Looking for a GPS route recording solution

Scott_Quier

It would be nice, as I'm driving around, to be able to register a location to which I would like to later (that day or another day) return when the light is better, especially when I'm just driving around trying to scout locations. I envision some sort of GPS unit or laptop/netbook with an attached GPS receiver and suitable software installed.

I'm looking for a solution (single unit or system of components) that will satisfy the following functional "requirements":

• Portable - mountable in a car. Don't need it to be backpack portable.
• As I'm driving, be able to touch a key or screen to register a bingo (a point of interest)
• Record travels to a data file, including the location of the bingos
• Data file downloadable to a PC and integrated into some sort of mapping software (MS S&T, etc)
• Create/plan a route on a PC and upload this route to the unit/system

I'm thinking I could then turn these "bingos" into waypoints or POI data points that could later be integrated in a route planning session.

I have a 2(+) year old Garmin nuvi 660, but if the best solution involves getting a new unit - that's ok.

Anyone have any ideas?

cmason

As you have discovered, your Nuvi isn't equipped for his, as it can't save waypoints or export routes among other things. But it also probably won't enjoy rain or dropping out of your camera bag, so another GPS is likely the best route.

I use a Garmin eTrex HCx. It is waterproof (mostly) and very rugged. I simply turn it on when I start out the door, and toss it in my bag. I use it to later geotag images by syncing its time with my camera (change time on camera of course).

Saving a location is very simple, just click a button and a 'waypoint' is saved, and navigating back to it is even simpler, especially with a map to show you how. Plus you can set alarms for reminding you to return to a location. I am not sure how user friendly it is to do this while driving, but you can leave it in the waypoint mode if this is what you expect to be doing. Of course if you do that you cant use it to navigate while driving. I wouldn't suggest using it while driving anyway. While this device does show maps and routes like your car GPS, it has no voice and the screen is tiny in comparison. It will do in a pinch, but it isn't its best use.

With the Garmin, I use their free software called Basecamp: It allows you to download all this info onto a map, or create your own route and waypoints before your trip to follow on the device. You can geotag photos, but I haven't used the tool for that, as I prefer GPSPhotolinker (Mac) for that function.

Garmin used to make a device that was a car GPS with mapping features, but I don't see it available any longer. The etrex models all support what I have outlined above, and have the benefit of being cheap, espcially compared to the new models in the Dakota or Oregon line. I have no experience with these newer models.

Rather than trying to find a singular device that does it all, I recommend you use your car GPS for road navigation, and get something like a eTrex for your photo use.

RogersDA

cmason wrote:

I use a Garmin eTrex HCx. It is waterproof (mostly) and very rugged. I simply turn it on when I start out the door, and toss it in my bag. I use it to later geotag images by syncing its time with my camera (change time on camera of course).

+1 on the HCx. I have it loaded with National Park topographic maps, too.

Stop in at LL Bean (store or online) - try it out and if it doesn't work out their return policy is great.

You can get a lot of information over at geocaching.com, too. Ask questions in their forums - they are pretty helpful. And they have a gear for sale group, too.

Edit - reading some good things about the Garmin Dakota 20 GPS - though I have no experience with this unit yet.

pathfinder

Scott_Quier wrote:

It would be nice, as I'm driving around, to be able to register a location to which I would like to later (that day or another day) return when the light is better, especially when I'm just driving around trying to scout locations. I envision some sort of GPS unit or laptop/netbook with an attached GPS receiver and suitable software installed.

I'm looking for a solution (single unit or system of components) that will satisfy the following functional "requirements":

• Portable - mountable in a car. Don't need it to be backpack portable.
• As I'm driving, be able to touch a key or screen to register a bingo (a point of interest)
• Record travels to a data file, including the location of the bingos
• Data file downloadable to a PC and integrated into some sort of mapping software (MS S&T, etc)
• Create/plan a route on a PC and upload this route to the unit/system

I'm thinking I could then turn these "bingos" into waypoints or POI data points that could later be integrated in a route planning session.

I have a 2(+) year old Garmin nuvi 660, but if the best solution involves getting a new unit - that's ok.

Anyone have any ideas?

Scott, I use a Garmin 276c whenever I travel as it lets me follow routes, and alter them interactively as I drive. I can store a new waypoint to return to later with just a few keypad presses, and the map from Garmin that I downloaded is quite detailed - it even shows me driveways and backroads. I have driven over a lot of backroads in Utah and never not known exactly where I was.

You can do the same thing with an eTrex, but the handheld devices are slower than the 12 volt powered devices for vehicles. I used an eTrex on a motorcycle years ago, but it was too slow for two wheeled travel - for me anyway.

My wife's Toyota has a GPS built into the dashboard ( I expected it to be as useful as my Garmin ) but the Toyota's safety concerns prevent you from programming or altering a course interactively if the car is in motion...... This is a deal killer for me!!

I have dozens of waypoints I have saved over the years, specifically to allow me to return at a later date at a better time for lighting for photography. It is one of the real benefits of a good GPS unit.

I am surprised that the Nuvi does not allow the storing of waypoints I would not buy a GPS that does not allow storing new waypoints.

Allan FG

I have a Garmin 60csx which will do everything on your list, it is also small and very portable so you could use it for many other things. I have had one mounted on my motorcycle handle bars for 4 years and it has held up to an amazing amount of abuse.

Scott_Quier

Thank you all for the information - pointing me in the right direction. I have some research to do to find the right unit for me .... at the right price.

If anyone else has anything to add .... I'm all ears

knapph

GPS Info
Hi Scott,

Most handheld gps units can do what you wish. I use an older Garmin GPSMap76 and do what you want to do. I think most units will allow you to record a waypoint with a one button push to mark a spot you would want to remember. They can also record the route you drove.

If you want to be able to lay out a route on your computer and download it to your gps, check to see what else the gps company wants to sell you to do this. Often a routable map is extra $$$. The Nuvi type gps units are much better for car navigation than the hand held units are but I do not know of a Nuvi type that can easily make waypoints and upload tracks.

With the Garmin units it is easy to connect to a PC and upload both waypoints and tracks. I have not used other brands. (You might look at the Delorme units in addition to Garmin and Magellan.) From there there is much you can do. On a recent trip through the middle east I made a gps track of where we traveled and uploaded the tracks and waypoints to Google maps. (http://www.stonecoastphotography.com/Places/Middle-East/maps/10850449_w7WS5#757189061_8qPVp-XL-LB) I also geotagged our images from the gps track. Having the track and the waypoints made it easy to trace back where we were shooting.

Knapp

Surreallife

I use an iPod free app called GPS LTE by MotionX. I can even take a picture of my location and register it.

BradfordBenn

One of the things to consider is that it will take a little while for a GPS to "find itself" when you first turn it on. These times vary by unit but it is something to consider. If you travel with the GPS unit off and then want to turn it on to mark a way point, there might be a few minutes of waiting, of course you could get around this by always keeping it on.

I would also recommend a battery powered one that has a car adapter in general. I have a Garmin unit but it does not have batteries so I can't use it except in the car or on the motorcycle.

I also like DeLorme's Street Atlas (http://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/DELibeCCtpSctDspRte.jsp?section=10120) a little more than MS Streets and Trips and the Garmin map software included with the unit. It is kind of like a P&S versus a DSLR. All of them can get you a good picture, it is just how much control you want to have.

allensfoto

i use the Lowrance i finder hunt .. it discontinued but the h2o model is just like it but water proof.. i bought the mapping software .. of the lower 48 1 gb sd card and loaded my tri state area with hiway- all the way down to small county roads.. i turn it on when i walk out the front door by the time i get in the truck and plug it into 12v outlet in truck i am ready to go .. when i see a spot i hit one button and waypoint saved.. when i get home i save the trip name it .. pull card put on computer .. and look at route i took .. i have not tried to swap info with google earth or any thing like that but could not be hard .. also real handy search feature find gas station when in middle of no where and didn't fill up.. or bathroom for darling wife.. when i have had her out for several hours.. i use mine for everything.. ..also bout forgot.. it is real handy to retrace route if you need to get back to where you laid down the lens cap to lens .. or left tripod leaned against tree.. " not that i have done this.. " lol .. it is simple to use and user friendly..
hope this helps..

IdahoMotomom

A SPOT basically does the same thing and also helps you out if you have an injury up hiking, etc. It also has roadside assistance, like AAA. You push a button and it sends you an email and/or text message of your lat. and long. Check out www.findmespot.com.

A little OT: My husband does a lot of very remote hunting and was scouting with a buddy when his buddy broke his ankle. There was no they could hike him out, the guy pulls out his SPOT, pushes a button and lifeflight was there within 1.5 hours. Cost of SPOT, cost of Lifeflight: Zero

I like it because while the hubby is gone for a week hunting, he pushes a button and it sends me a standard. "I'm ok" text message with his lat. and long., then I go onto Google Earth and can see exactly where he was when he sent the message. So can our daughters, which is darn cool for all of us.

ziggy53

IdahoMotomom wrote:

A SPOT basically does the same thing and also helps you out if you have an injury up hiking, etc. It also has roadside assistance, like AAA. You push a button and it sends you an email and/or text message of your lat. and long. Check out www.findmespot.com.

A little OT: My husband does a lot of very remote hunting and was scouting with a buddy when his buddy broke his ankle. There was no they could hike him out, the guy pulls out his SPOT, pushes a button and lifeflight was there within 1.5 hours. Cost of SPOT, cost of Lifeflight: Zero

I like it because while the hubby is gone for a week hunting, he pushes a button and it sends me a standard. "I'm ok" text message with his lat. and long., then I go onto Google Earth and can see exactly where he was when he sent the message. So can our daughters, which is darn cool for all of us.

Do you know what level of service is required for the features you mention?

Scott_Quier

IdahoMotomom wrote:

A SPOT basically does the same thing and also helps you out if you have an injury up hiking, etc. It also has roadside assistance, like AAA. You push a button and it sends you an email and/or text message of your lat. and long. Check out www.findmespot.com.

A little OT: My husband does a lot of very remote hunting and was scouting with a buddy when his buddy broke his ankle. There was no they could hike him out, the guy pulls out his SPOT, pushes a button and lifeflight was there within 1.5 hours. Cost of SPOT, cost of Lifeflight: Zero

I like it because while the hubby is gone for a week hunting, he pushes a button and it sends me a standard. "I'm ok" text message with his lat. and long., then I go onto Google Earth and can see exactly where he was when he sent the message. So can our daughters, which is darn cool for all of us.

This sounds very interesting. A quick little surfing found this page which indicates that there are costs associated with getting this device and a subscription fee as well. Would love to know how/where you got the SPOT for free - or did I mis-read you post?

At any rate, thanks for posting about the alternative. Definitely something worth looking into.

cmason

SPOT does require a yearly fee. It uses sat phone to do these contacts, and therefore needs good view of the sky.

I imagine this has good use as an update/emergency device, but it looks completely useless for what you are after. There is no display, no routing, no ability to download or upload tracks.

It seems to me that if you are venturing where there is likely no cell phone coverage, this has good utility, assuming it is not in the rain forest or caving. But if you have cell coverage or can easily get it (top of mtn), then I am not sure of the use of this device.

time2smile

If someone mentioned this earlier, sorry, I didn't read them all.
If you have a pocket pc with gps heres the only software or unit to use. It also works with Microsoft street and trips.

I have an Dell Axim V51X with the software (Ostio) and I can at any time save my location either under a favorite or in Microsoft outlook as a contact, now that is really cool. I'm a tech and do alot of driving during the day in the NYC area, all I do is bring up the software and tell it I want to go to one of my contacts and it takes me there.

It would definitely do what you want
http://www.pharosgps.com/

IdahoMotomom

Cabelas recently had a deal if you bought the SPOT and service, they would rebate you the cost of the spot, depending on the service you chose.

Also, there is no display on the unit, but you can find where you were and mapping capabillities when you return home via Google Earth. Where I live you can retrieve GPS access and not cell access in most areas.

Since we are in the mountains a lot as a family, riding our motorcycles, hiking, hunting, etc, it's a worthwhile investment. Oh, yes, we have a Garmin also but it's not going to get air ambulance there if we need it.

cmason wrote:

SPOT does require a yearly fee. It uses sat phone to do these contacts, and therefore needs good view of the sky.

I imagine this has good use as an update/emergency device, but it looks completely useless for what you are after. There is no display, no routing, no ability to download or upload tracks.

It seems to me that if you are venturing where there is likely no cell phone coverage, this has good utility, assuming it is not in the rain forest or caving. But if you have cell coverage or can easily get it (top of mtn), then I am not sure of the use of this device.

Ed911

Scott_Quier wrote:

I have a 2(+) year old Garmin nuvi 660, but if the best solution involves getting a new unit - that's ok.

Anyone have any ideas?

Scott,

Are you sure your Garmin won't give you GPS coordinates and then let you input them to take you back to the location. I know it would be easier if you could just push a button and record a way-point, but this could be a temporary work around.

My Tom Tom has this feature, as did my older unit. I just have to record the lat and lon (easily available on several of the Tom Tom's pages) on paper and then when I pull up the address page, the feature is on the next page. Click on the lat and lon button and enter the coordinates and the Tom Tom will plot the highway solution to get me there. By the way, I have the low end of the line in Tom Toms, so this isn't an exclusive feature of high end models.

Hope this helps.

colourbox

Surreallife wrote:

I use an iPod free app called GPS LTE by MotionX. I can even take a picture of my location and register it.

I paid up for the app (Motion-X GPS) and I swear it's the most practical, no-brainer $2.99 I've spent on my iPhone. It can mark waypoints with a double-click - and with a reference shot from the iPhone camera as mentioned; save your tracks, import tracks and waypoints, calculate your average speed and total miles traveled, etc. It is amazing. It does suck the iPhone battery pretty hard, though, so for car use a power adapter and dash mount should be added. And they continuously add features and improvements.

Disclaimer: I've never used a "real" GPS device.

Manfr3d

Wintec WGS-1000 is a nice GPS datalogger with LCD Display (no maps): http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=117303

Scott_Quier

Lest people start to think I've abandoned this thread - I'm still here and still researching. I've found a couple of items that may prove to be the solution. More research is required before I'll be satisfied enough to actually drop the $$$ on an option.

Thanks to all who have posted. DGrinners are the greatest! I have been and will continue to research each suggestion. I live in hope:D