DeLorme Earthmate PN-20 Waterproof Hiking GPS
by Delorme Mapping
|
List Price: Our Price: $189.00 You Save: $10.95 (5%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: CE See more product details |
|---|
Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of DeLorme Earthmate PN-20 Waterproof Hiking GPS
Customer Review: Not accurate
Summary: 1 Stars
Hello,
I normally do not write reviews, but since I bought this GPS because of the reviews I read here,I think I should do so.
I bought this Delorme unit because it seemed to deliver a good value for the price, but I found it very inaccurate (more than 120 meters, when according to the unit accuracy was 12 m.), at least for people who are in areas not covered by WAAS signal (like me).
I used a Magellan MAP410 for 10 years until I needed to change it; but since those "old" units were designed in a time where Selective Availability (SA) was still active, they had an "averaging" feature that started to take several samples of the position when the unit stopped. When SA was discontinued, this average feature made this particular unit much more accurate. Average feature is not available in Delorme PN-20 units and the unit even fails to notice when I stop moving =o(. Base map is also very very bad, no reference points, no small towns, no rail roads, nothing I used to get from the old Magellan unit. It includes maps that can be downloaded to the unit but for the U.S. only; this is not a unit for a traveler or for any one who is not in the U.S. I will try with a Garmin unit now.
Customer Review: Very poor equipment and software
Summary: 1 Stars
The unit is well constructed - that's about the only good thing I can say about this. I can't believe the other two reviewers could be so generous with this thing and the software that accompanies it. This makes me think of Mac users (and I do love my mac!) who think that Apple can do no wrong. Frankly the unit is slooooww, and it's navigation is just so-so. Try having it pan to some location 10 miles away - sad indeed. I'm not impressed with the unit much at all. I suppose the GPS itself is worth two stars.
As for the software, I'm amazed at how confusing and poorly done it is. It's completely non-standard, making finding anything a real chore. The symbols are confusing and the navigation is a bear.
I should have read he other reviewers comments before ordering. Why should it take users three hours of concentrated effort to use a simple device like this? I've been in technology for 25 years, I own many, many computers, GPS's, cameras, etc. I've used hundreds of software applications and this one surely ranks as one of the very worst I've ever come across.
Customer Review: Let Me Down Every Time
Summary: 1 Stars
As I have been contemplating purchasing another device bad thoughts of my PN-20 fill my mind.
It has failed EVERY time I needed it.
Sometimes it couldn't pickup satellites.
Other times the battery died with no warning (unpleasant when it is not noticed for an hour when I needed a bearing)
After 3 or 4 new rechargeable batteries from the company (none of which lasted more than a few hours) I gave up and started using alkalines. These lasted longer.
As others have said the desktop mapping software is cumbersome to use
And I had difficulty entering an absolute lat long destination directly into the PN-20. this might have been my fault but it sure wasn't obvious.
Looking at the new pn-40 I just keep thinking "fool me once, shame on you.. fool me twice, shame on me"
I still desire the functionality. But this hasn't worked for me for more than several miles on foot.
PS: I just loaded the 1.5 ROM and will try this device again. But I have little to no hope.
Customer Review: Very unstable unit
Summary: 1 Stars
I own this device for a week and will send it back tomorrow. It very unstable in most important area - satellite locking. Some times it acquire 3D lock in 1 minute (or less) but some times it does not see even single satellite for hours. Periodically it is showing accuracy 10ft but in same time on map I am 200 feet from my real location.Customer Review: Not a very good GPS
Summary: 1 Stars
It is not user friendly when it comes out of the box. It does not know the current location when it power up and user has to set current location!? I have not seen any GPS on my car like this. Redrawing map is slow and creating route is difficult. Overall user interface is bad.