Re: Magellan Explorist GPS

in message <466d95ef$0$8716$ed2619ec@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Danny
Colyer ('danny_colyer@xxxxxxxxxxx') wrote:

Following a recent ride where I became trapped after dark in a maze of
country lanes and took over 2 hours to find my way out, SWMBO has
informed me that I'm getting a GPS unit for my birthday whether I want
one or not.

HP iPAQ 6515, here:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000ALAJWI/thewebenginee-21

No, I'm serious. Yes, it's a phone. Yes it's a camera. Yes, it's got a
wordprocessor and a spread*** and a web browser and your diary and your
todo-list and...

And a GPS with Tom Tom route planning software.

Two taps on the screen and it will plan you a route from wherever you are
to your home. And it will give you directions in clear, spoken language
which you can hear even if it's in your back pocket.

The point is, when you're out cycling, you often need a phone. You often
need a GPS. You often want a camera. You may need your diary. This gives
you all of those in one box the size of a packet of cigarettes and
weighing 165 grammes (almost exactly the same weight as the Magellan).
Also, it's more expensive than the Magellan, but it isn't more expensive
than the Magellan and a camera and a phone.

The only downside is you only get one 'map' for free, and their maps are
only about 100 miles square. You can have several other maps, but they
cost about a fiver each.

The free software doesn't plan for bicycles, and so will route you onto
main roads - this doesn't worry me too much because I live in an area
without any really dangerous roads, but I can't find an 'avoid motorways'
option, which is a shame. You can buy an upgrade which apparently does do
routing for bicycles, but that costs £87 (including maps for the whole of
Europe) and I haven't bought it.

Oh, and if you use the GPS the battery only lasts about four hours, so it's
a 'get you home' option, not an 'all day; option.

My top priority is that it should display my location using OS
co-ordinates, as I'll always be using it in conjunction with a paper OS
map.

No, it won't do that. But as it will show you your position on a map this
is not so important.

The facility to program a route in advance and have the unit alert me
when I need to make a turning would be useful. Any connection to my
computer must be via USB, as I CBA to rummage round the back of my desk
to find a serial port every time I want to use it.

Yes, plan in advance; yes, it alerts you (by clear voice instructions) at
every junction; yes, USB connection (but you don't need it).

Basic mapping would be nice, but I don't want an expensive unit and nor
do I want to have to spend extra on maps for it.

High quality mapping (but no contours - they're Dutch).

--
simon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; in faecibus sapiens rheum propagabit

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