DeLorme handheld GPS Archives - Page 3 of 4

DeLorme PN-60w with SPOT Satellite Communicator review

October 12, 2010 By Rich Owings 93 Comments

UPDATE: DeLorme has discontinued the SPOT Satellite Communicator in favor of their own product, the DeLorme inReach, which offers two-way communication and works as a standalone device or can connect with the PN-60w or with the iPhone or Android smartphones.

A serious tool for backcountry adventurers

Call me crazy, but I love all day mountain bike rides where I go so far back that I’m unlikely to see another human; the more isolated and rugged, the better. I prefer to do these with my biking partner (the most wonderful wife in the world), but all too often I’m out there solo. What’s a crash-prone, wilderness-seeking, aging mountain biker to do? Get the Delorme Earthmate PN-60 with SPOT Satellite Communicator, that’s what. This combo (the two separate units are shown above) is the first consumer product to combine a GPS receiver with the ability to compose a custom message in the field and send it via satellite.

Filed Under: DeLorme handheld GPS, Featured, GPS Reviews, GPS Tracking Tagged With: DeLorme PN-60w, SPOT

DeLorme PN-60w / SPOT deal and testing update

September 21, 2010 By Rich Owings 6 Comments

UPDATE: I have reason to believe that this deal may be gone by tomorrow. I suspect that DeLorme may have saddled dealers with a minimum resale price, though that is purely conjecture on my part.

UPDATE 2: Hmm, the deal is still there as of 9/22. Maybe I got bad info. The page now says the rebate is in effect through 9/25.

UPDATE 3: Looks like its now priced at $449.00.

UPDATE 4: I’ve posted reviews of the DeLorme Earthmate PN-60w and the PN-60w / SPOT Communicator combo

J&R Computer/Music World has the DeLorme Earthmate PN-60W Handheld GPS with SPOT Satellite Communicator on sale for $399.95 with free shipping, $90 less than Amazon’s price this morning. This is an amazing deal for a just released product that allows you to text friends, send an SOS, or post to Twitter or Facebook where there is no cell reception.

Filed Under: DeLorme handheld GPS, Featured, Handheld/Sport Tagged With: DeLorme PN-60w, SPOT

DeLorme PN-60w with SPOT Satellite Communicator

January 5, 2010 By Rich Owings 10 Comments

DeLorme PN-60w SPOT
UPDATE: I’ve posted reviews of the DeLorme Earthmate PN-60w and the PN-60w / SPOT Communicator combo.

UPDATE 2: DeLorme has discontinued the SPOT Satellite Communicator in favor of their own product, the DeLorme inReach, which offers two-way communication and works as a standalone device or can connect with the PN-60w or with the iPhone or Android smartphones.

We’ve got some big news for backcountry types today. DeLorme and Spot have jointly unveiled the first combination ruggedized GPS navigator and satellite communicator. The DeLorme Earthmate PN-60w with SPOT Satellite Communicator can send customized text messages to individuals or groups. While emergency messaging or personal locator beacon capability is something I’ve been wanting to see in a handheld GPS receiver for awhile, plans are for the PN-60w to offer even more.

Filed Under: DeLorme, DeLorme handheld GPS, Handheld/Sport Tagged With: CES 2010, DeLorme PN-60, DeLorme PN-60w, SPOT

DeLorme Earthmate PN-30

January 4, 2010 By Rich Owings Leave a Comment

DeLorme PN-30 review The DeLorme Earthmate PN-30 is a stripped down version of the PN-40, bringing all the features of that popular model, except for the electronic compass and barometric altimeter. It includes the PN-40’s dual-core processor for fast map redraws and speedy menu navigation. You’ll find the two colors above available, as it comes in both green and “realtree” for a camouflage appearance.

Filed Under: DeLorme, DeLorme handheld GPS, Featured, GPS Reviews, Handheld/Sport, Hardware Tagged With: DeLorme Earthmate PN-30

DeLorme Earthmate PN-40 review

February 24, 2009 By Rich Owings 43 Comments

DeLorme PN-40 review

Hands on with the DeLorme Earthmate PN-40

UPDATE: Two newer models have now been introduced, the DeLorme PN-60 and the DeLorme PN-60w.

The DeLorme Earthmate PN-40 updates the PN-20, which was already one of the most innovative GPS receivers out there. Quite simply, the PN-40 rocks, adding the following new features:

A dual-core processor makes map redraws and menu navigation very fast, correcting the biggest flaw in the PN-20
Tri-axial electronic compass (meaning there is no need to hold it dead level)
Barometric altimeter
SDHC high-capacity SD card support
A more detailed base map

Filed Under: DeLorme handheld GPS, GPS Reviews Tagged With: DeLorme Earthmate PN-40

DeLorme PN-40 RAM mount

February 18, 2009 By Rich Owings 6 Comments

UPDATE: Check out my hands-on review of the DeLorme PN-40.

While working on my DeLorme PN-40 review, I've also been testing a RAM mount for it on my bike. Bottom line — like most RAM mounts, it's rock solid. I tried a couple of different setups, including a new type of rail mount. Read on for the details…

Filed Under: Accessories, DeLorme, DeLorme handheld GPS, Handheld/Sport

First looks at DeLorme PN-40

November 10, 2008 By Rich Owings 7 Comments

DeLorme PN-40 L

UPDATE: Check out my hands-on DeLorme PN-40 review

I'm fortunate to have a DeLorme Earthmate PN-40 in for testing, and I thought I'd share some initial impressions since this unit is due to become available in the next week or two.

Like the PN-20, this new model lets you view your position on aerial imagery. But a number of upgrades promise to make this an even more popular handheld than the original:

A dual-core processor makes map redraws and menu navigation very fast, and I can already attest to this; even at 60 MPH, map redraws were nearly instantaneous — I saw only brief flashes of blank areas on the screen
Tri-axial compass (meaning there is no need to hold it dead level)
Barometric altimeter
SDHC high-capacity SD card support
A more detailed base map

Filed Under: Aerial imagery, DeLorme, DeLorme handheld GPS, Handheld/Sport, Hardware

DeLorme PN-40 and new low cost plan for aerial imagery

August 6, 2008 By Rich Owings 7 Comments

Delorme_pn40

We heard about the DeLorme PN-40 earlier this summer, so today’s announcement of its pending release this fall comes as no surprise. One new piece of info though — they’ve scheduled a September shipping date.

Low cost aerial imagery and USGS quads

The other new piece of information is that you’ll be able to download all the aerial imagery, USGS topo quads and NOAA charts that you want for an annual fee of $29.95. I’ve been merciless in my criticism of DeLorme pricing; prior to this thirty bucks would have only bought you two 7.5′ quads worth of imagery. So here’s a big thank you to DeLorme for giving us this deal. I can’t imagine owning a DeLorme handheld and not ponying up the extra bucks for imagery.

Filed Under: Aerial imagery, DeLorme, DeLorme handheld GPS, Handheld/Sport, Hardware

DeLorme PN-40 boasts impressive specs

June 25, 2008 By Rich Owings 1 Comment

Delorme_pn40

DeLorme is announcing the PN-40 handheld GPS today. Scheduled for release this fall, the PN-40 appears to be something akin to the PN-20 on steroids. Slow map redraws on the PN-20 were a common complaint, which has been addressed somewhat with new firmware, but the PN-40 is slated to have a dual-core processor for rapid screen re-draws. Here’s what Chip Noble, who manages DeLorme’s User Interface Design department, has to say about it:

Filed Under: DeLorme, DeLorme handheld GPS, Handheld/Sport

DeLorme Earthmate GPS PN-20 review

January 18, 2007 By Rich Owings 9 Comments

Hands on with the DeLorme Earthmate PN-20

UPDATE: There are now two newer models in this series, the DeLorme PN-30 and PN-40.

Finally, a GPS that displays aerial photos. The DeLorme Earthmate GPS PN-20 does just that, and displays USGS topo maps too. It is incredibly cool to be carrying a GPS that shows your position on an aerial photo. Having said that, DeLorme clearly has some improvements they need to make, and I hope they do, because this is one nifty device. Before we get into the details, let’s get up to speed on aerial photos, and why other GPS receivers lack this capability.

Aerial photos on the DeLorme Earthmate PN-20

Most GPS receivers utilize vector files — basically data files consisting of lines and points. The DeLorme PN-20 differs in that it can also accommodate images, such as aerial photos and USGS topo maps. The technical term is raster imagery, and they eat up much more memory than vector files. For a more detailed explanation of raster versus vector imagery, see What kind of maps can I put on my GPS (and what do you mean by raster and vector)?

Vector lines are redrawn, and therefore appear sharp, at every zoom
level. Aerial photos and USGS topo maps, on the other hand, will only
appear clear at one zoom level. DeLorme probably uses aerial photos
supplied by USGS which are available at multiple resolutions – 1
meter/pixel, 4 meters/pixel, 16 meters/pixel and 64 meters/pixel.
DeLorme appears to be utilizing the one meter/pixel imagery.

Filed Under: Aerial imagery, DeLorme, DeLorme handheld GPS, GPS Reviews, Handheld/Sport, Hardware Tagged With: DeLorme Earthmate PN-20