Which GPS should i get?

[Looney]

I need a GPS for mainly 2 things, driving and backpacking. Neither are things i would use all the time, but when i do need them, i'll like them to be reliable.

I thought about getting a Garmin 60CSx, but it doesn't look like it does car navigation... or if it does, it doesn't offer voice prompts.

So i thought i would pick up a Holux GPSlim240 BT receiver. I've been playing with this on Vista (can't get it to pair properly... bluetooth stack sucks) and OSX (software is very lacking... well, unless i buy commercial, and i'm not ready to spend money on various software to experiment atm).

I was also hoping i could use the receiver with the Blackberry 8700r. I can get it to pair, but it doesn't seem to integrate with the BB Maps... which i was hoping it would have. Unless i'm missing something. Or is this a limitation of the 8700r? Are there other BBs that are better suited for this? The 8300 Curve? I'm not too keen on the integrated GPS, signals seem to be weak from what i'm reading.

I also wouldn't mind buying the software required for the BB to get voice prompts if it worked well with the BB Map. But how does the BB Map work in hiking situations?

Or is there a good GPS device out there that would be good for both car navigation as well as hiking navigation?

 

[Kaido]

I'm not sure about hiking, but honestly? Garmin Nuvi or Tom Tom. I've tried out a number of different GPS systems and nothing tops a quality dedicated GPS unit. Everything else is just a hassle.

 

[JoPh]

nuvi 350.... errrrr. not for hiking. just get garmin legend cx.. they are cheap enough.

both are top notch.

i use my 350 to drive. and the use my legend cx for the hiking/geocaching i do.

 

[Looney]

Hm the Legend CX looks like it also does street/route navigation. So i'm assuming the higher end ones like the 60CSx does as well, if i buy the proper mapping software?

I just wished i could have bought a Windows Mobile or Blackberry phone that i could integrate with my GPS BT receiver. I seem to be getting more and more devices rather than having all these devices merged.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

I understand your problem. My solution is to use a BT GPS receiver and my BT PDA. That way I can take advantage of different software. I use the Dell Navigation software you can purchase directly from NAVTEQ, for driving, and other software for hiking. It's been a while since I used that, but I believe you can find recommendations on geocaching sites

 

[imaroon]

Read

 

[imaroon]

Read here for more information on gps systems for car driving and geocaching. Hit reply too fast on the previous post ... lol

 

[JoPh]

i cant recommend the nuvi for geocaching. it doesnt let you input coords like the hiking ones do. it does display and you could download the waypoint for it. but its not ideal for the geocaching minded.