Gipper

We recently bought the same unit and have been testing it of late in the UK. We have been really impressed with it and its easy to use features......it came with Garmin Mapsource (with base world map) and Trip and Way Point Manager software and USB cable.

We are planning an overland trip in 2007 London - Cape Town see www.langebaan-sunset.com , which is why we bought it. The tracking and logging features are very good and its very easy to generate libraries of all your routes or create new ones to down load / up load. The tracks feature and track back are very easy to use. We also have a need for using GPS at sea, so the fact it floats and can handle marine maps is a bonus. It also can use UK Topo maps so its an ideal unit for walking / off roading / greenlaning in the UK (if you have a need to do that kind of thing).

We also have a Tracks4Africa software, which has a map of Africa and lots of data (mainly for the South / South East of Africa) but the data is constantly being refined. Their software / map is compatible with Garmin units too. If you are needing to hunt down useful way points for overland trips (in Africa at least) check out the links page on our website...... www.langebaan-sunset.com

We have also ordered the window RAM mount so we can use the unit in our Land Rover, as well as the power lead for auxillary power socket use.....the only downside i can see so far is that the unit likes to eat batteries.....like most GPS units do. So if you can wire it up to an auxillary power socket / hard wire it in, you will be sorted.

As for not picking up GPS signals in doors (previous posts)....well, it works ok in built up areas and when inside it worked ok near the window but did start to say it was unhappy once we had been indoors for a while.... The unit (as i understand it) has the latest arieal technology and its been working fine in our Land Rover since we got it without the need for an auxillary arieal (although it can use one).

I recently showed it to my mate who works in the GIS / GPS field and he thought it was a good buy, particularly with respect to the fact you can be selective about the mapping / GPS data you can upload to the unit and the memory that is expandable.

On the whole we give it a good 9 out of 10

Hope that helps.

Nick www.langebaan-sunset.com

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www.langebaan-sunset.com
London - Cape Town 2010