   |
|
Previous Posts
Archives
Subscribe to |
TAKE A HIKE GPS Archive Page
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
If you read the detailed specifications for just about any handheld GPS unit designed for outdoor use, you'll see that it's waterproof to IPX-7 standards. But what does that really mean?
Basically, IP or International Protection rating is used to classify the degree of protection of an electrical object from both solid materials and water. The first number in the rating represents protection against solid objects, and the second number represents protection against water. For example, an electrical socket has a protection rating of IP22, meaning it's protected against the insertion of fingers and vertically or nearly vertically dripping water. When an object has not been tested for either one or the other criteria, that number is replaced with an X. Thus, a handheld GPS unit rated to IPX-7 standards can be submerged in 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes without experiencing a "harmful ingress of water". Well, that's a nice claim for the manufacturers to make...but I wanted to try it for myself to see if there wasn't a loophole in there somewhere. I devised a slightly scaled-down version of the IP test using a 5-gallon bucket and a Magellan Triton 300 GPS unit, and videotaped the whole thing. Much to my surprise, not only did the GPS pass the test with flying colors, it actually wouldn't even sink in water until I weighed it down! That's not even something the manufacturer advertised. I guess there is truth in advertising after all...although I'm still not sure about the "meat" in those Taco Bell burritos! by: TAKE A HIKE GPS 0 Comments Links to this post  
Thursday, March 24, 2011
So, you just got a great deal on a state-of-the-art GPS unit and saved a ton of money. Maybe you even took advantage of our $50 coupon we offer our newsletter subscribers. Congratulations! We all love the excitement that comes with getting a bargain on a cool new piece of gear.
However, when you go out and start using that GPS, you may discover that you're missing certain accessories you need to really get full use out of it. For example, maybe you realize that having detailed maps would really help you navigate on your hiking trips. Or, maybe you decide that you want to take your GPS on your bike rides as well, but you don't have a mount for it. Or maybe you just want to protect your GPS with a case. But sometimes it can be harder to find the same great deals on random GPS accessories that you got on your original purchase...until now. Starting tomorrow, Take a Hike GPS will introduce a new weekly special we're calling "Feature Friday". Every Friday, we'll offer a steep discount on a selected GPS accessory. We'll advertise the deal during the week on our Facebook page with the coupon code you'll need to get the discount. It'll be something different every week--maybe 30% off all bicycle mounts one week, or $10 off vehicle power cables the next. Just visit our Facebook page and look for our latest "Feature Friday" post to see what the deal is for the current week. We've already posted the deal for this week, but we'd like to hear from you what deals you'd like to see for future weeks. So, leave us a comment and tell us what GPS accessory you'd like to save money on, and how much you'd like to save...and you might just see your suggestion as the next Feature Friday deal! by: TAKE A HIKE GPS 2 Comments Links to this post
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Is your GPS software up-to-date? If not, you could be missing out on some great benefits.
Periodically, handheld GPS manufacturers will release updates for their products. These updates could be designed to fix bugs or flaws with the original design of the product, or they could be designed to add new features to a product. For example, one update Magellan released for the Triton series of GPS units allowed users to, among other things, select "go to next" or "go to previous" point while navigating a route. Each manufacturer will have a slightly different process for getting and installing GPS software updates, but it usually is a fairly quick and painless process (not to mention free!), and when completed, you'll have a slightly improved GPS unit. To update the software for your handheld GPS, click on the link below corresponding to your GPS manufacturer, and follow the manufacturer's instructions. Garmin WebUpdater: For Garmin GPS units, all you need to do to update your GPS is download and install their WebUpdater application. Then, just plug your GPS into the computer, turn it on, and run the application. Magellan Updates: For Magellan Triton and eXplorist GPS units, select your unit to see the latest update available. You can then download and install the update to your GPS. Lowrance Updates: For your Lowrance Endura GPS units, select the updates specific to your unit, and then download and install the updates. Delorme Updates: For your Delorme Earthmate GPS units, you'll need to use the TOPO Software included with the purchase of your GPS to update the unit. Just connect the GPS to your computer, turn it on, and open the TOPO software. Click the "sync" button to open the data transfer dialog box. If there's any updates available for your GPS, they'll be installed automatically at that time. Don't miss out on the chance to improve your GPS unit--update your software today! by: TAKE A HIKE GPS 0 Comments Links to this post
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
I had a question from a customer recently about transferring maps and data from a computer to a Garmin GPS unit. Specifically, the customer was asking how they could transfer maps if they had lost the software that came with the GPS.
I had actually been intending to make a video demo on that very subject for quite some time, and that was just the motivation I needed to finally get it done. So, without further ado, here's the video: It's a really simple process, as long as you have Garmin's free BaseCamp software. All you have to do is plug the GPS into the computer with a standard USB cable, turn it on, and open the BaseCamp program. All the data on the GPS (such as waypoints, tracks, geocaches, etc) will be transferred automatically to your computer. To transfer maps to the GPS, just use the BaseCamp wizard to select the maps you want to transfer. It's a big improvement over the old MapSource software, so if you haven't upgraded yet, be sure to do that soon--it's completely free, and it won't take you long to learn the new program. by: TAKE A HIKE GPS 0 Comments Links to this post
Monday, March 21, 2011
Have you ever been thinking about buying a new gadget or tool, but just weren't sure whether or not it was something you wanted to spend money on? I certainly have. I remember that I used to think "trekking poles" were pretty silly, and certainly weren't worth upwards of $100. I mean, they basically looked a lot like sticks to me...and there are plenty of those lying around. Then, a friend let me borrow her trekking poles on a trip to the Grand Canyon. To make a long story short, I ordered my first pair of trekking poles the day after I got back from that trip.
The point is, sometimes you just have to try something out for yourself before you can tell how useful it will be to you. That's why I've created a way to do just that with some of our GPS units. We've basically set up a GPS rental system that's geared toward people who have never used a GPS, but want to try one out to see if it's something they might like. When setting up our system, we had three goals in mind. First, we wanted to keep the cost of renting a GPS low enough so that people who just wanted to try one out for a few days could afford to do so. Second, we didn't just want to send someone a GPS to try out--we wanted to teach them how to use it, and use it well. Finally, we wanted to give people a way to avoid paying for a GPS twice--that is to say, paying to rent one, and then later paying again to buy one if they decided they liked it. I'm happy to say that we designed a system that accomplished all three of those goals. Here's how it works. Visit our GPS rental page and take a look at the units we have available. When you find one you'd like to try, just place your order and we'll mail you the GPS, along with a pre-paid return shipping label. You'll be able to keep the GPS for up to 2 weeks, or send it back early and get a discount on your rental. While you're renting the GPS, we'll teach you how to use it through video tutorials, step-by-step guides, and links to on-line resources. If you decide that a handheld GPS is something you'd like to invest in, we'll give you the chance to either buy the pre-owned GPS that you rented at a special reduced price, or get $50 off a new GPS unit. Now, we realize that this is a pretty revolutionary idea. It's not too often that you'll see a retailer teaching people how to use the products they sell, much less actually letting people take them home and try them out before buying them. We realize that revolutionary ideas can take a while to catch on...so we've created an incentive program to give it a little kick-start. Here's how it works. Each week, we're going to give away a coupon that allows one lucky person to rent one of our GPS units for $1. To win the coupon, all you have to do is leave a comment on this blog telling us which GPS unit you'd like to rent (visit our GPS rental page to see available units). We'll randomly select a winner each week from the list of people who leave comments. Once you leave a comment, you'll automatically be entered every week. If you have any questions, check out our GPS FAQ page or just watch the video above. by: TAKE A HIKE GPS 5 Comments Links to this post
Friday, March 18, 2011
We've recently updated our handheld GPS buyers guide with new sections allowing you to compare units by price, and shop for units based on your favorite activity. We also thought it might be helpful to break down the product lines offered by each of the four main manufacturers of handheld GPS units--Garmin, Magellan, Delorme, and Lowrance. Read this to get a general idea of what's available, then head over to the buyer's guide for more detail.
Garmin Garmin has numerous product lines in the outdoor GPS market, and it can sometimes get very confusing trying to keep them straight. We'll cover the basics of each product line here. 1. eTrex: Smaller, lightweight GPS units. Available with color and black and white screens. They don't have as many features as some of the newer GPS units, but they are available at much lower prices. 2. GPSmap : The GPSmap 60-series has just been replaced by the newer, more advanced GPSmap 62 series. There's also the GPSmap 78 series for mariners. All are excellent products. These units offer a wide variety of featues--some have a compass and altimeter, some are custom map compatible...check the specifications for each product to be sure you're getting what you want. 3. Oregon and Dakota: These 2 product lines are both touchscreen GPS units. Again, the features vary between products--some come with pre-loaded maps, and the Oregon 550t even comes with a camera! 4. Rino and Astro: These 2 product lines have special features that will be useful for certain groups of people. The Rino series combines GPS with a 2-way radio, and the Astro 220 unit can be used to track hunting dogs. Most people won't need these feature, but if you're a hunter or involved in search-and-rescue work or any other activity requiring radio communication, you'll want to check these units out. Magellan Magellan has 2 product lines for outdoor use GPS--the Triton and eXplorist. 1. Triton -These GPS units are compatible with National Geographic maps. There are 2 touch-screen versions, the Triton 2000 and 1500. Magellan is not currently producing any more of these products, in favor of the eXplorist series units. 2. eXplorist : There are 4 GPS units in this series, most with touch-screens. Some have a compass and barometer, and many other advanced features. They are somewhat comparable to the Garmin Oregon seires. Delorme Delorme is a company know for its mapping products; however, it also has a line of outdoor-use handheld GPS units with some unique capabilities that are well worth checking out. Earthmate : These GPS units have the unique capability of displaying a number of different types of maps and imagery, in addition to regular topographic maps. Also, the Earthmate PN-60 with SPOT is currently the only GPS unit that supports text messaging via satellite. Lowrance Lowrance produces products for the marine industry, but they have also developed a line of outdoor-use handheld GPS units. Endura: There are 3 units in the Endura series, all with touch-screens. Other features vary between individual units. Although they have some things in common with the Garmin Oregon GPS units, they are not very popular and really don't have anything unique to offer other than being cheaper. by: TAKE A HIKE GPS 0 Comments Links to this post
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Last week, Backpacker Magazine released a free version of its GPS app for the iPhone and Android smartphones called "GPS Trails Lite". It has many of the same features as the full, paid version of the app, and performs many of the same functions as a handheld GPS unit. This begs the question, if you already have a smartphone, will an app like this be enough, or do you also need a handheld GPS unit? And, if you don't have either, should you consider getting a smartphone instead of a handheld GPS unit?
There are certainly advantages and disadvantages to either option, but in the humble opinion of this reviewer, a smartphone app is a poor substitute for a handheld GPS unit. First of all, the phones tend to eat through battery life like nobody's business. While testing the app on a recent hike, it only took 4 hrs to completely drain my phone's battery. Most handheld GPS units have a useful battery life of 16-25 hours, and when it runs out, you can just pop in some fresh AAs. Good luck trying to find an outlet in the middle of the woods to charge that iPhone! Second, handheld GPS units are built for the outdoors. Almost all of them are waterproof to IPX 7 standards (submersion of 1 meter for 30 minutes), and they have solidly built casing to protect against drops. In other words, they are designed to be abused. Smartphones are most definitely not. To me, taking my delicate phone into the outdoor elements where I use my GPS just isn't worth the risk. Finally, most GPS units--at least those with WAAS capability--will be more accurate than a phone with a GPS app. And of course, a phone comes with a monthly bill, whereas the GPS service is free to anyone with a receiver. So, in summary, if you've already got a smartphone and you want a cheap alternative to a GPS to use on short hikes in good weather, by all means get the app. Otherwise, I'd go with a GPS designed for outdoor use. For the price you'd pay for two months of phone service, you can get a high quality pre-owned GPS unit, and not have to worry about getting it a little dirty every time you take it on a hike. However, that's just my opinion. I'd love to here what your opinion is. Which is better--smartphone GPS app, or a handheld GPS? Leave a comment and let me know what you think! by: TAKE A HIKE GPS 0 Comments Links to this post
|
| All content © Take A Hike GPS. All rights reserved.
 |