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Welcome to this month’s GPS Training podcast, it’s our 29th episode.

1. In this months we again have Ian from GPS Training, Tom from Garmin and myself Jon, who is also from GPS Training.

So, without further ado let’s get on with today’s podcast ……

It’s our 29^th podcast.

In today’s podcast we look at –

• Choosing an outdoor GPS unit. What to look for, things to think about.
  
  
• Course options – Garmin 2 day, SatMap 1 day, Webinars, Online resource – prices going up on Christmas Eve, so book early
  
  
• Whether to own a watch or not as well as a GPS, do we need two devices?
  
  
• We then have a chat with Tom about the 

• Then a quick follow up about the new Garmin GPSMAP86s, which we discussed briefly in last months podcast
  
  
• Ian’s FAQ’s
  
  

1. I know last month, on podcast number 28, we talked about the best GPS units and watches as we started the build up to Christmas. 

I know this did bring Ian out in a hot sweat, so this month no Christmas chat but we are going to look more at what to look for and think about when thinking about changing or purchasing your first GPS unit.

On our website we have a form, I will link to it in the show notes (link here) which asks the following questions –

1. What will you be using an Outdoor GPS for?

Walking

Running

On road cycling

Off road cycling

Geocaching

Off road motorcycling

Other

• Have you had an Outdoor GPS before?

 Yes

 No

• If you have had a GPS before, what was it?

• Have you any preferences on brand?

• Have you and preference of buttons or touchscreen?

• Is screen size important?

• What mapping are you looking for on your GPS?

1:50k Ordnance Survey

1:25k Ordnance Survey

None

Both

Don’t know

• What is your budget?

And if you would line a personal recommendation on what is the best GPS unit/ watch for you please do go to our website – gpstraining.co.uk and you will see on the homepage – Personalised GPS advice, get your recommendation

2 – The next thing we look at on this month’s Podcast is a look at the GPS training courses we have coming up in 2020

We are talking about this because if you have bought a GPS from us in the last twelve months you will be getting a mini brochure with all our GPS Training courses on for 2020.

If you don’t get one, don’t worry as you can request one in the New Year.

But in preparation for this we thought it would be good just to talk through the physical GPS training courses we deliver around the UK.

1. Garmin
   
   Ian delivers the courses in – New Forest (Burley), Northamptonshire (Great Cransley) and South Downs (Clayton)

Jon delivers the courses in – Northumberland (Rothbury), Peak District (Eyam) and Scottish Borders (Peebles)

• SatMap

In 2020 we are very Southern focused with courses in New Forest (Burley), Northamptonshire (Great Cransley) and South Downs (Clayton)

To find out more about the GPS courses we have around the country please go our website – gpstraining.co.uk – click on – gps training courses (top menu bar) and on the left hand side you will see all the different course locations

3 – Whether to own a watch or not as well as a GPS, do we need two devices?

Benefits of a handheld GPS device

• OS maps
• Interchangeable batteries (on most models)
• Large screen
• The great navigational experience
• The planning experience on OS maps

Benefits of a GPS Watch

• Lightweight
  
  
• Not just a Navigational aid – Smart Watch
  
  1.      Health stats

2.      Used at the gym for activities>Garmin Connect/Health stats

3.      Music while travelling

4.      …and it’s a watch

• Connectivity to a smartphone – have you done any challenges with friends?
  
  
• The ease of navigation, vibrating when you are off course

To find out more about the GPS Watches I had an informative with Tom, from Garmin about all the different models in the Garmin Fenix 6 GPS watches.

Go to our website – gpstraining.co.uk – click on reviews (top menu bar) and you will see the – Pre-Christmas chat – Garmin Fenix 6 range

Also currently we are clearing the previous model, the Garmin Fenix 5 plus from our shelves, this still has the maps on, as they are ‘plus’ models and we have over 20% off.

4. Sticking with GPS watches, the next thing on this months Podcast is a chat with Tom, from Garmin about the new Fenix 6x Pro Solar which has just come into stock.

• How much extra battery life will the solar screen give you?

You will get an additional 3 days when solar charging, and 15 hours in GPS mode with an additional hour when solar charging (All-day wear, three hours per day outside in 50,000 lux conditions)

Normally (with no solar charge you get)

Smartwatch: up to 21 days

GPS: up to 60 hours

Go to our website – gpstraining.co.uk – click on store and on the bottom of the left hand menu bar you will see Garmin GPS Watches

5 – The next thing on this months GPS Training podcast is a quick update on the Garmin GPSMAP86s and GPSMAP86i

After last month’s Podcast we discussed the GPSMAP86s

The Garmin GPSMAP86s is very similar to the GPSMAP66s except for three things –

The GPSMAP86s –

1. Has a built-in battery, the GPSMAP66s runs on AA batteries.

2. Is buoyant, hence the slightly larger size.

3. Because of the built-in battery the map card slot is now on the side.

4. The I version has the inReach technology built in

Other than this, the GPS units are the same.

We have put Ordnance Survey map card in the GPSMAP86s and it works fine, as we would have expected it to.

I have done a video comparing the two models, looking at the dimensions of each of these units. To watch this go to our website – gpstraining.co.uk and click on reviews and third story down is Size comparison Garmin GPSMAP66s v Garmin GPSMAP86s

5 – Ian’s FAQ’s

a)      Garmin

1.      I’ve dealt with a couple of customers in November when one person had saved gpx files and Birdseye mapping on to their map card and one person felt, because of available space left on the map card, that he could download some more mapping on to it rather than swap it out for a different one

2.      A quick query from a first time owner was the other day querying why he had no red arrow on the compass bezel as per the on line videos until I advised him that he needed to be navigating to somewhere

b)      Satmap – I’ve had a few queries about the Active 20 not being recognised by their computer. 

My Canned Response that I have created is:

1. Are you turning the Active 20 on as part of the connection process as it needs to be turned on?

2. Have you tried any alternative cables?

3. Have you tried all of the USB ports in your computer and if so, what was the outcome?

4. Are all your other devices working correctly in the USB ports?

5. What Software and Platform versions does the Active 20 have? Main Menu screen>Settings>Option 40 ‘About’

As you know, there were cable problems back in August/September and an alternative cable solved the problem for a lady the other day.

Don’t forget we have lots of tips and solutions to your questions in the GPS Training online resource – go to – gpstraining – click on – online resource – on the top menu bar – and then log in – select your unit and you will see the top tips for that unit down at the bottom of the menu of units.

5. And Finally

• Many thanks for listening and let us know anything you would like to be covered in the Podcast please do let us know and if you know of anybody interesting that you would like to hear interviewed in future podcasts please do let us know.
  
  
• Give us a call especially if you are thinking of a new GPS unit
  
  
• Please do look a look at both our physical GPS courses and also our webinars, just go to GPSTaining.co.uk and click on – GPS Training courses
  
  
• Please do tell your friends about the podcast and GPS Training and encourage them to subscribe to it on whichever Podcast app they are using.
  
  
• AND don’t forget to give us 5 star rating on iTunes and Overcast users (Android), it is appreciated. If you can also snazzy review on whatever platform you listen to us on it would be appreciated.

• Many thanks for Ian for joining me on this podcast and I hope you get plenty of opportunity to get out and enjoy your walking.

• I hope you have a great Christmas and New Year and you manage to get plenty of miles under your belt over the festive period.