Garmin Dakota 20 GPS

Sun 06 Mar, 2011 1:23 pm

I am looking at getting a new GPS and the Dakota 20has got my interest (at the moment).

I am wondering if anyone on the Bushwalk.com forum has got one and if so what do they think of it.

Last Friday I played with Garmin Dakota 10 over lunch, a mate of mine runs a GIS lab at a Uni and he has cupboard full of GPS"s to loan for field trips, on Friday lunch he brought along a Garmin 62S, an Oregon 300 and the Dakota 10, the Dakota was much lighter that the others but the 10 model does not have a electronic compass or altimiter, but does have mapping capabilities, the reviews are quite good for the 20 model, though it is claimed the screens are harder to read, I found very little difference.

Tony

Sun 06 Mar, 2011 5:07 pm

Hi Tony,

I've just recently purchased one and so far I really like it. It's unfortunately had limited use as I'm waiting on the topo maps to arrive for it. It will get it's first real test down the snowies in a few weeks time. I'll be sure to give you some more feedback in the coming weeks. As for size and weight I really like it. The screen I haven't noticed any great problems but as I said its use has been rather limited at present.

Cheers

Mic

Sun 06 Mar, 2011 5:30 pm

Hi Mic,

Bluegum Mic wrote:Hi Tony,

I've just recently purchased one and so far I really like it. It's unfortunately had limited use as I'm waiting on the topo maps to arrive for it. It will get it's first real test down the snowies in a few weeks time. I'll be sure to give you some more feedback in the coming weeks. As for size and weight I really like it. The screen I haven't noticed any great problems but as I said its use has been rather limited at present.

Cheers

Mic

Thanks for that information, if I decide to get one I will probably get mine soon, I already have some Topo maps on disk, I will need to save up fpr OZI explorer which makes interfacing a bit easier.

Tony

Mon 07 Mar, 2011 8:43 am

Just be aware that you may not be able to get your current maps onto the GPS. There are limitations on both types of images and sizes.

Tue 28 Jun, 2011 4:31 pm

Tony or Mic have you had a good play with it now and how do you find it?

Tue 28 Jun, 2011 6:36 pm

Greenie wrote:Tony or Mic have you had a good play with it now and how do you find it?

Hi Greenie,

I ended up getting Garmin GPS 62S, the 62s is easy to use and has lots of nice features.

I have been able to put some NSW Topoview maps into it but I am a bit disappointed by the quality.

I maybe should have saved up for this one Montana 650t

Tony

Fri 01 Jul, 2011 12:33 pm

Hi Greenie,

Unfortunately it hasn't had a big walk under it's belt yet. I only just finally got my garmin topo maps for it (yes purchased in December last year and has made it to our shores twice before finally to me...well travelled set of SD maps). So I've played with it, I like it but it won't get out bush now for a few weeks. Winter has struck and as always I'm distracted by snow (I've been twice now in 3 weeks :-)

.
Once I hit the trail with it I'll report back on ease of use, accuracy and whether the screen works well in sunlight etc. Next walk will prob be down in the royal national park so nothing fancy but I'll get it to track etc.

Cheers

Mic

Tue 02 Aug, 2011 4:37 pm

For those interested re Montana GPSr's...
Garmin won't release the Montana 600(same as 650 but without the camera) into Australia...but can be purchased from the US.
Also the 650T has the very crappy Garmin Aus Topo loaded.
The 600(currently on order) should be able to be pur. for around $500 AU delivered....plus another $229 for the exc. Oztopo software...which can be used on any other compatible GPSr units you may own.

Garmin Dakota 20 GPS