| Author | Message | ||
     Rhinowerx |
Dropped of a Zumo 550 for me today  looking forward to playing around with it -Jack | ||
| Etennuly |
Do you think your Santa could influence mine????  | ||
| Lowflyer |
Congrats!!! Let us know what you think.  | ||
| Reepicheep |
Cool! We have some questions for you on the other thread  We want to know if you can plot a multi waypoint route on your desktop software and download it to the GPS (and see if it keeps the multi waypoints). Basically we are looking to see if you can plot custom routes, or if it will only let you put in a start and a finish and it does all the magic in between. | ||
| Rhinowerx |
Yes you can. The terminology has changed from waypoints to via points and destination points. Last night I plotted an alternate surface street route to my office, on the computer, and loaded it on the Zumo together with a bunch of other waypoints I had stored. This morning, on my way to the office, I selected the route I had created, and it took me following the ‘via’ points. I also took a couple of slight detours to see how it handled the routing - it worked as expected, getting me back on track very quickly (the unit is very fast at recalculating and drawing). Admittedly, this thing is dumbed down some what. Good or bad, for me it's kinda like having gone from DOS to Windows. I guess there are some features I might miss, but then again, I think I'll get used to it. On the plus side, it’s very easy to use, both on the bike and in the car. The screen is nice and easy to read. The voice prompts (I was able to select an Australian character – made me feel right at home  ) works very well and calling out the street names, as appose to just saying ‘turn right at street ahead’ really makes a difference. The built in MP3 player rocks also. So far I’m pretty happy with the purchase. The next thing I want to do is buy a 2 or 4GB SD card and load Topo maps on it so I can experiment a little with back road adventures. Cheers -Jack | ||
| Reepicheep |
Cool! What is the desktop software program name (and version) you use for that? On my Garmin software, I don't recall seeing via points mentioned. What you are describing is how Delorme works, which I liked, but it never played well with the Garmin. | ||
| Rhinowerx |
The terms 'Via' and 'Destination' points are used on the unit itself - the software still refers to waypoints. The Zumo comes with City Navigator NT Version 8 -Jack | ||
| Reepicheep |
That explains a lot. Thanks again! | ||
| Scooter808484 |
Reepicheep, Dumb question, but what are you using for a headset, earphone on the bike? Loud enough to hear over the (admittedly quiet) exhaust and wind noise?? | ||
| Reepicheep |
None... I don't want the distraction and headache. While the Quest has voice prompts, it requires an external speaker to do it. I did not even hook one up for the bike mount. I just configured the Quest to use the routing screen display mode that always shows the next turn I have to take coming up, with the name of the road, and distance to that turn. I just scan the GPS when safe and appropriate for an update and it tells me how much futher I have to go before I have to "do something". The screen changes completely when the voice prompts are going to go off anyway to a "zoom display" for the turn. That is generally enough to draw my attention if I want my attention drawn. If I forget to look, well, I guess thats where the "auto re-routing" comes into play So far that has worked out well for me. In the car though I really like the voice feature and leave it turned on. It annoys my wife though, she generally makes me mute the GPS chick. | ||
| Scooter808484 |
Reepicheep, I guess I thought when you said you liked the MP3 player that you were using it for tunes as well. The MP3 capability and XM radio capability are what kind of interest me about the Zumo vs. the much less expensive Quest. Kind of a Swiss Army Knife for anything you ever wanted on your bike for those long rides. | ||
| Jackbequick |
"..load Topo maps on it so I can experiment a little with back road adventures." Jack, The topo maps don't take up much space, all of California is only like 60 or 70 mb. Garmin's 24K (1:24,000) topo mapping packages only cover some national parks. They have better detail but hit or miss coverage. I haven't used any of the 24K packages yet. But I like the United States Topo package, it has about the same detail as USGS 1:100,000 paper topo maps as far as topo details, dirt roads, and trails. But they also show all the national, regional and bigger local highways. And the major roads that are shown as red in the topo packages can still be used for autorouting. With City Navigator if there are no routablee roads and streets the maps are just empty. But you change to a topo map you get all this lovely and interesting additional detail. On the 76Cx I can turn off the City Navigator maps and turn on the topo maps and all or nearly all of the rideable roads (I'm a Dyna FXD rider) are still there along with the topo contours and a lot of other interesting detail. Garmin leaves some decent, rideable, paved road off of City Navigator for some reason. It's like they decided they're not important enough or something. If you want to do it as an experiment (I'm still trying to figure out what the zumo will and won't do), download this file to a SD card and see if the zumo will read it and use it: http://users.adelphia.net/~jackerbes/Buell/gmapsup p.img That is about 20mb +/-, it is a topo map file that covers California from Bakersfield to Tijuana and east to the Arizona border. Let me know how that works, my email is jacker at midmaine dot com, or just reply here. Jack | ||
| Rhinowerx |
Jack The file worked when loaded to the internal memory - I don't have a SD card yet. The reason I want to get a larger SD card is for MP3's - trying to figure how big a card it can accept seeing as 8GB SD cards are now available. Think I'll give Garmin a call in the next couple of days Thanks very much for the info on the Topo maps. Cheers -Jack | ||
| Reepicheep |
I'm a cheapskate first and foremost, but still a sucker for technology. So the quest it is. I tried my cheap MP3 player with some of the "seal in the ear headphones", and found the whole process highly annoying. | ||
| Toona |
Santa brought me a Lowrance Iway 350. Bought it new on the 'Bay for $375, and sent in the rebate for $50 off. Spent the $50 on a RAM mount for it. So far so good, only one test ride of 40 miles with it so far (on the bike). Pretty nice. It will hold an SDcard and FM modulate my mp3's into my radio headphones. It pauses the music when giving turn directions, then restarts the tunes automatically. The box says it's waterproof, but I will keep a baggie in the saddlebags if/when I get caught in the rain. The touchscreen is very hard to use w/ baggie installed. I've used this on a flight from Pittsburgh to Sacramento to see what altitude/speed the plane was traveling. I had to hold it up to the window. You can store address in the address book and make up a trip of multiple stops along the way, the Iway generates the route in the order you "list" them or by shortest route. The only drawback so far is-and it's only because I haven't updated the POI's yet, is the POI database seems to be about 2-3 years old. It doesn't list new stores/restaurants that were built since then. I assumed, I know-I know, that it would come w/ a more current POI database. I have version 1.1 Dan | ||
| Aeholton |
Toona - What radio headphones are you using? Do you wear a full face helmet? I would like to use some radio headphones with my XM2go Delphi radio, as the headphone connector is trashed in it and it can transmit via FM. | ||
| Paulync |
Sorry about the possible highjack of the thread, but the subject of earphones, has come up. Has anyone tried some of the noise reduction set listed at this link? http://www.amazon.com/gp/explorer/B000ETBYHK/2/ref =pd_cp_e_expl/002-3584390-2341652 or any other recommendations. p | ||
| Aeholton |
Has anyone tried some of the noise reduction set listed at this link? I have some Chinese knock-offs similar to those. They work fine and are comfortable for 5-6 hours. However they don't reduce wind noise enough at speeds above 50-60mph. I am considering getting some custom made earphones that would block more wind noise. | ||
| Rhinowerx |
FYI - Just got of the phone with the folks a Garmin - the largest SD card the Zumo can handle is 2GB Cheers -Jack | ||
| Henrik |
Jack Rhino; can you confirm whether the Zumo will do tracking or not, i.e. will it record your route while you're riding? Henrik | ||
| Rhinowerx |
Is this what you mean?    -Jack | ||
| Reepicheep |
I like the -4 ft altitude Cool! Thanks for answering all the questions. That seems to make the Zumo the unit to beat (in terms of features, if not price). | ||
| Henrik |
Jack - that's exactly it. Thanks for clearing that up Despite the somewhat lame product description on their site, it seems like Garmin got it right with the Zumo. Now we just need to know how Jack got Santa to give him a Zumo and we'd be all set  Henrik | ||
| Rhinowerx |
By being good all year of course  Actually, I pre-ordered it online - got it for a total of $740 shipped. I think it's well worth the money when you consider the basics of what you get: GPS, MP3 player, the mounting hardware (including RAM mounts)and wiring harness for the bike, mounting hardware and accessory socket for the car, Navigator 8 full unlock CD, not to mention the additional technology features (whether you use them or not). I know I thought initially it was dumded down, but now I'm not so sure - I think it's just the re-fromatted UI, that I'm still getting used to, that makes it seem 'thin'. Cheers -Jack | ||
| Jackbequick |
Thanks Jack, Looks like the only way to figure out what is on a zumo and what it will do is to buy one. On the headphones, I messed around with XM radio on the bike this summer. Helmet speakers did not work, even the ones that were purported to be extra loud. Shure e2c hear buds did work as they seal out enough outside noise. But the volume needs to be varied some with the speed unless you want them to be way too loud around town and/or inaudible at cruising speeds. Shure sells a volume control that I put between the XM radio and the phones and that worked okay. But I don't think I ever use the radio unless I was going to be riding most of the day or so, just too much of a hassle with all the cords and stuff. I guess everyone realizes, there is no way to listen to a radio without blocking a good amount of the external noises (horns, sirens, etc.). And it is illegal in some states. jackbequick | ||
| Henrik |
By being good all year of course ... Yeah, a bit late for that now ain't it Henrik | ||
| Toona |
Aeholten, I have a set of Sony earphones that "hook" over your ear  $15-$20 at Walmart/Circuit City etc. I like them because they don't fall out/off when I out my full face helmet on. Con is they don't have a volume control-I have to do that with the GPS unit or the radio that the headphones plug into. I usually use the radio set up, I usually forget that I am "wired" to the bike if I plug into the GPS. I also have a set of noise canceling Phillips headphones that have a volume control built in. I scored them on the clearance rack at Target a year or so ago. They work well, but because they don't "hook" over the ear, like the Sony's do, they fall out while putting my helmet on, or soon after while riding. Plus they go farther into my ear canal and the pressure/vibration from my helmet makes them hurt after 10-20 minutes of riding. They work great in an airplane setting canceling out all the background noise. http://www.amazon.com/Philips-SHN2500-37-Canceling-Earbuds/dp/B000G36GOU/ref=pd_sxp_grid_pt_1_0/105-1486076-5486023 Dan (Message edited by toona on November 29, 2006) | ||
| Paulync |
Found something like this at wally world, $20 made by JVC had the same ear cushions. http://secure.netsolhost.com/521049.531761/Merchan t2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=TA100&Cat egory_Code=NBE Looking for any other options to reduce wind noise and lower the volume of the IPOD. I use foam plugs with minimal problems p | ||
| Diablobrian |
I've had a pair of the phillips noise canceling ear buds. They worked well except for the weight of the in-line power pack (2 AAA batteries) hanging down 1 1/2-2 ft down the cord. The have 3 sizes of ear inserts and add a boost to the output of your music player. That's a nice feature. the Sennheiser MX75 look very interesting to me. They look like they might stay in place even on longer rides where ear buds have come loose on me before. | ||
| Lorazepam |
I have found these to be incredibly quiet, and produce fantastic sound. Other than getting custom in ear speakers, these are probably the best bet for lowering outside noise and letting you enjoy your tunes at a much lower volume. I use a set of these instead of the helmet speakers for my autocomm system. http://www.provantage.com/etymotic-er6~7ETYM009.ht m | ||
| Sound_uly |
Excuse me if this question has already been addressed but ... does the Zumo have an earphone jack so you can listen to the MP3's? Seems like a dumb question but I can't seem to find the answer. Ron, Ulysses in Seattle | ||
| Rhinowerx |
There is no earphone jack from the unit by itself - only through either one of the mounts (car or bike) -Jack | ||
| Sound_uly |
Great! Exactly what I wanted to know. I'm awfully close to hitting the submit order button. Thanks. Ron | ||
| Stevenknapp |
Other than getting custom in ear speakers I forget what they cost, $150 per pair I think I paid, but custom in ear speakers really are the way to fly for longer rides. Much more comfortable (for me) than anything else I've tried. Everything else gets knocked around while pulling your helmet on. Or you pull on the cord funny and they move around a wee bit. I've got a set of ER4P's, similar to the ER6s, and they sound GREAT and are very comfortable. Great for airplanes etc... But not my first choice while riding. |
