DeLorme PN-60w - Handheld GPS with SPOT

[writelots]

Anyone heard anything about this unit? (other than wow it's an expensive toy)

http://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/DELibeC ... site=10020

[The_Eagle]

viewtopic.php?f=32&t=4924

[maxpower]

I had been looking at this unit, minus the SPOT, even though my wife would probably think that having the latter is a good idea. I previously owned a Garmin Oregon and was less than happy with it since it was nearly unreadable in direct sunlight. And it would sometimes lose the signal while hiking in the woods. Uh, lots of hiking is done under tree cover...what is up with that? And then there was the need to buy a rather expensive map program if you wanted the detailed topo maps. Unfortunately (or fortunately perhaps), I lost the Oregon while hiking around Granite Mt here in Prescott, hence my renewed interested in getting another GPS. I think the DeLorme PN-60 is currently selling on Amazon for $321 with the SPOT model about a $100+ more. Then there is the annual cost involved in activating and maintaing the SPOT service, if I understand correctly? (edited: yes, $100 per year) I recently hiked with a friend who had glowing praise for the Garmin 60CSX but my experience with the Oregon has kind of soured me on Garmin products.

[Jeffshadows]

Yep, $100 a year. $150 if you want tracking.

[imike]

Garmin 60CSX is nice... and seems to go on sale below $200 often! I use it in very narrow canyons and it works great... full sun all the time.

[Sredfield]

I have the 76CSx which I believe is the same technology as the 60CSx in a more water proof, floating case. I find once it gets the satellites in the morning, it keeps very good contact all day. I don't do a whole lot of hiking under tree cover, but in what I do, it's never been an issue. On the AZT the only place it lost contact was a few sections of the North Kaibab. I've coveted the newer Garmins with greater track and data point capacity, but I won't update for those features alone. Just bought my son a 60CSx (Costco-$199), and got the 1:24K topo for AZ and NM from Amazon for $80. The only negative is that I understand you have to buy Mapsource to do much file transfer and sharing.

[big_load]

The only negative is that I understand you have to buy Mapsource to do much file transfer and sharing.

Try Garmin Basecamp. It's a free download, and it's capable of showing non-Garmin topos from places like gpsfiledepot. Its functionality is roughly equivalent to National Geographic Topo.

[Tough_Boots]

The only negative is that I understand you have to buy Mapsource to do much file transfer and sharing.

There's a really easy hack to Mapsource that allows you full program access without paying for it. I'm not usually a scumbag, but its ridiculous to use their products and pay extra for full use of their software.

[maxpower]

The only negative is that I understand you have to buy Mapsource to do much file transfer and sharing.

If you have the Garmin Topo 24K Southwest DVD, it has Basecamp included on the disk and it should install automatically!

[imike]

I've been going online and scoring free maps for my Garmin... no problems to date. Colorado, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico so far... My unit came with the basic Mapsource software.

[jilmarieaz]

Any thoughts on the delorme earthmate w/out spot? Thinking of returning my etrex legend for it.

[maxpower]

Any thoughts on the delorme earthmate w/out spot? Thinking of returning my etrex legend for it.

I was hoping not to be the guinea pig! I do like the fact that Delorme's $30 yearly fee for unlimited map downloads is surely better than Garmin's more exhorbitant cost for their more detailed maps. I briefly had the Garmin Oregon 400 touchscreen model (before losing it) and I was less than satisfied with the readability of the screen in full sunlight. This seems to be a recurring theme in many of the reviews. Since I tend to hike in Grand Canyon more than anywhere else, this "full sunlight" issue is a deal breaker for me.

[jilmarieaz]

Well returned the etrex and went with the pn-60 no spot (have spot second gen). So far really like it but still trying to figure out how I get an haz gpx route into the device.

[joebartels]

I Googled for a minute but couldn't figure it out. You can try yourself...
DeLorme PN-60 import .gpx
A few members have this gps and may be able to help. You may have to go through software. Believe DeLorme uses TopoUSA.

I did read that you can save .gpx files to the memory card so you may also be able to drag and drop if you can figure out what folder holds .gpx

or maybe they have a 1-800 number and can walk you through how to import a .gpx file

[jilmarieaz]

Thanks Joe will give it a try. So far though really like it the topo software it comes with is very detailed and the transfer of it to the device is simple, I just want to be able to transfer haz routes as well We got this one at Bass Pro and went with it because of features and included maps. They were having a sale on a few of the garmin models but price once I got maps would have been a lot more. Just fyi if anyone looking for garmin think sale is next 2 weeks and customer service there was very good.

[jilmarieaz]

Okay figured out how to load gpx haz maps into pn-60. Open delorme topo software on computer, click on draw, click on file and navigate to correct file and that will load into software then when sync goes to device.