Garmin Montana

Given that Yuma's and Nomads start at around $4500 and counting, that's a bit more than I'm prepared to pay for waterproof. Pricing in the ballpark of a Blackberry I can live with.

The norm for Juno's deployed for AM/FM field work, natural resources surveys, etc is to have them in a protective case - and/or something as simple as a ziplock bag a la the smartphone solution some guys use who want their phones up on the bars. I have used Junos up along the Portland Canal where it REALLY rains, in weather I wouldn't even consider getting on my bike, and I have yet to kill one with water. Will they stand immersion in one meter of water for 30 minutes? Probably not, but anything that puts any of my GPS units under water for 30 minutes is going to be a disaster with much greater implications for my trip and bike.

A Juno is roughly around the price of a Blackberry, about the same size, runs Windows Mobile and apps, has Bluetooth, voice, and data connectivity, will natively work with shapefiles, orthophotos and other spatial data - and give 1-3m accuracy after postprocessing. It also can use GeoPDFs, a significant advance in real time map display that the military and USGS is all over, and which I happen to love due to the multilayer data display and ability to select what to display. For me, that alone puts a Juno or similar device way ahead of any Garmin out there - but, fair comment, I also have the capability to create my own GeoPDFs

It is neither as rugged nor as waterproof as the Garmin Montana in its naked state, and it certainly isn't a "you should buy this instead of that" situation.

But again, as a larger segment of recreational GPS users increasingly are trying to do tasks that are what would currently be considered "professional" (think of the guys out there making those custom maps some are happily downloading for their Garmins), looking at the professional products and software available is worth a look for some people. And it is hard to take that look when you don't even know the other solutions exist.

In an ideal world, Garmin or DeLorme will shortly provide units that allow postprocessing of data for similar accuracy, more granular data collection and display, and maps whose features can be edited by users. I just don't think that is going to happen anytime in the near future, and I live in an area where much of the riding is in areas where the map cultural data hasn't been updated since 1977. That is significant when a road can appear and disappear around here in ten year's time. Doesn't matter whether it is DeLorme, Garmin... they all get most of their cultural map data from the federal government, so if you want accurate map data around here, you need another solution.

Anyways, this is turning into a hijack of the Montana thread. So I'll close by saying it simply comes down to evaluating the different tools available and deciding what to go with. There is no question that for most people, that will be a Garmin of some flavour or other. But the more we move towards demanding professional results from our GPS/GIS systems, the more we should consider evaluating professional tools and not just limit ourselves to evaluating recreational tools.

Same here, my 276 isn't going to last forever! The Montana weighs 2~3 ounces (depending on battery configuration) less than the 276, so we should be able to continue to use Ram mounts?

It'd be nice to have a non-electronic (battery op only) handlebar mount. option.

I don't want to tap into the power on my DR650

I've not had much luck with Ram mounts...the ball is too hard to prevent slipping and I'm constantly having to push the GPS back into position...

Is this new Montana glove-friendly? You see, I ALWAYS wear some sort of glove when I'm riding, whether it's singletrack, street, or highway. I really don't feel like having to remove a glove to operate a GPS.

that's what they "claim" let's see how good it is.

For dirt bikes, it is best to run a whole new wire straight from the battery.

http://www.cycoactive.com/Store/247...ble-Kit-for-GPS-III-V-SP-SPIII-176-176C-60-76


For guy with street units that only have 5V input, this cable with regulator looks to be either waterproof or easy to add some silicon sealer to make it so.

http://www.cycoactive.com/Store/2473/PN-GC12VUSB/Motorcycle-Mini-USB-GPS-Power-Cable-with-Fuse

Rather depends upon your definition of "friendly". Since it is only slightly smaller than my zumo660, I expect it will be "glove friendly". From the videos I've seen on YouTube, the menu's are large enough to select options without taking your glove off. Can you create a custom route while you are riding w/ your gloves on - not if you're trying to pick via points on the map. I've never had to take my glove off to operate my zumo while riding - including my BMW winter gloves. YMMV

At the risk of asking a dumb question, is it possible with a unit like this to create routes and waypoints on a computer at home (in my case it's an iMac) and then upload to the Montana? I know you'd have to buy maps for onroad use, but could you get them on DVD and use them with Basecamp on the iMac, or Mapsource on a Windows XP netbook? If not on DVD, if you bought them on an SD card, is it easy enough to load them onto the iMac, unlock and use them to do what I want, which is create routes etc. before leaving? This is how I've been using my 276C since I got it in 2005. I almost never create routes on the GPS itself, other than simply having it navigate to a selected waypoint.

In the case of the Montana 600/650, you don't have preloaded routable maps so you buy whatever maps you want. If you want to install them on your computer (Mac or Win) you must buy the DVD version of the map product not the microSD card version or Download version - they will not install on your computer or show through BaseCamp when the GPS is connected (bug).

Since you are familiar with BaseCamp on the Mac, you can install the maps on the Mac (and into BaseCamp) from the DVD (only). If you want to transfer maps from BaseCamp to the GPS you can do that now as BaseCamp 3.1.4 has links to the MapInstaller. In the coming release of v3.2.x of BaseCamp you will have the MapInstaller integrated with BaseCamp (much like Mapsource does in Win).

So, if you want to be able to install your purchased maps on any (multiple) computers, you must purchase the DVD version.

Thanks DRTBYK. At some point I'll have to replace my 276C, but to this point the Zumo's have never really done much for me for whatever reason. I'll have to figure out whether the Montana would do what I want it to. I realize it doesn't have things like Bluetooth etc., but I'm more interested in a GPS's navigational features than music, phone etc. The showstopper would be its ability to let me plan routes at my leisure on my computer before a long road trip. So you've answered that (get the DVD!). Next I'll have to add the cost of maps, mount etc. and see how it compares to something like the 660.

The Montana and the zumo will support your computer Route planning and transfer of routes to the GPS for navigation as we've discussed.

Since you'd have to purchase say, CNNA or US TOPO 24K (sold by Regions) and the AMPS Rugged Mount for the Montana 600 you would spend less buying the zumo 660 since it comes with Mount's (Auto/Moto) and preload CNNA (~$615). The real decision points are what do you want the GPS to do besides navigate a custom Route loaded from your computer?

Most folks at advrider.com want Track navigation and Track Management in the GPS with the ability to transfer Tracks to/from Mapsource/BaseCamp without changing the data in any way. If that's what you're thinking - buy the Montana.

Decisions, decisions, decisions...isn't fun! :eek1

DRTBYK:
Have a question for you. What would be your recommendation?
I am interested in the new Montana.
After reading this thread wonder since i am very interested in upgrading from my very reliable and trusty 276c.
Is it best to purchase the base Montana 650 vs the Montana 650T.
There are many free Topographical maps on GPS file Depo and other sites and would it be the best decision to purchase the Garmin USA city navigator on micro sd and download every other free topo mapset into memory ? Also on the garmin 276 i had purchased mexico topo maps that are married with the unit, so again more $$ since i ran out of "unlock codes from having 2 garmin units and three is a charm :huh

pepe

I normally run City Nav only, but if I want topo data I reload with at most two states worth of topo and maybe surrounding states from City Nav. I do not know how the montana deals with overlapping map sets.

If I were going to buy a Montana it would be the 650 since I think it would be fun to have photos geotagged on the spot. As for the 650t, I have not seen a Garmin GPS yet with preloaded TOPO's were of much value.

If you want routable maps CNNA or CNEU is the way to go and buy the DVD option not the microSD Card. If you by maps on the SD card you can't install them on your computer. Use your microSD card to keep your data on: i.e, maps/routes/tracks/waypoints/poi's/geocaches/etc. I have 8GB, 16GB and 32GB cards for my zumo 660 and rarely will you need bigger than 8GB in a Montana. The complete CNNANT maps are only 2.2GB on the GPS.

By the way City Navigator North America 2012 has most of Mexico highways and city streets. Not as good as some of the dedicated Mexico maps like E32 when it comes to dirt.

You can always get free Topo's off the web if you want Topo's.

Cheers,

Bottom line, functions of a 62/78 with a taller touch screen and no buttons?

Two internal batteries. 1 custom recharageable and compartment for AAs as backup?

Nope. 1 battery compartment which can hold either the rechargeable or the 3 AAs, but not both at the same time. You'll have to carry the backups in your pocket

The T has 500MB more internal memory.

3.5GB vs 3.0GB

Do they include the dvd for the preloaded maps?

The Garmin site says the 100K maps are now routable???

TOPO U.S. 100K -

• Contains routable roads, trails and highways in metropolitan and rural areas so getting to your destination is easy by creating point-to-point routes on compatible devices.

According to a Garmin representative, Montana is (among other things) aimed to be the successor for 278/478 that we all have been waiting for.

It will be highly customizable for offroad/adventure motorcycle/atv use (not like nuvi/zumo), though it will probably not have the fantastically bright and clear screen the 278/478 has since it uses a touchscreen.

All the offroad/adventure features may not be implemented on the launch in June, but there working on it.

Lets hope they do it right this time...

DRTBYK:
:)
Thanks for the feedback. Hopefully when product is released, it will indeed be the perfect replacement for the 2-478 series .
I do indeed have Mexico E32 maps and Bicimapas so the cost for converiosn with mounts, cabling, garmin city navigator will take a hit on the wallet, but hey..its worth it