The frequently asked questions we get about …..
This series of videos answer the frequently asked questions we get about a number of subjects relating to Outdoor GPS units, GPS watches, route planning software and a plethora of subjects that you have asked us about over the years.
Quick Links - FAQ's
1. GPS Training Ordnance Survey Route Planning Software
2. GPS units with a built in battery
3. How do you/ can you update Ordnance Survey Maps on a Garmin GPS unit
4. What are the differences between a GPS watch and GPS unit?
5. Two-way satellite communicators - what are the main differences
6. Can I learn to use my GPS by watching your 'walk and talk' videos?
7. How do we work out the trade in value?
8. Is that your best price - can you do the GPS unit any cheaper?
9. What is the difference between a route, track and course?
10. What is going on with Bullitt and the Motorola Defy - Satellite Link?
11. Do I have to pre-plan my walk - GPS unit
12. Why are OS maps on a Garmin GPS unit not a higher resolution?
1. GPS Training Ordnance Survey Route Planning Software
The frequently asked questions we get about ….. The GPS Training Free Ordnance Survey Route Planning Software
1 - 00:00 - What is the free OS route planning software?
2 - 01:15 - Where can I find the free OS route planning software?
3 - 01:48 - How do I download the software?
4 - 02:16 - Is it better than Garmin BaseCamp or Xpedition 2?
5 - 03:53 - Can you make the map any bigger?
6 - 04:30 - Will it always be free?
7 - 06:51 - How do I use it?
8 - 07:23 - Will I see the OS maps on my GPS unit?
I very much hope this has helped and answered your FAQ’s about the GPS Training free Ordnance Survey Route Planning Software
2. GPS units with a built in battery
1 - 01:00 - Which Outdoor GPS units am I talking about?
2 - 01:40 - What battery loss are you experiencing/ expecting and over what time?
3 - 03:15 - Tips for extending the life of a built in battery in a GPS unit?
4 - 05:32 - How many units have we had back with batteries not performing the way they should be?
5 - 06:07 - Are Garmin going to change batteries?
6 - 06:30 - Is anybody else changing batteries or can you do it yourself?
3. Can you and how to update Ordnance Survey maps on a Garmin GPS unit
1 - 01:00 - Why have OS maps on a Garmin unit when many units come pre-loaded with Topo Active maps?
2 - 02:23 - How do you update OS maps on a Garmin GPS unit?
3 - 03:00 - How often do OS update they maps?
4 - 03:32 - Does anything change on OS maps?
4. What is the difference between a GPS watch and GPS unit?
1 - 00:00 – Introduction
2 - 01:10 - What are the main differences between a GPS watch and a GPS unit?
3 - 02:37 - Can you put OS maps on a GPS watch/ GPS unit?
4 - 03:56 - Which is easiest to use?
5 - 05:37 – Can you navigate with just a GPS unit/ watch?
6 - 06:56 – How does the navigational experience differ?
7 - 08:30 - Which is cheaper/ best value for money?
8 - 09:21 - What activities would you use each for – Watch/ GPS unit?
5. Two-way satellite communicators - what are the main differences
1 - 00:00 - What are two-way satellite communicator?
2 - 03:30 - What products are you talking about?
3 - 04:14 - Do you need a contract for them to work?
4 - 05:40 - Do they all use the same satellite systems to send/ receive messages?
5 - 06:45 - Does the satellite network effect the performance in any way?
6 - 09:03 - Do they cover everywhere in the world i.e. can you use them everywhere?
7 - 10:10 - Can you use them in every country?
8 - 11:10 - Do the two-way satellite communicators send/ receive messages instantaneously?
9 - 13:44 - Can the two-way satellite messages be used to navigate with?
10 - 15:05 - Which is best?
6. Can I learn to use my GPS unit/ GPS watch using the 'walk and talk' series?
1 - 00:00 - introduction
2 - 00:50 - What is the ‘walk and talk’ series on YouTube/ GPS Training website?
3 - 01:50 - Can I use this series of videos to learn how to use my GPS unit/ GPS watch?
4 - 03:20 - How can I get to grips with my GPS unit/ GPS watch -
- Online resource – GPS Training online resource
- Get a discount code here - Discount code for GPS Training online resource
- 1:1 over Zoom - more here
- Physical courses around the UK - more here
7. How do we work out a trade in price?
1 - 00:00 – Introduction
2 - 00:20 – What can you trade in
3 - 01:40 - How do we work out the trade in value?
4 - 04:45 – What are the trade in options?
8. Is that your best price, can you do the GPS any cheaper?
Looking at buying an Outdoor GPS unit? In this video we look at the differences between GPS Training or Outdoor GPS Shop.
1. GPS Training - the store
Get a personalised GPS recommendation from GPS Training.
2. Outdoor GPS Shop (budget website)
9. What's the difference between a route, track and course on a Garmin GPS unit?
1 - 00:00 - Introduction
2 - 00:25 - What is a route?
3 - 01:28 - What is a track?
4 - 04:12 - What is a course?
10. What is going on with the Motorola Defy - satellite Link?
1 - 00:00 – Introduction to the latest edition of FAQ’s – Motorola Defy – Satellite Link
2 - 01:00 – Why have we not discussed this subject before, our sources and some background
3 - 03:25 – Will your existing Motorola Defy – satellite Link continue to work?
4 - 03:50 – What will happen when your current contract finishes?
5 - 07:10 – Will live tracking be introduced on the Motorola Defy – Satellite Link?
6 - 07:55 – If you buy a new Motorola Defy – Satellite Link can you activate it and will it work?
7 - 09:44 – Please do share your thoughts, feedback and please lets share your knowledge if you have any
11. Do I have to pre plan my walk - GPS unit
12. Why are the OS maps on a Garmin GPS unit not a higher resolution?
The x 5 questions I will answer –
00:00 - Introduction
01:07 - Why have OS maps on a Garmin GPS unit when you now get pre-loaded Topo Active maps?
01:55 - Why do the maps go pixelated if you zoom in to far? Because they are Raster maps – scanned image of an OS map Whereas the pre-loaded Topo Active maps are Vector maps
02:44 - What can I do to stop them pixelating? Do not zoom in to far – 200 feet/ 60 metres Shows you the scale of the map at top of screen or under the compass rose or other dashboard if you have set one up. At that scale you are looking just under ¼ mile ahead, which is not very far at all, I tend to have the map page set at around 500 feet/ 120 metres, then I am looking ½ mile ahead of myself.
04:12 - How could Garmin stop this pixelating? Stop people from Zooming in to much – as you can zoom in to 20 feet. 6 metres
05:30 - But is this relevant – should you be judging your GPS on the map quality? No, as you have a navigational device not a moving map. Don’t judge your GPS on map quality, judge it on the navigational experience it gives you.
And Finally
If you have a subject, you would like to look at in this FAQ’s series please leave a comment in the comment box below.
Ray Grange
Dear Jon
Very interesting video. I was concerned that if I update from my 66s I would not like a model with inbuilt batteries but you have given me confidence that it will be ok especially if it will be possible to change the battery pack. At present I am on a long distance walk in France and charge my 66s each night with the inbuilt charger and using eneloop batteries with a plastic drip underneath so that the charger works. This means I do not have to carry a charger.
Jason
Great to have an FAQ on this topic as I know a significant number of people don’t like the idea of non-replaceable batteries (like AA).
The technology of Li-ion batteries is well known and there are lots of scientific studies into their characteristics. The issues you raise in the video do not just apply to Garmin GPS units but any device using Li-ion batteries (mobiles, laptops, electric vehicles, etc)
The slower you charge, the better for the battery. Smart charging allows you to charge quicker but potentially causes more wear to the battery. This is particularly true at higher ‘States of Charge’ which is why fast charging slows down the closer you get to 100% (and your comment about electric vehicle 80-100% charging on fast chargers). That said, I doubt the Garmin units support any form of fast charging, so I doubt it matters what charger you use with them. That is just a guess and would have to be verified with Garmin. I could be completely wrong!
In your video, you say that Garmin GPSs should be stored long term with “at least” a 50% charge. The pedant in me would say that they should be stored with a 50% charge (or as close as possible). Your comment implies that anything over 50% is OK but the ideal is to be as close to 50% as possible.
The recommendation of maintaining charge between 20-80% is good for all Li-ion devices. It is a compromise between having a useful charge and causing least wear to the battery. The battery life is so good on the GPSMAP units (even the ‘lowly’ 66 versions), that I never use more than about 20% battery on an outing, so I try not to charge over 80% before using it.
The biggest challenge for maintaining the best battery life is that there is no way to define what level you charge to. My car, mobile and laptop, all have settings that automatically stop charging when the battery gets to 80%. With the Garmins I usually charge them while watching TV or working on the computer so I can keep an eye on the charge level.
Finally, while on the subject of battery level. For those that use GPSMAP 66 and 67 models, I would recommend the IQ App, “Battery Field”, which allows you to display the battery level, as a percentage , as a field, in your ‘Trip Computer’. There is also “Battery, GPS, Pause” by the same author that is supposed to warn you if your GPS strength drops below good and warn you if you set off without activating ‘record’, but I haven’t been able to get this feature to work on my GPSMAP units.
There is also “Battery Widget with automatic charge detection”. It is a bit more awkward to access the readout for the battery level but there is a setting to warn you when the battery level gets to 80%. Unfortunately, I have not been able to get this to work on my GPSMAP units.
It would be nice if Garmin built these features into GPAMAP units, as the current battery display is pretty inadequate.