Is there any software i can download to make it more suitable for hiking, EG saving trails etc.

Serious hiking usually requires a GPS with a topographic map and built-in compass.

Serious hiking usually requires a GPS with a topographic map and built-in compass.

This is not too serious , yet ! just need to save trails so i can re- do by myself.

Serious hiking usually requires a GPS with a topographic map and built-in compass.

This is not too serious , yet ! just need to save trails so i can re- do by myself.

Then you really need a GPS model able to save routes and track log, which the nuvi 200W cannot.

Serious hiking usually requires a GPS with a topographic map and built-in compass.

This is not too serious , yet ! just need to save trails so i can re- do by myself.

Then you really need a GPS model able to save routes and track log, which the nuvi 200W cannot.

Thanks for that IO

I thought you could certainly use the Nuvi 200W as a GPS for short hikes. The main draw back I could see was the battery life is only up to 5 hours.

Garmin sells US topo maps for the unit. It accepts a SD memory chip. So it should be possible to load the Thailand topographical maps which would be fairly useful for hiking although not as detailed as the scanned military maps I have on my gps device.

There seemed to be a real deal breaker for the Nuvi 200W. I looked at the user manual here : http://www8.garmin.com/manuals/nuvi200_OwnersManual.pdf and it seemed that there was no way to load tracks into the device or to save them either.

It seems though there is a hack to enable the Nuvi 200W (or some models) to record tracks here : http://www.malsingmaps.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=9014&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=120

I guess this Nuvi does have a nice big screen and the gps receiver should be fairly sensitive. Might be easier to shell out and buy a special GPS unit for hiking. I guess a 10,000 B model would be able to load topo maps and save and load tracks.

Unfortunately even with that hack I mentioned am not sure the Nuvi 200W would be able to load tracks such as the ones I have put up on the internet here : http://cmhike.com/2010/08/map-collection-of-most-of-the-hiking-paths-in-doi-pui-doi-suthep-national-park-we-know-of/

The garmin Map60csx will do anything u ever want, as tough as old boots, and will get a signal in a dungeon

tracks, trackback..it's got the lot even man overboard.

I think they are relatively cheap nowadays..at least in US..but here ???

I've had one for five years

The garmin Map60csx will do anything u ever want, as tough as old boots, and will get a signal in a dungeon

tracks, trackback..it's got the lot even man overboard.

I think they are relatively cheap nowadays..at least in US..but here ???

I've had one for five years

Advertised at 25,300 baht in Thailand.

The newer Oregon 300 or 550 are only 21,000 and 27,300 respectively. These have bigger touch screen displays and can display 'Custom maps', for example the scanned military maps that we like to use in the Chiang Mai hiking club, which the 60csx cannot display. The 60csx can only display topographical maps that are not going to have nearly as much detail as the military maps. The 60csx is a classic but it is 4 years old now. Garmin have come out with an update on the 60csx - the Garmin GPSMAP 62 which it seems is not yet available in Thailand but looks pretty cool.

There is a useful comparison chart of different Garmin gps models here http://gpstracklog.c...omparison-chart

Jamie

Edited September 21, 201015 yr by jamiesensei

That's a lot of baht to lay out for a GPS just for hiking around the terra firma in Chiang Mai.

Edited September 21, 201015 yr by InterestedObserver

I would recommend the Oregon 400 or 550T, The GPSMAP 62 series, or the Nuvi 500. I think the Nuvi 500 is the best car / hiking gps (hybrid). It lets you switch from vehicle to walking. This way it will not lock on the roads. One thing to watch out for is that GPS Units sold outside the US will not let you use Bird's Eye. That's another big draw back considering how cheap they are in the US compared to Thailand.

GPS units seem to be about half the price they are here in the states or a little more that that buying in the UK. And the newer units are not available here. Probably it is better to buy or have someone buy you a unit when they go back home.

The Nuvi 500 cannot load tracks apparently. Sharing tracks is one of the major benefits of having a gps unit for hiking.

There is a good review of the unit here : http://gpstracklog.com/2008/09/garmin-nuvi-500-2.html

I like this last site.

Unfortunately even with that hack I mentioned am not sure the Nuvi 200W would be able to load tracks such as the ones I have put up on the internet here : http://cmhike.com/20...ark-we-know-of/

Nevertheless the GPX or KML can be converted to IMG using this utility: http://www.malsingma...php?f=25&t=6369 (I believe you need to be registered and logged in first, to be able to download the attachment).

The IMG can then be used in most Garmin units including Nuvis.