Maybe in 2010, but phones just keep getting better about this. I've run the GPS tracking on my Xperia Tipo on an all day ride (98 miles) and only used half its little battery.GPS kills phone batteries, so it's ok for a short ride, but a dedicated GPS device is a better solution.
I keep looking at garmins and then discovering something on my phone that can do the job better and for free. The battery thing is a total non-issue.
The big difference I can see is that phones are difficult to read in the sun where garmins aren't. I'm currently experimenting with turn by turn audio to work around that.
The battery thing can be a bit of an issue on tour. I would hate to base a tour on the ability to charge a device when some AA lithiums in my Etrex removes that worry.
I use a Satmap active 10, does everything I want, but my main navigation aid is a paper Map and a luckily a good memory at remembering the route.Hi,
I am looking for an easy to use cycle computer where I can type in a start and end point, and receive clear instructions (turn by turn) like a car SatNav.
The easier to use the better.
Must have European maps, too.
Thanks.
Our Etrex (6 years old) has at least a 24-hour on-the-road life with a pair of AA Duracells of the sort you can pick up anywhere in Europe. It has full turn-by-turn routing and mapping. My phone (6 months old) will just about last 8 hours with the screen off and recording a track. If I needed to use it for navigation I'd reckon on about a 5-hour life, and it needs to be recharged using mains - which means a 2-hour wait.It's a non-issue when comparing phone sat-nav with Garmin (especially the mapping ones) as battery life is comparable. Maybe it would be more accurate to say "Battery life is an issue on tour regardless of the sat-nav you're using."
It's a non-issue when comparing phone sat-nav with Garmin (especially the mapping ones) as battery life is comparable. Maybe it would be more accurate to say "Battery life is an issue on tour regardless of the sat-nav you're using."