Outer Limits 4x4 Board

we want to do Qld nav. run but know stuff all about GPS`s.
So where should we start,we have a budget of up to $2000.Do we need to spend this much? Should we start off around $600_$800 ?
your thoughts please

Get yourself a Magellan FX324 Color plus a cheap handheld job and some maps on CD

Lots of discussion here about different options.

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... hlight=gps

BTW, search is your friend

I would not worry about a GPS with maps on it, usually too small to read while you are driving. Buy a cheaper Garmen or Magellan. Then buy a cheap laptop and get some software like Oziexplorer to run on the laptop. An extrenal antenna helps a lot if you are in heavy forests or changing direction all the time. Try www.gpsoz.com.au , you will find useful information and their prices are reasonable.

I have a Garmen 76 as it was the cheapest in that brand that was hand held and could take a PC cable and external antenna. From GPSOz, it is about $389. I have it connected to an old laptop that you could buy secondhand for around $400. You do not need a newer computer as the software does not require much processing power. The external antenna was around another $100.

This is the magellan FX324 colour. I got this GPS because it had the biggest screen, it's colour, easy to use, has external antenna and is water/dust proof.

toughnut wrote:This is the magellan FX324 colour. I got this GPS because it had the biggest screen, it's colour, easy to use, has external antenna and is water/dust proof.

Thats mighty expensive

http://www.gpsoz.com.au/magellan_fx324_package.htm

Mudzuki wrote:

toughnut wrote:This is the magellan FX324 colour. I got this GPS because it had the biggest screen, it's colour, easy to use, has external antenna and is water/dust proof.

Thats mighty expensive

http://www.gpsoz.com.au/magellan_fx324_package.htm

$500-$700 on eBay

toughnut wrote:This is the magellan FX324 colour. I got this GPS because it had the biggest screen, it's colour, easy to use, has external antenna and is water/dust proof.

can you tell me more about this unit, as i was thinking of purchasing it.

also posted in another GPS thread.

hottiemonster wrote:

toughnut wrote:This is the magellan FX324 colour. I got this GPS because it had the biggest screen, it's colour, easy to use, has external antenna and is water/dust proof.

can you tell me more about this unit, as i was thinking of purchasing it.

also posted in another GPS thread.

The main reason why all the comp guys use it is because it has a keypad that you can use quickly to enter coordinates.

blkmav wrote:

hottiemonster wrote:

toughnut wrote:This is the magellan FX324 colour. I got this GPS because it had the biggest screen, it's colour, easy to use, has external antenna and is water/dust proof.

can you tell me more about this unit, as i was thinking of purchasing it.

also posted in another GPS thread.

The main reason why all the comp guys use it is because it has a keypad that you can use quickly to enter coordinates.

i know that part, but what about my mind kinda driving too?

hottiemonster wrote:

blkmav wrote:

hottiemonster wrote:

toughnut wrote:This is the magellan FX324 colour. I got this GPS because it had the biggest screen, it's colour, easy to use, has external antenna and is water/dust proof.

can you tell me more about this unit, as i was thinking of purchasing it.

also posted in another GPS thread.

The main reason why all the comp guys use it is because it has a keypad that you can use quickly to enter coordinates.

i know that part, but what about my mind kinda driving too?

Probably overkill if you don't do comp work. You'll also need maps to laod into it as it doesn't have any onboard.

i have found this site to be pretty good for GPS prices..

international postage can vary a bit.

http://www.tigergps.com/noname1.html

blkmav wrote:

hottiemonster wrote:

blkmav wrote:

hottiemonster wrote:

toughnut wrote:This is the magellan FX324 colour. I got this GPS because it had the biggest screen, it's colour, easy to use, has external antenna and is water/dust proof.

can you tell me more about this unit, as i was thinking of purchasing it.

also posted in another GPS thread.

The main reason why all the comp guys use it is because it has a keypad that you can use quickly to enter coordinates.

i know that part, but what about my mind kinda driving too?

Probably overkill if you don't do comp work. You'll also need maps to laod into it as it doesn't have any onboard.

dads got a magellan gold GPS and he has got maps allready, so i will just steal that.

The guy from GPSOZ came to our club meeting earlier in the month,

Did a bit of a presentation on what is available and what sort of thing is suitable for what situation.

Was good because he went through the options without doing the hard sell.

If you go and talk to them about what you want to do they might have some suggestions.

The guy is into wheeling to so won't sell you a unit for walking or something silly!

Paul

I've done a couple of Outback Challenges and quite a few Victorian events (Simex, Pajero, NavRun etc) using a Garmin 128 and have been very pleased with it. We haven't been disadvanatged due to the GPS we use YET!!!!!

I have played around with the Magellan FX324 and while it's a fantastic screen for viewing, the map function is a great and it's very quick to punch co-ordinates in I still found it a bit time consuming when moving around through the different function screens. But having said that I did only play around with it for couple a hours and I'm sure with a bit more practice you would become much faster at swapping between functions.

If you have got the $$$$$ to spend I would buy one of these.

Try these guys for a price comparison.

http://www.ja-gps.com.au/

Cheers.

I just landed one of these for AU$520 inc postage and no duty/tax from this mob. Postage was via FedEx and once picked, it took 3 days to Melb from US (7 days total).

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... ctId=77234

If you want one, be quick as they are being runout and are no longer available from Magellan.

Hey RoldIT,
Can this GPS be uploaded with Oz land maps? They state that its only for US and Europe coastlines.

Yep, these units are all the same worldwide (except for they have more detailed basemaps for their local global location already loaded).

You do need an SD memory card and a card reader/writer and DiscoverAUS or Desert Tracks to build maps areas from and load onto the SD card.

I've only just got the unit so haven't installed it yet but (the theory is) once you put a map area on the SD card and plug it in, there is a menu system in the GPS that loads the file off card and overlays it over the basemap.

What they say in the advert is just "poorly chosen wording".