On 15 Mar 2004 18:19:11 GMT, Ignoramus21819
wrote:

I am sorry to interrupt various political discussions.

I am looking for a nice mapping GPS system with both marine as well as
land features. It should be splashproof and accept downloadable
CDs. It will be primarily used in my pickup, but also in a boat.

I am willing to spend up to $500, but preferably $400.

if you can get a laptop for $400 and borrow some software....
even a vista costs that much.
back to politics!
rick

Garmin is soon coming out with the GPSMAP 76C that certainly
apears to be a very nice handheld unit with your requirements.
URL: http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsmap76c/
Some things I like are the color dislay and massive internal
memory. Retail is $535.70 USD, but can be had at
http://www.tvnav.com/ for $415. Just checked that site and he
is taking pre-orders on that unit. I have no affiliation with
Darrel/TVNAV but he is active in the satellite newsgroups
and his prices and support are good.

If you don't need the color screen or that much memory, check
out the GPSMAP76. URL: http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsmap76/
This unit can be had for $250 at TVNAV.

The above units are waterproof to IPX7 standards and also float
if you accidentally drop it overboard.

-Jim

BTW, there are also 'S' models of the above which stands for sensors.
The sensors being an electronic compass and barometric altimeter.
Needless to say these features cost more and consume a lot more
battery power. If you're only going to run on internal batteries,
this can be an issue.




Ignoramus21819 wrote:
I am sorry to interrupt various political discussions.

I am looking for a nice mapping GPS system with both marine as well as
land features. It should be splashproof and accept downloadable
CDs. It will be primarily used in my pickup, but also in a boat.

I am willing to spend up to $500, but preferably $400.

i



Ignoramus21819 wrote:
I am sorry to interrupt various political discussions.

I am looking for a nice mapping GPS system with both marine as well as
land features. It should be splashproof and accept downloadable
CDs. It will be primarily used in my pickup, but also in a boat.

I am willing to spend up to $500, but preferably $400.

i

I'm not real familiar with the Ique, but it seems you're now
going in a different direction. The Ique is a pda and will do
autorouting for you (if I understand it right), but I personally
would not be taking a pda out on the boat and risk it getting
splashed. I'll leave comments on the Ique to those that know
the unit. I'm not one of those. :^)

-Jim


Ignoramus21819 wrote:
In article , Jim wrote:

Garmin is soon coming out with the GPSMAP 76C that certainly
apears to be a very nice handheld unit with your requirements.
URL: http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsmap76c/
Some things I like are the color dislay and massive internal
memory. Retail is $535.70 USD, but can be had at
http://www.tvnav.com/ for $415. Just checked that site and he
is taking pre-orders on that unit. I have no affiliation with
Darrel/TVNAV but he is active in the satellite newsgroups
and his prices and support are good.

If you don't need the color screen or that much memory, check
out the GPSMAP76. URL: http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsmap76/
This unit can be had for $250 at TVNAV.


Thanks. I like 76 and 76c. How do they compare to a Ique?

i


The above units are waterproof to IPX7 standards and also float
if you accidentally drop it overboard.

-Jim

BTW, there are also 'S' models of the above which stands for sensors.
The sensors being an electronic compass and barometric altimeter.
Needless to say these features cost more and consume a lot more
battery power. If you're only going to run on internal batteries,
this can be an issue.




Ignoramus21819 wrote:

I am sorry to interrupt various political discussions.

I am looking for a nice mapping GPS system with both marine as well as
land features. It should be splashproof and accept downloadable
CDs. It will be primarily used in my pickup, but also in a boat.

I am willing to spend up to $500, but preferably $400.

i



Ignoramus21819 wrote:

I am sorry to interrupt various political discussions.

I am looking for a nice mapping GPS system with both marine as well as
land features. It should be splashproof and accept downloadable
CDs. It will be primarily used in my pickup, but also in a boat.

I am willing to spend up to $500, but preferably $400.

i

Ignoramus21819 wrote:
removed
What I want is make sure that the GPS has "marine features", such as
helping me with direction (steering the boat)to destination.

removed

I like the idea of a pda, as one more use of it would be shopping
lists.


Then maybe you should save up and consider getting both. Or get one
of the GPSMAP units and a hand held organizer. :^) Hopefully someone
can respond regarding the Ique, but knowing nothing about it, I would
suspect it to be a bit fragile for boating conditions. Perhaps you
need to be more specific about the marine features you want for
starters. Any gps unit should be able to guide you to a destination
and back.

-Jim

"Ignoramus21819" wrote in message
...
In article , Jim wrote:
Garmin is soon coming out with the GPSMAP 76C that certainly
apears to be a very nice handheld unit with your requirements.
URL: http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsmap76c/
Some things I like are the color dislay and massive internal
memory. Retail is $535.70 USD, but can be had at
http://www.tvnav.com/ for $415. Just checked that site and he
is taking pre-orders on that unit. I have no affiliation with
Darrel/TVNAV but he is active in the satellite newsgroups
and his prices and support are good.

If you don't need the color screen or that much memory, check
out the GPSMAP76. URL: http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsmap76/
This unit can be had for $250 at TVNAV.

Thanks. I like 76 and 76c. How do they compare to a Ique?

i

The above units are waterproof to IPX7 standards and also float
if you accidentally drop it overboard.

-Jim

BTW, there are also 'S' models of the above which stands for sensors.
The sensors being an electronic compass and barometric altimeter.
Needless to say these features cost more and consume a lot more
battery power. If you're only going to run on internal batteries,
this can be an issue.




Ignoramus21819 wrote:
I am sorry to interrupt various political discussions.

I am looking for a nice mapping GPS system with both marine as well as
land features. It should be splashproof and accept downloadable
CDs. It will be primarily used in my pickup, but also in a boat.

I am willing to spend up to $500, but preferably $400.

i



Ignoramus21819 wrote:
I am sorry to interrupt various political discussions.

I am looking for a nice mapping GPS system with both marine as well as
land features. It should be splashproof and accept downloadable
CDs. It will be primarily used in my pickup, but also in a boat.

I am willing to spend up to $500, but preferably $400.

i


The problem with the handhelds in a car is the screen size. Rented an Avis
car years ago with the GPS system and you wanted a large screen to see
without crashing trying to understand the map. The Avis system was great as
it talked to you also.
Bill

What kind of boating? lake or ocean? Keep in mind the Garmins will auto
shutdown in 30 sec. if the power cord is disconnected which, in my opinion,
makes them of dubious value as a safety device. Any GPS will "show" you the
straight line path to a pre entered point (known as a "waypoint"). The
Garmin map76 and the Magellan Meridian Marine both have pre entered buoy's
and other marine features in addition to a "roadmap". I don't think it's
practical to try to navigate in a vehicle using the 1 1/2 x 2 1/4" screens
on a handheld GPS however. I've been using my laptop with Street Atlas and
a handheld for years though. And they talk to you, alerting you prior to a
turn and other things
LD.

"Ignoramus21819" wrote in message
...
In article , Jim wrote:
I'm not real familiar with the Ique, but it seems you're now
going in a different direction. The Ique is a pda and will do
autorouting for you (if I understand it right), but I personally
would not be taking a pda out on the boat and risk it getting
splashed. I'll leave comments on the Ique to those that know
the unit. I'm not one of those. :^)

What I am thinking is, 95% of gps use will be in the truck,
realistically, and 2% on water, and 3% hiking.

The "boat" under consideration is a 21 cuddy cabin boat with a
windshield. So, properly mounted, my GPS will not get that much
splash. Worst case, I can simply put it in a ziploc bag or something
like that, maybe clingwrap.

What I want is make sure that the GPS has "marine features", such as
helping me with direction (steering the boat)to destination.

So, then, perhaps my original question about a splashproof gps was in
fact incorrect.

I like the idea of a pda, as one more use of it would be shopping
lists.

i

-Jim


Ignoramus21819 wrote:
In article , Jim wrote:

Garmin is soon coming out with the GPSMAP 76C that certainly
apears to be a very nice handheld unit with your requirements.
URL: http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsmap76c/
Some things I like are the color dislay and massive internal
memory. Retail is $535.70 USD, but can be had at
http://www.tvnav.com/ for $415. Just checked that site and he
is taking pre-orders on that unit. I have no affiliation with
Darrel/TVNAV but he is active in the satellite newsgroups
and his prices and support are good.

If you don't need the color screen or that much memory, check
out the GPSMAP76. URL: http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsmap76/
This unit can be had for $250 at TVNAV.


Thanks. I like 76 and 76c. How do they compare to a Ique?

i


The above units are waterproof to IPX7 standards and also float
if you accidentally drop it overboard.

-Jim

BTW, there are also 'S' models of the above which stands for sensors.
The sensors being an electronic compass and barometric altimeter.
Needless to say these features cost more and consume a lot more
battery power. If you're only going to run on internal batteries,
this can be an issue.




Ignoramus21819 wrote:

I am sorry to interrupt various political discussions.

I am looking for a nice mapping GPS system with both marine as well as
land features. It should be splashproof and accept downloadable
CDs. It will be primarily used in my pickup, but also in a boat.

I am willing to spend up to $500, but preferably $400.

i



Ignoramus21819 wrote:

I am sorry to interrupt various political discussions.

I am looking for a nice mapping GPS system with both marine as well as
land features. It should be splashproof and accept downloadable
CDs. It will be primarily used in my pickup, but also in a boat.

I am willing to spend up to $500, but preferably $400.

i

"LD" wrote in message
ink.net...
What kind of boating? lake or ocean? Keep in mind the Garmins will auto
shutdown in 30 sec. if the power cord is disconnected which, in my
opinion,
makes them of dubious value as a safety device. Any GPS will "show" you
the
straight line path to a pre entered point (known as a "waypoint"). The
Garmin map76 and the Magellan Meridian Marine both have pre entered buoy's
and other marine features in addition to a "roadmap". I don't think it's
practical to try to navigate in a vehicle using the 1 1/2 x 2 1/4" screens
on a handheld GPS however. I've been using my laptop with Street Atlas
and
a handheld for years though. And they talk to you, alerting you prior to
a
turn and other things
LD.



I don't think the iQue will shut off after 30 secs and most Garmin handhelds
such as the GPSMAP 76 series are designed to run off batteries so it
shouldn't be an issue.

I agree that small screen size is an issue with navigation, although I don't
think staring at any GPS screen while trying to drive is a good idea
Having voice prompts helps minimize this issue, IMHO.

The advantage of the new GPSMAP 76C is that it can do autorouting on the
handheld, as opposed to previous models. The 76C doesn't have voice
prompting, however, which brings us back to the small screen issue. There is
also the Garmin 276C that is coming out but I belive it will be more than
your $500 price point, but I don't know for sure. The 276C seems to be set
up for both Auto and Marine use.

Personally, I wouldn't bring a laptop onto a small boat such as the OP
described (21ft?).

Cheers
TC





SNIP

On Tue, 16 Mar 2004 03:31:19 GMT, "Tony Clark"
wrote:

Personally, I wouldn't bring a laptop onto a small boat such as the OP
described (21ft?).
============================

I frequently bring a laptop out on my 24 ft cuddy and its never taken
a drop of water. I have good canvas and a solid windshield however,
and my wife has been instructed to close the lid at the first sign of
incoming spray.

I took a laptop on the 2002 Newport-Bermuda race aboard a fairly wet
41 foot sailboat. I wrapped both the screen and keyboard in saran
wrap and it survived the trip just fine.

For driving I use Street Atlas on a laptop with Delorme's little
postage stamp sized GPS on the dashboard. That GPS is fantastic for
its size and price. It usually acquires in less than 15 seconds and
gets its power from the USB port. I believe it is also WAAS capable.

Wayne.B wrote:

For driving I use Street Atlas on a laptop with Delorme's little
postage stamp sized GPS on the dashboard. That GPS is fantastic for
its size and price. It usually acquires in less than 15 seconds and
gets its power from the USB port.

How does it manage less than 15 seconds it it's been turned off long
enough that the ephemeris is no longer current? The message with the
ephemeris data takes 18 seconds to transmit and repeats every 30 seconds.
Hard to see how any unit could get a lock in 15 seconds. Of course you
should start timing from when you first apply power since that probably
starts the acquisition process.

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 16 Mar 2004 03:31:19 GMT, "Tony Clark"
wrote:

Personally, I wouldn't bring a laptop onto a small boat such as the OP
described (21ft?).
============================

I frequently bring a laptop out on my 24 ft cuddy and its never taken
a drop of water. I have good canvas and a solid windshield however,
and my wife has been instructed to close the lid at the first sign of
incoming spray.


It's not so much the water, although there is always that possibility, but
the potential for alot of banging around of the laptop. Next time you're at
the marina look at the size diffference between a 24 and a 21 footer. It's
more than you might think I drive a 20 footer and I am very envious of
the guys with 23+ boats. There also isn't that much room on the smaller
boat for a laptop and several people.

Cheers
TC

SNIP