Garmin GPS Receiver

This review is from: Garmin Dakota 20 Waterproof Hiking GPS (Electronics)

After losing a Garmin etrex vista hCX which I loved, I decided to go with the Dakota 20 (D20). I will be comparing the two in the review.

Maps and Storage:

The D20 comes loaded with a basemap, which has most major highways, but no streets. So for your purpose, you can choose City Navigator (required for auto navigation to work), or Topo 2008 (shows mountain countours & most lakes). Luckily, I had both Topo and City Nav on my computer.

Since the D20 comes with 850mb of internal memory, it’s enough for self selected regions in Topo 2008 and/or Inland Lakes map, but not for City Nav. I put in a 4gb microSDHC card, which handled the 1.2gb .IMG file of the city navigator map. What might trouble some is that the D20 does not come with Mapsource(a great program for making custom maps, and upload trails and routes) or any kind of software. The hCX comes bundled with Mapsource. Although if you purchase the City Navigator, it comes with Mapsource.

When combining multiple maps onto the device, the D20 is much more convenient as you simply add the .IMG files (must have different file names) into the Garmin folder. D20 will automatically detect the maps and enable them. In the hCX, you had to merge all of the .IMG files into one or use seperate microSD cards, which was a toll. The D20 stores the saved tracks individually as .GPX files, whereas the hcx clumps all the trails into one file(named by date).

Auto Navigation:

I didn’t find much info about Auto Navigation for the D20 before purchased, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. After trying it a few times, it’s definitely a step up from the hCX. There’s an Automobile mode for navigation, where the map is tilted so you can see the turn coming from farther ahead. The directions text is noticeably smaller on the D20, which might be hard for some to read, but luckily you can adjust the text size of the directions. You can also customize what information you want to see (i.e-distance to destination, odometer, etc.). The D20 gives almost the same beep as the hCX when turns are approaching(no voice of course). The D20 navigation overall is more pleasing to the eye.

Battery Life:

The hCX wins on battery life 25 hrs vs 20 hours on the D20. There is a battery save mode on the D20 that definitely improves battery life. How it works is the screen will turn off in about 15 idle seconds to save power, and you simply touch the screen to see again. On D20′s regular battery mode, I noticed the battery drains very quickly -definitely less than 20 hours. Recharcheable NiMH AA batteries are a must since you’ll be going through them quickly. I use Sanyo Eneloop and Rayovac Hybrid. Be sure to change the Battery type under Setup>System to get the correct battery meter.

Visibility:

This has been the biggest complain by some, but I found the visibility/brightness on the D20 to be suitable for most types of lighting, including in the sun and in the dark. You can adjust the backlight (although brighter means less battery life). I’ll admit it can be harder to see in certain angles of sunlight, but this hasn’t been a problem during auto nav or regular use. The hCX is slightly brighter, but it’s not a significant difference.

Accuracy:

During initial use, the satelites weren’t detected on the D20. I had to walk outside before the Satelites could lock on. The D20 has three modes for Satellite: Normal, WAAS, and Demo. I’ve had the most accurate luck with WAAS as i’m assuming it’s using the new satelite technology. On the D20 i’ve gotten accuracy as close as 10 ft, whereas on the hCX 20ft was usually the closest it would ever get. In general though, the satelite signal on the D20 is about the same as the hCX.

GPS Interface:

This is where the D20 far outshines the hCX. You navigate through all of the menus by touch. This is such a relief from using hCX’s mini joystick and side buttons. What’s nice about the D20 is you can move the map around by sliding your finger on it, whereas on the hCX joystick you have to sluggishly go at an angle. The D20 works much faster in operation. For example, it refreshes the maps considerably faster than the hCX. This equals less headaches when trying to pinpoint a location.

The layout on the D20 is very straight forward. The main menu contains all of the icons (Map, Where to, Track Manager, Setup, etc.) and you can scroll through all of the features by the arrows on the bottom corners. The hCX has a higher learning curve as you have to manipulate multiple buttons to get somewhere.

GPS Use:

I use the D20 for fitness activities: kayaking, jogging, cycling, and hiking. I can easily plot my map with distance and tracks(breadcrumb trails) onto websites that map .GPX files(Mapmyfitness, Motionbased). I use it too, of course, for auto navigation. The hCX is capable of doing all these things as well, but its not nearly as modern and simple as the D20. Resetting the track took me a few minutes to figure out, but it’s simply Setup>Reset>Reset Trip Data. You have to use this command right before you go jogging, biking, rowing, etc. -otherwise your new track will mix in with the prior/current track. It’d be nice to have shortcuts on the D20, but no biggie.

Profiles and Customizing:

A nice feature on the D20 is the ability to create profiles. I have a profile for driving, and one for exercising. It keeps the settings and maps you want selected automatically saved into the profile (i.e- City Nav for auto, Topo for exercising). You can also rearrange or get rid of buttons in the main menu, specifically for each profile. This is extremely useful in having all the features you need in one or two screens. With the hCX, you can customize the features, although it is not nearly as simple to rearrange as the D20. The hCX does not have profiles.

Overall:

While it was quite unfortunate I dropped the hCX in the lake, the D20 has proven to be a suitable upgrade and replacement. The D20 and hCX both have their strengths and weaknesses, but i’m definitely enjoying the experience of the user friendly D20. I have yet to determine it’s true ruggedness, but will post updates if anything else should be mentioned.

This review is from: Garmin Dakota 10 Waterproof Hiking GPS (Electronics)

I recently decided to start spending some time geocaching with my son. I finally settled on either the Geomate, Jr., the Garmin Dakota, Garmin Oregon or DeLorme PN-40. I asked questions at forums, looked at on-line reviews, checked out the ones I could find in stores (Oregon and PN-20) and finally decided on either the Dakota 10 (a great price on a bundle was the big attraction at the time) or the Oregon 300. The Geomate got great reviews and the most reasonably priced of the group, but it’s only good for one thing, geocaching, tho it does it well. The PN-40 also got pretty good reviews, but the screen is smaller than the Oregon’s, the computer software is in addition to the device purchase and an annual subscription (at a very fair price tho) is needed for all the available advertised map features. It’s also a device with a pretty steep learning curve, especially on the trip planning side. That left the Dakota and Oregon. My two concerns on the Dakota 10 was lack of an SD slot, and a lower resolution screen than the Oregon. But for $100 savings I took a gamble and ordered the Dakota geocache and hike bundle. Turns out my worries were all for naught.

This little navigator has been a pleasant surprise. Dead simple to use, the menus made sense right out of the box, screen sensitively is excellent, even text-entry on the touch-screen is surprisingly easy and accurate. The bundle included the 100K US maps on DVD, which while very good were not as detailed as I had hoped. Not to worry. FREE user-contributed maps are available and many are very good to absolutely excellent. The Florida 24K topo I found at GPSFileDepot was in the latter category. Bathyspheric data, roads, trails, poi’s, extended text descriptions of land features like springs, waterways, landmarks, historical features. All I could ask for, no added charge. No other manufacturer has a following creating compatible maps like Garmin’s. And a recent Garmin application update has even added the ability to easily import and use raster maps(ie, paper maps, attractions maps, etc) in your Dakota. I’m actually working on adding an early 1900′s Central Florida railroad map that I can overlay on my 24K topo for searching out old railway junctions and stations. With any luck I might dig up a little Florida history.

Here’s the best part, and something I didn’t know about in advance. Garmin’s “Profiles” is a powerful menu feature. Out of the box, the menus are customized/organized for specific uses like Geocaching, Recreational, Marine and Automotive. I modified my Automotive to use Garmin’s City Navigator (2009) map, Florida section only, with my 24K topographic maps disabled. I moved “Active Route” and “Route Planner” to the first page and customized the data I wanted displayed on my trip computer and compass pages, then saved it. Now when I tap Change Profile>Automotive, all my settings are ready to go. I customized Geocaching in the same manner, disabling road maps and enabling topo’s, even disabling “ground cover” display so the map screen is even easier to see. What other device other than Garmin’s Oregon series is this easy to use and set-up for your specific needs? Nothing that I’ve seen.

My only complaint, and it’s not even a serious issue, is screen readability. It seems all the newer high-resolution handheld screens suffer screen legibilty issues compared to the older devices like the tried-and-true 60CSx. So far no one has come up with a solution. The Dakota is certainly more readable than the Oregon, even tho the backlight is not as strong. I haven’t yet found a lighting condition that rendered the screen unreadable, unlike the Oregon I looked at side by side with it. Even the Oregon only needed to be turned a bit to see in light shade, a problematic light. Even when used tie-wrapped to my bike I never found the Dakota completely unreadable. But as mentioned by others, there’s room for improvement. For now it’s just a necessary trade-off for the better graphics and detail and easier use on these new off-road devices.

My concern on the lack of additional SD storage for maps was unwarranted. Loading the 24K map for the entire State of Florida, routable City Navigator road maps for all of Florida, 100K topos for Georgia and Alabama and a hundred or so geocache locations with details (gpx files) took less than 300MB of the available 850MB+ of on board storage. I don’t think I’m going to run out of space for hundred’s more geocache locations, waypoints, routes or even additional maps if needed. The Dakota 10 also lacks the tri-axial compass and barometric altimeter of the Dakota 20 (and Oregons), but I can’t see any situations where I would need those. The compass on the Dakota 10 is fine for almost all my uses and I have no need for the altimeter anyway, especially in Florida.

So all in all, I really have only a single complaint. Screen brightness in certain specific lighting conditions could be improved. But in MOST sun and shade conditions it’s not any problem whatsoever. My 14 year old son used it all day yesterday as both a highway navigator, calling out turns to me to an EarthCache, and a geocaching device once we got there with not a single complaint. Why is that important? He’s never used a handheld before. I only pointed out the “Profiles” feature and a one-minute tutorial on getting to and reading the road map screen. The rest he figured out on his own. That’s how simple it is to use. I honestly can’t think of anything I missed out on by passing up the Delorme PN-40 or even Garmin’s Oregon.

I recommend the Dakota highly.

This review is from: Garmin Dakota 20 Waterproof Hiking GPS (Electronics)

I had previously owned and lost an eTrex Legend Cx. This is a giant leap forward. Garmin advertises this as their new entry level unit, but its 800 MB internal memory holds all of the topo and street maps for the eastern US. The inability to do street routing without first buying City Navigator® North America NT seems to be an artificial limitation.

The lock in is almost instant when I turn it back on at the same location that I turned it off, and it can pick up a signal from inside my house. I no longer lose the signal when I go under deep forest cover.

The screen is bright, and better than on my old unit. When I first got it, the compass was not functional, but once I updated the unit online, it worked great.

I wholeheartedly recommend this unit.

This review is from: Garmin Dakota 20 Waterproof Hiking GPS (Electronics)

I just purchased the Dakota 20 along with a few accessories. I read through the user manual on line and reviewed the list of accessories on the Garmin site. I bought a 16GB Micro SD and a Garmin battery charger that connects directly to the unit via USB.

Be aware! The unit will not even read the 16GB card. The most that can be accessed and used is a 4GB card – so don’t be fooled (like I was) into thinking you can store a load of data on a bigger card. I complained to Garmin – here is the response I got -

“You are correct that the unit can only use 4GB. Unfortunately, I have never heard of anyone getting a larger microSD card to work. Please try using an actual 4GB microSD card.”

Also, DON’T buy the charger!. I complained to Garmin that the charger didn’t seem to work. Here is the response I got –

“Unfortunately, the Dakota will not charge batteries while they are in the unit, whether it’s plugged into your computer or to an A/C adaptor. To charge the batteries, you’ll need to use an external rechargeable battery charger.” This response was from Rowdy R Product Support Specialist, 2nd Shift outdoor/Fitness Team Garmin International

This review is from: Garmin Dakota 10 Waterproof Hiking GPS (Electronics)

First Impressions: This unit has some nice features but the one thing it does NOT have is a “sunlight readable” screen, all Garmin “touch screen” models are much harder to read in the sun compared to the eTrex or 60Csx type models (regretfully these models are also very complex to use).

The main advantage of this Dakota unit is that it is better for paperless geocaching because it does display tips. The main disadvantage for geocachers, other than you can’t see the screen in sunlight, is that this unit does NOT offer “proximity alerts” like the 60CSx, this means you have to hold the unit in your hands constantly and with the screen set at its brightest setting to find the nearest cache, this is not only cumbersome but it also drains your batteries much, much faster. Any GPS without proximity alert is as close to useless as it gets.

Beware of the claim that Garmin makes about included maps, the maps that come built-in are pretty much useless, you will need to spend another $100 to buy a map that works.

A more detailed review coming soon.

This review is from: Garmin Dakota 20 Waterproof Hiking GPS (Electronics)

When I purchased the Dakota 20 I was somewhat concerned about using it on a bicycle because of mixed reviews (here and elsewhere) on its visibility during the day in various sunny and cloudy conditions. My first bike ride with the Dakota 20 confirmed the visibility problems, especially when not in direct sunlight. Visibility was especially a problem when the sun was on either the right or left side. When the sun is in front I twisted the Dakota until it was horizontal on the handlebars and this worked fine.

Then I decided to test ride the Dakota with sunglasses (polarized clip-ons), thinking if visibility got worse, then I would diffently return the Dakota. I was pleasantly surprized. The Polarized sunglasses greatly improved visibility in all angles of the sun. The reduction in glare from the polarized sunglasses greatly improve the contrast on the Dakota screen. The screen was not brighter, just more distinctively clearer. I repeated the test ride with polarized sunglasses on and off to confirm their effectiveness in improving the screen visibility in all angles of the sun.

The backlight on the Dakota is only effective at night or inside, not in daylight or even in shade.

One note, I loaded the Dakota with Garmin’s City Navigator for the test rides. This software map has a white background with varying colored streets and markers. I did not test Topo mapping software on a bike. It may have different results even with polarized sunglasses, but I don’t intend to add it to the unit.

Bottomline: I’m keeping the Dakota 20. I like the ease of using the touch screen and many of the other features, including the possibility of adding a heart rate monitor and cadance option. I just wanted to mention the use of polarized sunglasses (either green or brown)to improve visibility, because nowhere, in any of the reviews that have I read, has anyone identified this solution to the visibility issue.

This review is from: Garmin Dakota 20 Waterproof Hiking GPS (Electronics)

The Garmin Dakota 20 makes good on all of its claims. The screen brightness is not, I repeat not an issue. You can turn up it’s brightness, which will drain batteries faster so keep extra AA’s in your pack. Problem solved. The customized map feature is slick. Jpeg -> Google Earth -> kmz, and then copy to the unit is a simple process and it works quite well. The unit has worked quite well for me in both Egypt and Korea and I will probably use it on all my future vacations. Good job Garmin!

This review is from: Garmin Dakota 20 Waterproof Hiking GPS (Electronics)

My buddy at work bought an Oregon 300 and I decided to go with the Dakota because of the 3 axis compass and the better battery life. I knew it would be somewhat smaller but I thought the better compass function and the 4 hours extra battery life for the same price as the 300 seemed to fit my needs. The compact size for geocaching did not hurt either.

Pros
1. The touchscreen is great and at the same time the worst. It is great because it is easy for anybody and there are no buttons to fuss with.
2. The 3 axis Compass I thought was very accurate even when I was not moving. Not as good as a real one but the best accuracy I have seen on a GPS. Even around metal buildings and in my car it was pretty good.
3. Battery life was excellent. I ran it 10 hours and battery life was only halfway gone.
4. Size – This thing is tiny. You can pop it on any pocket and be ok. The size is great.

Cons.
1. THE TOUCHSCREEN…..The extra layer they add to make it a touch screen makes the screen like it has a haze on it. It is not clear and maps to me looked horrible on it, It was not very good in the sun at all. Add some nice finger prints from greasy sweaty fingers and it gets worse.
2. NO BUTTONS… Though I like the concept of no buttons the reality is to mark a waypoint on this thing you have to press the side button, unlock the screen, then hit the waypoint button. Also zooming in on a map or inadvertently hitting something is just a pain. I would have to stop and do everything as opposed to just hitting buttons on the move.
3. There was no way I could find to route a geocache via roads. It was all as the crow flies which kinda sucked. There may be a way but I could not find it

All and all if you want to just geocache and have no need for waypoints or routes or tracks and you are not going to buy the expensive maps then you might be happy with this price for a cute gps instead of one that is practical and super functional. The Dakota has the same screen size as the 60csx from Garmin but the csx maps look like HD compared to how they look on the Dakota screen.

I am returning mine and am going with a DeLorme PN-40 instead. It is not touch screen and has clunky buttons but it will route geocache via street and then once I get out of the car I can switch it to hike.

In the end I want a GPS not an IPOD type thing that does GPS. So Dakota has to go.

This review is from: Garmin Dakota 20 Waterproof Hiking GPS (Electronics)

Before I even start: A lot of times when one reads a critical review they try to dismiss it; the reviewer is an idiot, just had bad luck, has an axe to grind with the company, or just likes writing negative reviews. I can assure you that this is the first seriously negative review I’ve ever written in my life and I’ve been around for a while. It actually pains me to have to slam a product so hard, but in this case I honestly feel it’s justified and I seriously implore any potential buyer to think long and hard about what I write before choosing this unit.

The Garmin Dakota 20 is a great idea; it’s a very small, very portable unit with a lot of features that fits easily in a backpack, jacket pocket, camera bag, purse or what have you. While the screen isn’t the brightest I’ve ever seen, it’s workable even in sunlight, and the user interface has a nice feel. The GPS receiver picks up satellites reasonably (but not amazingly) quickly. Lots of stuff for a reasonable (although not bargain) price. When I first bought it, my hopes were very high and my initial impression good.

The pre-installed basemap isn’t serious enough for any real hiking; you’re best to get one of the 24k or 100k topousa maps and install what you need. That being said, the map/GPS relationship isn’t very accurate – my home location is reported the same in terms of GPS position by the Dakota 20 and both of my Garmin automotive GPS units, but on the map the Dakota 20 reports my position approximately 1/4 mile away from where I actually am while the auto GPS units are within 15 feet. That’s not good. I’d almost say that’s laughably bad.

The most serious problem with the Dakota 20 is simply one of reliability. My first unit went dead as a brick within one week of ownership; it didn’t even have an aggregate of 5 hours use on it. I’m technically competent and tried all the stuff on the garmin (and other) forums, to no avail. Back it went. The second unit worked when I got it, then it sat around a few weeks until I took it on vacation to test drive it. It worked fine there. Back home, still within 30 days of purchase, the unit once again is dead as a brick; power switch doesn’t turn it on, and that’s with fresh batteries, and once again, I might have maybe 7 total hours on the unit. Went back through all the steps, googled all the Dakota 20 problems in the forums, all of that – once again, to no avail.

Bottom line is simply this: the unit is crap – having two units turn into non functional bricks within the span of two months is unacceptable – one I might understand, but two I can not tolerate – and I’m far from the only person who has had one die. It is, without question, the worst single piece of consumer electronics I’ve experienced in my 49 years on the planet, and this is coming from someone who rarely returns equipment or has issues with electronics in general – I am far from the usual complainer-on-the-forums kind of guy who hates everything. It is supremely frustrating, because I so *want* to like this unit; but there is no way I can. Two bricks plus pathetic map accuracy a happy customer do not make.

Seriously and strongly not recommended. This unit is a disgrace to a GPS firm (Garmin) that in the past has done much better. Avoid the Dakota like the plague.

This review is from: Garmin Dakota 20 Waterproof Hiking GPS (Electronics)

After reading many positive reviews about the features and ease of the touchscreen but also about the visibility problems with the screen, I decided to take a chance and upgrade my aging monochrome eTrex Legend. After years of fumbling around with the tiny joystick and sidebuttons on the Legend, the touchscreen is a welcome change. If you’re familiar with the iPod touch, iPhone, or Garmin’s Nuvi automotive GPS units, then you’ll like the Dakota’s touch screen. It’s especially practical for typing names and coordinates. The screen redraws itself significantly faster than panning on my old Legend. I really like all the features. The 3 axis compass works very well. I didn’t think I needed that feature, but it’s turned out to be something I really like. I also like the profiles feature that lets you have a variety of settings for muliple activities. The geocaching feature is fun and easy. I take my kids “treasure hunting,” and they love how easy it is to use. All I have to do is download Geocache coordinates and the arrow points the direction to follow.

If many of you are like me, this would be a no brainer except for the visibility issues I kept reading about. There’s no question that the visibility is not as bright as I think it should be. However, I don’t think this issue should be a show stopper for many people. In direct sunlight I think the readability of the screen is good. Sometimes you have to tilt it slightly for the best visibility angle. However, the backlight is extremely weak, and here is where I see the problem. In night time lighting situations the backlight is adequate to see the screen. It’s those low light daytime areas, such as after the sun sets but before it gets dark, or under heavy tree cover in mid-day, where the sun isn’t there to illuminate the screen and the backlight isn’t powerful enough to brighten the screen that it becomes an issue. Because most people don’t hike much at night this isn’t really all that helpful. However, at no point is the screen unreadable, it’s just harder to see. I use my Dakota primarily for hiking, so I’m not constantly looking at it. Most of the time I can glance at it and read the maps or info quickly.

For me, the ease of the touchscreen outweighed the visibility concerns. It is disappointing that Garmin can’t or won’t fix this. I have two Nuvi units and neither of them have any visibility issues, so obviously it’s possible. Overall I’m happy with the purchase and don’t regret buying the Dakota, but if a bright display is paramount then you may want to look at other units.