Garmin GPSMAP 175 - 4.1 in. Handheld GPS Receiver
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- Form Factor: Handheld
- Map capabilities: Internal, Map cartridges / Data cards
- Receiver Type: 12 Channels
- Screen Size: 4.1 in.
- GPS Type: Marine
- Input Method: Keypad
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A Rugged GPS For The Bush ... Or, West Texas
Pros
This is a WORK HORSE GPS for sure.
Cons
Battery life, grey-scale screen
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
For hard use in the field...get this one.
In my job, I am often out in the "bush" country of Africa. For sheer excitement there is absolutely NOTHING like the discovery that the fuel light just came on and you have no idea where you are, but you do know there are lions nearby. The Garmin GPSMAP 175 has been a part of my kit for several years--and, I just keep on enjoying it.
Rugged Case
Unlike a more consumer oriented GPS, the Garmin GPSMAP175 has an exceptionally rugged waterproof case. According to the descriptive literture that came with this GPS it will float if dropped over-board. That is a feature I have studiously avoided trying out, but I believe it is true. I once drove from Kampala, Uganda to Kigoma, Tanzania (by way of Bukoba/Muleba/and the Biharlamulu Forest). The roads were so rough that my camera tripod and camp stove were literally beaten into pieces...and the body of my Toyota Hiluxe was cracked at all the seams...but, my GPSMAP 175 didn't even show a scratch.
Screens
When you initialize this GPS, you have to give it a kind of hint about what continent and country you might be in...after that the unit searches overhead for the relevant satellites. It is a 12 channel receiver, and when it can lock onto 4 satellites overhead it is ready for use.
There are four screens that can be accessed by pushing the "page" button in the upper right-hand corner of the GPS. The initial screen that you see is the satellite display showing the number and position of satellites overhead along with their relative signal strength. The next screen is the position display which feeds you with longitude and latitude coordinates for your position, along with your compass heading, speed over ground, altitude, and the length of your trip--in either km or miles. The map display comes next and the GPS includes a rather rough...but, complete...map of the entire world. I was able to use the map display in East Africa right out of the box. It shows the major roads and geographic features. I didn't really expect much more than that...and, I've spent several years now developing maps of small roads and trails that I have traveled. The finally screen is the highway display that includes some of the information from the position screen along with a 2D--rather funky--highway display. I once got lost in West Texas on one of my USA trips--and, in total frustration pulled out my GPS and quickly plotted return from some obscure farm-to-market road back to the interstate...and, the map display was good for that. The displays aren't nearly as nice as some of the newer color ones...it is a back-lit gray-scale display.
When going off the main road I track my entire trip to destination and save the trip. On my way back I can use the high way display to guide me out of the bush back to the main highway.
There is also a "man over board" (MOB) feature. If you mark any location, the GPS will instantly plot a course back to that exact place. You can also store up to 250 way points and 20 routes. There is a nice selection of icons you can use to represent the way-points.
Batteries, Battery Life, and Accessories
The GPSMAP 175 comes equipped to use six AA cell batteries. According to the literature they should provide 10 hours of use...not a chance of that happening...at least not in this universe. (A colleague of mine was crossing from an island off the shore of New Guinea across open sea in rain. They were using the GPS because there is a point where you loose sight of both the island and the mainland and you are in open sea in a small boat. At that point--the point where you loose sight of both Island and shore...the batteries on his GPS died.) A better option is the NiCad battery pack and charger.
Other accessories for this unit include a remote antenna (I have this). The antenna has a magnetic base which is fine for steel body vehicles...but, aluminum alloy bodies (like the Land Rover 110) are a problem. I also have the mounting bracket for mounting the unit on the dashboard of a car--or, more likely--a boat. The mounting bracket is quite strong and stable. It does require drilling out some holes in your dashboard...without a hint of how to attache the unit. I used pop-rivets and they worked out real well.
The company offers a cable for connecting the unit to your lap-top. I've never been able to locate one, and what I did see on the internet were not USB connections.
Bottom Line
For a tough, hearty...workable unit...this is the one. If you want nice design..something for show, then get another cheaper unit. Mine has had almost unbearable abuse in the bush and on the road...without even one scratch.
Other Reviews by royalcrowncola:
Nairobi, Kenya the city in the sun.
Uganda the pearl of Africa.
Rugged Case
Unlike a more consumer oriented GPS, the Garmin GPSMAP175 has an exceptionally rugged waterproof case. According to the descriptive literture that came with this GPS it will float if dropped over-board. That is a feature I have studiously avoided trying out, but I believe it is true. I once drove from Kampala, Uganda to Kigoma, Tanzania (by way of Bukoba/Muleba/and the Biharlamulu Forest). The roads were so rough that my camera tripod and camp stove were literally beaten into pieces...and the body of my Toyota Hiluxe was cracked at all the seams...but, my GPSMAP 175 didn't even show a scratch.
Screens
When you initialize this GPS, you have to give it a kind of hint about what continent and country you might be in...after that the unit searches overhead for the relevant satellites. It is a 12 channel receiver, and when it can lock onto 4 satellites overhead it is ready for use.
There are four screens that can be accessed by pushing the "page" button in the upper right-hand corner of the GPS. The initial screen that you see is the satellite display showing the number and position of satellites overhead along with their relative signal strength. The next screen is the position display which feeds you with longitude and latitude coordinates for your position, along with your compass heading, speed over ground, altitude, and the length of your trip--in either km or miles. The map display comes next and the GPS includes a rather rough...but, complete...map of the entire world. I was able to use the map display in East Africa right out of the box. It shows the major roads and geographic features. I didn't really expect much more than that...and, I've spent several years now developing maps of small roads and trails that I have traveled. The finally screen is the highway display that includes some of the information from the position screen along with a 2D--rather funky--highway display. I once got lost in West Texas on one of my USA trips--and, in total frustration pulled out my GPS and quickly plotted return from some obscure farm-to-market road back to the interstate...and, the map display was good for that. The displays aren't nearly as nice as some of the newer color ones...it is a back-lit gray-scale display.
When going off the main road I track my entire trip to destination and save the trip. On my way back I can use the high way display to guide me out of the bush back to the main highway.
There is also a "man over board" (MOB) feature. If you mark any location, the GPS will instantly plot a course back to that exact place. You can also store up to 250 way points and 20 routes. There is a nice selection of icons you can use to represent the way-points.
Batteries, Battery Life, and Accessories
The GPSMAP 175 comes equipped to use six AA cell batteries. According to the literature they should provide 10 hours of use...not a chance of that happening...at least not in this universe. (A colleague of mine was crossing from an island off the shore of New Guinea across open sea in rain. They were using the GPS because there is a point where you loose sight of both the island and the mainland and you are in open sea in a small boat. At that point--the point where you loose sight of both Island and shore...the batteries on his GPS died.) A better option is the NiCad battery pack and charger.
Other accessories for this unit include a remote antenna (I have this). The antenna has a magnetic base which is fine for steel body vehicles...but, aluminum alloy bodies (like the Land Rover 110) are a problem. I also have the mounting bracket for mounting the unit on the dashboard of a car--or, more likely--a boat. The mounting bracket is quite strong and stable. It does require drilling out some holes in your dashboard...without a hint of how to attache the unit. I used pop-rivets and they worked out real well.
The company offers a cable for connecting the unit to your lap-top. I've never been able to locate one, and what I did see on the internet were not USB connections.
Bottom Line
For a tough, hearty...workable unit...this is the one. If you want nice design..something for show, then get another cheaper unit. Mine has had almost unbearable abuse in the bush and on the road...without even one scratch.
Other Reviews by royalcrowncola:
Nairobi, Kenya the city in the sun.
Uganda the pearl of Africa.
