Automotive GPS Systems

5 comments

1. 

   Bryan C. Adams says:

   February 22, 2010 at 7:13 am (UTC -5)

   I currently have several different GPS Units. I seem to buy a few new ones each year. Some for work, others for play.

   This Unit is not my Favorite. I prefer the Garmin 60CSX over this unit.
   
   And my second favorite is my location sending radios – Garmin 530 HCx’s. I have not been a fan of Garmin for quite some time, But, now that they have the fastest start up and can use the H-SD Cards. I have modified my thoughts towards Garmin lately. The Garmin 60 just locks up so fast. And Garmin menus are now too EZ to ad what you want or need.

   The PN-30 unit is not that bad though. Id say it’s much better than my Magellan Triton. TRITON=HATE IT, I think that is the last Magellan I will ever own. It will be auctioned off soon.

   All units mentioned take H-SD cards, and the extra maps are about the same in price. (Delorme might be the highest priced tho)

   The graphics are Slighly better on the PN-30. If Slightly better graphics is what your looking for, and you can handle the slow start times and tedious menus. This is the unit for you!
   Rating: 3 / 5

2. 

   Glen Marquis says:

   February 22, 2010 at 9:03 am (UTC -5)

   had this product for 3 to 4 weeks now it really really rocks. very accurite and easy to manuver
   Rating: 5 / 5

3. 

   S. Hoover says:

   February 22, 2010 at 9:42 am (UTC -5)

   I purchased my PN-30 about a month ago, and I have been finding every excuse to pull it out and use it. I’ll start out with what I have found out about its ability and functions so far.

   1.First Look: I was looking for a GPS unit for use in the military primarily. I studied a lot of reviews, prices and versatility. I came to the conclusion that I would end up either getting a Garmin model or the Delorme. I was looking for a gps that was under $300.00, ample memory (or at least upgradable), and good mapping software. I know there are alot of GPS units that you can purchase pre-programmed memory cards with maps already on them, but I’d rather prefer to put what I want exactly on my unit. and be able to switch them around.

   2.Mapping software: The Delorme PN-30 (and apparently all Delorme PN series gps) come with the latest TOPO USA map software, and DVD software containing street and trail maps of the entire US, as well as streets, roads and POI’s in Canada, and main roads in Mexico. (I have not looked at all of it yet). It is true that it takes a little bit extra to learn how to use and upload the maps to the unit, however, once you get it figured out it is very remarkable. I was also pleased that the unit came with a 2GB SD card, which can hold quite a bit of maps. The maps are very nice to look at on the unit, from black&white to color aerial imagery, as well as topographical and standard street maps. I also like the ability to layer various maps on the unit so I can see the “drawn” streets and trails over the aerial images. One thing some people complain of, or boast of, is regarding the maps that you can get online from delorme’s site. You do have to pay a subscription fee of about $30.00 for a year, but you can download any of their maps and as many maps as you want. That is well worth the price considering what you get, or can get. Because you can bet I’ll be downloading that $30.00 worth and then some. I would have to probably pay about $200.00 anywhere else just for the maps I have already downloaded. (Another plus to the unit was the $40.00 credit you get to purchase maps from their site just to try them out). I contacted Delorme to ask if I could use the credit for the purchase of the year subscription, but they won’t let you. But, using the $40.00 credit to download some of their maps shows just how much you would spend elsewhere for such stuff. No, their maps are not overpriced just to make you think they are cutting you a break with the subscription. If you check, you’ll find that Delorme has been about the best map publisher in the world. They have always produced some of the best around. Now you can get them on the web and your GPS. The Delorme maps you download are also yours to keep. they don’t just disappear. Any changes made on the maps may make any you download somewhat obsolete, but having a $30.00 yearly subscription can easily fix that.

   3.GPS unit: I purchased the “realtree” camo version and I quite like it. (Just a quick note: the Realtree version is unique to each unit made. that is no other realtree unit out there looks exactly like mine–I know useless info but hey…).
   
   The unit does take a couple of minutes or so to find the satellites the first time, or if the unit has been moved a ways from the last time it was on, or if you are moving, say in a car and you just turned it on. However, I found that the unit picks up satellites within seconds, (I mean 10 to 30 seconds) if you turn it back on in the same spot, within 20 feet, from the last time it was on. I personally don’t understand how some people seem to have, (or at least they say) a hard time getting satellites and tracking them. I have turned mine on in my house, (and I live in a two story house), and I can pick up satellites very quickly and with at least 10 to 12 feet of accuracy. I’ve done this on the first and second floor. I have also used it to geocache and my gps got me within 2 feet of the geocache. Another thing I find great is the screen. many people talk about the screen being small, but compared to many gps units, and most older ones, it is just fine. I guess if you compare it to the type you use in your car, then yeah it has a small screen, but it is a handheld unit. It wasn’t designed for mounting on your dash and sitting way back in your seat and using it to navigate somewhere on the road. That being said, it does work great for road navigation, however it doesn’t give you voice directions, just a subtle “whistling” like beep/s. (In my opinion I get tired of some voice telling me to turn somewhere I don’t want to go or telling me in several sentences to make a u-turn). The Delorme will also ask if you want to re-calculate your route because you may have turned somewhere it wasn’t telling you to turn, and therefore create a new route rather quickly. You can also tell it to get you “Back on Track” in case you have to go around some blocked road or trail and you want to return to the road/trail you started on to your destination.

   4. Computer interaction: I found that my gps is very easy to link up with my PC and download, or upload any maps, routes, tracks, or waypoints. I also like how easy it is to go to the “NetLink” tab and get more maps from Delorme. I found that the unit will also act as a GPS antenna for the TOPO USA program while it is running, so if you are in some vehicle and you have your pc and gps linked and running it will show your movement on both a overhead view and 3D like view on the pc screen. Now with something like my mini pc in the car, that will give you a screen that no other gps can beat. I can’t really go into all the details of the program, but believe me, it has alot to offer. You just need to check it out and learn to use it. If you’re something of an avid computer user, you should be able to have some real fun with the program.

   5. Contents and final thoughts: The Delorme PN-30 comes with PN series maps on DVD’s (with both Topography, streets and roads, points of interest-and there are alot of them, bodies of water, public lands and much more).
   
   A certificate for $40.00 credit to try out any maps you wish from Delorme’s website. ( Their customer service is excellent by the way. They will answer any and all questions).
   
   A USB data transfer cable for PC/GPS data exchange. (The data cable will also power the gps unit while it is attached so you won’t run down the batteries. Also if you insert the appropriate re-chargeable batteries, the data cable will charge the batteries as well).
   
   Two AA batteries.
   
   A neck lanyard.
   
   A 2GB SD card. (The GPS unit can handle up to a 32GB SD HC card).
   
   A Quick Start guide.
   
   Comprehensive User manual. (Although I will say that you need to play around with the unit for awhile to really get to know it and learn how to use it well.
   
   TOPO USA Software.
   
   I am really enjoying my gps unit. One other thing I forgot to mention was the battery life. I have heard several people complain of a short battery life. I don’t know why that is. Perhaps they are in areas that makes it more difficult to track satellites or they have been running their units for 10 or 12 hours over several days, or they are using cheap batteries, I don’t really know. I have only recently changed my batteries after over three weeks of usage consisting of three to four 20 minute road trips each week. A trip out geocaching that lasted almost 2 hours, and several times playing around with it in my house. Compared to some older units I have owned (Garmin Rino 110, 120 and eMap, Garmin 196, and a Magellan, Michelin road GPS) the battery life in this Delorme has been way better. So, my understanding is that even these people stated that using good rechargeables the power lasts much longer than standard alkaline batteries. Whatever the case. I always take an extra set with me on 1 day trips. Next time I head overseas, I plan to use this GPS unit quite extensively.
   
   I don’t want to bash other GPS units, because I believe many are really good, it just depends on what you want out of it. I will say that although I have heard that you can download 3rd party maps onto many Garmin units, I have’nt seen where it has been done. Besides, I dont know that I would trust the accuracy of the maps on the system. With the Delorme, you’re getting great maps at a very reasonable price and much easier to install with accuracy that is nearly perfect.
   
   Another nice thing is the base map of the world on the unit. Now not every road is in there, but main roads, and several cities are there as well in about every country. At least what I can see. (I’ve looked to see a few places in Afghanistan and Haiti).
   
   I currently don’t own or use a “vehicle” type gps, because the roads tend to change over a short time, and it seems any gps unit out there requires a rather high price to update the software at least once a year. I figure at the $30.00 a year rate, I can keep updating my maps all the time without paying anything more.
   
   I do often use my iPhone google maps to navigate with and it works great for that. Although my phone doesn’t give any voice, beeps or anything else to remind me of any upcoming turns. My PN-30 does alert me. Given that, and the nice accuracy of my gps, the Delorme does work quite nicely in my car, (even though I did state earlier that it isn’t really made for that kind of usage

   I think I can say that at a price of about $200.00 (plus $30.00 for the subscription), I got a great, reliable, accurate and fun to use handheld GPS. I’d say it definitely beats many units costing $100.00 and higher out there.
   Rating: 5 / 5

4. 

   C. simmons says:

   February 22, 2010 at 12:26 pm (UTC -5)

   Visited the delorme store in maine spoke to a clerk who snowmobiles and atv told him of my intended use for the gps that other units could not provide this unit finds trails that no book or local maps have makes for a save and adventures riding Thanks for a great product
   Rating: 5 / 5

5. 

   David A. Hough says:

   February 22, 2010 at 12:43 pm (UTC -5)

   The pn-30 is good for back-tracking Good for basic geocaching. Not so good for multi-caches. It will only get you to the first goal. The Garmins will let you manually enter waypoint coordinates directly into the gps The Delorme does not. You would have to connect it to a computer to send new waypoints. this is no help if you are out on the trail. The maps are nice. the display is good. I do like it.
   Rating: 4 / 5