Someone has offered me a Garmin Etrex 20x for $50. They bought it for hiking but have never used it. While researching it, I came across
this post:
Originally Posted by
fishboat
Kind of an aside comment..and undoubtedly I'm missing something, but these threads on navigation, where people have purchased 3, 4, 5 models of various higher/high-end garmin (or other) units always amazes me a bit. (I spent my career in tech and finished it crunching large data and developing computer models of transportation systems...not afraid of new technology..)
My entire tour navigation system consists of a $12 wireless bike computer that indicates speed, ave speed, distance covered and a Garmin Etrex 20 for navigation. Routes (actually tracks) are worked out on on a laptop using RWGPS. The tracks are then downloaded, transferred to Basecamp and then loaded into the Etrex 20. I also download a kml file from RWGPS and load that into Organic Maps on my cell phone..as a backup and easier to study version to reference as needed. The phone isn't used for active navigation..sucks too much power. I'd rather have a charged phone available for other tasks it does better.
This system never fails and the Etrex lasts a long time on two AA batts.
As I said..I'm sure I'm missing something with the more..exotic..systems. If I felt to need for something more I'd dive in..hasn't happened yet.
From
https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/1...ore-2-a-2.html
I currently use paper maps or routes figured out on Google maps and printed, and I use my bike computer to figure out how many miles I've gone and make my turns. I would only use my phone when I something went wrong, as I wanted to save battery power. This method sounds like it would work for me. I do have a few questions:
- Does the Etrex 20x display where one is on the prefigured route?
- Does the display show other roads? Say a road was closed for construction--could you figure out a different route?
- What programs can be used to figure routes? RWGPS? or will I have to buy maps from Garmin?