This topic contains 15 replies, has 9 voices, and was last updated by 
-
Posts
-
So, my Christmas list included a Garmin Nuvi and I received a Nextar Q4-04. It looks like a good navigation GPS unit with way more features than a Garmin would ever have at the price point but my question to the techies of the group is, can the nextar’s be used for navigating to caches? I don’t mean right to a cache as my other Garmin handheld will be used for that. I mean navigating the streets to a park, etc.
Anyone have any experience with a Nextar? It has a USB connection to the PC but I am not sure if it will be able to take waypoint information from GSAK or any other mechanism using that USB cord. My hunch is it’s delivered to get updates from the manufacturer for the unit/maps. I am sure I can punch in a waypoint manually but not sure if I can download them.
Before I crack it open and risk not being able to return, I wanted to find out if anyone knew anything about these.. Help is appreciated.
-cheeto-
41 views of my post and no responses… I take it I should return it and just get a Garmin 🙂
-cheeto-
Sorry, just don’t know anything about them.
Sorry -cheeto-,
I even searched the Geocaching.com gps/tech forum and only about 4 hits on the work Nextar. no helpful info either.Disclaimer : Always answering to a higher power.
I spent a bunch of hours googling myself and didn’t come up with much. I think I am better sticking with a known brand…
The other thing that bothers me is the website for the company that makes it is EXTREMELY slow. That is not reassuring…
@-cheeto- wrote:
I spent a bunch of hours googling myself and didn’t come up with much. I think I am better sticking with a known brand…
The other thing that bothers me is the website for the company that makes it is EXTREMELY slow. That is not reassuring…
I’d do the same thing if it were my device. I have a lot of confidence in Garmin.
I was going to respond yesterday with a “chances are it is not going to work” the way a garmin will when it comes to used geocaching type software. I thought I would do some research first. I didn’t have any luck. Most likely GSAK or other geocaching software will not communicate with the Nextar brand.
Cheeto,
Another thing to consider is the available macros for the Garmin Nuvi. It is possible to load geocache waypoints on to the Nuvi, using a custom macro built for the GSAK program. As far as I know, Garmin is the only brand of road gps popular enough with cachers to have supported the development of a macro to load waypoints on to it.
The off brand gps may work fine for folks that use it for simple road navigation, but probably will not have GSAK macros available to support loading geocache waypoints.
Personally, I would trade it in for a Nuvi. The prices of the Nuvi has come way down, now that every gadget maker in the world is making car gps systems.
zuma
@zuma wrote:
Cheeto,
As far as I know, Garmin is the only brand of road gps popular enough with cachers to have supported the development of a macro to load waypoints on to it.
zumaNot quite true. I load caches to our Tom-Tom from GSAK, and there is a macro for Magellan. You can also export to Lowrance
Delorme is working with Groundspeak to add download support directly to their units as well as a way to download from GSAK.As far as the Nextar unit, it does have a memory card, so I would guess there is SOME way to get coords to it.
I have emailed their service dept. We’ll see where that goes.
My question to them was in 2 parts. 1. Can I manually add a destination/POI using coordinates. Their manual shows that it allows to add a destination from an address or a pre-loaded POI (restaraunts, hotels, etc.) If I can manually add using coordinates there is hope for this unit. 2. Any chance I can download those destinations/POI’s using the USB connection that it has or place them on the SD card.
The unit does have an SD card that the “map” is delivered on. It also has a Preloaded POI database (which is probably a bit outdated) and I presume thats on the SD card as well.
The thing about this unit is, it has a very big screen for the price and it has Text to speech. At the $110ish price point (black friday sale plus 15% off on top of that) those are 2 pretty big pluses that I am finding it hard not to at least give it a shot. I would have to spend well close to $200 for a comparable garmin nuvi unit or start hacking away features to get one at a lower price point. If I wasn’t a geocacher, it would be a no-brainer to keep this unit as a way to navigate around and not get lost.
The other thing is, when you get a gift and that gift was purchased with a credit card, you don’t get much cash if you take it back to the store with the original receipt 😮 and if you use a gift receipt you get store credit. A kohl’s store credit doesn’t get me a different unit and a debit on the purchaser’s credit card doesn’t either.
So I still haven’t cracked open the packaging yet on this christmas present….
@Team Black-Cat wrote:
@zuma wrote:
Cheeto,
As far as I know, Garmin is the only brand of road gps popular enough with cachers to have supported the development of a macro to load waypoints on to it.
zumaNot quite true. I load caches to our Tom-Tom from GSAK, and there is a macro for Magellan. You can also export to Lowrance
Delorme is working with Groundspeak to add download support directly to their units as well as a way to download from GSAK.As far as the Nextar unit, it does have a memory card, so I would guess there is SOME way to get coords to it.
Hi TBC,
Thanks for the correction.
What I can say for sure, is that the Nuvi works great for geocaching, and I love my Nuvi. Also the price has come down so low, that it is almost crazy not to have one, when you consider the price of gas and time wasted looking for the right place to park. The Nuvi is not right all the time, but is most of the time, and is a great asset to caching.
zuma
I am currently using the macro to make the nuvi a paperless caching tool. It works great. I wouldn’t consider taking it out of the car but it is nice to have the unit alert me when I am 1200 feet from the cache and read the cache description when I park. (we don’t need any more caching accidents from reading while driving.) beats digging for the little palm when you are in a hurry.
@-cheeto- wrote:
41 views of my post and no responses… I take it I should return it and just get a Garmin 🙂
-cheeto-
We are all hoping that you will use it and then let the rest of us know. 🙂
@zuma wrote:
What I can say for sure, is that the Nuvi works great for geocaching, and I love my Nuvi. Also the price has come down so low, that it is almost crazy not to have one, when you consider the price of gas and time wasted looking for the right place to park. The Nuvi is not right all the time, but is most of the time, and is a great asset to caching.
zumaAgreed! I’ve seen your Nuvi and it operates almost exactly the same as our Tom-Tom for downloaded waypoints or hand entered coords. It would be hard to go back to not having in-car navigation even for in town caches.
Where it really shines is when my wife goes along. If we ever make a wrong turn, it’s nice to have someone else to blame, and Blondie (Tom-Tom) takes it without yelling back… 😉
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.