto as it became available.

Phones are nice, but small but way to often I have no cell service. I even keep an older smaller GPS and power cables in the seat pocket as many times I don't have the main unit in the car.

I actually was running a laptop with street and trips from DeLorme tied into it before you could by a auto PS. Used it for some trails on a trip to Colorado and finding some spots on the Hiway.

I will only use Garmin now for Navigation. I currently have an older large screen Nuvi, but have current hiway maps and an older set of Topo maps as well.

AFAIK - none of the topo maps are great - but mine are several years old. They have saved me from a jam a few times though. Unless you know how to navigate and read maps WELL, then topo is not good for a rookie.

You will find that topo for a Garmin - look here for examples.

GPS Maps | Outdoor Maps | Garmin

You can install these , and other maps to most newer units. You can use the PC ahead of time to view and set up trials or points - probably one of the best uses.

On road - most are ok - with the understanding - nothing is perfect.

FWIW - I also carry a small Droid tablet with selected states installed. It's similar to Google maps but everything is in memory and no cell connection needed. It's better that the small GPS screens if I need to actually see a map that is larger. Saved me several miles and hours in the Smokies a few years ago.

tjkj2002 said:

Oh and even GPS is not infallible,look at the bottom left corner and it shows my top speed reached(yes that is Miles Per Hour),worlds fasted KJ.

Click to expand...

Nice to see that I'm not the only one trying for some land speed records.



Scott

I have a Garmin Nuvi 2797LMT(7" screen, lifetime maps and traffic)
It`s my third Garmin and here in the great white north there not even spotty cell service 100 miles north of the Trans Canada Highway. I use it in my motorhome, then transfer it to the KJ when I stop to camp or visit an attraction.
It is my first 7"GPS, I`d never go back to a smaller screen.
My 2797 was $289 on Amazon.Com and $289 on Amazon.ca $60.00 Cdn less, so be sure to shop arround.

My older Garmin Street Pilot IIIPlus had much better trip planning software but the map upgrades were arround US$120.00 each

I use this, and GPS on my phone.

CD mount.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B01D0UXIFU/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Tinkrr said:

I have a Garmin Nuvi 2797LMT(7" screen, lifetime maps and traffic)
It`s my third Garmin and here in the great white north there not even spotty cell service 100 miles north of the Trans Canada Highway. I use it in my motorhome, then transfer it to the KJ when I stop to camp or visit an attraction.
It is my first 7"GPS, I`d never go back to a smaller screen.
My 2797 was $289 on Amazon.Com and $289 on Amazon.ca $60.00 Cdn less, so be sure to shop arround.

Click to expand...

My wife bought me this one last year for Father's Day to replace my older Garmin Nuvi 1490LMT which was starting to have issues with the touchscreen. I've been very happy with it as well.

Scott

I have NAV in my GTI and I never use it, my phone is much better and faster than the GPS system. I use Waze most of the time, if I had an android unit that connected to my phone or AppleCarPlay then it might be different but my phone with Bluetooth always seemed to be just fine. I have a Galaxy Note5 so the screen is big enough for me but I see why a nice GPS unit would work for you.

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

K9JEEP said:

I have NAV in my GTI and I never use it, my phone is much better and faster than the GPS system. I use Waze most of the time, if I had an android unit that connected to my phone or AppleCarPlay then it might be different but my phone with Bluetooth always seemed to be just fine. I have a Galaxy Note5 so the screen is big enough for me but I see why a nice GPS unit would work for you.

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

Click to expand...

Using a phone for GPS is useless in my neck of the woods when 99% of all trails have no cell service in Colorado.

tjkj2002 said:

Using a phone for GPS is useless in my neck of the woods when 99% of all trails have no cell service in Colorado.

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Smart phones with GPS receivers (are there even any without anymore) don't use cell towers for GPS tracking. They receive their signals directly from the same GPS satellites that stand alone GPS units do.

CactusJacked said:

Smart phones with GPS receivers (are there even any without anymore) don't use cell towers for GPS tracking. They receive their signals directly from the same GPS satellites that stand alone GPS units do.

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And those of us without unlimited data plans pay a hefty premium for that kind of GPS. I was told that when I called AT&T to complain about the extra charges on my bill during power outages. The tech was going over all the various settings I had enabled (actually, AT&T default settings after an update). That's when I learned that my phone's GPS counts toward my plan's minutes/megabytes.

There's an awful lot to take into consideration when trying to determine what GPS solution to get. There's certainly no one-size-fits-all.

CactusJacked said:

Smart phones with GPS receivers (are there even any without anymore) don't use cell towers for GPS tracking. They receive their signals directly from the same GPS satellites that stand alone GPS units do.

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True - but unless you have stored maps they need to use data. Even Google Map has limits as too how much stored data.

Jim McClain said:

And those of us without unlimited data plans pay a hefty premium for that kind of GPS. I was told that when I called AT&T to complain about the extra charges on my bill during power outages. The tech was going over all the various settings I had enabled (actually, AT&T default settings after an update). That's when I learned that my phone's GPS counts toward my plan's minutes/megabytes.

There's an awful lot to take into consideration when trying to determine what GPS solution to get. There's certainly no one-size-fits-all.

Click to expand...

Very true and not everyone has a smart phone and a $200+ monthly phone plan.


They had this very same argument/discussion on a local offroad forum and when all was said and done the dedicated GPS unit won out in every argument.Your average Garmin or TomTom was a secondary choice to the better units out there but cost significantly more.

I still use a Garmin Nuvi GPS unit in my vehicles
but the maps are so out of date or inaccurate.
I can't trust it not to get me lost.

Sometimes I use my cellphone and Google Maps or Waze but it's illegal to use your cellphone while driving.

On the trail I load topo maps into my Nuvi.
I'd rather use it than my cellphone on the trails.
My phone is too valuable.


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LibertyFever said:

I still use a Garmin Nuvi GPS unit in my vehicles
but the maps are so out of date or inaccurate.
I can't trust it not to get me lost.

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If they are out of date, why don't you update them?

Scott

Google maps is great if you pre-download the map. Otherwise I have my generic Tom Tom from college that still works. Recently updated too.