GPS Tracklog

Top posts of 2007

Believe it or not, GPS Tracklog is entering its fourth calendar year, and as we did for 2005 and 2006, here's a look back at some of our more useful and popular posts of 2007. I've broken this year's list down into categories:

All about maps

• International maps for your Garmin GPS - Garmin units have a great variety of international maps from numerous sources. Here's a rundown.
• Free maps for your Garmin GPS - Great sources of topo and highway maps for domestic and international destinations. These includes maps for countries you can't find elsewhere and 1:24,000 scale topos for some parts of the U.S.
• Garmin TOPO U.S. 2008 review - I also speculated on Garmin Topo 2009.
• An obsession with maps - Map junkies rejoice!

Tips

• Transfer waypoints to a nuvi - Using MapSource with your nuvi.
• Switching between topo and road maps on your Garmin handheld - It's surprisingly easy.

Garmin friction mount review

After years of illegally using a windshield mount, I finally plopped down $28 for a Garmin friction mount. My nuvi and I now walk ride the straight and narrow.

While suction mounts are only illegal in California and Minnesota, there are other reasons to choose a friction, AKA beanbag or dashboard mount -- one being theft deterrence. No suction cup, no tell-tale marks on the windshield.

Garmin nuvi 770 review

The Garmin nuvi 770 is the nicest of Garmin's transatlantic navigators, with pre-loaded maps of North America and Europe.  As a member of the 700 series, it incorporates a number of features not found on the transatlantic nuvi 670:

• Multi-destination routing
• Automatic sorting of multiple destinations to provide an efficient route
• Tracklog recording
• Speed limit display for many interstates and highways
• The newer internal antenna found on the nuvi 200 series
• Automatic marking of your last position when the unit is turned off (to help you find your car in mega-mall parking lots)
• A "Where am I" safety feature that gives your current location, nearest address, nearest intersection, along with quick access to POIs for the nearest hospitals, police stations and gas stations
• Finally, MSN Direct is available as an add on option

Seen in Las Vegas airport this afternoon

Well, if you needed any more evidence that GPS has gone mainstream, here are two Garmins in an iPod vending machine in the Las Vegas airport. The units are a nuvi 200 and Forerunner 205. I didn't even check the price, but I'm assuming they were not a great deal. Talk about an impulse purchase!

Tech talk - raster vs. vector, or why has it taken so long to get aerial photos and USGS topos?

What makes aerial photos and USGS topo maps so different that we've been waiting years to get them on our GPS screens? A few companies have started offering these images in the past year. But so far, Garmin, the king of GPS receivers, has not had this capability (with the exception of limited aerial imagery of ports on some marine units).

To address this, we first need to define two types of imagery and the problems they can cause. I'll close with what's coming from Garmin and Magellan in this regard.

Dash Express available for pre-order

UPDATE: Read our full, hands on, Dash Express review.

Dash Navigation is now taking advance orders for the Dash Express for shipment at the end of February. Last week we noted that Dash Navigation had set their service fees for the Dash Express. I'm glad to see that a three-month trial subscription is included in the $599 price of the unit.

Magellan Triton 1500 - First impressions

UPDATE: Read my Magellan Triton 1500 review.

I’ve had a few days to try my new Magellan Triton 1500 and have decided to post some initial impressions, since a full review isn’t likely till after the holidays.

Cable snafu

After a stumbling introduction, Magellan seems to be going the extra mile to assist folks who received units without cables (short of moving their tech support back to the U.S.!). If you were one of the unlucky recipients of a Triton 1500 sans cable, email me at rich at makeyourownmaps dot com and I’ll try to put you in touch with someone who can help.

Hardware

The Triton 1500 fits nicely in my hand and feels solid. I like the touch screen and am finding it relatively easy to move back and forth between it and the button controls. I am not finding it necessary to use the stylus that often.

The buttons are stiff, and will take a little getting used to. They are backlit, which is a nice feature. One of the worst things I can say about the hardware at this point is that the screen isn’t that bright. You have to hold it at the proper angle to view it in sunlight, and even then it is difficult. It is nowhere near as bright as my Garmin 60CSx. I’m assuming that Magellan made compromises here to save some money and to be able to bring the unit to market at a lower price point.

Holiday travel, comments, etc.

I'll be on the road for much of the next ten days, visiting far flung relatives and showing off the new baby. My nuvi 660 is loaded with all the details, along with a spiffy holiday-themed vehicle icon.

Some posting will go on, but the frequency will drop till I return. I've got a couple of things scheduled to run in the next few days though. Geocachers and outdoor enthusiasts will want to say tuned for tomorrows "Magellan Triton 1500 - First impressions" post.

Comment approval and response will slow, and I probably won't get around to answering all comments, but I will help folks out when possible. I was hoping to get a Waypoints column posted before leaving, but it looks like its on hiatus for awhile.

Wishing you all a safe and great holiday season.

Dash Express service fees set

Dash Navigation has updated their website with Dash Express screen shots, specs and service fees:

The Dash service costs $9.99 per month if you pre-pay for a two-year plan, $10.99 per month if you pre-pay for a one-year plan, or $12.99 per month with a month-to-month commitment.

More on the Garmin Colorado series

UPDATE: Read our Garmin Colorado 300 review, Garmin Colorado 400c review and Garmin Colorado 400t review.

It appears that the Garmin Colorado series is real, and that it may be capable of showing aerial photos (raster imagery), as shown in the image above. It's high time Garmin took this step; after all, DeLorme, Magellan and even Bushnell have beat them to the punch with units that allow for the display of aerial photos and / or USGS topo maps. We forecast back in August that we would soon see a Garmin handheld with this capability.