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El Cheapo GPS


Rob's picture

By Rob - Posted on 04 August 2008

We've had some talk about GPS lately, here's one for 180 bucks:

http://www.torpedo7.com.au/products/WNCUGN8GT

What is really rather good is that it has an electronic compass - a rare feature indeed. In case you don't know, without this a GPS can only tell which direction it's facing when moving.

What's the catch? Well, not specifically for riding or fitness so no NRM and no virtual partner and all that. The Edge is still the only one with these features from what I can tell.

Anyhow - I find this on the 'net:

http://www.wintec.com.tw/en/product_detail.php?p...

The T7 unit specifically states no Bluetooth support, but aside from that looks the same.

No battery life spec, but from calculation an 1100mAh battery and 50mA power draw implies a rather decent life! 130,000 points is also a lot (this year's Dirtworks was 4350 points on my Edge). This "uBlox 0625" chipset is a bit of an unknown but the sensitivity stats don't sound bad.

Hmmmm... anyone willing to take a punt and let us know what this unit is like?

Morgan's picture

Whatever happened to the good 'ole days of a Silva compass & an O/S map? I've still got one of those measuring rollers lying about somewhere that you run down the lines on a topo map to tell you how far the trail is.

I tell you, there's no such thing as an adventure any more.

Oh well - back to my plasma and Foxtel.

ar_junkie's picture

What about the marking your trail (on your map) with piece of string or shoe lace and having to calculate the distance based on the map's scale?
Eye-wink

Buck's picture

Technology....what is it good for. Just ask Rob who still manages to take wrong turns at Appin with a GPS on his bars Eye-wink

Rob's picture

Ah yes, but if it had an electronic compass this wouldn't have been an issue! Sticking out tongue

Stuart M's picture

I thought you said most do but you have to be moving

Rob's picture

No, I said most GPS units only know which way is North when they were moving (this is not the same as saying they have a compass which only works when moving - OK, maybe it is in some warped minds? Sticking out tongue).

On Sat what happened was we got to a junction and stopped to wait for the group. On the wait the GPS had stopped moving of course at which point it begins to 'drift' about. You have to start out in one direction for it to regain bearings - just 'cos I happened to 'guess' the wrong direction to start out on... hmmmm... Puzzled

Stuart M's picture

and I got a bite Eye-wink

I think you should trial this one for us as you know so much about them

lozza6's picture

is quite reasonable...

hmmm

Noel's picture

but no heart rate or cadence Loz. I'm thinking of getting the 305 from ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/GARMIN-EDGE-305-GPS-HEART-RA...
for about $350 or something.

hmm not sure.. been thinking about it for a while now.

Somebody sell me their 2nd hand 305 in perfect working order for like $200 or so!!! I'll cut it in half with a hack-saw, we can go halves mate, $100 each.

Carlgroover's picture

Alex and I got one of these each recently.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ss...
John.

Noel's picture

yeah that looks much better, thanks John

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