Hi all, Hoping you can help me here. I'm looking to buy my first GPS unit. I'm not too worried about budget. I'm currently looking at the Satmap active 10. But want to know if it still suffers with the slow fix time? or has this been solves in a software update? Is there any others that really compare to it? I'm mainly a climber, but want to do some walking in areas like the lakes, dartmoor, peaks, snowdonia. basically all the national parks. Intend to be doing some easy stuff, plus some longer multi day walks. Also getting into scrambling as well. From the reviews I've read the satmap seems to be the best placed. Just looking for some advice really. Are satmap going to release a new unit any time soon? Cheers CC
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 it takes a while to get a fix but is good at keeping it once it has. it's very strange. it appears the unit uses it's primary power on resources to find out what card you have loaded and sorting out its internals etc instead of getting on with finding out where it is. it is an irritation but one, so far, worth putting up with because of the mapping. it's not something you want to switch on and off to find out where you are like you may with a "normal" gps unit which remembers where it was last and gets on with it very quickly. if you want to follow a map it's fantastic. if you just want to find out where you are get a gps. if you mainly climb do you need a satmap? the alternative is buy some digital mapping, print what you want and load a route into a gps for confirmation of your position on the paper map. with a gps you will use it as an adjunct to a paper map. a satmap replaces the paper map (although i always carry a paper map too) they don't need to launch a new unit but just get the software/firmware improved and provide better compatability with other mapping route formats. it's very expensive though...
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| Edited: 29/06/09 20:53 |
Well I've got one and used it to complete the 3 peaks in May and found it great, bought it along with the All National parks 1:50000 card. then just followed the marked paths, tho at 1:50' it dosent show them all. Used it a few times since in Snowdonia still no probs, tho I am hoping for a 1:25000 location centered map card for my Birthday .
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as an aside, when you get more maps you can send them off and have them put on one card which is a bonus.
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 Does this satmap widger use the same format maps as memory map etc?
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 Does this satmap widger use the same format maps as memory map etc?
No.
Due to the Ordnance Survey's licencing system maps cannot be transferred between different mapping applications
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Well that's kinda limiting! Why would I spend money on a map I can only use with one system? To be honest, someone needs to grip this issue and start introducing some standards. OS (the commercial arm at least) have been resting on their laurels recently. Electronic distribution needs resolving and why oh why are we not seeing OS maps coming out on the cool waterproof tearproof paper yet?
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and satmap's maps are linked to the sd card id number so you can't copy them either.
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I agree OS are taking the mick! as i already have MM but still can't use it with my Satmap.
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Garmin GPSMAP 60cx https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=309 I think that this is the best current gps you can get.
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Not exactly OS quaility maps tho is it?
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 I have got the satmap and with the updates it is alot better.Not sure on there mapping as I got the 1:25 northumberland national park only to find that half of kielder is not on it.Not to happy when the card was nearly £70.If you do get the satmap add £50 to the price and get the power pack
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| Edited: 01/07/09 15:41 |
seems to me the best value for money at the moment is to either a) buy a map and a wee little cheapy standalone gps that gives you a grid ref or b) get a windows mobile based phone with a built in gps and memory map. At leastthat way you only have to pay for the maps once!
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Garmin Oregon 400T. Nuff sed.
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the active ten maps are OS quality, since theyre OS maps. i have an active 10 plus which is great, and you can use the route mapping software on the satmap website to create and save gpx routes which you then download to your pc and upload to your satmap unit. you get the lakes maps with the main active 10 plus package anyway, and whilst i dont use it to navigate unless in heavy mist, its pretty handy for waypoints and pinter direction. if you have the lith battery and have the screen on for only a minute at a time with the auto screen off function enabled, mine has lasted 4 days being on about 10 hours per day. When youre in mist you can change the compass to a waypoint pointer so all you need do if youre say, on a ridge, or with crags on one side is just press any button and the pointer shows you the direction you should be headed. theyre not cheap, but i had a garmin (bog standard) before it, and its a different animal all together, great quality. i d recommend it to anyone.
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the online route planning for satmap is a nightmare compared to a digital mapping package. make sure the tea supply is set up before you try anything. interesting about the waypoint pointer thingy. i just use the map. i've never bothered with the compass either and i'm not sure if a compass on it is actually necessary. although i'm sure at some point it will come in handy.
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