Garmin iQue GPS/PDA

[drjack]

Has anyone used this PDA/GPS model? I'm shopping for a new PDA and a new GPS. If the GPS unit works well might get this one.

Thanks,

Jack

[PBDBLUE]

Are you planning on taking this with you riding? My experience with PDA's (HP) is that they are not all that durable. They will stand up to normal use ok but I think a dirt bike will turn one to junk in short order. I could be wrong here but check it out carefully.

[Cupid Stunt]

PDA's are OK on a thumper as long as you mount them with the right gear

See here:

Otter Box

You can also get specific mounts for the Otter boxes for a bike

See Here:

[drjack]

I wasn't planning to mount one to my bike. Figured I'd carry it in my chest pack. I just refer to a GPS periodically for general directions, don't use them for point to point riding. If the iQue is a decent GPS, it'll work great for my needs.

[boneloader]

I wasn't planning to mount one to my bike. Figured I'd carry it in my chest pack. I just refer to a GPS periodically for general directions, don't use them for point to point riding. If the iQue is a decent GPS, it'll work great for my needs.

I have the iQue 3600, and I like it--but I haven't used it on a bike (yet). It does suck the battery down pretty quick, so think about a solution for extra power.

As far as durability, I could see it getting destroyed pretty easily... I was thinking about doing the same thing--keeping it in a pack for reference and for relative safety.

Another thing to consider--if you are planning on putting it in a protective case, it must still be capable of opening the GPS antenna (unless you connect an external antenna--kind of defeats the purpose of getting a PDA with built-in GPS).

If you don't need the added features of the PDA, I think a standard GPS would be better suited on a motorcycle.

[boneloader]

UPDATE: Installed the iQue with a R.A.M. mount on my 450X and took it out yesterday... and it occured to me that it has an advantage over many of the other units... you can download topographical maps to it--since it uses the palm o.s. I plan on upgrading the software with National Geographic's Topo! program.

Here's some pics of my setup:

Power was easy, just installed a cigarette lighter socket to the battery and ran the 12v adapter up to the bars.

[boneloader]

I found some info on the web regarding the ique on a motorcycle, and have tried a few of the ideas myself--with mixed results.

I get my power direct from the battery (CRF450X)--just wire up a cigarette lighter adapter and ran it up to the bars. Later, I removed the bulky cigarette adapter chassis and wired it up with a quick-release connector I got from radio shack. Make sure you can shut off the power or remove the adapter from the circuit so you don't run the battery down when you turn off the bike. If you don't have a battery on your bike, you could probably fabricate something like a USB battery box.

I originally used the R.A.M mount with the ique adapter--it was light and unobtrusive, but I was paranoid about getting it wet or crashing with it. So I moved this mount to the streetbike, and got an otterbox 3600 for the dirtbike.

Turns out this thing is HUGE! Very good protection, enough room inside to move that power adapter inside. But I wanted something smaller.

So I got the Otterbox 1900 and it was a much better fit. The specs say the medium pod will allow the ique to fit inside with the antenna open--and it will--but I found the power button was impossible to get to. The large pod would probably work better, but I just took the original cover that came with the otterbox and cut a hole in it to allow the antenna to stick out. Yes, I gave up some protection, but it fits pretty good on my handlebars... I did loose it once on a rough trail (I didn't have it locked into the R.A.M. mount properly) and it took a major tumble--with no damage.

But I eventually found the ique a bit of an overkill on familiar trails--and often hard to see in daylight. So I got a Garmin Foretrex 201 and it's PERFECT for the trails! It will allow me to upload a trail, if I wish, or just track my movements in the woods. It will even navigate me back to the truck or to a waypoint I establish, either on-the-fly or predetermined on the laptop. I still use the ique when I need a map--the foretrex can't show any.

I have also experimented with different mapping software on the laptop and on the ique... I use Garmin's US TOPO and National Geographic's TOPO! software--each has their strengths.

I am sure I have left off some details, so please ask questions--I can take pics if ya want. Here are a few random links I have used from the web...

http://homepage.hispeed.ch/smilespergallon/ique/index.html

http://www.pdastreet.com/forums//showthread.php?s=&threadid=57107

http://www.cycoactive.com/gps/030-0021.html

http://www.gomadic.com/pacoplas.html

http://www.pdastreet.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=53538&highlight=Qbuddy

http://www.pdastreet.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=24198

http://www.ram-mount.com/index.htm

http://www.stingerstylus.com/products/

http://www.touratech-usa.com/shop/search_sku.lasso?sku=065-0078

Finally, here is a map of a ride we took--I tracked it with the ique and mapped it later on the laptop with TOPO! http://rap.midco.net/thall72/poker_run_route.jpg

[GPS Dual Sport]

Garmin Mapsource will not interface with the IQue. If you show up at a SoCal dual sport event with an IQue you won't be able to get a data download.

I had one rider show up at the Big Bear Run with an IQue and Mapsource would not recognize the hardware. The other 2 programs I use for data downloading don't support the IQue either.

[Flynall]

Zak,

Do you know if the Garmin Etrex is compatible with the National Geo Topo maps?

Thanks,

RH

[GPS Dual Sport]

From Flynall

Do you know if the Garmin Etrex is compatible with the National Geo Topo maps?

It has limited compatibility with GPS hardware.

You can hook up your GPS and download the tracklog and waypoints. You will be able to see where you've been.

If you want to load the maps into your GPS it won't.

Garmin Mapsource will load the maps. National Geographic Topo will not.

The best thing about Nat Geo Topo is the on screen graphics.

The worst thing is file management. If you have a bunch of track logs trying to keep them organized is difficult.

I finally removed this program from my computer.