Garmin has
taken a big step into the 21st Century with the news that from early
November 2008, you'll be able to load and use real
Ordnance Survey mapping
onto some of its GPS navigation units including the new Oregon range.
Initially the maps available will cover all the UK's National Parks at
a scale of 1:25,000 along, possibly, with some of the national trails.
The maps will retail for £129.99 and come on a microSD card
which loads straight into the unit.
The idea's hardly new - both Satmap's Active 10 unit and ViewRanger's
smartphone software utilise OS mapping on the move - but Garmin says
what makes their mapping different is that it combines both raster
mapping, the OS topographical map, with vector mapping, which adds
versatility.
The vector mapping means you can utilise Garmin's turn by turn
navigation system to, for example, navigate from your house to North
Wales, but once there use familiar OS mapping to identify features,
boundaries, rights of way and so on. The cards also contain a database
of points of interest, so you could use the GPS to find a nearby
campsite or restaurant.
The OS mapping is compatible with both the new Oregon and existing
Colorado units, which are priced between £300 and
£400, though you'll also be able to buy mapping bundled with
hardware at a price to be announced.
We reckon Ordnance Survey mapping is the missing link in the GPS chain
and it's what makes our current favourite, the Satmap Active 10, such a
great piece of kit. A quick play with an Oregon loaded with OS mapping
suggests that it too should be a fantastic bit of navigational kit and
the interface seems much improved over earlier, user-hostile mainstream
GPS units. Garmin even described it as 'iPhone like'...
The one doubt we have over the Garmin units is the touch screen control
system. It works brilliantly indoors, but we know that the British
military avoid touch screens because they view them as unreliable and
this is one of the reasons why the Satmap unit has a push button
control system and a replaceable polycarbonate screen protector
covering the actual screen.
It'll be interesting to see how well the touch screen technology copes
with extended outdoor use, particularly in wet, gritty, dirty
environments - will the glass itself scratch or wear for example - and
how well it deals with winter use using gloves. We're looking forward
to it.
More details about the current Garmin range at
www.garmin.co.uk.
OS mapping packs available from 1 November, 2008.
Jon Doran
