kokopeli123
08-25-2003, 12:25 PM
Used the iQue Geocaching this weekend (Cheyenne Mountain FM http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=0fd3f26e-63dd-454d-bb3c-e7b74c434015) and thought I'd share the results.
The iQue was perfect getting us to the trailhead using the auto navigation kit and the City Select map set and then I used the pedestrian mode with the Topo map set to get us to where we planted the cache. Unfortunately once we switched from the auto/car mode we lost the ability to use the 'via' function and either had to navigate using individual waypoints which made us have to select new waypoints every time we reached one, or straight to our endpoint, which made it difficult to get around obstacles or follow a trail. Garmin needs to software patch this to give the iQue some utility when you’re away from roads or a vehicle.
The iQue did have us dead on each trail on the Topo map on the way to the top of Cheyenne Mountain and matched up with each antenna on the map as we poked around the antenna farm on the top of the mountain. One of the people I was with had a Magellan GPS and the other a Garmin GPS and the iQue matched or bettered their satellite reception all day long (usually 8 satellites with an accuracy or 8-10 feet). The screen was visible in the bright sunlight (at 10-15% brightness) and the battery was at 3/4 power after almost 4-hours of intermittent use. I was able to use the address card function to record the Geocache data as well as mark the location.
So, overall, I am really pleased with my first test drive in the woods. Hopefully Garmin will restore the full functionality of the software to all modes of travel.
kokopeli123
The iQue was perfect getting us to the trailhead using the auto navigation kit and the City Select map set and then I used the pedestrian mode with the Topo map set to get us to where we planted the cache. Unfortunately once we switched from the auto/car mode we lost the ability to use the 'via' function and either had to navigate using individual waypoints which made us have to select new waypoints every time we reached one, or straight to our endpoint, which made it difficult to get around obstacles or follow a trail. Garmin needs to software patch this to give the iQue some utility when you’re away from roads or a vehicle.
The iQue did have us dead on each trail on the Topo map on the way to the top of Cheyenne Mountain and matched up with each antenna on the map as we poked around the antenna farm on the top of the mountain. One of the people I was with had a Magellan GPS and the other a Garmin GPS and the iQue matched or bettered their satellite reception all day long (usually 8 satellites with an accuracy or 8-10 feet). The screen was visible in the bright sunlight (at 10-15% brightness) and the battery was at 3/4 power after almost 4-hours of intermittent use. I was able to use the address card function to record the Geocache data as well as mark the location.
So, overall, I am really pleased with my first test drive in the woods. Hopefully Garmin will restore the full functionality of the software to all modes of travel.
kokopeli123