Has anyone used the gps on the trails? How well does it work,what brand do you like,can you download local trails,any other sugestions would be alot of help. Thanks

I've been useing a GPS for about 3 years that is an old (No Map) type. Since this is my first year snowmobiling in over 29 years, I haven't used it too much this winter. GPS is a marvelous system of navigating. Using it's capabilities, you can set waypoints at your start, and using a map set waypoints on your planned route. The GPS will give you your location, direction, average speed, estimated time to next waypoint, and miles/km's traveled. It's hard to get lost with GPS. But never trust electronics alone, carry a compass and a map if you're unfamilialr with the area you're in. The newer Map Type GPS's must be the Cat's A$$!! :D

i jsut got mine and downloaded a few things, and for toens and roads it is great. have not got to use it on the trails due to no snow.

I use a Garmin 176 powered off the sleds 12v system.

Features I like:
large screen with quick re-draw
uses data cards so you can load as much detailed map as you want from Mapsource CD's

http://www2.polarcomm.com/~rspoonla/sled/sled176mount.jpg

That's a cool setup... I guess you don't look at your tach too much! lol
Is that an LCD display?? How is it in the cold?

One more thing... what's the plug block beside the 12V hook up?? Looks like a toggle switch.

Nice setup. Do you have a quick disconnect for parking at the bar? If not, which bars do you go to? ha ha :D

ZR Rider

The screen starts to fade out at about 5 degrees F ...to solve the problem I mounted a 12v handlebar heater between the GPS and mount...now it stays nice and toasty.

That "plug block" is the connecter for an electric faceshield.

http://www2.polarcomm.com/~rspoonla/sled/heater.jpg

ARCTICZRT600

Yes, I can quickly remove the GPS...one thumbscrew and unplug the power plug and then stick it in my pocket.

Good, you'd be surprised how many I see on sleds that they leave on and go into a restaurant or bar.

That is a nice set up RWS!
I thought maybe a visor plugin... mine is just a round plug, looks like an RCA plug. Never seen one of those before!

Good idea with the grip heater! Did you hook that direct, or is it inline with your other grip heaters? (high/low)

ZR Rider

The heater is run off the sleds ac power circuit with a HI-OFF-LOW switch.

RWS, I just bought a Garmin 176C.. Is that the marine mount you used? Also, got any idea on some good software for me to get?

thanks

WoodyCam

I mated the upper half of the marine mount with a Slipstreamer universal mount and attached it to the handlebars by welding on a piece of flatbar.

A good start would be to get the US Roads and Rec and if you go into Canada get the Canada Roads and Rec.

Let us know how the color screen works out in bright light.

RWS,

Should I be downloading mapping software for my PC/Laptop? If so, which kind do your recommend? Also, Let's see about getting a seperate section in this forum for GPS questions and maps/charts. This way, if I'm goin to ride a location that you went to last week, I could download and use your chart / map.

anyone else have any ideas on this?

has anyone used the hand held types ? Looking at the magellin sport pro ------Thanks

Originally posted by 03classic600@Jan 20 2003, 06:55 PM
has anyone used the hand held types ? Looking at the magellin sport pro ------Thanks
I've got a Garmin etrex venture. All in all it is a useful toy, but I haven't tried it on the sled yet. We are going this weekend and I'm taking it along. It doesn't have the sesnitivity that the units above have, it you put it inside your coat, it will likely lose the satellites.

I use an eTrex Vista and would never want to go sledding w/o it now. Although the larger units do have better reception with the antenna I've never had a problem as I have it mounted on my dash.

WoodyCam, sharing maps is a great idea if they're nicely done. Actually, all we need to share are the "routes". This is a feature (at least on Garmin) that shows the path you've traveled with a line. Even with the Topo or Roads and Rec software much of the trail system still does not show up. But if you were diligent and saved a trail system as a route it could be very helpful to other riders not familiar with the area.

Even with the GPS I still recommend that you have a paper trail map with you. Unless you have the entire trail system saved as a route you really need both.

I just got the Garmin GPSMap76S this fall. I have had it out on a couple of trips and I really like it. I keep it in my jacket pocket and have very few problems with loosing satellites. It does have a better antenna than the etrex venture, vista series. If you are looking, go for one with a quad helix antenna, much better reception.

I think that clubs should put GPS's on their groomers and map the trails and then they can sell the maps in a bunch of different forms. Or I could volunteer to ride trails full time and just generate maps for a living! :)

I bought one this year and can't believe I ever rode without one. You can take the two tracks and not get lost!

Some tips,

get a mapping one with the detailed maps on CD ROM - I have a map 330 from Magellan with maps for the U.S. and Canada

keep it warm or use an external battery - I use the external battery pack I found on the internet. It ran all weekend with no problems, double A's are only good for 2 hours in the cold

mount it on the sled - Magellan sells mounts for $15 at Gander mountain, what good is it in your pocket?

download your tracks and waypoints to your computer to print up your own maps for the next time you are in the area.

what kind if external battery are you talking about? could you post a pic or 2? does the handheld shut off when you shut off the sled ? and do you loose everthing ? how do you keep it warm? THANKS

I am thinking about a Garmin eTrex Vista or perhaps the Magellan Meridian Special Edition. I ride a REV, so I am not sure where I would want to mount it, but I do already have an accessory outlet for it.

WoodyCam

In order to upload detailed maps into your Garmin 176 you will need to get one (or more) of the Garmin Mapsource CD's - US Roads and Rec, Canada Roads and Rec or one of their other CD's that suite your needs.

Great idea on a seperate section for GPS's...I have strarted to save tracks of my rides and if others did too we could share them if there was a place to post them.

The external battery works great. My first time out in December in the U.P. I could not keep AA batteries going for more than 1/2 the day.

I did a search on Google for battery packs and found a small sealed lead acid battery pack (5"x4") with a cigarette lighter power outlet. I'm not even sure who makes it, it cost about $45. I comes in a nice padded bag. I used some bungie type material from the hardware store to strap it to the sled inside the cover by my right knee. (Sorry, no digital camera or I would post a picture for you.)

This location has the added advantages of getting heat from the pipe/engine, and being easy to take on/off. I had a magellan power cord that I ran up to the GPS. The battery pack comes with a recharger, but I left the battery in the sled for a three day weekend out in the cold to see how it would last, worked great all weekend.

I'm not sure about the effectiveness of using the handwarmer material shown in an earlier post. Looks like a good solution to battery life also.

A couple other things to consider:
1. instead of wiring into sled, you can buy a NiMH rechargeable battery kit. My Garmin takes AA's so I bought that kit. Two AA's in GPS and two spares in pocket to use if needed. Recharge at motel and you're ready for the next day.
2. If you do wire into the sled, remember that it needs DC current. Electric start sleds have DC current but most sleds without batteries have AC current which will FRY your GPS. On an AC sled, you need to wire in a rectifier to get the DC current that is needed.

Oatie, can you please give us the link to the battery pack? I went and built a rectifier for my setup but it's always nice to have options. Thanks

I've got the eTrex Venture and it does work inside my parka just fine. I don't use it to navigate - just for periodic checks or for marking mountaintop crossings from one drainage to another. I have noticed that sometimes in cold weather I can bring it out, turn it on, and use it for a couple of minutes and then have it turn itself off especially if I try to leave it "out" where it will track satellites to the next needed location. Often, when it's cold, the instrument will turn itself "off" or so it appears. After turning it back on I will find that it has actually been working in a blank screen mode and wasn't actually off. The cold and/or batteries have made the screen go blank but the other electronics still function. Don't sell the less expensice instruments short. In many cases they have all the important stuff just like the expensive instruments but without one or two of the extra really costly "bells or whistles." The WAAS enabled Venture is really one of the better bargains around. About the only complaint I have is how small they are - and that is a positive thing in many ways. My aging eyes just don't appreciate that single aspect.

The battery pack came from Electronic Emporium. It is an Omnicron TIF 1265 7AH battery pack with charger and power outlet. I believe that it's made for cellular phones, as it is rated at 24 hours of talk time and 6 days of standby power. $41.38 plus shipping.

They also have a larger size.

Here is the linkbattery pack (http://store.yahoo.com/emptronics/1265.html)

Keeripes ! you could start your sled with that battery. I use one (12V7.2) to start my quad. That's a lot of weight to have flopping around in your backpack.

You can get 12V SLA's down to about 1.3Ahr. That's more than enough

Rectifier is the ticket as mentioned above. Go to Radio Shack they cost less than 3 bucks. If you guys need more info let me know.

The other choice on non Estart sleds is to add a ES voltage rectifier which has a regulated DC output wire for charging the battery. Then get a small sealed lead acid and mount it down in the pan.

Stitch,

About the battery...don't pretend to know much about ah's or rectifiers.

It works! It's mounted to the sled not me. It measures 5"x4" by 2.5". It weighs 6 lbs. It lasts all weekend in zero degree weather. It has the plug ready to go. It did not require any trips to Radio Shack. and most of all. I did not fry a $300 GPS by hooking it up wrong. :D :D

My wife gave me a magellan meridian for a christmas gift and it works great. i carry it in its case in my tank bag and it tracks perfect. a cool thing to do, is mark points along the way and when you get home,
go to topozone.com and key in your coordinates and you will have a topo map of the area. :D :D :D

Great info on the gps's! I'm going to start looking into the 176c. A gps forum would be a great addition (hint) ;)

ZR800efi... take a look on Ebay... or go to www.getagps.com and you can get the unit for $528.55 plus what ever software extras/cables you need.

I got mine used with a bunch of extras(about $150-200), shipped for $475 total.

by the way, GREAT avatar!! Not to mention a fantastic boat. My uncle just ordered a 55' Searay cruiser. It's being mfgd right now. Should take delivery in May I think. Not that I get to ride in it, but he's got a great one coming.

:p

Originally posted by stitch@Jan 21 2003, 04:11 PM
Rectifier is the ticket as mentioned above. Go to Radio Shack they cost less than 3 bucks. If you guys need more info let me know.
It'll cost closer to $20 by the time you put it all together and waterproof it. Mine works great so far. Only bummer is having to remember to hit the GPS when you turn off the sled. My eTrex shuts down 30 seconds after the DC power goes off unless you tap a button to continue on the AAs. The battery pack seems like a nice option as well.

http://www.gpscity.com/cgi-bin/discuss/ultimatebb.cgi


Here is a good community discussion group on gps, usually garmin.

Actually, take a look at this GPS Forum page. They have so many forum threads you almost need a GPS to navigate thru their GPS forum page :p :p

http://www.gpsforums.com/forum/

Yes, Beerman - correct. I spent $3 on the rectifier and another $20 on wire and terminals. Isn't sledding and technology great !

However, just swapping your voltage regulator with one that can charge a lead battery opens many new possibilities.

XM satellite radio , color TV , a dish , DVD , laser targeting designators ! Oh !Oh ! :D

Originally posted by Beerman+Jan 22 2003, 04:36 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Beerman @ Jan 22 2003, 04:36 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin--stitch@Jan 21 2003, 04:11 PM
Rectifier is the ticket as mentioned above. Go to Radio Shack they cost less than 3 bucks. If you guys need more info let me know.
It&#39;ll cost closer to $20 by the time you put it all together and waterproof it. Mine works great so far. Only bummer is having to remember to hit the GPS when you turn off the sled. My eTrex shuts down 30 seconds after the DC power goes off unless you tap a button to continue on the AAs. The battery pack seems like a nice option as well. [/b][/quote]
Beerman, where did you get your mount? I just bought one of those off of Ebay and I like your set up. Also how did you do the rectifier thing? I mean how did you put it together and where did you tap your power from? I would appreciate your help.

ttt

yea i run a handheld . I have a garmin e-trex legend and love this thing great signal never lost the signal in the woods or on the roads and the track back feature is the best . When you get one you will play with it all the time . They are a little weird at first but my garmin is easy to use when you play with it a few times .I don&#39;t run with a 12v hook up and my batteries last about 10-12 hours if i keep it in my upper pocket . Get one you will love it :inlove: . Look on E-Bay

Is there a special software that has the trails for snowmobiling or do you have to map them yourself?

I just purchased a Casio GPS watch for $150.00 and used it on my last trip in it worked flawless; even with a heavy canopy it worked well (snow and clouds). I have downloaded all latitude and longitude numbers from the computer to my watch. Watch comes with a docking station. Works ideal in "go to" modes. :sly:

Does anyone know if theres topo map software for the etrex at 1:24,000?

I thought I found it sold by state the other day, but now I can&#39;t find it. Anyone have this?

Just 1 more question to add:

I just bought a GPS with 8MB of internal memory Magnellan. It doesn&#39;t have a card slot.

How may MB&#39;s does a map usually take up? When you download a map, how many miles does a typical map cover?

Should I do some research?.. Yep.. I&#39;m doing some as I type, just thought there would be some good advice here if I should upgrade to a model with more memory.. if it&#39;s worth it.

I paid 299Can for it.

Thanks!!

Originally posted by fuelie600@Jan 31 2003, 09:09 AM
Does anyone know if theres topo map software for the etrex at 1:24,000?

I thought I found it sold by state the other day, but now I can&#39;t find it. Anyone have this?
Found it. Costs as much as the full US by Mapsource and it&#39;s sold by National Geographic.

Has anyone had any experience with DeLorme Topo 4.0? It says it covers trails but doesn&#39;t say wether they are snowmobile trails or not.

I just bought an eTrex Legend on Thursday and it is great so far. VERY easy to use and during it&#39;s first ride yesterday it never lost a signal going through dense bush trails and being stored under 3 layers (insulated coveralls, down jacket, + fleece). I really wasn&#39;t expecting it to perform as it did.
To top it off, I rolled my sled, which resulted in me taking a good tumble - I&#39;m pretty sure I must given this little GPS quite a workout. Came home, (easily) downloaded all the trip info into the mapsource software, and done... Last night got on Garmin&#39;s site, again easily downloaded and updated the GPS unit&#39;s software.
I bought mine at Crappy Tire. After some considerable pressure - I got them to live up to their proce matching policy and paid $334.95 for it. They retail it for $390. I found the low price at www.gpscentral.ca which appears to be the cheapest place around.

:p Hey Worb, Nice avatar!!! :p

Originally posted by oatie@Jan 21 2003, 11:12 AM
The battery pack came from Electronic Emporium. It is an Omnicron TIF 1265 7AH battery pack with charger and power outlet. I believe that it&#39;s made for cellular phones, as it is rated at 24 hours of talk time and 6 days of standby power. $41.38 plus shipping.

They also have a larger size.

Here is the linkbattery pack (http://store.yahoo.com/emptronics/1265.html)
I checked this website last month and the battery was still available....today I checked it, and it&#39;s not even listed anymore. I ended up getting one locally, but I wanted to compare the specs. Has anyone else checked on this lately?

Jim,

I saw my quote from Jan of this year.

The battery worked fine last winter. If anything it was probably overkill. The longest ride without a charge was 8 days in Northern Ontario. No problems. The only thing I want to add this year is the little heat strip that I saw a picture of in one of the posts. I did have trouble like others said with the screen fading in very cold weather.

I changed sleds this summer to a REV. Does anyone have any pictures of where to mount it on that sled?

Good to hear Oatie....the battery I bought is 12v, 5ah. I plan on running the gps off of it, and a cig plug for other devices like video camera, trouble light, or cel phone. Can&#39;t wait to get it all together.

The new summits come with a Rhino, a great gps for sledding because of the nice features, a built in radio and being able to find the position of the your stuck buddies i am not quite sure how it does this feature ( maybe transmits positioning by radio). But i have heard its hard on batteries. I personally owned two gps&#39;s a magellan 2000 which got sunk in the back of my sled and a magellan 315, both gps&#39;s locked on in adverse conditions, more than i can say for some models.

Originally posted by oatie@Jan 20 2003, 06:46 PM
download your tracks and waypoints to your computer to print up your own maps for the next time you are in the area.
I was wondering which Garmin models you can download your tracks and waypoint to your computer with. Does it say on the Garmin site, downloadable to your computer or do they use some technical term for this feature?

I have done some research but I&#39;ll continue. If anyone knows the answer, please let me know.

Thanks
SNO N YET

Originally posted by SNO N YET@Aug 5 2003, 03:25 PM
I was wondering which Garmin models you can download your tracks and waypoint to your computer with. Does it say on the Garmin site, downloadable to your computer or do they use some technical term for this feature?

I have done some research but I&#39;ll continue. If anyone knows the answer, please let me know.

Thanks
SNO N YET
I am as green as anyone can be on this subject, but mine is a 176c and I&#39;ve noticed up- and download icons on the software.

Also, does anyone know if there is a way to get the software to calculate the distances by actual routes, instead of by the way the crow flies?

Yep Jim, you have to click "waypoints" I believe along your trail. You can then highlite the waypoints, and it should give you the total miles.

I think...... ;)

It&#39;s been a while since I&#39;ve messed with mine. Should be soon to get the trailer out. I was at Holzhauers yesterday, and had to listen to an RX1. It just isn&#39;t the same though as the 2 stroke perfume.

:p

You can create a ROUTE in the MapSource software. Use the Route tool to draw the route along existing roads, trails or whatever. It creates waypoints automatically at every turn. These WPs do not end up in your main WP list, they are only used for the route. The Route details are listed in the main window, number of points, total distance, etc.

Originally posted by Beerman@Aug 6 2003, 10:21 AM
You can create a ROUTE in the MapSource software. Use the Route tool to draw the route along existing roads, trails or whatever. It creates waypoints automatically at every turn. These WPs do not end up in your main WP list, they are only used for the route. The Route details are listed in the main window, number of points, total distance, etc.
Can ALL Garmin GPS use the MapSource software, or are only certain models capable of downloading to the computer?

I don&#39;t know about downloading waypoints and routes, but some of the less expensive models do not have built-in memory and therefore can&#39;t uploaded maps, routes or WPs. But I&#39;ve never talked with anyone who has a non-mapping unit, not sure if they can download info TO the PC.