GARMIN vs SATMAP

[mountain tortoise]

I have never owned a GPS I am pretty good with old fashion map and compass. I do use mapping map for printing and researching routes. I have been considering getting a GPS and wonder if anyone has experience of both of the above. What are the pros and cons of each.
Mountain Tortoise

[Myth]

I'm in a similar position - but have more or less decided to go for a Garmin after seeing then talked up on this board, and used to training by a number of providers...

Just got to get the family on board.

Paul has arranged an offer via this site - a useful saving over Amazons usual price I noticed!

[Paul Webster]

Paul has arranged an offer via this site - a useful saving over Amazons usual price I noticed!

Amazon's pricing on here vs their own site is a total mystery to me

I had a Satmap for a trial last year (to try out whether our routes worked on it). Obviously the advantage of these is that they show your position on an OS map - so less need to load routes in etc. The disadvantage is that you have the buy the OS maps specially for the Satmap (irrespective of what mapping you have on your PC) and they are very expensive. I also found that the electronic compass (which is supposed to orient the display to the way you are facing) wasn't as effective as I would have hoped and the unit took a while to turn on and off (I started turning it off to make the batteries last longer). They are pretty rugged little things though; I suppose really I didn't find that having an OS map on the display was that much of an advantage for me.

[mountain tortoise]

Thanks for that Paul I think I shall think about it a little alonger. Probably need to decide why I want one of these gadgets.
Mountain Tortoise

[Caberfeidh]

Think more ~ you don't need it! Amazing how the manufacturers persuade us that we need all these high-tech gizmos, when all you really need is time off work and decent weather. And a map and compass. And maybe some chocolate. Come to think of it the map and compass could be left behind to add that frisson of discovery...

[mountain tortoise]

Yes I think you could be right. I love maps and have enjoyed using the memory map software. But have never needed a GPS up to now was just dabbling with the idea. I like maps and compasses. Lookng at them makes you see more around you. By the way love the geology map.

[Rekrab]

i've had a garmin for about three years now and i love it

Mackenzie,

[Gorf01]

Hallo

I'm a Garmin 60CSx fan, had it for about four years, used it in the hill, on the boat and in an aircraft (really good to see where you are and the speed). The mapping function is useful, there is a free one that I've found that is better than the Garmin offering and I've just started using QUO after reading about it here. When QUO finally publish a "proper" manual is should make it a lot easier to use.

The Satmap looks good, but I want a big bit of paper and a compas out on the hill with me.

[foggieclimber]

How about something like a Nokia 5800 phone along with Viewranger maps?

One lightweight device provides you with Phone, GPS, Camera and MP3 player.

[HighlandSC]

How about something like a Nokia 5800 phone along with Viewranger maps?

One lightweight device provides you with Phone, GPS, Camera and MP3 player.

Nokia N96 and ViewRanger with OS maps works a treat for me

[agentmancuso]

I've used a Garmin etrex Vista Cx for 3 years, and love it. You can get free mapping for it containing SMC contour data from http://sites.google.com/site/talkytoasteruk/ukmaps

You don't need a GPSr of course. But it's not only a very useful tool with excellent safety potential, but a great deal of fun too, so well worth having.

[PhilTurner]

Another vote for the Viewranger and Nokia 5800 package. Available as a complete set from Viewranger, or you can pick up a brand new Nokia 5800 from eBay for quite a bit less. The BuddyBeacon function is also pretty useful - gives you a 'tracking' option (if you want people to know where you are that is....)

I've protected my 5800 with an Otterbox case, then an aLOKSAK waterproof bag. You can operate the touchscreen through this. No complaints so far, and cheaper than most of the other options, especially if you only buy regional mapping.

[munrowalker]

I have never owned a GPS I am pretty good with old fashion map and compass. I do use mapping map for printing and researching routes. I have been considering getting a GPS and wonder if anyone has experience of both of the above. What are the pros and cons of each.
Mountain Tortoise

Satmap, end of. Search through the board, and we've had this discussion a fair few times.

But a lot of it comes down to personal choice. Some prefer map & compass. Some a Garmin, some Satmap.

Me I use Satmap. I've used it extensively last year, and saves me so much faff time on the hill. It tells me exactly where I am at on a hill, and then if I want to plan where I'm going do that as well. Me and my mate Jimmy work between that and a map & compass, he'll surge on ahead with the map & compass and if I think we're heading wrong we'll double check the coordinates and he'll adjust.

The amount of times in mist and fog, we've had people tag along who've been on map/compass who really felt uncomfortable as yes they knew roughly where they were at, but didn't want to push on. Whereas us, we knew pretty much exactly, and were always confident to push on. That for me, sums up the satmaps worthiness.

Well that and its a super cool gadget!

[sloosh]

Satmap, end of.

The amount of times in mist and fog, we've had people tag along who've been on map/compass who really felt uncomfortable as yes they knew roughly where they were at, but didn't want to push on. Whereas us, we knew pretty much exactly, and were always confident to push on. That for me, sums up the satmaps worthiness.

Same with me. (I'm another Satmap cheerleader.)

[d4evr]

SATMAP for me too, cracking bit of kit!!