TwoNav Aventura - The ultimate outdoor GPS?

[chinoook]

http://www.twonav.com/?op=2_0&prod=275

This seems to be the device to get rid of Garmin's product politics.
Features:

Design
130 mm x 75 mm x 30 mm
215 gr
8 hardware buttons + 1 joystick
Rainproof (watch the video)
The screen
3,5", high definition color
Transflective (viewable under direct sunlight)
Touchscreen
Autonomy
Li-Ion 3.000 mA/h or 3 AA battery accessory
Duration about 10-20 hours depending usage
Connections
Serial connector
SD HC card support (up to 32 GB) (max. 4GB each file)
mini USB 2.0 Connector
Audio Jack socket 3,5 mm
External GPS antenna connector MCX (compatible with Garmin 60 series)
Monitor
530 Mhz CPU with 3D
128 M flash + 64 ram
Instruments
SirfIII
Electronic compass
Barometer
Thermometer
Maps
Depends of the country you want and the available maps we have: Road map (Vmap) of your country and topographic map (area to be defined).
Open nearly all the different types of maps you may already have (satellite pictures, topographic maps, orthophotos, urban maps, free Internet maps).
Compatible files format*:
Maps*.RMAP ,*.ECW,*.VMAP/*MPVF, *.IMP, *.CDEM
Tracks: *.TRK, *.IGC, *.PLT,*.GPX
Routes: *.RTE, *.GPX
Waypoints: *.WPT, *.BWPT,*.LOC,*.GPX

Drawback: It is expensive.


-chinoook

[Bryan]

TwoNav Aventura

[chinoook]

New Idea: Lowrance Endura Safari (Sierra/Out&Back)

Display Resolution 320 x 240
Display Size 68
Display Type QVGA Touchscreen
GPS/Navigation
Graphic Marker Icons 194
Plot Trails 30
Routes 60 60 60
Waypoint Storage 2000
ShowApsisNewsletterForm True
Battery Lifetime 10 - 15 hrs
Battery Type 2 AA (not included)
Technical/Environmental
Built-in Backup Memory True
Depth 31
Height 130
Width 60
Sealing Waterproof to IPX7 standard
Weight 0.165
Memory Card Capable Micro SD card slot for up to 32 GB cards


Most important: It can run the TwoNav software: No limitations other than storage to tracks, waypoints, routes. It can handle vector maps as well as _any_ other map. GE imagery possible. The device is supposed to be _very_ rugged.


-chinoook

[Bryan]

Originally Posted by chinoook

New Idea: Lowrance Endura Safari (Sierra/Out&Back)

Product link

The vector map support sounds great but the 10 to 15 hour battery life on two AA batteries doesn't sound so good.

Interesting to hear that it can run the TwoNav software. But that software might be more reliable on the TwoNav receiver.

It's really a shame that the Garmin software has so many arbitrary limitations, because the hardware (Dakota 20) is very nice.

[chinoook]

Users report the battery life to be around 15 hours. I expect it to compet withe the Dakotas and I don't mind it that much. I also leaned it applies to alkalines. For a 30 day trip (sic!) this would mean I will have to carry about 30 lithium batteries (420g), assuming the Dakota needs 30% less I have a difference of about 100-150g to carry. At the beginning ;-).

I pretty much appreciate the "open" desgin, there is much more software running on it than only TwoNav or others. The software is of about the same reliability on all devices since all of them are Windows CE based. The TwoNav receiver is not built by TwoNav, this is only a software company!

The cheapest Lowrance is _very_ cheap here in Europe and has all navigating features as his bigger brothers (no altimeter, no compass, no maps).

It is also reported to be more rugged than all Garmins.

I am looking forward to the possibilities to escacpe the (too small) Garmin clothes. TwoNav is currently releasing updates on a regular base and as I learned from forums they listen to the needs and opinions of their users. Never heard something like that about Garmin.


-chinoook