Why do you use GPS?

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Lucky

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old trials guy wrote:
My old Vista ...
otg
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btw about backlight.
For a while I used eTrex Legend HCx . I could see maps on the Legend's small screen and recognize details such as roads, labels and fields (when backlighting was at 50%). When I'm using 60 CSx I have to strain my eyes even if I set backligting to 100%.

I noticed that brightness/contrast between details in Legend
where more sharp.

Can you compare Vista and Colorado?
 
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old trials guy

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Lucky wrote:
I agree, and I read the some "happy story".

Where can I find posts for GPX file?
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Check out my post on this page forthe file from the Fall Noobie Ride:


<<http://www.dualsportbc.com/forums/view_topic.php?id=6767&forum_id=76&page=5>>

On this page you will find my post for Brohm Ridge:

<<http://www.dualsportbc.com/forums/view_topic.php?id=6565&forum_id=1&jump_to=57125#p57125>>

I have files for east and west Stave and a nice one for Inch Creek/Dickson Lake/Chehalis FRS if you want them send me a PM or check out my posts on the forum.

otg
 
O

old trials guy

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Lucky wrote:
btw about backlight.
For a while I used eTrex Legend HCx . I could see maps on the Legend's small screen and recognize details such as roads, labels and fields (when backlighting was at 50%). When I'm using 60 CSx I have to strain my eyes even if I set backligting to 100%.

I noticed that brightness/contrast between details in Legend
where more sharp.

Can you compare Vista and Colorado?
Click to expand...

My old Vista was a grey screen and it was lousy. Iseldom turn the backlight on with my Colorado. I would say the contrast and colors really help. My biggest problem iswith my bifocals and Garmin's poor choice of colors for roads. They have addressed the problem in Mapsource with a recent upgrade where they now show the roads as a double line so you can differentiate them from the contour lines. I only hope they do the same in a future update to the Colorado software.

If you have a route programmed in it is easy to see but if you are exploringit takes some concentration to pick out the roads on the topo maps.

When riding at a brisk pace I don't find much time to read a GPS anyways :D.

otg
 
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Lucky

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Is it possible to set "no background image" or your own picture in Colorado 300?
 
O

old trials guy

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Groundspeak is a good forum with lots of info on GPS. Regarding backgrounds here is a link that explains how to add a custom background to a Colorado.

<<http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/lofiversion/index.php?t183507.html>>

It's good everyone is asking questions about the Colorado as I am learning about all sorts of features I didn't know it had.:shock:

You can use any USBautomobile adapter with the Colorado so if you already have a cell phone USB power adapter it should work. The only catch is that some USB cables prompt Garmins to go into data transfer mode. Change the data transfer type to "Garmin Spanner" and when you plug it in it will ask if you want to transfer data to which you just say "No".

You will have to remember to reset the data transfer type to "Garmin Serial" when transferring data with a PC computer.



old trials guy
 
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old trials guy

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I guess I am old school but I seldom trust the words waterproof especially when it comes to electronics.

IP standards refer to Ingress Protection. The first number refers to dust ingress and 6 means totally protected against dust. The second number refers to water ingress and 7 means protected against the effect of immersion between 15cm and 1m. When engineering a product 7 is considered by some as splash or spray resistant. The highest IP level of water ingress is 8 which means protected against long periods of immersion under pressure. (like a submarine)

The Colorado is rated as IP67 which means totally protected from dust and protected from water during short immersion and minimal pressure (max 1 meter). This also means that the o-rings have been inspected and are in good condition and the lid has been install correctly. If you want a device that can survive heavy rain at 100 kph I think you should be looking for something with an IP68 rating.

Evena small amount of salt water will corrode the battery contacts in the Garmin as they are of the plated variety. Most manufacturers choose these based on cost and performance. Berylium is a great corrorsion resistant material but expensive and a carcinogen. I don't think a few drops of rain or fresh water would bother the Colorado in the short termbut salt water wouldn't be good.

There has been an upgrade to the o-ring on the SD slot on Colorados delivered early this year and you can get more info on web.

If I were planning to ride in extreme wet conditions (can't imagine doing that) I would find some sort of rain cover for it like a zip lock bag. I would never strap a GPS or any other electronics device on the deck of a kayak without putting it in something waterproofbecause I think that is just asking fortrouble.

I am notdefending the Colorado,it sounds like the battery cover is questionable but the battery cover on myVista was held on with a 1/4 turn fastener andover time thefastener wore and the cover flopped around. I think the slide on battery cover on the Coloradowill outlast that on the Vista.

Although thesetoys are expensive, they arejustcommercial grade products intended for recreational use, they are not MIL spec submarines.

otg
 
T

The Count

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Well I just made my order for a new Colorado 300 from GPSCity.com last night :hr:. I will see how it works out for me. I don't often ride in the pouring down rain and if I do I will be sure to put it away during that time.
 
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vexorg

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I've ridden in several downpours with my 76CSx and have had no problems with it, even though it sits directly exposed to the wind/rain on the highway rides to/from the fun stuff at 120km/h. My wife's 60CSx is similarly exposed and doesn't mind the rain on the highway. I've had my GPS submerged in mud and water but only for a few seconds until I could get the bike upright again. So far, it's lasted me several years with no problems.
 
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Lonewolf

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vexorg wrote:
I've ridden in several downpours with my 76CSx and have had no problems with it, even though it sits directly exposed to the wind/rain on the highway rides to/from the fun stuff at 120km/h. My wife's 60CSx is similarly exposed and doesn't mind the rain on the highway. I've had my GPS submerged in mud and water but only for a few seconds until I could get the bike upright again. So far, it's lasted me several years with no problems.
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And on an offtopic note, what ever happened to that GPS track sharing website you were dealing with/working on??
 
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vexorg

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I'm assuming you are talking about my own GPS site that is separate from DSBC at http://bike.stu.ph and not the idea to have a GPS section here on DSBC. I'm not sure where the idea for a GPS section on DSBC is at right now.

My site is currently down (went down a few days ago), but I hope to bring it back up again in a couple days when I go to Toronto for the bike show there. Hopefully I can bring it back up without rebooting the machine (4 years uptime!)

Pat
 
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Lonewolf

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vexorg wrote:
I'm assuming you are talking about my own GPS site that is separate from DSBC at http://bike.stu.ph and not the idea to have a GPS section here on DSBC. I'm not sure where the idea for a GPS section on DSBC is at right now.

My site is currently down (went down a few days ago), but I hope to bring it back up again in a couple days when I go to Toronto for the bike show there. Hopefully I can bring it back up without rebooting the machine (4 years uptime!)

Pat
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Yep, thats the one! I hadnt been on it in a few month and then i tried to load it up today and it was a no go. was kinda dissapointed! Glad its not gone for good :)
 
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The Count

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So I received my Colorado 300 and I have been playing with it for a bit. I have a question about tracks and .gpx files, once I have download a .gpx file from a website and then transferedit to my GPS it shows the track but what if I am not sure how to get to the start of the track from my house? Is there an easy way to navigate to the start of a track?

Thanks
 
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Lucky

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kerry wrote:
So I received my Colorado 300 and I have been playing with it for a bit. I have a question about tracks and .gpx files, once I have download a .gpx file from a website and then transferedit to my GPS it shows the track but what if I am not sure how to get to the start of the track from my house? Is there an easy way to navigate to the start of a track?

Thanks
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Congratulations!

I'm not sure, can be "Track Back" option?
 
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old trials guy

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I think there is a menu called "Go To" or something of that nature and there will be a "Go" icon on the screen. Hit enter and it should start pointing you in the right direction. I think you might find the Garmin site with FAQ's helpful.

I still haven't learned all the capabilities of my Colorado but it works great following a pre entered track. I usually map it out in MapSource and then load it up. You can use MapSource to map a path to the start of the track. It will auto generate a track if you use the track tool.

Do you need topos?

Ron
 
T

The Count

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old trials guy wrote:
I think there is a menu called "Go To" or something of that nature and there will be a "Go" icon on the screen. Hit enter and it should start pointing you in the right direction. I think you might find the Garmin site with FAQ's helpful.

I still haven't learned all the capabilities of my Colorado but it works great following a pre entered track. I usually map it out in MapSource and then load it up. You can use MapSource to map a path to the start of the track. It will auto generate a track if you use the track tool.

Do you need topos?

Ron
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Thanks for the reply Ron :tup:The Colorado is a nice GPS but holy crap there are a lot of features/functions on it.

If I load a track and hit "Go" it thinks that I am at the start of the track and not sitting in my living room. I think that I have worked around it by creating a waypoint at the start of the track in Mapsource, I can then select the waypoint and it will guide me from my house to the start of the track. I'm not sure if this is the best way but it seems like it will work.

I have downloaded and installed the Ibycus Topo2.1 and I also have theCity Navigator North America NT v8 for around town. Is this enough or should I have more Topos?

Kerry
 
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Lucky

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kerry wrote:
So I received my Colorado 300 and I have been playing with it for a bit. I have a question about tracks and .gpx files, once I have download a .gpx file from a website and then transferedit to my GPS it shows the track but what if I am not sure how to get to the start of the track from my house? Is there an easy way to navigate to the start of a track?

Thanks
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Seems it can't draw magenta line from your house to the track. Use waypoints (us you are doing) or bearing and distance.
 
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