SmitDog said:
I first looked at a Magellan <snip>
After some more research, I honed in on the Garmin eTrex Legend C
The Magellans are nice, guys that have them are very happy (at least the newer units). The rare few that have "switched" to Garmin have been pleased as well.
Garmin are "more" popular, I would look at their line of units.
Points to consider:
Where will you be using the GPS and how?
What do you want to do with it?
If on the bike, or in your hand (ie hunting, hiking) the eTrex series is great. The 60C is nicer but more costly as well. Many other models are not as suited (still can be used for it though) for hand held use.
If you only want to use it for knowing where you are and where you've been, most any mapping unit is fine. Detailed basemaps are a key point, Garmin has viewer programs on their website so you can see the coverage each map product has (some have better detail in the woods, some lean towards cities).
If you also want the GPS to autoroute, that being the ability to generate a turn by turn set of directions from your current location to another location, then you need a GPS with mapping and auto-route functionality. Say you are at Cedar Creek parking lot and need to get to Evart's parking lot - the autoroute functionality can tell you which roads to take and tell you when/where to turn -> as you are driving <-
I never use the autoroute, I don't have the map set that has this data in it.
The Legend C is a great choice. Color screen is fantastic, worth the extra money. Your computer will need USB ports to communicate with the GPS, the older GPS units have serial ports instead of USB.
If money is a big concern, the Legend non-color is also a great entry level mapping unit. If you have wads of cash oozing from your behind (hey, what cyclist doesn't) it would be worth your while to look at the 60C and then up the ladder.
SmitDog said:
1) I'd like to be able to download/use maps that you and/or the CCC have developed, but understand that there's not an open mapping format, so choosing the "right" brand is important for compatibility. Are all your map files in the Garmin format? I believe that the Garmin unit comes with MapSource Trip & Waypoint Manager CD, and the Americas Recreational base map. Is this all I would need to use your maps?
Good questions, you've done your homework well.
We will be starting with Garmin compatible maps. Once that's done, I will try to make Magellan maps as well, so it's a safer bet choosing Garmin is this is a concern for you.
The maps we will make available have not been finalized, although I have two "products" done and am contemplating the third. If you have just the North American (or worldwide) base map all you will see is major roads/cities, such as US-10 & I-75 and then add one of the following:
First there is just trail data. The trails, routes and parking lots will show on your map screen. This one is simple and easy to make available for Garmin & I think Magellan.
Second is a modified copy of Roads and Recreation - this will have all of Garmin's maps in it, plus it will have our mapped trails added in. It will work just like Garmin's product, but include stuff (trails) that were not there. Done this one too already, but giving it away would be illegal unless you already owned a copy of Roads & Recreation. Slim chance this will become available; would only work with Garmin units.
Third is generating a complete Michigan map set which would have all city, street, road, county, water, trail, railroad, etc. information. That same map that's in the new mapbook would be converted for use in the GPS. Depending on how much work this ends up being, it may or may not happen. Legally we should be able to give this one away.
SmitDog said:
2) How much memory is recommended to store routes?
Routes, tracks and waypoints are three types of User data in the GPS. Waypoints are singular locations (the location of your house, a parking lot, where you last saw Woodsy on the Boon trail). Tracks are multiple points connected together that show a path, like a breadcrumb trail; while tracks are made up of points the points themselves are not waypoints. Routes are point to point paths with navigational inclinations; generally each point in a route is a waypoint. If you were traveling down a twisty road and turning at the next intersection:
A waypoint could be the intersection
A track would follow the twisty road and continue around the corner.
A route would have a point where you joined the twisty road and another at the intersection, the line connecting those points would be straight - it would not follow the twisty road.
Generally speaking you'll use waypoints for locations of interest. Tracks for seeing where you've been (or to follow to get somewhere). Routes for navigating to a location.
Routes have few points (say 50), tracks can have many (say 10,000).
The data we will make available will have the ORV trail show as a map item, it will not use track, waypoint or route data.
We will, however, make trails available as tracks so you can load certain trails in your GPS if you prefer not to use the map functionality. The track will be less detailed than the map as the track will not have as many points in it.
SmitDog said:
3) How many log files will you typically want to save on the device? Could I store most of the main trail systems?
If you use the maps we make available, it will be irrelevant. If you opt for tracks, generally you can store 10 tracks of 250 points (depends on the unit, this is a base line). You would be able to store ~ 1/3 of the trail system as tracks in the GPS at any given time.
What's neat about tracks is that it's laying one down as you ride. You can see on screen right away where you've been and how you got to where you are.
SmitDog said:
4) How many track points per log file are sufficient?
We're running around 2000 points for an average trail. The USFS uses higher end equipment and gathers ~20,000 points.
The more points per saved track the better as it allows you to save more detailed track information. Your active log will go to 10,000 points, but when you save it in the GPS it will reduce the points down to 250 to 500 depending on model.
Good time to mention this - tracks have "two" storage ares on the GPS. One is "active log" this is the live data collected as you are moving. It's the most detailed and can be up to 10,000 points. You can also store tracks that have up to 250 points in the saved tracks area. Usually 20 tracks can be saved, 500 points each (on the Legend C). While I can bore you more with this, let's just say it will make sense when you have the unit in your hand.
SmitDog said:
5) Is the electronic compass feature all that important?
No, only sucks batteries (hunters/hikers may disagree). When you are moving the compass in a GPS will show you north, just need to be moving for it to show you. The electronic compass in some units (Vista, 60CS, etc) differs in that it will show you north even if you are stationary.
SmitDog said:
6) I've read that you've attached an external re-radiating antenna for your eTrex to get more consistent coverage.
The antennae I used did not plug into the GPS; it has a loop of cable that you put near the GPS antennae, that loop "re-broadcasts" the satellite signal.
I've heard the new color eTrex have better antennae than the non-color eTrex units, thus better reception in the woods. My Vista would lose lock under tree cover depending on conditions, using the re-rad anteannae helped reduce the frequency of this. The 60C is an order of magnitude better than the Vista (even when used with the antennae) in regards to reception (I don't use the antennae anymore). For normal use you probably won't need the antennae to begin with; worse case being you have to stop for a second and let the GPS pick the birds back up.
RAM mounts are the hot ticket for mounting on your bike, don't cheap out with the Garmin brand stuff as they are not durable enough. Touratech if you have that ooozing money issue.
http://www.TVNav.com has good prices, I'd suggest at least using them as a comparison.
http://www.gpsinformation.net is a good starting point for GPS stuff.
http://www.cycoactive.com sells 'em and are a bunch of bikers.
Invest in rechargeable NIMH batteries, worth the investment if you will use the GPS often.
Maps:
Roads and Recreation has some of the best rural coverage in Michigan.
Topo has more rural coverage but the contour lines can add to clutter (data overload for the end User).
MetroGuide is probably the better option for new map purchase as it has more rural stuff than City Select & Roads and Recreation is not being sold anymore.
City Select is more city oriented than MetroGuide.
When guys bring their GPS to me at signup for the Dual Sport rides, I load tracks of the courses plus waypoints for reset locations. This gives them a detailed course to follow on the GPS screen.