DeLorme Earthmate PN-20 Waterproof Hiking GPS
by Delorme Mapping
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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 |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of DeLorme Earthmate PN-20 Waterproof Hiking GPS
Customer Review: Well thought out design
Summary: 5 Stars
I chose PN-20 over Garmin Vista HCx for its overall value. It was a tough choice between the two. Vista HCx is more compact, faster graphics redraw, and more sensitive receiver than PN-20, but PN-20 came with a much better map package, more intuitive and flexible menuing, a better physical design, and a good enough sensitive receiver. I'm very happy with the PN-20.Customer Review: great maps for hiking
Summary: 4 Stars
The Topo 6.0 maps that come with this unit contain surprisingly detailed topographic information. Most popular hiking trails are included. You can preview them at (you need to create a free account)...
data.delorme.com
The PN-20's main rivals are the Garmin units. The Garmin mapping software can be previewed by following the appropriate links here...
www8.garmin.com/cartography
These topographic maps are generally inferior to those of the Delorme unit (you can discover this for yourself by accessing the websites above). The PN-20 nicely superimposes street and topographic/hiking info into the one map which I don't believe the Garmin units do. The mapping software is included free with the purchase of the PN-20. You have to pay an additional amount of more than $200 for both topo and street maps with the Garmin units. One drawback of the PN-20 mapping software is that is highly user UNfriendly. Also, if you want to cut a large map section (say of the entire state of California, with all contour information included), it will take your computer many, many hours. It is possible however to download all street information, from interstate freeways down to tiny alleys, for an entire state, without contour information, in an hour or so. On the plus side, once you master it, the mapping software can be very powerful.
The screen is full-color as opposed to the Garmin models which only display 256 colors. The PN-20 can display aerial, satellite and usgs topo quad images that you download for $0.25 per square kilometer. The unit comes with a free voucher for $100 of image downloads (400 sq. kilometers). This can be a very useful feature for hiking, as many unnamed trails and paths are visible from the air, and hence appear in the aerial photographs. One warning, if you have poor eyesight you might have difficulty reading the small type on the screen.
The signal reception is good. It works inside a car and under moderately dense canopy. Under very dense canopy it will loose the signal. The initial lock can take a few minutes, depending on how far you have moved since the device last registered a location. I haven't used the Garmin units but my guess is that the PN-20's signal reception is significantly better than the Etrex's but not quite up there with the 60cx's, which apparently acquires an initial lock within a few seconds. I've found the typical accuracy the device settles down to is roughly +/-50ft under some canopy, +/-30ft if you're driving down a suburban street, and +/- 10ft if you're on a freeway.
The battery life is good, ~8 hours with moderate use and medium backlight.
Auto-routing functionality is built in, but limited. If you want the unit to direct you from address A to address B you have to use the Topo 6.0 software on your computer, to create the route and then upload it onto the device. The procedure is fast and straightforward once you learn how to do it. The software enables you to create via and stop points for your route, which can be useful. You can also calculate road-routes by clicking on start and end points on the map (ie without entering addresses). Once you enable auto-navigation, below the map will be displayed the distance and expected time to next turn, the name of the street or exit, and an arrow indicating the direction to turn. It will beep twice for each turn, once to alert you in advance, and a second time to indicate when the actual turn should take place. All in all I found the auto-navigation feature was quite effective, though not as user-friendly as a purpose built auto-GPS such as the Garmin Street-Pilot. Perhaps the biggest downside to using this device for auto-navigation is that you have to wait a minute or two after switching it on for an initial-lock.
One general drawback is the slow processor. Map redraws can take up to 30 seconds depending on what information is being loaded, though typically they take 5-10 seconds. At times it can be frustrating, though for conventional use the delay is tolerable.
Another drawback is the street maps are a tad crude. For example, a curved street will appear as a couple of straight lines joined together. Also, some sections of the street maps are misaligned by more than 100ft. These are typically streets in suburban (non-metropolitan) areas but it can occasionally be frustrating, particularly when driving, as the unit can display your position as in between two roads. I believe the Delorme Street-Atlas maps don't have this problem, but they are not compatible with the PN-20 yet (apparently Delorme is working on a patch to make them compatible).
All in all, the ability to display aerial photography and accurate hiking information makes this a break-through device, though the slow processor detracts a little from the novelty.
Customer Review: Great for the outfoor enthusiast
Summary: 4 Stars
I find the Delorme PN-20 to be one of the most exciting GPS models on the market--although, as a new model, it has a few rough edges to be smoothed out. Those who use it primarily for outdoor activities like hiking or biking should be pleased; those who want something mostly for automobile use will probably be happier with something else.
On the plus side, the maps are the best I know of that can be transferred to a GPS. I particularly like that trails are routable (although at the current time these routes must be created in the included Topo 6 USA on the PC and transferred to the GPS). Also, user-created tracks can be saved to Topo6 as routable trails. Personally I have not found the aerial or satellite imagery that useful--but the USGS 7.5 topo maps on a GPS are pretty cool. The display is somewhat on the small side, but of great visual quality.
Secondly, the support available from Delorme by phone (email support seems to lag) and in the Delorme user forum is top-notch. When the PN-20 was first released, a serious bug soon emerged. Delorme had a firmware fix available 4 days after the bug was identified. Delorme appears to be solicitous of customer input for improvement, and seems committed to regular firmware updates (the first major update came about 3 months after the initial release). PN-20 packages purchased directly from Delorme allow for a 30-day no-questions-asked return. It's less clear to me how generous Amazon is on GPS returns.
Third, I think the PN-20 gets power options right: one can use a variety of AA battery types or an optional Li-Ion that can be internally recharged. That battery is a standard CRV3 rather than some proprietary design--although not all CRV3 brands seem to work properly (checking in the forum advised).
The last thing I would note on the plus side is that reception and accuracy seems quite good. Compared to my Magellan Explorist 500, the PN-20 seems to do slightly better. While accuracy is diminished under dense foliage--as with any unit--I have always been able to maintain a signal lock while geocaching or hiking.
Shortcomings include the fact that PN-20 does feel soggy in executing tasks. Redraws usually only take 3-4 seconds, but scrolling the screen takes patience. Although the PN-20 handles a file of up to 1000 waypoints, I find the unit works much more efficiently if I hold the file down to a couple hundred. Creating a street route on the PN-20 can take several minutes, and I find address searches intolerably long. It *does* all these things, but users will be happier if they can plan routes and searches ahead of time on the PC for transfer to the GPS. The PN-20 does allow for the insertion of via points to shape a route in the GPS, so it has a leg up on Magellan's MapSend DirectRoute. Improving the efficiency of firmware algorithms may help, but it might be until we see a PN-30 with a beefier processor that autorouting becomes a satisfying experience.
Another minus is that the PN-20 does not currently allow for more than a single waypoint file, and neither waypoints, tracks, nor routes can be saved to the SD card. I fully expect that a future firmware upgrade will change this, so a large number of such files can be available for field use.
The PN-20 is not for everyone. It's a new, cutting-edge model--Delorme's first integral handheld GPS--and I think it will be a little while until the firmware is tweaked and smoothed to allow for the full potential of the hardware. For those who place a high priority on map quality and plan to use their GPS primarily for outdoor activity, I think it's a good choice that shows favorable signs of becoming even better.
Customer Review: Earthmate PN-20
Summary: 4 Stars
I have been a wildland firefighter since 1971. I was breed on USGS topomaps and a compass to navigate in country most will only see pictures of. I had little or no confidence in GPS units when they first appeared until an assignment to Alaska. With no landmarks and 10,000 lakes south of Fairbanks that GPS unit saved me from walking great distances finding my way.
I am most familiar with the Garmin Etrex Vista. It served me well for over 5 years. I have recently acquired a DeLorme Earthmate PN-20. Though one reviewer indicated the PN-20 was slow to load maps it is not so slow that the overall performance of the unit is degraded in any way. Sure not just a blink but looking up to glance at your surroundings and back down at the unit is more than enough time for the map to load. (A known draw back of GPS units is the user's focus is on the unit instead of their surroundings, anyway.)
Pros
Light, compact and shaped to make carrying and one hand operation a snap. My pack already weighs 35lbs. I don't need anymore.
Double AA batteries are readily available and a user could use rechargeable batteries and recharge via a USB port on their computer.
Great backlight capability.
Color screen not a necessity but makes life nicer.
Bright enough to be viewed under bright sunlight conditions.
2 Text Sizes for us older folk.
My unit came with TopoUSA 7.0. Major point compared to other manufacturer's maping products. This swayed my decision to purchase the PN-20.
Easy user interface via PC to Unit for uploading/downloading maps, waypoints, tracks, imagery etc.
Yellow exterior color makes for easy location in the dark. A necessity on those long night shifts.
Water resistance seems to be very high. I have not had opportunity to test this. I will cross more than one creek this coming fire season I'm sure.
Internal SD Card up to 2 megs not only provides for plenty of data storage but speeds uploading and downloading of that data via a card reader the user can plug into their PCs USB port. (My package came with a 1meg SD card and reader.)
Cons
2, screws hold the battery cover on. The screws are provided with handles so no need for a screw driver but it is more time consuming to replace batteries than the Etrex that only required a ¼ turn.
Requires 4 AA batts. But they have lasted me 12 hours so far and still going.
The unit will not calculate acreage from a perimeter. Maybe only a need for small percentage of users.
Though a compass is included on one of the pages it responds to the user's movement and is not real life to determine a compass bearing. Need to still pull out the magnetic compass.
The trip odometer jumps by miles if reset before all satellites are acquired. Just a test of my patience. I'll adjust. Would have been nice if the trip info did not start calculating until satellite acquisition was complete or user input indicated when to begin.
As far as I have found thus far there is no external antenna available. I am not certain of this.
Conclusion
The DeLorme Earthmate PN-20 will meet 85% of my needs and I am pleased with its performance thus far. The price is good but you need to shop for it. The range between high and low price can be as much as $150 (USD) and some do not offer the TopoUSA 7.0 software.
There is a DeLorme PN-40 on the market but it was well out of my price range. Reviewer's indications are that the map redraw speed is quicker.
Customer Review: First Impressions
Summary: 4 Stars
Santa brought me an Earthmate PN-20 for Christmas. I've only been playing with it for one day. I'll come back after I have been using it for a while and update my review, but here are my first impressions.
The Earthmate PN-20 is very light and fits well in my hand. It's perfect for hiking (which is what I wanted it for). It won't weight you down or take up too much room in your pack. You can easily slip it into the pocket of your safari vest or cargo pants. It also has a lanyard, but the lanyard isn't particularly useful. It is too short, so any time you want to use the device you will have to mess with taking it off your neck and then putting it back on. If you want to carry it around your neck you should order a better lanyard to go with it.
The pre-installed base map is very simple. It only shows highways and major roads. That is not a problem, as it includes extra maps at no cost that are fantastic. I'm not talking about the ones you download, I'm talking about the Topo USA 7.0 maps. These maps have a lot of extra detail and are fine for getting around town.
For more detailed maps, including satellite and aerials, you can download them through DeLorme's Map Library. There are tons of maps to choose from there, and so far the coverage seems really good. I'm in rural Nevada and the maps from the DeLorme site are much more detailed that anything on Google Earth. This service is not free, but you receive a certificate worth $100 in free downloads, plus DeLorme offers an unlimited download service that is only $30 a year. One of the main reasons I wanted this one rather than a Garmin is because the maps were much, much more afforable.
Of course, when talking about the maps that brings us to the software. As has been mentioned elsewhere, the software is not at all user-friendly and the help files aren't much help. Be prepared to spend at least a day or two figuring out how the software works. I have taken a star off for this, but only one. The software, in my opinion, is definitely not a deal breaker. Once you figure it out it is very powerful. It allows you to make trails and cut custom maps to use when you are out hiking. You can also mark spots you have visited and add photos, which is pretty cool.
In order to take full advantage of the PN-20's features you need to get a few SD cards. The internal memory is not large enough to hold much information, and even if your map is small enough to fit it takes a long time to transfer the files through the USB cord. The unit I purchased directly from Amazon came with a 1 GB SD card. That really is not big enough. Fortunately, SD cards are cheap as chips. You can pick up a decent 4 GB card for $10 or less. So I recommend when you buy this device to throw a few SD cards into your cart along with it, and I recommend you spring for the 4GB cards.
The ability to use SD cards with it was a major selling point for me. It seems a lot of user want to just have larger onboard memory. I think that is kind of silly. Maps are huge files. In order to be able to store a decent amount of maps onboard this device would probably need to be about two times the size it is now. I would much rather have a smaller device that uses SD cards.
As I said at the beginning. I'm just getting used to my new GPSr. If I have any problems I will come back and update.