Suggestions for first GPS

[pradogang Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pradogang]

I am looking to buy my first GPS mainly for off road tracks and bush touring not so much for city use. I have a budget of up to $300. Any suggestions from those more experienced would be appreciated.
Jim

[ozwapet2 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close ozwapet2]

Re: Suggestions for first GPS

If you look through the previous threads you might get some clues.

However from what your describe as your requirements, I suggest you get OziExplorer CE
Many on here ( including me ) use it with great success in the bush.

Many devices will run this program. A lot buy the devices available on e-bay with up to 7" screens. As long as they have a Windows Mobile or Windows CE operating system and an inbuilt GPS you will be able to run OziExplorer CE.
Ozi are also developing the program as an app to run on Android based devices so if you wait a few months there will be plenty of options becoming available there for hardware.
You can also get the full PC version of OziExlporer to plan your trips and then upload them to the mobile device.

Ozi doesn't come with the digital maps so you'll need to buy those. I'd suggest you start with the NatMap 1:250,000 mosaic series, which will give you the whole of Australia on a reasonably good scale, and then acquire other larger scale ones as you need them. ( Hema, Rooftop etc )

This all might stretch your $300 budget a little bit, but you should be able to get hardware and the OziExplorer CE program for that. Then maybe you can see if you can borrow some digital maps from friends to try before you buy. :wink:

[iantz Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close iantz]

Re: Suggestions for first GPS

Yep. A Chinese GPS with OziCE is the way to go. I haven't bought any maps. Thanks to good info from Shaffer on PP, I've been using geoscience australia maps, accessing the areas I want using mapconnect. These are all 1:250000 and have pretty much had all of the 'legal' tracks marked on them that I could want. I haven't had much to do with purchased maps so don't know if they are worth the money?

I have a 3.5" unit running OziCE that I am getting rid of in two weeks as I have increased in screen size to 5". If you're interested send me a PM.

Cheers
Ian.

[baby_troupe Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close baby_troupe]

Re: Suggestions for first GPS

Hema Navigator should fit what you need.

I personally don't use that one as I find OziExplorer CE too restrictive.
I prefer the full version on a laptop, but that has its disadvantages too (space especially)
I am yet to transfer over my sat nav system from my old truck for that very reason.

[Schaffer Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schaffer]

Re: Suggestions for first GPS

Hema Navigator should fit what you need.

Not sure how? He has indicated he is only willing to spend $300. Hema is around 3 times this.

[baby_troupe Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close baby_troupe]

Re: Suggestions for first GPS

Hema Navigator should fit what you need.

Not sure how? He has indicated he is only willing to spend $300. Hema is around 3 times this.

Sorry I missed that ops:

[iantz Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close iantz]

Re: Suggestions for first GPS

Hema Navigator should fit what you need.

Not sure how? He has indicated he is only willing to spend $300. Hema is around 3 times this.

Was going to say exactly the same thing...

Do the HEMA maps really show better detail than the Geoscience ones?

[jimoctec Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close jimoctec]

Re: Suggestions for first GPS

Hema Navigator should fit what you need.

Not sure how? He has indicated he is only willing to spend $300. Hema is around 3 times this.

Was going to say exactly the same thing...

Do the HEMA maps really show better detail than the Geoscience ones?

Well, it all depends on what you want to do, but I find that the Hema maps on my laptop and on paper give the extra information that I want when planning a trip. The Geoscience maps are more general purpose and do not have the extra notes that Hema and Westprint, for example, include that is specifically of interest to 4wders.

Besides, when I bought my copy of the Hema 4WD Raster Map Collection, it included the Australian 250k maps in UTM Zones 49 to 56 anyway.

If trying to keep costs below $300 you could consider the Chinese GPS with or without OziExplorer, and start with the Hema map viewer software that comes when you buy a CD-ROM map from Hema - I got my first digital map and software that way. You get your toe in the water, so to speak, and you can compare with what you get on the usual package on a Tom Tom or Navman.