Just wondering what people use for GPS units on here..Whats resonable in price and does the most stuff..etc etc

Handheld, vehicle mounted, both?

I have a Garmin 276C with XM weather/nexrad radar and love it, but I also use a Garmin 172C chartplotter with topos- larger screen and lots of detail. For urban use, a Nuvi.

I chose to buy a 10" netbook and also buy separate GPS software and a USB receiver unit. I was pretty stupid about it though and didn't listen to a suggestion from someone to buy the software and USB device as a package deal -- much cheaper that way. :rolleyes:
The main reason why I went with the netbook as opposed to a dedicated GPS device was because I knew I didn't want a GPS unit in my vehicle ALL of the time, and I didn't want to bother with a hard mount etc...

I also loaded music and vids for my son on the netbook -- that is the only problem with this setup, when I NEED to see the map and he was in the middle of one of his vids and isn't happy when you turn it off. :bawling:
:laughing:

i have a garmin gpsmap 60csx.

i have it permanently wired into my commander. i use it to tell me my MPH and i map trails i run and mark spots. i have a hard mount for it on my dash as well.

the only time i loose signal is when i go through tunnels. it won't loose signal until you are about 100 yards into the tunnel. it is pretty accurate as well.:grinpimp:

http://getlost4x4.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/0-003.jpg

http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq302/getlost4x4/wiring%20blog/4288_86824825027_599460027_1972455_.jpg

A few years ago I did a bit of research and that 60csx model seemed to be a REALLY good unit with lots of features. It sounds like you've been pretty happy with it miniyota! :)

For highway navigation, do you feel the screen is a bit small though?

i run a garmin 60csx as the source, going to delorme topo street atlas software. it all is visible on a 15 inch lcd monitor connected to a small 2.3ghz pc.

http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr189/randyrandy77/misc%20brutus/IMG_0226.jpg
http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr189/randyrandy77/misc%20brutus/IMG_0227.jpg
http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr189/randyrandy77/misc%20brutus/IMG_0228.jpg
http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr189/randyrandy77/misc%20brutus/IMG_0229.jpg
http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr189/randyrandy77/misc%20brutus/IMG_0230.jpg

I got the 60csx as it boasted the fastest "on" time of location acquisition with the SIRF chip they have in it. you can turn it off and turn it back on later and it will have your position within a minute or less, even in a deep canyon. the battery life with the electronic compass turned off is like 4 days of about 10 hours use daily, probably could have gone another day. its visible in day and night, good features, and portable for my survival vest as well. and i can use it on my dirtbike!

i like everything about the gpsmap60csx. it gets location really quick when its been turned off. others i have used take about 5 minutes, this one has it in a minute.

great battery life

great screen

great memory

updates at garmin for expanded memory as well.

updates on firmware from garmin about 2 times a year

i do not really use it much for highway travel, i can read the signs and i usually know where i'm going.:D

the screen is a bit small, but i'll eventually get a small laptop for a screen.

i have gps topo maps i got free off the internet somewhere. i can't remember or find where i got them. i wish i could host them on my website for free use. i have MT, ID, WY, UT and CO.

I use laptop/netbook based gps in vehicle and a garmin foretrax 401 wrist gps outside. I have gotten a couple of good deals on older panasonic tough books for like a $100 bucks out of old cop cars at auction. they work so good because of the touch screen feature, using a small touch pad while hauling ass just dosent work. Here is a pick of one I mounted in a cjhttp://www.timbertamers.org/TTCWweb/results/2009/pre_pics/IMG_7441.JPG

I have gotten a couple of good deals on older panasonic tough books for like a $100 bucks out of old cop cars at auction.

That's a fricken awesome idea, I feel stupid for never having thought about that. I use the toughbooks at work and when in the military, so I'm familiar with them, I was just not willing to spend the money on one new. Never thought of an auction:shaking::shaking:

when you go to get your concealed carry permit like every great american at your local sheriff station just ask who would know where they send there electronics for auction. From my experiance they will gladly tell you who to call to find out. It's something thats not usally advertised or on the net so you've got to ask. I've bought two of them both worked great and came with docking stations.

I've been using a 60CSx for a couple years and like it. I use the free USGS topo maps.

I use a modified Gambler Johnson Lap Top stand in my Expedition Rig.
It's mounted on the navigators’ side and we use it for Topo Maps mostly.
And a few movies when we get bored.
I also run a Garmin 450 with a suction cup mount on the drivers’ side windshield for roads. Sometimes the navigator is researching a trail or Data or on the Internet with the modem and can't show me the route when I need it. So I have my own. (All my truck manuals first aid manuals are on zip drives.)
The Computer stand will swing over to the center of the truck if I am running solo.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c369/Curtis-J/Rodeo%20build%20and%20fun/DSC01461.jpg

It worked well for 10 years. We recently picked up a Net Book to replace the Laptop. I'm transferring all my truck and information data to external memories for the Net Book.
We did this because sometimes the hard drive on the laptop will pause on rough roads or trails.

Has anyone tried using google earth and a gps dongle, on a laptop off line? I have an EVDO card but most places i camp there is no signal.

I check Google Eart at home. I cross reference it with my map programs and use it to lay a path. Then it's all into the GPS and out.

GPS is a very old yellow Magellen. Bought the display one at Big 5 for about $100, and it's endured many years of abuse. 1 cable connects the GPS to the cig lighter to save batteries and splits to also connect to laptop for instant full view map location.

Map programs are MapsendTopo in combination with TopoUSA. I still need to build a laptop mount like these cool guys above me have. That would complete the setup.

Has anyone tried using google earth and a gps dongle, on a laptop off line? I have an EVDO card but most places i camp there is no signal.

I've 'seen' it done on the internets but haven't done it offline myself. I have done it online as a test with my desktop - I used GPSGate to get the signal off my garmin to Google...

The offline workaround is to cache all the area that you plan to go before you go offline.

I've 'seen' it done on the internets but haven't done it offline myself. I have done it online as a test with my desktop - I used GPSGate to get the signal off my garmin to Google...

The offline workaround is to cache all the area that you plan to go before you go offline.

After caching it and heading out, you can plug in the GPS and show your current location on zoomed in portions of it?

i use a baja 540c for off road and on road mapping but got a garmin for navigation. i guess the 540c is outdated but it's been working well for me. the only reason the i got the garmin was because i needed turn by turn navigation rather than maps and straight line navigation. the lowrance is nice if you have an a-driver to look at it while you drive or if your offroad so you can stop and look at it, same as any other gps. i like the laptop idea. i plan on doing that too as soon as i get a laptop with a solid state drive. i also plan on driving a truck eventually though. i also have a wilson cell phone amp which is supposed to work with some sort of laptop card too. that would extend the range of internet access a decent amount if it works the same as it does for my phone. http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs452.snc3/25898_365218081523_660066523_3626041_589438_n.jpg
if anyone else has used the baja540c i would be interested in what you used for maps. i'm using map create 6. i know it's the older version.

I also use the Baja540C. A few years ago I looked into the map create 6 and was told a newer version was due out. I have yet to get any of the map create programs. But for what I do (find way back to base camp) the 540 works great for me.

Yes its in a Subaru

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/Jackson-Rally/Dirtywagon/PICT0127.jpg

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/Jackson-Rally/Dirtywagon/PICT0128.jpg

yeah i knew it was an older version but i got a deal on it. it shows stuff offroad that i wouldn't have known about otherwise

I also use the Baja540C. A few years ago I looked into the map create 6 and was told a newer version was due out. I have yet to get any of the map create programs. But for what I do (find way back to base camp) the 540 works great for me.

Yes its in a Subaru

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/Jackson-Rally/Dirtywagon/PICT0127.jpg

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/Jackson-Rally/Dirtywagon/PICT0128.jpg

Also in a Subaru (08 WRX E85). I have a remote flip out touch screen and a lap-top stuffed away feeding it VGA. I run MS streets and trips and it sucks ass, wayyy to complex. It works for detaied stuff but you would want an a-driver to operate the program. For day-to-day use I have a Nuvi and its great.

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s150/albersondh/DSC04957-1.jpg

Interesting thread.

i got a tomtom and ive heard they have good support for adding roads and changine roads and with their mapshare you can download a map of say rousch creek