GPS advice

[RC]

Can I get some advice re. a GPS?
I've narrowed it down to one of Etrex models as I want something with user replaceable batteries and can be used for other activities. I'm not too concerned regarding some of the more cycling specific metrics, I want to navigate and record where I've been etc BUT...
I had an early model many years ago (yellow) and just could not get on with it (sold on eBay shortly after purchase). With the newer ones
-are the maps pre installed okay to use, or would I need to buy others? If so, and recommendations?
-whats a good platform for generating bike/running GPX routes?
-does there exist a really really simple idiots guide to using this device?
-is there something better I should be considering?
Thanks for any advice!

[Jdsk]

What's your price range?

How big a screen do you want?

What countries would you like it to cover?

Jonathan

[Jdsk]

-whats a good platform for generating bike/running GPX routes?

I use a big range of sites for setting up tours.

But how about staring with cycle.travel?
https://cycle.travel/map
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=128273

Jonathan

[Jdsk]

-is there something better I should be considering?

I suggest including a smart 'phone in your option appraisal. Think about weather protection, battery life, and it falling on the ground.

What have you got at the moment?

Jonathan

[RC]

Thanks all,
I haven't been using GPS at all really, I'm coming from more of a fell running background where such devices are banned!
Starting to do more cycling, and would like to try some audax events, extend mountain bike routes etc. without the faff of stopping all the time to look at a paper map. Also GPS would be good for recce of running routes
-I've thought about phone, but battery life/fragility/rain maybe an issue
-mapping mainly to cover UK in detail and then rest of EU in order of preference
-price range, £250ish?

[mattheus]

-mapping mainly to cover UK in detail and then rest of EU in order of preference
-price range, £250ish?

I have an eTrex 20-series. (and I recently killed an earlier 2016-ish model). Both came preloaded with very adequate road maps for Western Europe.
(There are lots of free updates if you read around online - not Garmin ones, I believe - but I've never bothered, and yet to have a problem!)

[Nigel]

Can I get some advice re. a GPS?
I've narrowed it down to one of Etrex models as I want something with user replaceable batteries and can be used for other activities. I'm not too concerned regarding some of the more cycling specific metrics, I want to navigate and record where I've been etc BUT...
I had an early model many years ago (yellow) and just could not get on with it (sold on eBay shortly after purchase). With the newer ones
-are the maps pre installed okay to use, or would I need to buy others? If so, and recommendations?

Check the mapping options carefully. You have broadly these options inside the Etrex, most need you to put an additional SD card for storage within the Etrex:


a) OS maps at 1:50,000 or 1:25,000. These are expensive (garmin specific format), but a lot cheaper if bought when you buy the Etrex. ( You can't load paper maps into it with the "scratch codes" on newer paper maps).

b) Public domain mapping. All derived from Open Street Map work (OSM). There are pre-compiled UK maps from a supplier called "TalkyToaster" who has been at this sort of thing for years and seems to do a good job - there is a small fee for some of his maps. I've used the free public domain UK options on a Garmin Etrex for 15+ years, including hill walking and road cycle navigation.

c) The supplied base-map from Garmin with the unit. Its better than it used to be, but it's a maker's "freebie" to make the unit vaguely usable after purchase.


With any of the above, you need to know if the map is suitable for "turn by turn" navigation (like a car navigation system) or not. Older maps for Etrex devices didn't support turn-by-turn navigation. Newer ones (including public domain options) can support it. With it, you can put in a route from "town A to town B" as just that, and the device will find the route along roads, giving warning of "turn right in 100 yards", etc.. If you go "off-course" the device will re-calculated a new route. You can still navigate "straight line between points" if you wish.

For Cycling, either the touch-screen, or joy-stick screen models will do the job. The top versions with barometer/magnetic compass are an option, but probably not needed for road riding - those features really come into their own when hill walking.


Garmin's "BaseCamp" software works. Its a bit clunky old-fashioned. But it does the job of putting routes into the GPS, getting records out, etc..



- Nigel

[Tangled Metal]

Google gps training as their website has a lot of info. They also do a gps recommendation based on a few Qs or call them.

Buying from them might not be the cheapest but their tech support is the best aiui and they get the unit set up before sending out. None of that setup rigmarole like you get with new phones.

[freeflow]

Here we go again. Just to state yet again I've been using smartphones on my handlebars for navigating bike rides (including Audax of 300km) with no significant issues since 2013. A smart phone is a reasonable place to start (if you have one) and then move on to specialist devices if the smartphone is unable to meet your requirements.

[Tangled Metal]

Here comes the cocktail party moment again!

[mattheus]

Here we go again. Just to state yet again I've been using smartphones on my handlebars for navigating bike rides (including Audax of 300km) with no significant issues since 2013. A smart phone is a reasonable place to start (if you have one) and then move on to specialist devices if the smartphone is unable to meet your requirements.

Surely a car would be better? Especially for travelling 300k in a day.

Many new cars now come with Sat Nav ("GPS") pre-installed. I've never got lost with one; and never had battery issues with them, even driving well in excess of 300km in one day.

[RC]

I do have an electric car with built in GPS but its probably against the spirit of the events I want to take part in.

[mattheus]

I do have an electric car with built in GPS but its probably against the spirit of the events I want to take part in.

[Tangled Metal]

I do have an electric car with built in GPS but its probably against the spirit of the events I want to take part in.

It would seem that the current plan too cope with truck driver shortage is for longer drives. Now isn't that in the spirit of audax?

[Valbrona]

-is there something better I should be considering?
Thanks for any advice!

A map. Seriously.