Observations on the Garmin system & the Montana GPS
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A few words on how Garmin works (GPS, Garmin Basecamp & available regional maps for this device), and how the Montana as opposed to a road GPS, like the Garmin Nuvi, works.
Firstly as Rein has stated you need to register your device and if you’ve bought a Garmin map that map too. The map that comes with the device is a preloaded world base map for this region it is not a map suitable for offroad use.
There is a base map in the device but that will not show up identically in ‘BaseCamp’, only purchased maps or Birdseye imagery, a subscription service, will show up. From the comments folks are expecting a product more like the road version.The Montana is a device for use walking, sailing, Geocache hunts or offroading. The purchasable Garmin map available for this region is an on road map for the Middle East and Africa. An offroad map from Masarat is also available, it’s not great & not authorised by Garmin either, but will run on the device, it doesn’t show up in ‘BaseCamp’.
Couple the Montana, Birdeye imagery(a subscription service) and ‘Basecamp’ and you have a top flight product with awesome planning possibilities. It is easily possible to identify major sand marks, that’s a huge advantage in planning, however it comes with a price tag and lots of hours dedicated to studying, it’s not something you can pick up and within 10seconds of switching the unit on drive off into the sand.
I’ve been using this device in the sand for a year, I have a yearly subscription to Birdseye imagery and have patiently downloaded for all the areas I normally drive in those images. The resolution on Basecamp is excellent, the resolution on the smaller GPS screen isn’t so good. I use another Garmin GPS for on road (Europe + the Middle East, 2 different map sets) and another for use at sea, a fixed 13” screen version (another different map set), which means I have a small understanding of how Garmin works
However as I said above the combination of the 3 products, one of which is free, is excellent
Just for the record; unfortunately I bought my device from Adventure Sport along with the Masarat map a year ago. I say unfortunately because I paid more than the price advertised elsewhere in these pages and the Masarat map I bought isn’t great. At that stage even I, with my prior knowledge of the brand, didn’t understand this product or it’s capabilities.
Using a GPS in the desert is just like driving in the sands, takes time to acquire, persist and you shall be rewarded, expect stuff to just happen and you will be frustrated.
That’s my 2 fils
Hi Brian,
Firstly wish you a very happy new year.
Now coming back to the above topic, I am one of the guys you have mentioned in the above post without naming as having expectations. I am sorry to say that you have not gone through the offer and the conversations that have followed, without which you have just gone ahead and posted your observations.
To correct you, the offer for the Montana 650 in this forum clearly states that it includes preloaded “CITY NAVIGATOR MENA 2013” along with the world base-map which as per my understanding and I know I’m correct on this are the on road maps for Garmin.
Just for your reference “Garmin Montana 650 + City Navigator Middle East & North Africa 2013 (Preloaded) + Garmin Auto Suction Mount with built in speaker & car charger @ AED2,198.00” is the offer.
Now if you can tell me if I have the maps on my device(which I do have) why don’t they show up on basecamp and when you try to register them, for whatever reason they will not. As you have been using the device for a year now, would appreciate your help in getting the maps to register and show-up on basecamp.
Regards
Amith.
quote amithluthra:Hi Brian,Firstly wish you a very happy new year.
Now if you can tell me if I have the maps on my device(which I do have) why don’t they show up on basecamp and when you try to register them, for whatever reason they will not. As you have been using the device for a year now, would appreciate your help in getting the maps to register and show-up on basecamp.
Regards
Amith.Hi Amithluthra,
Allow me to return the best wishes for health and peace in 2014.
Paragraph 1: I couldn’t agree more!
Paragraph 2: I’ve read the original post now.
Paragraph 3: I paid more a year ago from Adventure sport without the mount and without any cartography.
Paragraph 4: Have you copied the contents of the GPS to basecamp?Brian
Hi Brian I have copied everything baseball but the maps don’t copy when you do send grin device all my waypoints and tracks do show up but only in the base map and when I tried registering the preloaded maps they don’t get registered after contacting garmin they say the maps are not genuine. Now I don’t know about this and don’t want to assume they are pirated and hence an waiting for Ahmed bhai to clarify this and if so it should be mentioned the offer page coz we need to know what we are getting. Regards Amith
quote amithluthra:Hi Brian I have copied everything baseball but the maps don’t copy when you do send grin device all my waypoints and tracks do show up but only in the base map and when I tried registering the preloaded maps they don’t get registered after contacting garmin they say the maps are not genuine. Now I don’t know about this and don’t want to assume they are pirated and hence an waiting for Ahmed bhai to clarify this and if so it should be mentioned the offer page coz we need to know what we are getting. Regards AmithThe retail price of Montana 650( AED1,800.00- AED1,900.00) + Windshield Mount (AED250-AED300.00) + City Navigator Middle East (AED500-AED600)in UAE varies between AED2,500-AED2,700.00.
The offered price of AED2,198.00 for the complete package is thus a very good offer by any standards, even if the pedigree of the pre-loaded map is uncertain.
Are we not mature enough to understand that there are no free lunches in this world?
Except perhaps at Dubai offroaders where our Marshals and volunteers slog to give us some unforgettable experiences and make sure of our safety without any remuneration or consideration of any sort.
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