Do you/would you use a basic or a mapping GPSR?

[FredHiltz]

The good folks at Adventure Cycling are considering an update of the GPS database. They revise its content frequently, but its structure and type of data have not changed in its six years of life.

An important choice is whether to support basic non-mapping receivers or mapping receivers that guide you along roads and include listings of lodging, museums, and other points of interest (POI).

The present database is built for non-mapping receivers that navigate in straight lines from one waypoint to the next. They can tell you that your campground is 4.2 miles northwest.

Mapping receivers work very well with the present database and they add more information like turn-by-turn directions including road names to the campground. They might also add that Randy's Quik-Stop is one mile before you reach the campground. Their POI listings contain many--but not all--of the POIs noted in the ACA maps and GPS database.

The difference in price is substantial. $100 will get you a new basic receiver and a handlebar mount. Used receivers are plentiful as people move up to mapping units. Mapping receivers with enough memory for a trans-continental route cost $300 - $550 with a handlebar mount. A set of U.S. maps adds about $100.

The question, then, is whether to continue support for basic GPSRs by including all the POIs in the Adventure Cycling maps in the GPS database as well, or whether to include only the campgrounds, which are not well covered by the mapping GPSRs? If few or none of us use basic receivers, the time would be better spent on other routes and mapping chores.

Please help by replying here.

1. Do you use a GPS receiver on your bike?

2. If so, is it a basic unit or a mapping unit?

3. Do you plan to buy a new (or a different) GPS receiver for cycling?

4. If so, would it most likely be a basic unit or a mapping unit?

Thank you,

Fred Hiltz
ACA volunteer

[FredHiltz]

I will start with my own answers.

1 Yes. 2 Mapping. 3 Yes. 4 Mapping.

Fred

[ptaylor]

1 Yes.
2 Mapping.
3 Yes, but not until my current unit breaks down or there is a significant improvement in the technology.
4 Mapping.



Paul

[jfitch]

1. Yes

2. Mapping

3. When breakdown / technological advances warrant it

4. Mapping

[JayH]

1) Only when touring, but this I presume this is the point of this question. :-)
2)Non-mapping
3)No, unless I win the lottery.

Since bike touring is only a small subset of my active life, I like to hike, backpack, and climb big mountains, a mapping GPS is just too bulky and big for most pursuits and unless I can buy 2, I will stick to my old etrex Vista with a basemap of the county level roads of North America which isn't a mapping GPS.  I just get straight line distances to major cities and give it a 40% leeway in mileage.  Works for me, anyway.

Jay

[JimF]

1. Yes

2. mapping unit

3. No

4. Mapping when replaced

[George]

1. Do you use a GPS receiver on your bike?
   Yes

2. If so, is it a basic unit or a mapping unit?
   Mapping (Garmin GPSMap 76CSx)

3. Do you plan to buy a new (or a different) GPS receiver for cycling?
   No, I like what I've got.

4. If so, would it most likely be a basic unit or a mapping unit?
   Anything I got would be another mapping unit.

[FredHiltz]

Thank you all for the replies. Jenn may put more in Bike Bits on the way to a tuneup of the published waypoint files.

Fred

[mdxix]

1. Yes
2. Mapping
3. No

[mdxix]

One thing to remember is that some GPS units (Garmin Edge 605 & 705) store limited number of waypoints (maximum 100), which is significantly less than those stored in other models, like 60CSx (maximum 1,000).

For my Edge 705, I always have to edit the route and limit which waypoints to store.

[TBoneDon]

1. Yes
2. Mapping Garmin GPSMAP60CS
3. No

[va_bentrider]

1. Yes, use a GPS
2. Mapping unit (Garmin 60CSX)
3. No new unit, the 60CSx does what I want
4. Mapping