Looking at purchasing one for a DIY hunt out west this season. I know the garmins are real popular, but after my past experiences with customer service and recent product purchase I want to stay away from them
working at a sporting good stoe we sell delorme lowrance and garmin. Garmin by far is the easiest to use and out biggest seller they also offer satalite imagry and something i believe they call birdseye. lowrance would be the next best seller i finde them little harder to use have to go thru menues to get to page you want also the touch screen and locator dont seem as nice. Lowrance customer service from what we are told is much worse than garmin. we sell very few delorme they are in our experince the hardes/most complecated to use great imagery though, they do all the gps stuff for nassa so its great technology. Of course all the satilitte imagry is all for a subscription charge hope this helps some
The Garmin Oregon 550T (I think that is the correct model) is very nice for hunting with the satellite view feature and terrain. You cannot believe how helpful it is to be able to see all the ponds, trees, creeks, etc., around you especially when you are calling elk and trying to follow and ambush them as they bugle and move. There are many more good uses of the technology. Still, the unit is expensive and the screen is not as bright and sunlight readable as it ought to be for the price. It does have a decent camera with georeferencing.
Allan
I bought the delorme a few years ago and love it- imagery is awesome- easy enough to use
Topo maps - aerial photos- there is all kinds of cool stuff you can do with it. I got mine for western hunts too and sometimes the aerial photos are invaluable
I use a Delorme PN 40 at work and LOVE it. The software is a little tricky at first but the imagery is great.
This thread made me go check them out. They are coming out with the latest great PN60 and they have a 60w that works with SPOT - if ya like such stuff. Might be a good safety thing??
I use a Garmin now but looking to upgrade. Might check out the delorme 40, they have them on sale at Cabelas.
J
I bought 62 Garmin really only because it handled the aftermarket specialty software I wanted. Something to consider.
Garmin60csx with regional Topo DVD @24K.
I have the garmin 60 cs (older version) just the lab got a hold of the antenna and chewed it a bit the other day. They are a great unit, nothing wrong with them at all and I had planned on upgrading to the newer garmin 60 version but this delorme is looking mighty good as well.
Only thing I am seeing is they have no port to handle an sd card?? I THINK?? you pay a subscription fee to Delorme and you can download any and all the maps you want - plus nautical charts and others. The nautical charts is a benefit to me being out in the coast and spending time in the ocean.
J
OK went back and checked out garmins 60st?? they have the birdseye sat imagery - which is why I was looking hard at the Delorme. Guess I shoulda paid closer attention to yalls post above there.
Think I will hang with the Garmin versions. I read some on the delorme and they sound great and all but may be a little too tricky on set up for me to be messin with.
Jason
I have a Garmin Rino 130 and 530 HCx which gives you the two way radio in addition to the GPS and some other bells and whistles that are very when hunting with a group of people. I just purchased a Delorme PN60 with SPOT. Personally, I think they are all pretty easy to use. I think Delorme gives you more for the money. I have never had an issue with Garmin customer service or Delorme. Look at the features and get what best fits your wants and needs.