GPS Buying Tips

[chinabiker]

Maybe thats why some people like the Delmore GPS?

Other format - same problem.
There are 100+ GPSr manufacturers around and all of them use their own map format only to be used on their units.

[Just Charlie]

wow, that was fast. I think most of my questions have been answered and I'm definitely leaning toward the GPSMAP 60CSx. The simplified chinese maps will be perfect.

I also carry an Asus eeePC with CDMA/GPRS data access. This will allow me to explore locations realtime on Google Earth when I am on the road.

that is a really sweet setup. How do have GPRS access with the eee? That is a perfect notebook for taking on the road.

[ChinaV]

How do have GPRS access with the eee? That is a perfect notebook for taking on the road.

I'm using a big nasty dongle, wish the eee had a card slot. You can get the dongle and 1 year data contract for about 2500 RMB. That's the unlimited plan, but they have cheaper rates if you don't roam or use a lot of bandwidth.



Cheers!
ChinaV

[forchetto]

Personally I've found this Indian GPS model simple and efective.

[USMC-Mustang]

Geez.. I bought my Magellan Explorist at a yard sale for $15. Made a 5v regulator, and a quick plug to attach it right to the battery. The cradle was made from hot rolled 1/8 round stock covered in 1/8" vacuum hose after i welded it up. I then clamped it to the bars with a 7/8" stainless muffler clamp. This unit gives me all the info I need, and is waterproof. I figured for less than $25 USD, if it got tore up on the trail or road, I was still ahead.

Guess I will do a write up on it, as well as the schematics to that those who want to mount a $79 gps on thier bikes..

[bigdamo]

Personally I've found this Indian GPS model simple and effective.

Yes but how long does it take to get a signal to that thing

[moeava]

i am planning on buying the Garmin - zūmo 550. so would be very intersted in getting a map of china. i am planning on doing a trip from beijing to lijian summer of 2009 with a cj750. any kind of help would be great.
thanks

[chinabiker]

i am planning on buying the Garmin - zūmo 550. so would be very intersted in getting a map of china.

Zumo 550: Way too $$$
Map: Garmin City Navigator China is available but $$$

I think it would be better for you to go for a mapping hand held such as the 60CSx, 76CSx (check on e-bay) or the newer Colorado or Oregon series.

You can download free Garmin maps from mapcenter or mapcenter2 .

Andy

[Mike]

[QUOTE=ChinaV;1751]
#1 Because of China's defence policy, the China map has been encrypted so that only the Garmin devices which are on sale in China marketplace are compatible with the China map

Is this the reason why the iPhone shows always a little bit weird places (10 minutes foot walk away) for one's own location?

[ChinaV]

Is this the reason why the iPhone shows always a little bit weird places (10 minutes foot walk away) for one's own location?

If you have an early iphone, it's using cell towers for position, so it's going to be off no matter what. The 3G iphone has AGPS which is more accurate, but will still be offset from your actual position. If you load a track or waypoint from any GPS into google earth or google maps, the position will be incorrect in map view, but correct in satellite view.

MapABC (a chinese company) provides google with the map data, they have to follow the party line and offset the coordinates. Try sending someone a coordinate in a big city and the results can be quite different between map and satellite view.

Cheers!
ChinaV