Entry-level devices from 150 euros
How much do you have to spend on a good bike navigation system? Basically, it can be said that entry into the world of GPS navigation is possible from around 150 euros.
In addition to the price, however, a few other selection criteria should also be taken into account when making a purchase decision. After all, the GPS device must be suitable for your own wishes and planned activities. After all, there is no such thing as the "best" GPS sat nav just as there is no such thing as the best bike. Otherwise, you will quickly become frustrated with your sat nav instead of loving it.
What should GPS navigation be used for?
Only on the bike, or sometimes for hiking. Away from the bike, universal outdoor devices from Garmin and Teasi are good companions.
Simple operation?
Inexpensive entry-level devices in particular excel here. Operation based on the familiar car navigation system and, in the case of Teasi, an even simpler "Easy Mode" ensure an easy start to satellite navigation.
Cycling holidays in exotic countries?
Pay close attention to whether maps are available for the destination area. Garmin is a safe choice here thanks to the countless free OSM maps. It is also better to use AA batteries for such tours. In an emergency, these are available worldwide as replacements at petrol stations or village shops.
Touchscreen or buttons?
Even though we have long been used to touch operation thanks to smartphones, devices with buttons only (ELEMNT and GPSmap series) definitely have their advantages. The desired function (especially the map zoom) can always be found directly and operation works even when wearing gloves and in heavy rain.
Readability in sunlight?
This is where devices without a touchscreen really come into their own. A black and white display also works wonders. The accuracy of the GPS system no longer plays a role in comparison. All systems have very good precision in practice.
Garmin is moving more and more in the direction of smartphones with its top-of-the-range Oregon model.
There is (still?) no SIM card for direct mobile phone reception. However, when paired with a smartphone via Bluetooth, the Oregon is already connected to the Internet. A weather report with animated cloud radar provides additional information about the tour. However, the question arises as to why you don't just use one of the many great weather apps on your smartphone.
However, hardly anything has changed when it comes to the hardware that is crucial for navigation. That's why our top money-saving tip is to buy a well-engineered Garmin Oregon 600 as a discontinued model at a favourable price. A microSD card with a free OSM map from the Internet provides the navigation system with precise, routable maps. You can save 100 euros and have a top navigation device for all outdoor activities.
There is also potential for savings with the other appliances tested. That's why we always have a tip for savers in addition to a smart technical tip for each device. This way, finding the right GPS bike navigation system won't be prohibitively expensive.
More info
On his own blog about GPS navigation and electronics on bikes, our GPS expert Matthias Schwindt has compiled very detailed practical tests of all the navigation devices presented here. You can find it here:
How to get the GPX track onto the sat nav
GPX tracks can also be easily loaded onto the sat nav while travelling without a PC. An app and a cable make this possible with Android smartphones.
The internet is full of good tour suggestions. Tourist offices, online tour portals and cycling enthusiasts provide tours in GPX format for download.
Normally, you do not need any special software to transfer the data to the GPS device. It is sufficient to connect the GPS device to the computer and copy the GPX file to a special directory on the GPS receiver.
When travelling, the Android smartphone can be used as a PC replacement. All you need as accessories is a so-called USB OTG adapter and the charging cable from the GPS receiver. Alternatively, there are special cables that can establish a direct connection between the Android smartphone and the GPS device. A file manager must be installed on the Android smartphone. We have had very good experiences with the "Solid Explorer File Manager" app.
You have downloaded the GPX file from the Internet or received it by email. It should be on your smartphone, for example in the "Downloads" folder. Now connect the smartphone to the adapter cable and the switched-on Garmin GPS receiver.
Open the file manager, preferably in landscape format, and locate the downloaded GPX file on one side.
On the other side, open the /garmin/gpx folder in the USB drive. With a long tap on the GPX file, an arrow appears. A tap on it and the GPX file is copied from the smartphone to the Garmin.
After removing the cables and restarting the Garmin, the copied tour can be accessed via the tracks in the destination input.
A special cable enables direct file transfer.
The complete article was published in Trekkingbike issue 3/2017.
You can download the individual articles as PDF files here.
