New kid on the block - DeLorme Handeld GPS

[BajaTaco]

This unit looks pretty incredible.

Earthmate GPS PN-20 (http://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/DELibeCCtpItmDspRte.jsp?section=10106&item=25482&minisite=10020)

A handheld w/SD card, and displays Topo USA, USGS 7.5 topos, Street maps, and Aerials.

$369.95 (comes w/Topo USA)

http://www.delorme.com/images/homepage/Promo_PN20.jpg

[Ursidae69]

Oh man, why did you post that.......... :drool: :drool:

[slooowr6]

:smilies27 Oh boy, I was set on getting a Garmin 60CSx. Anyone know what's SiGE RF? Is it similar to SiRF the Garmin has? I have NUVI 350 with SiRF it can retain signal pretty good.

[chet]

looks cool does anyone know if Delorme offers Topo maps for outside the US? Couldn't see any on their website.:punk03:

[RoundOut]

That looks like a very capable unit, color, w/ maps, interface cable, etc. It also seems reasonably priced, too, but I have never purchased or owned a handheld GPS, so I don't have any datapoints to compare it with.

[shane4x4]

This baby is definetly on my 'wish list'

[adamonearth]

Mine just showed up this morning, so after I get it figured out, I'll post up my review. So far, I am very very impressed by the build quality and what's included in the package. It appears to be nearly indestructible. :D

[ArchaeoTaco]

Cool - I was waiting for them to come out with a car mount before getting this unit, and was pleased to see their website update this morning.

I was a little disappointed to see a windshield mount (http://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/DELibeCCtpItmDspRte.jsp?section=10095&item=25594), though:

http://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/GPSAccessories/images/PN20_VehicleMount.jpg

I'm somewhat leery of windshield mounts since I don't really trust suction cups to withstand the bumps and jerks of offroading. What are your guys recommendations? Has anyone here had good/bad experiences with mounting GPS units on the windshield versus the dash?

I was also looking at this option: a ProFit miGrip universal holder (http://www.pro-fit-intl.com/migrip/) mounted on a loboy with flexpad (http://www.pro-fit-intl.com/loboy/).

http://www.pro-fit-intl.com/migrip/images/miGrip-1.jpg
http://www.pro-fit-intl.com/loboy/Images/LB_sm_1.jpg

This system looks sturdy, and would allow me to attach the unit beside the dash, to the left of the steering wheel:

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g212/johnkew/Tacoma/gpsmount.jpg

My only hesitation here is whether or not the miGrip fits the gps unit well enough to secure it. The unit is a little longer than the suggested dimensions of the miGrip, which seems to be built more for iPods and smaller devices.

[Ryanmb21]

any updates on performance?

[esh]

I really like the fact it will let you load put 7.5' and aerial images into the device, and let you switch between those layers with the base map. FINALLY a manufacturer gets that some people want more than crappy 100k or 500k level maps INSIDE their unit.

From their FAQ it appears that Delorme also seems to get the benefit of the old scanned quad maps, their historical POIs, and has allowances for this data.

All it needs is an external antenna connection, necessary anywhere with significant tree cover imho.

It may be possible that gpscity.com has a RAM mount for this thing along the lines of what you want at the corner of your dash.

[Ryanmb21]

Thanks for the quick response...

In reading the review, the processer is described as "slow", and at times maps take a long time to load. In your eyes would this be a problem when driving at highway speeds?

[adamonearth]

The processor does seem slightly burdened, but that's because of the detailed topo maps. I also know that I made a few errors when compiling the maps from TOPO 3D to my hand held, and I could have made them in such a way as to speed load times. Delorme has a forum, and the engineers seem to log on and listen to what people want. They did a firmware update within a couple of days, based on some early suggestions. My understanding is that you'll be able to load the next release of Street Atlas USA maps onto the device, which are more like the vector type maps on other units and they will reduce the load on the processor for those times when topo maps aren't needed. My feeling is that while it is noticeable, the processor speed doesn't detract from the utility at all.

I have found that it is fairly accurate, and I can pick up a good signal inside the cab of my Tacoma. I have never owned another GPS unit before, although I did borrow a Magellan Explorist 500 for a week. I did like that the Magellan would give me mph down to the 10th of a mph. The Delorme gives whole numbers.

I really really like using TOPO 3D that comes with it. I really wound up getting two products, as TOPO is a very powerful program by itself. I have not yet downloaded any of my free aerial images yet, so I can't comment on those.

One last thing is that it picks up signals very quickly, and I have been using it all week on the same set of off-brand alkaline batteries. They claim 14 hours on 2 AA's, but I know I've already gone past that. I think they print all their test results under worst case scenarios.

I will update this with a much more thorough review when the arctic blast that we are having lifts, and I get a chance to use it for a driving/hiking/camping trip over the course of a weekend and really put it to the test. Hopefully within a couple of weeks.

[Ryanmb21]

Thanks for the update, I'm really hoping this product will be the one for me

[flyingwil]

I will update this with a much more thorough review when the arctic blast that we are having lifts, and I get a chance to use it for a driving/hiking/camping trip over the course of a weekend and really put it to the test. Hopefully within a couple of weeks.

Any updates?

[Ryanmb21]

I see the price on the delorme site is from $370-$450, does anybody recommend the "deluxe bundle"?

Any new updates after a couple months of use?

[flyingwil]

I see the price on the delorme site is from $370-$450, does anybody recommend the "deluxe bundle"?

Any new updates after a couple months of use?

The deluxe bundles is nice, just needs a mount. Still have yet to play with mine, but I am slowly getting there...

[erin]

So Wil, short of your toss around the truck test, what are your impressions of this unit?

[flyingwil]

So Wil, short of your toss around the truck test, what are your impressions of this unit?

So far I really like it. I am still learning a few tricks of it, and the Delorme Forum helps out in learning this and that. The GPS is able to keep locked on the sat's in canyons and other area's I have had my old one fail.

The processer is a bit underpowered, but that is also a trade off for longer battery life, and is manageable.

Another quick downfall is that there is not a single mount specifically designed for the unit yet. Even the unit Delorme sells is a universal mount that works.

Here is some screen shots of it (now that I have learned how to do that!)
Here is some smaller GPS screen shots...

http://www.sierraexpeditions.com/ExPo/screencap-2007-05-03--20-53-39.bmp

http://www.sierraexpeditions.com/ExPo/screencap-2007-05-03--20-58-36.bmp

[erin]

Sounds good, I will keep this one as an option while I keep researching what I want.

[slooowr6]

REI is carrying it now. I get to play with it a little at REI, just like Wil said it's a little under power speed wise. Should not be a problem when using on trail just need to be patient when scrolling the map manually.