which model

[Lloyd Smale]

I allready have a great handheld unit and want to buy one for my truck and jeep. Which of the automotive type ones has the best map package for obsqure roads. Id like to use it in my polaris razor too and would like the one that is going to show the most dirt two track roads. Im willing to buck up and buy a high dollar one if necessary but like anyone else dont want to throw away good money. im not a wiz at these things so fancy bells and whistles dont mean much. I just need one that will work well and work in the woods and has the best map package.

[Siskiyou]

Lloyd,

I think that you need a little tougher gps unit then most  when it comes to your ATV use.  Installing a gps on an ATV calls for a waterproof unit, and having guts that will not shake lose.  Here is a link to a cross section of units that may fit your needs.

http://www.tigergps.com/moatvgps.html

I have the Garmin c550 which is the light weight, nice environment version of the Zumo 550.  The other day I loaded some Western States Garmin Map Source Topo United States on a data card and plugged it into the card slot on the side of the unit.  You need not bother with the software on the DVD.  You can purchase you area on a MicroSD Card.  Normally these cards come with an adapter that slides into the SD slot on the unit. 

http://gpsinformation.org/zumo/zumo.html

http://www.tigergps.com/garmintoposd906.html

I have not had the time to get out in the woods since I installed the Topo maps on my c550, but went into the map option on the unit and unchecked the pre-installed City Navigator software, and selected U.S. Topo 2008.  The topographic features show, and all the local secondary roads show.  But I have not been out in the woods to challenge it.  If your two tracks are older roads you will not be disappointed.  But if you are explorering a new sub-division while it is displaying the Topo map you might lose some detail.
http://www.tigergps.com/garminzumo550.html

There are a number of handle bar mounts on the market for gps units.

Is the DeLorme RAM Bicycle handlebar mount adaptable to your ATV?

http://www.tigergps.com/delormebikepn20.html

Suggested criteria are Waterproof standard of IEC 529 IPX-7 or greater.  If a manufacture does not list a waterproof standard then the assumption is it does not meet a standard.

[bilmac]

I don't think the navigators for auto use is going to cross over to back country use very well. An auto type may show county roads, but I doubt that there are any that have base maps that include two tracks. That said an auto type navigator is sure nice. Since we bought one this country boy is almost not afraid to drive in the big city anymore. You know ahead of time when to change lanes and little things like that. Also you have a hankering for some Mexican food, the navigator will tell you where. I am required to take the missus to a certain number of garage sales, and even in the medium-small size town we go to it makes finding them a lot easier.

One thing I would think a navigator should be able to do that our old magellin doesn't, is do a route, or even show you the inputted addresses that are closest to you. Might be a feature to look for if you've gotten the garage sale bug. Actually I've been picking up some real gun buys on occasion.

[Siskiyou]

Lloyd,

I had a chance to beat around the woods today and test my Garmin Automotive gps.  I started with the factory preloaded City Navigator software.  The software did a good job of showing the logging roads, even ones that have been gated off or blocked with large water-bars.

After completing my primary mission which was to do some shooting.  I switched from City Navigator software to United States Topo 2008.  The area I was in had mixed ownership of private parcels, privately owned timberland, and National Forest.  The Topo software was doing a great job of showing the different type roads.  Then the surprise came, and the road I was traveling on did not show on the screen.  The road is a primary travel route into a lake that gets a lot of use.  The section of road I was on was constructed around 1980, but it was not showing on my automotive gps.  I was also running United States Topo 2008 on my Rino 530CHx.  The data for this road was missing.

A few hours later I started back down the mountain, but I had switched the selected map software back to the pre-installed City Navigator software, and the segment of road constructed in 1980 showed on the screen and it was correct, turn-by-turn.   

When I returned home I did a comparison of both software packages as installed on my computer and it confirmed the segment shows in City Navigator but not in Topo US 2008.

On the computer comparison of the two products took a big jump to the Hiawatha N.F. up in Michigan's U.P.  I choose the Swaiger Creek Truck Trail and roads that tie into it for comparison.  The T.T. shows on both maps, with it showing as a much lesser road when viewed on City Navigator.

I next switch to the Rogue River area of Southern Oregon where a family became stranded last winter.  City Navigator shows the primary road across that country, Topo U.S 2008 shows many other logging roads in the area.

My conclusion is that the results are mixed, depending on the area.  In the area I was in yesterday City Navigator was the winner.  I will do more comparisons as time goes, but out on the logging roads, most likely running the handheld showing US Topo 2008 side-by-side with City Navigator showing on the c550.

Longwinters:  How does the mapping on your autounit compare with your handheld?

[Lloyd Smale]

thanks for the info. did it come with the topos too or did you have to buy them.

[Siskiyou]

Lloyd,

I just returned from a two-week hunting trip and I used the c550 a lot.

My primary hunting partners had a number of obligations which meant they could not hunt everyday, and I was more then happy to spend nights in my friends warm cabin, and commute to the mountains to hunt.

I played back and forth between the pre-loaded City Navigator software and the U.S. Topo 2008 I had loaded on the unit.  The Topo software is a separate purchase.  I had also saved Waypoints on my computer in a Map Source file, and along with the Topo Maps I saved them on a 2GB card and installed them on the c550.

I found that I prefer the pre-installed City Navigator software to the U.S. Topo 2008 software on the automotive gps.  I selected the OPTION in the City Navigator software that allowed Dirt Roads.  The software displayed old logging and mining roads.  I am sure that one of the roads we traveled to our old hunting camp had not been maintain in any sense for thirty years.  Tree, and brush growth are taking over the roadway, and rocks on the remaining old roadbed create an obstacle course.

When we departed in the morning I selected a Waypoint at the end of the old road, and had the unit auto route us to the location.  Easier said then done.  I left the main logging road at about 5200 elevation and immediately had to engage my vehicle in low range 4-wheel drive.  The route was boulder strewn, and deeply washed, but the road (former) showed on the c550.  I kept the rig in 4-wheel drive for the next five miles, scarping over rocks and crossing washouts.  All along the dirt road showing on the map.  Unlike primary roads, these routes showed as a lesser, Yellow route.

At this point in the trip I had become the driver, taking my hunting partners to drop off points and picking them up at pre-planned locations because I had already taken a buck.  This allowed me time to switch back and forth between the US Topo 2008 software and the City Navigator software. 

The last few days I did not bother to us the US Topo 2008 software in the c550.  I went to the map option menu in the unit, and unselected it.  The City Navigator software did a better job of displaying the old roads.  Part of the decision may have been influenced by the fact that at times we had (2) Rino 530HCx, (1) Rino 530, and (1) 76Cx gps unit operating on US Topo 2008. 

The advantage of the US Topo 2008 software displayed itself in the hand held units.  While the City Navigator kept us on the road, the Topo software was better managed in the handheld units. 

The c550 did a good job when used in my pickup, but I would be concerned about it if used on an ATV.
The transfer of waypoints to the c550 paid off when I made a trip to the Northern California Fish and Game office in Redding to purchase a second deer tag so I could continue hunting.  Many years I start out with two tags but this year I was a little conservative.  A couple of years ago I had created a waypoint for the F&G in my gps unit.  In Redding I selected the F&G waypoint and the unit auto-routed me to the office.  After picking up a second tag, I then went to the food option, and looked for a place to eat.  I had not been to the Redding Hometown Buffet, and selected it.  The c550 successfully navigated me to that location.  After lunch I needed to refuel and I selected the fuel option, and was provided with a list of gas stations.  I then selected a nearby AMPM station and navigated to it.

Another feature of the c550 unit is that it is Bluetooth compatible with a limited number of Bluetooth compatible cellphones.  If a user is interested approach with caution, and consult your manufactures web page for a list of compatible cell phones.  My original Verizon Bluetooth phone is not compatible with the c550.  I have been very busy this summer, and my wife did the research for me because I was due for a new phone.  I was able to pair the c550 with a LG Chocolate.  I received the phone a day before I started my trip, and I got them paired up.

I am impressed with the voice the setup, and have discontinued my OnStar service long ago because of cost and frustration.  Remember OnStar uses cellphone towers to communicate and GPS satellites to get a location fix.  From a phone service prospect it is no better then the nearest cell phone tower.

A hunting partner was duly impressed and I see an automotive gps unit in his lady’s future.  I have a lot to learn regarding features of the system and using the phone.  But the basic phone to Bluetooth gps work great.  I am going to purchase a heavier duty cellphone battery because the 800mAh battery ran down at times because I was in marginal areas at times and the battery ran down while search for service.  I will buy a 1200mAh battery. 

Anyway the working Bluetooth feature puts me in compliance with the bill that Governor Arnold signed.