[Talk-us] Currently available good GPS for use with OSM mapping in the USA?

Martijn van Exel m at rtijn.org
Tue Nov 26 16:13:52 UTC 2013


Chiming in really late! but I have used a fair number of different GPS
loggers so I thought I'd add my experience.
First off, like cameras, the best one is the one you have with you
(and can be powered up). For me, that disqualifies the Garmin 60
series - too bulky to always carry around with me. Also I haven't
found a really compelling reason to spend the additional $$ on this
unit over, say, a Vista or Legend. The dedicated waypoint button is a
plus, for sure, but not an $150-200 one. (For those looking to
purchase, REI currently has the GPSMAP 62s for $199.)

I have always been impressed by the accuracy of the Garmin units, they
are consistent performers. I haven't noticed a great deal of
difference between the Legend, Vista and GPSMap types in that respect.
The ability to load and display OSM maps onto these units sets them
apart from the lower end units and no-screen track loggers. I have
made numerous hiking route decisions in the field based on which trail
was not on the map yet. Powerful.

I have also used the touch screen Dakota 20 quite a lot. The accuracy
seems to be on par with the other Garmin units, but the touch screen
is a pain to use and can be hard to read. I would not recommend it.

Lately, for no other reason than to experience a different type of GPS
unit, I have resorted to using a Columbus V990. The one really nice
and pretty unique feature this device has is motion detection. If
you're not moving, the device will suspend logging until it detects
you're on the go again. This makes the Columbus a 'set-and-forget'
unit - just put it in your backpack and go. I get up to four days of
life out of it this way. It does not emit GPX for reasons unbeknownst
to me, but JOSM will load its CSV format just fine. The accuracy is
not on par with the Garmin units I feel, but I haven't done any side
by side testing.

When I'm out of options I will use my phone for track logging. This is
always a poor choice because the quality of the tracks is noticeably
poorer, to the point of being unusable sometimes. Logging on your
phone will also eat your battery. On Android I have used OSMTracker
mostly, because it offers direct OpenStreetMap upload and waypoint /
photo / audio tagging. JOSM will automatically load georeferenced
pictures and voice clips recorded, which is cool and helpful. Google's
own My Tracks is decent, too, but of course offers no such OSM
specific features.

I have yet to find a decent track logging app for the iPhone that has
some OSM integration.

Best
Martijn

On Tue, Nov 26, 2013 at 5:59 AM, Martin Koppenhoefer
<dieterdreist at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> 2013/11/26 Dion Dock <dion_dock at comcast.net>
>>
>> I've used a Garmin GPSmap 60CSx.  I think it records a point every
>> second--or maybe it's every 5--I can't find the setting in the menus at the
>> moment.  Saving tracks to the micro SD card will strip off their timestamps
>> and OSM rejects tracks without timestamps.  You could still trace them or
>> import them with JOSM, probably.
>
>
>
> I'm using this same unit. You can set the recording intervall in the track
> recording page (I am using and promoting 1 second, there are also other
> settings like per distance or less frequently but this only reduces
> usefulness because stuff gets simplified and you get less "raw" data). I do
> get the timestamps in the recorded track on the micro SD card, how do you
> copy it? You have to mount the device as a disk and copy it like you would
> with any other file (requires to set "record on card" in the device settings
> from the tracks page, settings).
>
> The track recording admittedly is a bit confusing, as you get the good
> recording on the SD Card, but there is also a simplified (if you "save" it,
> the "active log" is the same like the one on the SD card) trace on the
> device's internal memory together with the custom way points. Both tracks do
> have time stamp information if downloaded correctly (as gpx).
>
> cheers,
> Martin
>
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-- 
Martijn van Exel
http://oegeo.wordpress.com/
http://openstreetmap.us/



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