Some observations after intensive use

goon525 · Regular Visitor Joined: Aug 25, 2005 Posts: 75

Just back from a few days walking on the Isle of Wight, first time that my Satmap has been in use intensively for several days on the trot. A few observations:-

1 The rechargeable battery pack has proved just fine, full day walks ending with three blobs out of four still showing on the meter. This with machine and screen (at 60% brightness) left on all of the time. I don't know how accurate the blobs are, but I'd be pretty confident that it still had several hours left in it. A few hours recharging had it working fine next day.

2 As others have experienced, it can be sluggish getting first fix. Once it has the fix, it sticks to it come what may, but it's a bit embarrassing being beaten to it by a chep'n'cheerful early generation Garmin. It does seem to take ages after it's seen even eight or nine satellites to fix the position. This was a bit unpredictable though - at other times, it was perfectly fast. I suspect this could be fixed easily enough in firmware/software if Satmap wanted to.

3 Also as others have experienced, it consistently over-reads the distance walked. I got into a habit of hitting 'Stop' only for the longer lunch-break, not for five or ten minute stops. At the end of walks of between eight and twelve miles, I would say it had over-read by around 7%. Cheap'n'cheerful Garmins did better. Intriguingly, turning the track into a route at the end left one with pretty much a spot-on result. I don't know if this is a case of two errrors cancelling each other out, but again wonder if it could be fixed.

4 I've bought some spare covers, but not yet used the. Does anyone have any luck with materials to get rid of scratches on their top covers?

5 Notwithstanding the odd niggle, it's a great device which aroused a lot of interest and some envy amongst fellow walkers.

BigPerk · Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 6:45 pm Post subject:

Re (4) - thread "Scratched screen" may be of interest. I think there may be other relevant threads if you want to do a search.
_________________
David
(Navigon 70 Live, Nuvi 360)

mikealder · Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 7:52 pm Post subject:

Toothpaste or Duraglit silver polish can be used to polish out smaller scratches, if you manage to make a real mess of the outer shield screen it is replaceable - Three screens cost around £15 IIRC - Mike

goon525 · Regular Visitor Joined: Aug 25, 2005 Posts: 75

Thanks, Mike. I've bought the set of three replacements but am quite keen to get a bit more use out of my first one first! Paid a bit less - around £12 at Amazon. I'll try the toothpaste idea - suspect Duraglit would cost me as much as a new screen. Thanks also to BigPerk.

4ndynorfolk · Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 9:55 pm Post subject:

I have had success with DISPLEX mobile phone polish. I have used it for a number of years on mobiles and other lcd displays.

I had to order some more this weekend. Mobilefun have free p&p this weekend.

djhpk

goon525 said

goon525 · Regular Visitor Joined: Aug 25, 2005 Posts: 75

Sorry, but I can see the Satmap adding distance when I am standing absolutely still. As I said, the value of this over a longish walk seems to be about 7%, though I can't prove this scientifically. I'd be interested to walk a measured mile somewhere with it on, though!
My conjecture is that the effect of this over-reading roughly equals the 'cutting corners' under-reading when you turn a trail into a route. Two opposite errors are roughly cancelling each other out.

philpugh · Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 2:10 pm Post subject:

Not_lost_yet · Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 2:37 pm Post subject:

cosmiccowboy · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 20, 2008 Posts: 22

	PocketGPS
	Web