 |
        |
           |
|
|
|
Low Cost GPS Receiver and Moving Map PC Software Reviewsby Joe Mehaffey and Jack YeazelRevised: 20 June, 2000 (Corrected for SA elimination and other details) Quoted prices are US$ GARMIN CHART-PLOTTER RECEIVERS Garmin StreetPilot (SP) v. 2.07 $390US and StreetPilot ColorMap (SPCM) v. 2.09 $545US can with the 8MB ($75US) or 16MB ($125US) flash memory cartridges upload any of Garmin's MapSource maps on CD. These receivers at first sight looks like an 'inflated' G-III+. However, in their ample interiors are some significant hardware and software innovations. A summary of the major new features are: ETAK highly accurate street level maps on Garmin StreetPilot cartridges Selective Availability (SA) 'eliminator' keeps tracks ON streets Large high resolution screen, 160x240 pixels -or 128x240 pixels in the SP CM Point-to-point route generation (with Street Atlas 5, 6, 7) 'Rubber-banding' route segments attach to the street curves Route guidance with large arrow that anticipates turns and street bends Map changes zoom level when approaching route turn MetroGuide list user attractions, motels, restaurants, etc. near current position Automatic "Next Cross Street" display with MetroGuide maps Automatic inverse video amber backlighting at sundown Automatic zoom level in Navigate mode Automatic daylight saving time adjustment Automatic NMEA/GRMN data transfer selection (not verified) Automatic power-down on loss of external DC power Position indicator carries a 'circle' indicating estimated error Driving Status text at top of map describes present location and up-coming turns Map finds selected street addresses Street Pilot requires the help of outside software to indicate the quickest point to point routing. The procedure we prefer is to use Street Atlas 7 (SA7) to determine the desired route and upload it to the SP. Care must be taken to place any SA7 'stops' directly on street intersections. A mismatch between an SA7 and an SP intersection will not allow the route segment to 'rubber-band' (attach itself) to the curves of the road. However, 20% or so, of the uploaded routepoints that are not exact can easily be 'edited' in the Street Pilot to the proper location allowing rubber-banding the whole route. Routes can also be generated without SA7, by indicating the beginning and ending points on the SP. However, the route must be manually 'attached' to selected intersections to make an effective turn-by-turn route. From here all that's required is to 'Start Navigating' and select the forward or reverse route. As you drive along, the map will zoom out to show the 'big picture' until approaching a turn. Then the map zooms in to better indicate what maneuver is needed just ahead. The large arrow keeps a running indication as to curves ahead and the direction to turn at the next intersection. This is most helpful when traveling south on a north-oriented map! Map detail is adjustable to avoid clutter. The text at the top of the page gives the FULL name of the approaching street, not just the six characters provided by SA7. You'll quickly notice that the position marker doesn't wander off the street due to SA. Without this feature, due to the density of the map streets, SA would not allow one to know for sure which street they were actually on. The SP allows only 100 waypoints while the SP CM holds 500. The SP allows 475 trackpoints while the SP CM holds 950. Waypoints and Routepoints can be listed with the nearest first or alphabetically. Read the complete StreetPilot (ColorMap) review HERE. StreetPilot and StreetPilot ColorMap, what's DIFFERENT?: The two GPSs are physically the same size, but the ColorMap screen has 16-colors and is smaller. The SP screen is 240x160 pixels while the SP CM is 240x128 (not as high). The map upload speed is faster in the SP CM, 115,200bps vs 38,400bps for the SP. (Approx. one hour is required to upload an 8MB map to the SP). Operating features are essentially the same. The ColorMap has 500 waypoints instead of the SP's 100, 950 trackpoints vs the SP's' 475. Check HERE for update details. Garmin GPSMAP175: This $700 GPS receiver is a little different breed from the low end models listed above. This model is essentially a G-12XL receiver (with the same basic features but also with a display almost three times the area and with better resolution as compared to the G-12XL. The unit also has optional plug in memory cartridges which can provide detailed marine charts and moderately detailed highway road maps all in one "brick" sized 20 ounce unit. The built in map feature will be useful to Mariners, but those who are used to Street Atlas and similar vector road maps will be disappointed in the road detail. The GPSMAP-175 has a parallel 12 channel receiver. It provides fast satellite lock on similar to other 12-channel receivers. The GM-175 does not have the G-12XL's waypoint averaging feature. Battery life is about 10 hours on six AA cells and the unit supports an external amplified antenna. The GM-175 is compatible with Software designed for the G-12XL and the G-45XL. See: target="_blank">Garmin GPSMAP-175 -Product Review Software Compatibility: All Garmin hand-held receivers are compatible with all the map software programs we have tested that use the NMEA 0183 Ver. 2.0, 4800 baud standard for real-time tracking. Stored routes, waypoints, and tracks can be down or uploaded to the receiver (with a $30 serial port cable) using the GRMN/GRMN protocol.Fugawi works well with scanned maps, and Ozi Explorer works best with the USGS DRG maps. Later units and firmware revisions have Garmin's "PVT" protocol so that switching back and forth between NMEA and GARM/GARM modes is no longer necessary to change from position tracking to data upload/download when using a compatible external mapping or support software. Street Atlas 5/6/7 with the Delorme Update: Can upload routes and draw-object Place Notes and Text Notes and can download waypoints and routes (all limited to the first six characters). SA7 also can download (but not upload) tracks. G7ToWin: (Beta 28): Can download (the last listed) Route, Waypoints and Tracks retaining the 10-characters in the Waypoints and Routepoint names. During this process G7TO can create .SA4/5/6/7 files that show the data on Street Atlas. G7TO can also upload these files back into the GPS with the 10-character names and original Symbols preserved. Routes that rubber-banded before downloading will rubber-band again after uploading. Screen-captures are provided, and old 6-character archived waypoints can also be uploaded. Waypoint+ (1.7.06): Can only download tracks from the newer Garmin units. However, archived Waypoints, Routes (with 6-character names), and Tracks can be uploaded. See: Garmin StreetPilot Mapping GPS -Product Review Garmin MapSource Version 3.03 (MS3) has the ability to upload/download waypoints, routes, and tracks to and from (most) Garmin GPS receivers. One doesn't have to have a mapping receiver to take advantage of MS3's data-handling features. MS3 can be used to manually create routes on the map and then upload these routes to the GPS. Version 3 is a free upgrade for MapSource 2.x owners, and is available for download from the Garmin website. Please Note: This software will not work unless you already own a MapSource CD map product. Tracks and waypoints downloaded to MapSource can be edited -allowing eliminating "wayward" track segments. See examples of MapSource maps (HERE) and ( HERE). Roads & Recreation CD maps ($75) are more 'readable' in that major streets are designated with darker lines and more street names are provided. Water detail is now on a par with that of Lowrance's MapCreate. Shoreline detail is slightly greater than MapCreate, but R&R Nautical Navigation Navaids markers are considerably fewer. These maps are essentially Tiger maps also used by Street Atlas and Lowrance MapCreate (examples shown HERE indicate a later database than MapCreate). USA Topo set of three CDs ($100) is the latest Garmin map product. Topographic data is added to street-level maps. These contain contour lines and extensive small stream data for the USA. The road database is 20 to 30 years old, but are more accurate than those in the R&R CD or any version of Street Atlas. They are: Alaska/Hawaii, USA West (Setup), and USA East. Areas to be selected are now rectangles of various sizes in a grid. Contour lines are at 33 to 164-foot intervals in the Atlanta area depending on zoom level and 66-foot intervals in more hilly terrain of North Georgia. In mountainous areas of Oregon the contour lines are from 131 to 657-foot intervals. On the larger lakes, elevation contours (not depth contours) are also shown. In addition, nautical navaids for the 50 states are provided, including radio beacons, RACONs, fog signals, river, harbor, and other lights, day beacons, and lighted and unlighted buoys. Wrecks and obstructions such as shipwrecks, submerged rocks, obstructions and other hazards to nautical navigation are displayed. (See: Garmin USA Topo CDs, A Short Review) WorldMap CD maps contain many Nautical Navaids around the US coast and the rest of the world. The street/highway detail and accuracy are relatively poor. Contents
|
Sponsored by: For information regarding advertising rates Click Here! |
Copyright© 1995-2012 MindSites Group / Privacy Policy
GeoCommunity™, Wireless Developer Network™, GIS Data Depot®, and Spatial News™
including all logos and other service marks
are registered trademarks and trade communities of
MindSites Group