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Lew Smith
Guest
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 Posted:
Fri Dec 09, 2005 5:08 pm Post subject:
Using handheld GPS for car nav |
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Is it feasible to use a hiking GPS e.g. Magellan eXplorist 200 for
automobile navigation?
Lew Smith |
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Brian Morrison
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Dec 09, 2005 11:11 pm Post subject:
Re: Using handheld GPS for car nav |
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Lew Smith wrote:
| Quote: | Is it feasible to use a hiking GPS e.g. Magellan eXplorist 200 for
automobile navigation?
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I have used a Garmin GPS V hand-held portable GPS in this fashion, and
before it a III+ and II+, so yes you can but there are always caveats.
Ideally you need something with the ability to autoroute, this may be
possible with your Magellan but I don't know as I've never owned a
Magellan GPSR and am not familiar with the software and maps it
supports. It also helps if the GPS maps and receiver software understand
that cars are nearly always on roads (so a lock to road function is
good) although since SA disappeared 5 years or more ago it has been less
of a problem.
Also be aware that you might need an external antenna, newer GPSRs are
much more sensitive than they used to be, but older types can find that
the metal structure of the car reduces the number of SVs in view and
degrades accuracy or even causes a fix to be lost.
--
Brian Morrison
please observe reply-to address |
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peter
Guest
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| Posted:
Sat Dec 10, 2005 12:03 am Post subject:
Re: Using handheld GPS for car nav |
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Lew Smith wrote:
| Quote: | Is it feasible to use a hiking GPS e.g. Magellan eXplorist 200 for
automobile navigation?
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There are quite a few handheld models that can work well for vehicular
naviagation, but that particular model isn't well suited. The
eXplorist 200 has only a rough basemap, no ability to load detailed
maps, and no factory-supported option to even interface to a laptop
that could give you better maps and navigation instructions.
Better handhelds would be models like the 60c/cs and 76c/cs from Garmin
or the eXplorist 400/500/600 from Magellan. These can load
NavTeq-based detail maps (CitySelect and DirectRoute, resp.) and
provide auto-routing. |
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Roy Lewallen
Guest
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| Posted:
Sat Dec 10, 2005 1:08 am Post subject:
Re: Using handheld GPS for car nav |
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Lew Smith wrote:
| Quote: | Is it feasible to use a hiking GPS e.g. Magellan eXplorist 200 for
automobile navigation?
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Sure. I use my Garman 76CS for both backpacking and auto navigation.
When hiking, I load road and topo maps, use the auto navigating features
to get to the trailhead, then switch to the topo map. I've used it for a
couple of cross-country auto trips and three weeks driving in the U.K.
Getting to Caerlaverock castle, the tank museum at Bovington, or
Bletchley Park were simple matters of finding them on the POI list and
telling the unit to Go To. (Note, however, that the proprietary Garmin
Europe maps with autorouting are pretty spendy.)
The dedicated auto units have voice directions and larger screens, but I
find the 76CS to be adequate for most auto uses. You can hook the GPS to
a laptop running mapping software and get a really big screen and voice
directions, if you want. This is an option with just about any GPS.
The 60CS has the same software, and is lighter and a bit smaller. I
chose the 76CS for its larger memory, which I've come to appreciate.
Roy Lewallen |
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Lew Smith
Guest
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| Posted:
Sat Dec 10, 2005 1:08 am Post subject:
Re: Using handheld GPS for car nav |
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I am very much obliged. You have given me several ideas to ponder.
Lew Smith |
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Lew Smith
Guest
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| Posted:
Sat Dec 10, 2005 1:08 am Post subject:
Re: Using handheld GPS for car nav |
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Much obliged.
Lew Smith |
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sierra
Guest
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| Posted:
Sat Dec 10, 2005 1:08 am Post subject:
Re: Using handheld GPS for car nav |
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I've used a Garmin GPS V in a BMW 3-series and VW Golf without an
external antenna. The only problem is the limited memory available;
this restricts the amount of maps that can be loaded. Probably OK for
day-trips, but you'll need to take a laptop along for extended trips,
so that you can load the next day's maps. |
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Ed ke6bnl
Guest
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| Posted:
Sat Dec 10, 2005 5:08 pm Post subject:
Re: Using handheld GPS for car nav |
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I have been using my magellan platinim in the car with mapsend DIRECT
ROUTE that uses beebes and messages to direct you to a location. THis
is my first gps and haven't yet brought it out camping and fishing. Ed |
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Travel by GPS
Guest
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| Posted:
Sun Dec 11, 2005 1:08 am Post subject:
Re: Using handheld GPS for car nav |
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As Roy wrote:
"You can hook the GPS to a laptop running mapping software and get a
really big screen and voice directions, if you want. This is an option
with just about any GPS."
I highly recommend DeLorme Street Atlas software, assuming you only
need U.S. coverage. One of the neat features of Street Atlas is the
GPS "Radar" that will tell you of approaching points of interst, which
you specify by catetory (gas station, coffee shop, grocery...) and by
range ( number of miles ahead). I typically use a Bluetooth GPS to
keep down on cables in the cockpit, but I've also used my trusty Garmin
12XL and GPSMap 76 connected through the serial port. You might feel a
little goofy wearing a headset microphone, but it really improves your
ability to hear the voice prompts and use voice commands. DeLorme let
you do voice training to optimize voice recognition. Check with local
laws regarding wearing headsets while driving. I use a headset that
covers only one ear. Best to let someone else do the driving while you
have fun navigating.
It is getting a little out dated but there is still lots of good info
on the subject in my article, "Navigating Between the Ditches"
http://www.travelbygps.com/articles/tutorials.php#carnav
I hope this helps!
- Doug
www.TravelByGPS.com
Travel by GPS (tm) Maps Waypoints and Tracks to Adventure |
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Jack Erbes
Guest
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| Posted:
Sun Dec 11, 2005 7:32 am Post subject:
Re: Using handheld GPS for car nav |
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Lew Smith wrote:
| Quote: | Is it feasible to use a hiking GPS e.g. Magellan eXplorist 200 for
automobile navigation?
|
That is not really a hiking GPS, it does not have any topo detail on its
basemap.
That is the lowest level mapping GPS receiver that Magellan makes. It
won't use MapSend DirectRoute NA which would be needed for you to have
street level detail and an autorouting capability. The eXplorist 210
will use some MapSend products but the 210's capabilities are pretty
minimal, it only has 22mb of available memory for MapSend uploads (no SD
cards). The eXplorist 400, 500, and 600 can use more MapSend products
and have SD cards to provide virtually unlimited expansion memory for
additional mapping.
The built in base map on the 200 has major highways and roads (basically
all national highways and major state highways). You could place
waypoints along the roads (one at every change in roads?) as seen on the
basemap and use those for an auto navigation aid. It would not be easy
with routes being limited to 25 waypoints, and it would not be pleasant
to use as there are no prompts for turns or anything else.
The legs would be seen as straight line vectors from one waypoint to
another (the vectors and cursor positions would not coincide with
roadways except coincidentally) and road segments would not be
highlighted or anything.
In my opinion, the answer is no.
Jack
--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA - jackerbes at adelphia dot net
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine.com) |
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Phil Wheeler
Guest
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| Posted:
Sun Dec 11, 2005 8:13 am Post subject:
Re: Using handheld GPS for car nav |
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Jack Erbes wrote:
| Quote: | Lew Smith wrote:
Is it feasible to use a hiking GPS e.g. Magellan eXplorist 200 for
automobile navigation?
That is not really a hiking GPS, it does not have any topo detail on its
basemap.
|
I know of no hiking GPSR with "topo detail on its basemap". All those I
know of have the topo maps loaded from a computer. But tell me of some
with topo maps in their basemap set, please.
Hiking GPSRs (IMHO) are more distinguished by their feature set than
having topo maps loaded or not. Things like size, battery life, weight,
Go-To capability, waypoint, routes ... and being weatherproof .. are
really the distinguishing factors. There is a more systematic
discussion here:
http://gpsinformation.us/main/gpshiking.htm
Some hiking GPSRs (e.g., Garmin 60C/CS) will do automobile nav if loaded
with the appropriate map set such as City Select.
Phil |
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peter
Guest
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| Posted:
Sun Dec 11, 2005 8:25 am Post subject:
Re: Using handheld GPS for car nav |
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Phil Wheeler wrote:
| Quote: | Jack Erbes wrote:
Lew Smith wrote:
Is it feasible to use a hiking GPS e.g. Magellan eXplorist 200 for
automobile navigation?
That is not really a hiking GPS, it does not have any topo detail on its
basemap.
I know of no hiking GPSR with "topo detail on its basemap". All those I
know of have the topo maps loaded from a computer. But tell me of some
with topo maps in their basemap set, please.
|
Magellan's 'SporTrak Topo' was one. But that's really beside the point
- the eXplorist 200 has no advertized capability of loading any
detailed map so all you have is a very coarse basemap showing some of
the main highways. |
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Jack Erbes
Guest
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| Posted:
Sun Dec 11, 2005 11:51 pm Post subject:
Re: Using handheld GPS for car nav |
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Phil Wheeler wrote:
| Quote: | Jack Erbes wrote:
Lew Smith wrote:
Is it feasible to use a hiking GPS e.g. Magellan eXplorist 200 for
automobile navigation?
That is not really a hiking GPS, it does not have any topo detail on
its basemap.
I know of no hiking GPSR with "topo detail on its basemap". All those I
know of have the topo maps loaded from a computer. But tell me of some
with topo maps in their basemap set, please.
|
I don't know of any either. I did not say there were any.
Jack
--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA - jackerbes at adelphia dot net
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine.com) |
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Steve m...
Guest
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| Posted:
Tue Dec 13, 2005 8:04 am Post subject:
Re: Using handheld GPS for car nav |
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"peter" <prathman@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:1134267904.494401.27860@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
| Quote: | Phil Wheeler wrote:
Jack Erbes wrote:
Lew Smith wrote:
Is it feasible to use a hiking GPS e.g. Magellan eXplorist 200 for
automobile navigation?
That is not really a hiking GPS, it does not have any topo detail on
its
basemap.
I know of no hiking GPSR with "topo detail on its basemap". All those I
know of have the topo maps loaded from a computer. But tell me of some
with topo maps in their basemap set, please.
Magellan's 'SporTrak Topo' was one. But that's really beside the point
- the eXplorist 200 has no advertized capability of loading any
detailed map so all you have is a very coarse basemap showing some of
the main highways.
|
I have a SporTrak Topo (118mb memory) unit. That's the one with built in
Topo Base maps of the whole US. Mine came with cd downloadable detail maps
too but I've found that the base maps are detailed enough for most uses.
There are a lot of roads as well in there and it's all fairly accurate
considering it's got the whole US in there. I have used the cd's detail
maps for downloading the track logs and displaying and printing them off.
They are very nice in this users eyes.
Steve |
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