which GPS

[YankeeDave]

about to start reseaching which GPS to get.


any advice on units you have or seen that are good for the money?

good ones? bad ones? which brand?

[bogged]

Magellan Meridian from USA....
got my colour from dude on Ebay USA, as have about dozen mates, $279US that was a while ago.... $1100 here in aussie... talk about markup.

[ToNkA]

Talking about GPS Bruce?

I have a Magellan Platinum for personal use, RR is around $900 (But you can do much better on price)

I have a Trimble Geo XT for work, at around the $15000 mark, but damn its cool with 30cm accuracy and touch screen.

[bogged]

Talking about GPS Bruce?

yea MOBO died, bought new 1 doesnt work, waiting for call from shop, have 1 of the DVD's burnt already with most of it on, will burn rest when its going again...

[YankeeDave]

bogged,

this magallen maridean? i heard there is a map pack for it here in aus for $250. is this map pack worth it?

[Da Zook]

i reckon the Navman ICN620 is a good one.... harvey norman sells it for $899 bargain them (hint: cost is $680)

[bogged]

bogged,

this magallen maridean? i heard there is a map pack for it here in aus for $250. is this map pack worth it?

There are different Meridian models....

www.magellan.com.au

but mine is colour model, NDI on the map pack, but if you have it I'll have a copy

[Utemad]

Magellan Meridian from USA....
got my colour from dude on Ebay USA, as have about dozen mates, $279US that was a while ago.... $1100 here in aussie... talk about markup.

My FIL is in the States atm and bought himself a Garmin GPS76C for A$434 not sure on retail but Jonny Appleseed has it for A$899. Except for the basemap it is the same of course. Just a huge markup.

[-Richo-]

You could go the pocket pc route, it all depends on how many features you want but your looking at anywhere from $400 to $1200 for the pocket pc, roughtly $200-$300 for the GPS receiver, i use Oziexplorer which costs about $160, then youll need maps which you can buy (topoview is what i got, $170 per cd, covers from nowra up to port maquarie, as far out as orange, they are identical to the paper maps you usually get at camping shops etc CMA i tink they are called) or you could scan your own maps and calibrate them.

The bonus going this route over a stand alone GPS is you can use the pocket pc for other things, mp3 player, photo viewer, games, watch movies, note taker/voice recorder etc etc just depends on what kind of uses you have, if your only interested in a GPS then id go the stand alone unit.

Also the PC version of Oziexplorer has way more features and i would love to use this, wont run on the Pocket PC operating system, so i am on the lookout for something smaller than a lappy that runs normal windows, some units are coming out now but arent cheap.

[bogged]

You could go the pocket pc route, it all depends on how many features you want but your looking at anywhere from $400 to $1200 for the pocket pc, roughtly $200-$300 for the GPS receiver, i use Oziexplorer which costs about $160, then youll need maps which you can buy (topoview is what i got, $170 per cd

much cheaper to buy a real GPS...

[YankeeDave]

bogged

my old man lives in america and can get me a magallen meridian colour for good price,


you in melb to show me how to use the bloody thing if i get it, and have you got maps loaded in it? or did you buy some?

[-Richo-]

You could go the pocket pc route, it all depends on how many features you want but your looking at anywhere from $400 to $1200 for the pocket pc, roughtly $200-$300 for the GPS receiver, i use Oziexplorer which costs about $160, then youll need maps which you can buy (topoview is what i got, $170 per cd

much cheaper to buy a real GPS...

In some cases true, though if you get a low spec PPC, $400, GPS receiver $ 200, $160 for the software (even cheaper if you can get a crack ), scan your old maps you already have your looking at $760, how much are moving map type GPS's going for? ive seen stand alones going for $1200+.If all you want is a GPS and nothing else, just get a GPS... with the pocket pc you have the option of using the various software out there for your GPS, different maps (i could use satelitte images as well as aerial photos with what i use). When you by a stand alone unit your stuck with what it comes with. Also has many features that a plain old GPS doesnt have. I find the PPC way more versatile and was willing to pay the extra little bit for it. I personally couldnt justify spending 1200 on a stand alone GPS, although there are much cheaper options than that.

All depends on how much you want to spend and what you want from it.

[Grantw]

Is it that there is high markup or is it that the aussie dealers need "c-tick" aproval? I sell retail marine electronics and have also sold wholesale marine electronics and there is fawk all margin in most units.. 20% max.

I would import one if you want to save $$$. However there is no warranty in Australia. Wholesalers and dealers will know country of origin by the serial number.

[Grantw]

Have a look at the new Garmin 276c. Its comes standard with Aust wide street mapping, voice directions, marine mapping and is full colour.

[Utemad]

Have a look at the new Garmin 276c. Its comes standard with Aust wide street mapping, voice directions, marine mapping and is full colour.

Sounds good but $1329

Doesn't sound portable either.

[Grantw]

Its fully portable. I have one at work.

[bogged]

In some cases true, though if you get a low spec PPC, $400, GPS receiver $ 200, $160 for the software (even cheaper if you can get a crack ), scan your old maps you already have your looking at $760, how much are moving map type GPS's going for? ive seen stand alones going for $1200+.

$260us, which is about $400-460 for a fully featured magellan colour.

[Utemad]

Its fully portable. I have one at work.

Fully portable work things are the best things around

[toughnut]

It depends what your looking to use the geepers for. If you want a hand held that you can also use in the car then garmin and magellan are about the only 2 that cater properly for OZ. If you just want something that tells you which street to turn down then NAVMAN is great, just don't type in Darwin cause the software isn't set up properly yet. If you want an incar GPS then don't just look at land based GPS's. Magellan's range of marine GPS's can also be loaded with land based maps. For instance the Magellan FX324 is use primarily as a marine GPS but Magellan loaded it with land based maps as the primary map. It's colour and it has some really great features and is very easy to use with a 5in screen. I found it in a marine navigations store and it's around $1400 and comes standard with an external and internal antenae so if you really need to it is portable, just not that small.

[BigMav]

which gps is best to buy? mine of course!! check it out.

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... hp?t=32271

[-Richo-]

In some cases true, though if you get a low spec PPC, $400, GPS receiver $ 200, $160 for the software (even cheaper if you can get a crack ), scan your old maps you already have your looking at $760, how much are moving map type GPS's going for? ive seen stand alones going for $1200+.

$260us, which is about $400-460 for a fully featured magellan colour.

You have a link to this particular unit? would like to compare to the setup i have... i have just been having a look at the aussie magellan site, couldnt find the one you mentioned but found this

http://www.magellan.com.au/land/product ... SMAGFX324C

the setup i use is very similar, though the GOTO "turn left here, turn right there" stuff is not built it, but i can program it easily. Dont have the man over board function either, nor the tides, but thats just bells and whistles really. The megellan colour you mention is a moving map type gps? Would be interested to compare, but for this unit above $1699!! and its only a GPS. Even the GPS reciever for pocket pc they have is way over priced..$699 (mine has dual modes and was less than half this price).

Definitely buy from the US if you going to get one the mark up over here is ridiculous.

[Duff]

would be the bare minimum memory that a gps should have. say i wanted to load all the maps of the watagans. will it use heaps of memory

[toughnut]

Did you check out the price of the flush mounting kit The place I'm getting it through up here in Townsville told me that magellan Australia is discontinuing this GPS but will fully back the warranty and repairs. His supplier is sorcing it from other dealers around OZ and should only cost me between $1400 and $1450. We'll see when it gets here.

[-Richo-]

would be the bare minimum memory that a gps should have. say i wanted to load all the maps of the watagans. will it use heaps of memory

I can fit approx. 10 maps on a 256mb sd card, these are digital scans of the CMA topographic maps you get at camping shops etc (1:25000)... not sure what kind of maps the magellan units use, though looking at them at a glance they are probably raster maps and would take up less room. Also would depend on the scale they are.

[bogged]

You have a link to this particular unit? would like to compare to the setup i have... i have just been having a look at the aussie magellan site, couldnt find the one you mentioned but found this

Definitely buy from the US if you going to get one the mark up over here is ridiculous.

http://www.magellan.com.au/land/product ... MAGREC7400

Thats the machine. Get from USA Dealer I use, he also sells on Ebay, which is where I got mine, and awill4x4's, and Eric the car seller got his etc etc etc....

[the_smoo]

this is a pretty good review of the meridian series GPS receivers...

http://gpsinformation.net/mgoldreview/mag-gold.htm

[TakeTwo]

I have a gecko 301. Its great to find your way out if you line up the co-ordinates on a paper map. Great for hiking. In saying that, if I had my time again I would go for something that has full mapping like the megellans. Makes life much easier. The smaller gps are hard to read, you need to stop to look at them because the screens are so small so they arent great while your driving (no point asking my handbrake to relay co-ordinates)

[hottiemonster]

i have been looking into GPS's recently and 1 has caught my eye.

its the magellan FX324 MAP Color with the big screen. is this unit similar to the ones the guys use in 4wd comps such as outback, pajero etc. i hear this kind of unit is good, coz you can enter points in really quick coz it has a key pad.

has anyone on here got one of these units and can tell me about them, i want to use it for 4wding in victoria and for it to show me all the tracks around the place, etc. and for comp work in the future, nav runs, etc.

any information on this unit would be greatly appreciated.

or for the people that know the kind of driving i do, what GPS unit would best suit my interest?

i also have my own laptop too which i havent turned on for about 1 year, but whilst searching previous threads, laptops dont like bouncing around on tracks.

ps. and yes i did read the info above

thanks Peter

[Bush65]

i have been looking into GPS's recently and 1 has caught my eye.

its the magellan FX324 MAP Color with the big screen. is this unit similar to the ones the guys use in 4wd comps such as outback, pajero etc. i hear this kind of unit is good, coz you can enter points in really quick coz it has a key pad.

has anyone on here got one of these units and can tell me about them, i want to use it for 4wding in victoria and for it to show me all the tracks around the place, etc. and for comp work in the future, nav runs, etc.

any information on this unit would be greatly appreciated.

or for the people that know the kind of driving i do, what GPS unit would best suit my interest?

i also have my own laptop too which i havent turned on for about 1 year, but whilst searching previous threads, laptops dont like bouncing around on tracks.

ps. and yes i did read the info above

thanks Peter

They are a good unit, but have been discontinued. If you check around there may still be some about and at a better price than before they were discontinued. Try GPSOZ.

Large TFT colour screen.
Good maps on standard SD cards.
Dedicated buttons give quick access to the different screens.
Numeric keypad makes coordinate entry quicker/easier.
Holds 1000 waypoints, 30 reversible routes of up to 50 waypoints, 6 tracks of up to 1000 points.
Waypoints, routes and tracks can be downloaded to or uploaded from standard SD cards.

They have an internal antenae for use in an open cockpit, but come with an external antenae for use in a boat (or car).

The supplied power cable needs to be connected to 10 to 36 volt dc (no internal battery power), so they are not practical for hand held use.

[Mudzuki]

i have been looking into GPS's recently and 1 has caught my eye.

its the magellan FX324 MAP Color with the big screen. is this unit similar to the ones the guys use in 4wd comps such as outback, pajero etc. i hear this kind of unit is good, coz you can enter points in really quick coz it has a key pad.

has anyone on here got one of these units and can tell me about them, i want to use it for 4wding in victoria and for it to show me all the tracks around the place, etc. and for comp work in the future, nav runs, etc.

any information on this unit would be greatly appreciated.

or for the people that know the kind of driving i do, what GPS unit would best suit my interest?

i also have my own laptop too which i havent turned on for about 1 year, but whilst searching previous threads, laptops dont like bouncing around on tracks.

ps. and yes i did read the info above

thanks Peter

Looks good, can be pretty cheap on ebay, a few for sale at the moment from around $700 - $900