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Which GPS to use ?

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  • February 10, 2016 at 5:02 pm #25356
    Stumps

    This may have been discussed previously but with new devices coming out regularly i was hoping someone would point me in the right direction.

    I’m after a GPS system that will show routes and which turn to take etc as, due to shift work, i do a lot of my rides on my own and its a pain working which way to go at times.

    I have a basic speedo type system at the moment but want something better.

    I’ve looked at the Garmin 810 and 520 however the 1000 is beyond my price range.

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Viewing 11 replies - 16 through 26 (of 26 total)
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  • February 11, 2016 at 11:25 pm #866773
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    Anonymous

    I used a friends Etrex 20

    I used a friends Etrex 20 recently and thought that it was an excellent unit for navigating on and off road. Can upload maps etc.

    February 11, 2016 at 8:58 pm #866771
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    Stumps

    Thanks folks its appreciated.

    Thanks folks its appreciated. It seems the 520 is more than likely going to be my choice. The 810 has been criticised for screen freezing and loss of data by a number of users.

    February 11, 2016 at 5:02 pm #866769
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    theflatboy

    I used to use Osmand on the

    I used to use Osmand on the phone for pre-planned routes, before I switched to a Garmin Edge Touring. Though Osmand on a good phone is actually much better in terms of processer, display quality and other aspects, because it needs the screen to stay on permanently while in use (unless you are only using audio instructions in the headphones, which I never tried), the battery life is nothing compared to the Garmin. Plus with Osmand you have a huge smartphone attached to the bars, rather than a much more compact computer. Both had their benefits, but I definitely prefer the Garmin.

    February 11, 2016 at 4:48 pm #866767
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    mattydubster

    I have a Garmin Edge Touring

    I have a Garmin Edge Touring plus – Has maps and navigation and an excellent battery life.  And it’s pretty cheap!

    February 11, 2016 at 4:42 pm #866765
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    gonedownhill

    If you want turn-by-turn

    If you want turn-by-turn instructions and have an android phone then you can do it for free.

    1. Create a route in strava or garmin connect or whatever will allow you to save it as a .gpx file

    2. Download OsmAnd app for free – this is an open source map program which you get 10 free maps with, you can get a map of the whole UK as one download although it will take up about 500Mb of storage on your phone.

    3.  Open OsmAnd, load the .gpx route and turn the navigation on. You can follow the route overlaid on the map and also have audio instructions (might need an ear piece in to hear properly though).

     

    Pros are that as you have the map already stored on your phone you can see where you are no matter how far away from a 4G signal, and the GPS itself hardly uses any battery so you can go as remote as you want and not have a problem.

    Cons are that it’s not the most intuitive app ever and took a little bit of messing about with it for me to get the voice commands. If you want the map displayed on your handlebars you’ll need to get a mount for your phone and having the screen on all the time might cane the battery. Personally I usually have some idea of where I am going so don’t need it for every single turn, and I don’t really mind stopping to check whether I’m lost.

    February 11, 2016 at 4:16 pm #866763
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    sergius

    I’ve got a 1000 and it works

    I’ve got a 1000 and it works very nicely, I’ve tried to use the navigation a couple of times and it’s completely useless IMO (probably user error, not bothered to read the manual etc, but still).

    It’s the only device I’ve experience with, but for what I use it for it works perfectly.  I believe the lower end models have largely similar features.

    February 11, 2016 at 4:05 pm #866761
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    dave atkinson

    even the 1000 isn’t all that

    even the 1000 isn’t all that for routing, tbh

    February 11, 2016 at 3:25 pm #866759
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    srchar

    Your statement that “its a

    Do you need a unit that can plan routes on-the-go? I have a 520 and, while it can certainly navigate you around a pre-planned route, it can’t calculate routes while out and about. Also, there’s not much storage space on it for decent maps; you can get a few counties on it at most.

    I had an 810 prior to the 520 and, although it could calculate routes on-the-fly, it was borderline unusable due to the awful interface and sluggish response.

    To be honest, unless you pony up for a 1000, which a friend tells me is OK for routing, you’ll always have to use your smartphone for route planning on the road.

    February 11, 2016 at 2:45 pm #866757
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    kamoshika

    I’m still using a years-old

    I’m still using a years-old Edge 500, but that does everything I need, so I imagine the 520 would be . Re the turn-by turn navigation, it doesn’t do maps, but will give a breadcrumb trail to follow, and if you plot routes on ridewithgps.com it will stick markers in at turnings which are then displayed on the Garmin. I’ve never felt the need to have anything more than that.

    February 11, 2016 at 1:39 pm #866755
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    AKH

    http://www.dcrainmaker.com

    http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2013/05/download-garmin-705800810.html

     

    You might find the above useful.

     

    I believe only the higher end models (810 and 1000) give turn by turn navigation similar to sat nav.

     

    The 520 can show a dotted line to follow, but you have to create the route on a PC first.

     

    The 520 can display a map for you to follow, but you’d have to figure out your own route.

     

    If you navigate around the DC Rainmaker site, there’s a comparison table somewhere that has all the models your interested in. 

    February 10, 2016 at 9:34 pm #866753
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    Stu Kerton

    I use the 810 and although it

    I use the 810 and although it doesn’t come with maps you can download them for free by following these instructions : free maps you can use it for the 520 as well.

    Add a route to the Garmin as a .gpx and the maps show you directions, road names and count down in time and distance to each turn.

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