I was hoing you would get a lot more replies as I was also looking at
GPS', mine would be for off road though, something I could track my course
and follow it back out.

I use the Garmin E-map in my Jeeps.  I use the E-trex when I go hiking.
Pretty simple and easy to use.  I can also interface the E-map with my
laptop when I go on road trips.  I have the Maptech software in my laptop so
I can get a decent idea where I am.

chris

I have a Garmin EMap unit.  It works really well.  I can load maps into
it and store them on a memory stick.  They sell topo and extremely
detailed maps for them.  I checked them online and it has all the gas,
food etc located.

I have only used the default North American map and it covers all the
numbered highways and main lakes and towns.  I can locate myself pretty
close in the bush by knowing where the lakes and boundary roads are or I
could just take the GPS numbers and transfer them to my topo map for
exact position or buy the expensive on screen map...

So far we have used it 3 times other than just for the 'toy' factor.
Once the major highway was blocked and we found an alternate route, one
other was to find a river in the bush and the other time was in the bush
when I was looking for a cabin.  The GPS told me I was getting too far
from one lake so I knew I was on the wrong trail.  I thought so and used
the GPS to check.

I don't rely on it in the bush.  I have a compass in my kit and always
know the main road's north/south track and am pretty good with
direction.  Anything electronic is prone to fail 'just' when it is
needed most.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos:  Non members can still view!
Aug./05 http://www.imagestation.com/album/index.html?id=2120343242
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

I have the C330 (Europe version).

It has better maps (MapQuest) than the Tom Tom or Navquest, and probably a
better GPS receiver ; I have had none of the GPS losing signal problems that
my friends have reported with their Tom Toms. The intelligence of the
software is very good - the map detail is spot on, and the routing
intelligent. Minor street names are presented to you as you reach them to
save cluttering up the screen, and this is also done better than on the Tom
Tom or Navquest. You can choose between a 3d view or a 2d traditional North
is up, or 2d up is ahead of you view. It can now do custom Points of
Interest ( I have the UKs speed camera database in mine and it alerts
whenever I approach one too quickly). The speakers are quite audible in a
Jeep - the unit is practically all speaker. The touch screen is great.

However, there are some serious downsides:

a) you don't get told your latitude/longitude, so it is useless offroad, and
if it doesn't know what your road is called, usually because it is very
small, then breaking down on "unnamed road" is not the best directions to
give to the breakdown rescue people.
b) it doesn't do breadcrumbs, so you can't follow your way back.
c) it doesn't do route planning - you can't enter a number of waypoints for
example.If you need to do a via, you have to plan that as two trips, but
since the last 50 selections are held, that doesn't take a long time to
program.
d) Postcode searching in the UK is a bit fiddly - it only does partial
postcodes, then it is up to you to choose the street. A full postcode
uniquely identifes a street, the C330s level only identifies an area a
couple of square miles.

Being picky
a) there are no phono-outs for a louder speaker. The built in one is loud
enough, so this isn't much of a downside
b) the screen is a bit reflective. Nothing else is better, but a brainy
designer would have put a cowl around it.

Hope this helps. I wouldn't recommend it for offroad use, but it works well
at getting you from a to b using a sensible route.

Dave Milne, Scotland

Firebird did pass the time by typing:

I use a now fairly old eTrex Vista by Gamin.
The only drawback is you have to buy street level maps,
but it's a nice unit.

The newer ones are much better.  Get one with a USB connector
and check the map prices.

I own the Garmin GPS60 model and like it a lot, used primarily for hunting
and hiking the Montana backcountry.
http://www.garmin.com/products/gps60/

The unit comes with the Mapsource software, which is nice, but do download
and install the Google Earth software, http://earth.google.com/.  It is
simple to use and map out and download/upload tracks and waypoints, and to
keep track and review where you have been and your favorite backcountry
spots.  It is a wonderful item to have along on a trip and I love mine, but
they still cannot replace a good ol' compass and topo map.  They will also
temporarily loose their signal whenever you are in the heavy timber under a
thick tree canopy.

But if you will only be using it for alternate road routes in and around the
city, then this unit may not be for you.

Good luck.
Terry

What would be for the Middle East and the desert out here

Thank yo
Nadi

--
nelkhour