After one month - is the Satmap Active 10 a good buy?

andyb2 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jun 12, 2008 Posts: 32

i think that is the crux of the matter - you have to carry a garmin unit as a backup. i don't think you will find garmin users carrying a second backup unit.

i've come to the conclusion that i should go back to carrying my garmin and when i need exact confirmation on ordnance survey 1:25000 mapping i look at my wifes nokia n82 phone using viewranger software (www.viewranger.co.uk)

as for this being expected on a windows device. that would have been true 5 years ago, but not now.

as for their customer care i'm not so sure - they seem unable to respond to emails

robs1972 · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 5:43 pm Post subject:

Well it doesn't seem to be all sweetness and light for Garmin owners either...in particular the Edge 205/305 and 605/705 having various issues in the cycling fora that I subscribe to.
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I like mapping, I like mapping, I like mapping and I like to map!

mikealder · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 5:59 pm Post subject:

Irrespective of the device I am using be it PDA or my active 10 I always have a backup solution available which is the plain and simple paper map in a waterproof map pouch and compass, anyone going out walking with just electronic equipment is risking too much unless you are only in a very localised spot and not venturing into the true hills - Mike

drpeej · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 6:56 pm Post subject:

I agree. I have been using mine for the same length of time as andyb2 and am also a previous Garmin user.

OK there are a few glitches but it is so much easier to use than the Garmin. I suspect that most of the problems relate to the use of Windows as the OS.

I certainly would not describe it as unfit for purpose. As for the comparison with the phone software - that does look good and perhaps SatMap can learn a few things from it but I cannot mount my phone on my bike and use it for navigation

I am really happy with my SatMap. Give them the chance to enhance their firmware and stop moaning! Thats my suggestion

Peter

robs1972 · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 7:48 pm Post subject:

I highlighted the freezing problem in my review of the Active 10 back in October and said that whilst the quick users guide mentioned freezing being due to either corrupt data or power I put it down to it running on Windows.

Obviously the opening poster should feel however he wants to if he's not satisfied but if Satmap were to announce that they cannot fix the freezing problem I still wouldn't want a refund...(and I'm only on 15K a year before you say I have more money than sense). What would I buy instead, a pocket PC and Memory Map? That's hardly a model of stability. Laughing

I got 5 hours use before it froze on Saturday.....not too bad....I'm most concerned that it has transformed my rides from 99% A & B road riding to large sections of country lane riding without having to stop and look at a map.
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I like mapping, I like mapping, I like mapping and I like to map!

andyb2 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jun 12, 2008 Posts: 32

i do take the point that what else is there? if you are mounting the unit on a cycle you only have the active 10 for use with os mapping (i use a garmin vista with gb topo as i keep to minor roads and this solution is ok for me)

however if you are walking then there is an alternative. as i stated my wife carries a nokia n82 phone running viewranger os mapping. it is protected by a boxit case and clips to her rucksack. satellite reception is excellent (under heavy tree cover too) 8-9 hours of battery life, imports gpx tracks,.......and does'nt freeze.

i find it amazing that a software 'add on' for mobile phones works more reliably than a dedicated unit such as satmaps.

the dream solution perhaps is satmaps hardware and nokia/symbian software

scotch_whisky · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jul 20, 2006 Posts: 48

I have given Satmap the best part of 6 months to sort out the issues with the Active 10. Unfortuneatly the problems are both hardware and software related so all the problems will never be solved without updated hardware.

I have been using GPS systems for 10 years and have never experienced anything like the number of problems I have had with the Active 10. I realize that I will be flamed by the Satmap fanboys here but I would strongly advise against purchase of this unit - It most certainly is not of merchantable quality.

This is all a great pity as it could have been a winner.

The retailer I purchased the Satmap from has now given me a full refund.

andyb2 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jun 12, 2008 Posts: 32

scotch_whiskey, i imagine you will be flamed but i admire you. you managed 6 months - i've endured just a month and that is too long.

like you i have used several gps systems and never experienced such an unreliable, erratic, infuriating system.

the hardware is flawed and the softwares achilles heel is that it is windows based - i don't know of any device running windows that does'nt lock up.

i think it very sad that when praise is heaped on the active 10 it is because it manages to do for a few hours the most basic of gps functions - aquire a fix, keep it and not decide to go into a coma.

when i use my garmin gpsmap 60 i do miss the ordnance survey mapping, but i know that when i look at the screen after a few hours walking it will still be telling me where i am and how long it will be before i'm back to base. it may not be as spectacular as the satmap (when working!) - but at least it can be relied on.

on a final note, my experience of satmaps customer care has not been good, perhaps i was unlucky, but when i reported back about the problems i was having i was met by disbelief or hostility. even when i was merely confirming what other people have reported.
at no point was i offered a replacement working unit - perhaps they don't exist

perhaps the active 20 will be better???

robs1972 · Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 12:10 am Post subject:

There was a point on this forum that all mention of Satmap customer service was positive.....I wonder what's changed! Confused

_________________
I like mapping, I like mapping, I like mapping and I like to map!

drpeej · Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 6:56 am Post subject:

I don't know where all this "flaming" paranoia came from. I have seen none on this forum which is remarkably well behaved.

I believe everyone is entitled to their view including satisfied users.

Peter

Physicist · Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 11:00 am Post subject:

I will be walking the N Yorkshire moors next week using the Active 10 loaded with 1:25k. However I will also have my Garmin 60 CSx in my backpack (with UK Topo mapping). I hope the Active 10 will function correctly for a week......but I shouldn't really have to keep my fingers crossed. I can't believe that the emergency services - still less the army - would adopt the A10 in its present unreliable state.

Garmin are not beyond launching a turkey; their Colorado was in that category when launched. However they have much larger resources (and probably better software engineers) to quickly rectify mistakes that frankly should never have been present at launch.

Darren · Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 11:07 am Post subject:

andyb2 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jun 12, 2008 Posts: 32

i agree about the colorado. i looked at it at the outdoors show and thought the jog wheel was pointless and mechanically suspect. i've heard its performance was pretty poor initially too.

however the Garmin 60 CSx whilst being a very ugly duckling works very well. the combination of 'D' pad and buttons is perfect, and performance is outstanding.

philpugh · Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 1:47 pm Post subject:

PloddinPedro · Regular Visitor Joined: Mar 25, 2007 Posts: 229

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