[pct-l] Garmin Oregon 450

Tue Jun 29 20:07:04 CDT 2010

I bought the Oregon 450 and the $100 Topo maps. (Same price & Function as 
the Oregon450t). The advantage is that I can load the Topo maps onto my 
computer and use them there. I loaded the Idaho Centennial Trail tracks, 
routes, waypoints, and maps. Marcia is somewhere in northern Idaho right now 
using it. She loves the touch screen operation. I like that I can actually 
load all the data for long trails onto the GPS! We don't have good 
information about battery usage, but It doesn't seem to be any worse that 
the 60CSx we have been using. I'll know better within a few days.

A couple of hints on usage to extend your battery life: turn the backlight 
off unless you really need it. Then use the backlight at as low a level as 
you can. Turn off the electronic compass.   If you just use the gps a couple 
of times a day the batteries should last weeks.  I have been carrying the 
60CSx on the last few hikes with it constantly on, all day. I can a day plus 
a couple of hours use on a set of batteries. No scientific information, just 
know how many batteries to put in the re-supply boxes.  Those batteries were 
Costco alkaline batteries. The Oregon 450 is running on Energizer Ultimate 
Lithium batteries.

I am interested in this discussion about the new Garmin GPS's, but I just 
finished driving 2000 miles in the last 4 days and I am going to eat and go 
to bed.

Ken

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Burge" <bill at burge.com>
To: "PCT-L MailingList" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2010 5:10 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Garmin Oregon 450T On Sale

Yeah, but that doesn't really interest me.  I could make it work. (I spent 
about 6 hours hacking the iPhone/iTunes backup process last weekend. That 
DID interest me.)  I could put in the hours to twist and tweak and tune it 
and it might not even bite me in the butt on a hike or road trip when I 
least expect it.  But it might.

Like the last time this topic went by, someone said "if I spend the <$100 on 
the maps, it will just work".  So, I could just do the "nose to the 
grindstone" on my current consulting contract for an additional hour and 
have it "just work".

Some people either can't/won't spend the money AND have the capability and 
the time; but they better have BOTH - and not as many of them do.  Sadly, 
when they can't get it to work the way it should (and COULD), after trying 
"free maps" and other corner cutting things - they blame Garmin.

But it's not just GPS's.  I took a Sierra Club class with a very nice person 
who just could not get their mind around the use of a topo map and a 
compass.  A GPS is harder to use (well) than a map and compass.  With what 
we expect to do with a GPS is "load waypoints", "add tracks", update maps", 
etc. and now users have to know about USB, SD, computer software, 
installation, and a whole bunch of stuff that is way beyond "hey I got a 
GPS!".

I love my GPS('s - I own 6 of them). GPS's are easy to carry and will answer 
the question "where am I this instant" with more confidence for the majority 
of users than that same user with a map and compass.  When you know how to 
work with a map and compass, the GPS becomes a nice convenience instead of a 
replacement for the confidence that a user should have without it.  As 
people have noted, they are more valuable when everything is covered in snow 
and/or when visibility makes compass sighting difficult or when you'd rather 
not take your map out in weather like that! ;-) You can carry hundreds of 
pounds of topo maps in one 6 ounce GPS.  You can add little references 
(waypoints) to make memories (we camped here!) or tell other people (bad 
water here).  I love 'em.

BillB

On Jun 29, 2010, at 4:31 PM, Yoshihiro Murakami wrote:

> Dear Bill
>
> If you want to save money, you should not buy the DVD at the same
> time.$B!!(BWith a little study about folder structure of your Oregon 
> 450T,
> you will be able to use many Garmin compatible free maps.  As I had
> previously posted May 27:
>
> I put a Garmin compatible map at my server for you and for someone,
> who have a Garmin GPS. You can download from
>
> http://psycho01.edu.u-toyama.ac.jp/Garmin/gmapsupp.img
>
> I combined the free routable maps(
> http://garmin.na1400.info/routable.php ) and the topological map of
> California (  GPSFileDepot:   http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/ ) , so it
> will be beneficial for the PCT hikers.
>
> Your task:
> 1. Download the file.
> 2. Make a "Garmin" folder in your micro card.
> 3.Copy the gmapsupp.img in this folder.
> 4. Put the micro card in your GPS device.
> 5. Set the world geodetic system to WGS-84.
>
> I had used sendmap20.exe to combine image files.  The combined map is
> not indicated at the computer, it is indicated at GPS only.
>
> The folder structure might be different from my Map60Csx. But if you
> send the file in the adequate folder, it will work.
>
> I am at job now, so I cannot confirm file structure exactly. But I
> think:  If you want to use Hallfmiles waypoints, your task is to copy
> *.gpx files into the root of the micro SD card. That's all.
>
> Do not manipulate the micro SD card by Mac, Mac makes invisible files,
> and some troubles were reported.
>
> When you failed to use free maps, then you should buy the DVD maps.
>
>
> 2010/6/30 Bill Burge <bill at burge.com>:
>>
>> With little looking, the best price I could get on the Garmin 24K Topo 
>> West DVD (has complete PCT coverage):
>>
>> $83.59 + shipping
>>
>> https://www.antonline.com/p_Garmin--010-11314-00--Garmin-010-11314-00-Mapsource-Topo-Us-24k-West-Dvd-_614650.htm
>>
>> BillB
>>
>>
>> On Jun 29, 2010, at 11:45 AM, Bill Burge wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> I've been wanting one for a while and was going to get one at REI during 
>>> the sale, but the 20% off cannot be used on GPS's!
>>>
>>> So I was just going to get one and wait for my 10% at the end of the 
>>> year, and my 5% for using an REI credit card, but decided to Google 
>>> around a bit.  (It sounds crazy - but you can find an awful lot if you 
>>> search!  ;-)
>>>
>>> http://www.cabelas.com has the Garmin Oregon 450T 
>>> https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=145&pID=63350 on sale for $370! 
>>> Down from $500!  It also looks like they did not charge me sales tax 
>>> here in California (don't know why).
>>>
>>> So, for those who are not math majors! 28.9% after factoring in sales 
>>> tax savings and shipping costs!  Even if you factor in the $75 I'd save 
>>> with REI dividends, it's still a 17.7% savings over THAT!
>>>
>>> Get them while they are still accepting backorders!  Yes, they are out 
>>> of stock; but they are still taking backorders on the sale price and 
>>> expect to ship in about a week...
>>>
>>> BillB
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>
>
>
> -- 
> Sincerely
> --------------- --------------------------------------
> Hiro    ( Yoshihiro Murakami )
> HP:http://psycho01.edu.u-toyama.ac.jp
> http://picasaweb.google.co.jp/CompleteWalker/
> Backpacking for 30 years in Japan
> 2009 JMT, the first America.
> ------------------------------------------------------

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