Archives for February 2006

Garmin GPSMap 76Cx Review

February 28, 2006 By Rich Owings 5 Comments

Gpsmap_76cx_1

UPDATE: The GPSMAP 76Cx has been discontinued. We recommend the GPSMAP 78s as an alternative.

The Garmin GPSMap 76Cx is an update of the popular Garmin GPSMap 76C, which has been well loved by mariners and landlubbers alike. The 76Cx has the new SiRFSTARIII chipset, which has been garnering accolades for its fast acquisition time and awesome coverage under canopy, in urban canyons and even indoors! The other significant upgrade is that the 76Cx no longer utilizes the built in memory for MapSource maps, but loads them to a microSD card slot instead (the unit comes with a 128 MB card). This means you have unlimited map storage capability, plus you can use some of the newer MapSource software like City Select Mexico. Stepping up to the 76CSx adds a barometric altimeter and electronic compass. To see how the 76Cx stands up against other Garmin models, check out my Garmin handheld GPS comparison chart.

Compare prices on the Garmin GPSMAP 76Cx

UPDATE: In early 2009, it appears that Garmin stopped using the SiRFstar III chipet due to a patent dispute, substituting a MediaTek (MTK) chipset. While both are high-sensitivity chipsets, Garmin is still fine-tuning the MTK firmware. The switch to this chipset has reduced one of the advantages the 60/76 C(S)x series has enjoyed over newer Garmin models.

UPDATE 2: Here’s my 2010 take on SiRFstar III and the newer chipsets.
read more

Filed Under: Garmin, Garmin handheld GPS, GPS Reviews, Handheld/Sport, Hardware, Marine

Topograhic maps in Google Earth

February 27, 2006 By Rich Owings 4 Comments

Finally! You can now easily view topo maps in Google Earth, courtesy of the Global Biodiversity Information Council. And not just for the U.S.; Canada, Australia and New Zealand are also included. Be sure you note the listed caveats:

The topographic map layers provide increasingly detailed information as the Google Earth client is zoomed in. It is best not to activate the layers until the client is zoomed close to the area of interest.

Some topographic layers will spawn an error when zoomed too far out.

Similarily some topographic layers will spawn an error when zoomed too far in.

Occasionally errors will occur if the remote server takes too long to respond.

It is best to turn off the topographic layers when closing down Google Earth. This will prevent errors being reported when Google Earth is restarted.

Now it’s not the smoothest or clearest way to view topos, but it’s a start. These tools will only get better.

Many, many thanks to Stefan at Ogle Earth for finding this one.

Technorati tags: Google Earth, maps, topo

Filed Under: Internet applications, Maps

1:50,000 scale topo maps of China

February 24, 2006 By Rich Owings 6 Comments

Cartography reports today that the entirety of China has been mapped at a scale of 1:50,000. All land areas were mapped; datasets include elevation, imagery, terrain, hydrology, transportation, boundaries, and geographic names. The database also delineates farmland, forest land, grassland, residential areas, and industrial land. One meter aerial imagery covers large and medium sized cities. From the People’s Daily Online report…

"Li Weisen, told the press conference that as supervisor of surveying and mapping, the bureau will try its best to make the database available to all while taking security into consideration."

Filed Under: Maps

Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx Review

February 23, 2006 By Rich Owings 118 Comments

Hands on with the Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx

UPDATE: The 60CSx has been superseded by the Garmin GPSMAP 62s.

UPDATE 2: This model has been discontinued. For more current recommendations, please refer to our handheld GPS buyers guide or our Garmin handheld GPS comparison chart.

UPDATE 3: Here are some reasons to look at a more up to date model.

The Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx updated the now ancient Garmin 60CS with two important improvements. First, the 60CSx includes the SiRFSTARIII chipset, which has been getting rave reviews for its fast acquisition time and awesome coverage under canopy, in urban canyons and even indoors! Second, the 60CSx no longer utilizes the built in memory for MapSource maps, but loads them to a removable microSD card instead (the unit comes with a 64 MB card). This means you have nearly unlimited map storage capability.

Filed Under: Garmin, Garmin handheld GPS, GPS Reviews, Handheld/Sport, Hardware Tagged With: Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx

Garmin Edge 305 Review

February 22, 2006 By Rich Owings 4 Comments

UPDATE: This model has been discontinued. For a current alternative, check out the Garmin Edge 500.

The Garmin Edge 305 is a new GPS-enabled cyclometer. The 305 comes in three models — the 305CAD includes a cadence/speed sensor, the 305HR includes a heart rate monitor, and the 305HR+ comes with both. All the Edge 305 series utilize a barometric altimeter.

Filed Under: Garmin handheld GPS, GPS Reviews Tagged With: Garmin Edge 305

Garmin StreetPilot 7200 Review

February 21, 2006 By Rich Owings Leave a Comment

Streetpilot_7200_1

UPDATE: This model has been discontinued. For current recommendations, please refer to our auto GPS buyers guide.

The Garmin StreetPilot 7200 is a new wide-screen GPS navigation device with a 7″ display, designed for larger vehicles such as RV’s, semi-trucks and buses. The 7200 includes an audio book reader, an MP3 player and XM satellite radio. With XM radio, you not only get music, but also weather and real-time traffic conditions that overlay maps in major metropolitan areas in the U.S. The StreetPilot 7200 uses this data to automatically calculate and suggest faster alternate routes before traffic starts backing up. Of course this is all in addition to pre-loaded maps of North America, a touch screen interface and voice-prompted routing.

So what distinguishes this unit from those above and below it? The primary difference between it and the StreetPilot 2730 is the big screen on the 7200. Step up to the StreetPilot 7500 and you’ll get a a dead-reckoning feature that allows drivers to continue receiving navigational cues when GPS signals are obscured – such as in tunnels – through a built-in solid state gyro and a connection to a vehicle’s odometer system.

Filed Under: Auto, Garmin, Garmin auto GPS, GPS Reviews, Hardware

Garmin StreetPilot 2730 Review

February 18, 2006 By Rich Owings Leave a Comment

Streetpilot_2730_2

UPDATE: Most of the several generations old StreetPilot series, including this model, has been discontinued. For a more current recommendation, check out our Auto GPS buyers guide or go straight to our Garmin nuvi comparison chart.

The Garmin StreetPilot 2730 is part of the popular 2000 series of auto navigation systems. The 2730 adds a couple of major new features — an MP3 player and XM satellite radio. With XM radio, you not only get music, but also weather and real-time traffic conditions that overlay maps in major metropolitan areas in the U.S. The StreetPilot 2730 uses this data to automatically calculate and suggest faster alternate routes before traffic starts backing up. Of course this is all in addition to pre-loaded maps of North America, a touch screen and voice-prompted routing.

Compare prices on the Garmin StreetPilot 2730

Filed Under: Auto, Garmin, Garmin auto GPS, GPS Reviews, Hardware

About my GPS reviews

February 18, 2006 By Rich Owings 16 Comments

I thought it might be a good time to update the “about my GPS reviews” post, since these reviews have evolved quite a bit. First of all, a disclaimer — while many of these posts are hands on reviews, not all are. But I do try to compare units to closely related models that I have used, and I post links to as many independent reviews as I can find, be they positive or negative.

Also, I often recommend Garmin units, because they are intuitive and high-quality, but lest you think I’m too biased, check out this independent survey of GPS service and reliability. I don’t shy away from recommending other units when they fit the bill.

My reviews offer lots of other resources as well, consolidating all the information you need when making such an important decision. Along the way, you’ll see links to Amazon, price comparison tools, and ads for the receivers being reviewed. These are all here to help you find the best price (and they help pay the hosting bills too!).

Filed Under: Featured

Hacking eXplorist 100, 200 and 300 GPS Receivers

February 17, 2006 By Rich Owings 11 Comments

PC-Mobile.net, a popular aftermarket supplier of GPS cables, has a product that may bring joy to many Magellan owners. It’s a PC interface cable for the eXplorist 100, 200 and 300 units. These GPS receivers don’t come with this capability, nor can you buy such a cable from Magellan. The only options I know of are this aftermarket unit or a do-it-yourself hack.

Filed Under: Hardware, Magellan, Software

Magellan eXplorist 300 Review

February 17, 2006 By Rich Owings 1 Comment

Explorist_300

UPDATE: The Magellan eXplorist line has been officially discontinued. For an overview of our current recommendations, check out our handheld GPS buyers guide.

The Magellan eXplorist 300 GPS is one of eight models in the eXplorist line (16 if you differentiate between the North American and European models). With that many different models, you can bet there is confusion over the differences between them, so here’s the low-down on the 300. It is very similar to the eXplorist 200, except that the 300 adds an electronic compass and barometric altimeter (features found only in the 300 and 600 models in the eXplorist line). Moving further up in the product line, the 400, 500 and 600 models add SD card slots so that you can load maps to the unit. With the 300 you are limited to the built-in 8 MB base-map.

Several readers have posted Magellan eXplorist 300 reviews at Amazon.

Compare prices on the Magellan eXplorist 300

Filed Under: GPS Reviews, Handheld/Sport, Hardware, Magellan, Magellan handheld GPS