GPS Training

Trump tariffs, Watch v Handheld, Harvey Maps and Andy’s top tips

In this month’s GPS Training Podcast

Andy’s top tips

1. Trump Tariffs – GPS prices

Only effects Garmin?

Although Garmin is an American company, most of its GPS products are manufactured in Taiwan, which is now facing a 32% import tariff.

9th April original date of tariffs, but then put on pause for 90 days – 9th July ish

on the 9th, before the tariff pause was announced I created a video for YouTube/ news section of the GPS Training website.

Could affect global pricing, including in the UK, where GPS Training is the largest retailer of Garmin outdoor GPS units.

Garmin is unlikely to absorb the cost or keep prices static in Europe, and any increases could be implemented with no advance warning.

More information at – GPSTraining.co.uk > News > Tariffs on Garmin

2. The great GPS debate: Watch vs Handheld

GPS watch – pros

GPS watch – cons

GPS unit – pros

GPS unit – cons

But the key difference is in the navigational experience –

You also can follow an arrow on the screen, but please be aware it is a smaller screen.

With a watch you also get also get an audible beep as you approach a turn as your course is overlaid on the preinstalled Topo active maps.

The other thing with a handheld GPS unit is you also have to ability with the larger screen and Ordnance Survey Maps to ‘plan on the hoof’. If you do need to change your walk you can easily do this on a handheld GPS unit.

3. Harvey Maps – on a TwoNav GPS Unit

– Colour Shading for Terrain: They pioneered subtle colour shading to depict different terrain types, meaning you can assess the ground ahead at a glance.

– Lightweight and Waterproof: The printed maps are typically lighter and more weather-resistant than traditional paper maps. On GPS units like the TwoNav, this translates to fast-loading, highly readable digital maps.

– Scale that Suits the User: Harvey’s 1:40,000 “British Mountain Map” series hits a perfect sweet spot for serious hillwalkers. It covers a broad area whilst still offering enough detail for accurate navigation.

– Event-Specific/ long distance taril mapping: Harvey is often the choice for ultramarathons and mountain events, where navigation errors can be costly. If you’re training for a race, there’s a good chance you’ll already be handed a Harvey Map at registration!

Gives us the ability to put both 1:25k and 1:50k maps on a TwoNav GPS unit – coming soon

As well as installing Harvey Maps on a TwoNav Terra

Slowly making their way from Spain

4.   Andy’s Top Tips

– Suunto Race get a grid reference:

Settings – Navigation – Position format set as British BNG

– Coros

From control panel either selecting compass will display or select Satellite signal then press scroll wheel and scroll down

From settings menu – System – Format – Pos format Set as British Grid

SatMap/ TwoNav upgrade offer – last week, Outdoor Expo – Birmingham NEC and lots more

In this month’s podcast

Gives us the ability to put both 1:25k and 1:50k maps on a TwoNav GPS unit – coming soon

They will be more expensive.

Andy’s Top Tips

TwoNav quicker sync of activities

Settings – M account very bottom Addnew account if not done so and enter your TwoNav email address and password

Suunto – turn by turn via Komoot Routes

Then any routes added to Komoot appear in map icon bottom of Suunto app – folder icon – Routes – you can edit and turn off Turn by turn in app if not required

Any routes you do create yourself in app will add TBT

In this episode of the GPS Training podcast, we cover:

We break down Suunto’s latest lineup, highlighting the differences in display types, battery life, size, and navigation features. From the vibrant AMOLED screens of the Race and Race S to the solar-powered, ultra-long battery life of the Suunto Vertical, we compare how they stack up against competitors like the Garmin Fenix 8. We also share real-world insights from the Spine Challenger North winner, who put these watches to the test on a gruelling 160-mile challenge!

We’ve got a special mid-month episode featuring Paul Grundy—don’t miss it!

If you’re looking for the best GPS unit for mountain biking, we explain why the TwoNav Roc is a top contender. With compact design, robust durability, high-accuracy satellite tracking, and cost-effective mapping, it’s ideal for riders tackling tough trails.

This month, Andy shares practical tips on getting the most out of your GPS devices, including:

In this special ‘mid-month’ podcast we interview Paul Grundy, winner of the Winter Spine Challenger North 2025

In this month’s podcast

1.   Garmin Montana 710, 710i and 760i

What are the differences between the 710, 710i and 760i?

Upgrades –

– USBC – we put an an adapter

– Double the memory – 16gb to 32gb

–  The ability to download free Topo Active maps other regions – also via wifi now if you add wifi via Garmin express first this should change

–  Improved battery life – 18 hours > 24 hours

Garmin Montana 710

2. OGPS Podcast

Review – Coros Apex 2 Pro

Saturday morning – Winter Safety

Please do hunt out on whatever platform you listen to podcasts in and give it a listen.

It has really grown on me and the more episodes we put out the better the AI is learning, I listened to the review on the Coros this morning and could not fault it

3.   Garmin BaseCamp and other options

Garmin BaseCamp – extras prox alarms, covert routes to tracks, lots of tools for trimming down easily, no wifi required, allows TBT routes for National parks or cycling

Free OS planner – free & simple, maps will get updates, no turn by turn no extra tools as Basecamp , only GB not abroad

Memory Map – Familiarity if have been using for along time

Quo

OS own app/online planner

Garmin Explore App – free , can use with no wifi , for GB maps not detailed no OS, can be slow syncing careful not to wipe routes of unit already – have added new videos to online resource

Pros/ cons of each

Andy’s Top Tips

What would you like to see from GPS Training in 2025?

In this month’s podcast

1. What would you like to see from GPS Training in 2025?

Asked for questions for TwoNav in the last podcast and had a good response, many thanks for that – More about that later

So what would you to see from GPS Training in 2025?

Video ideas

Training ideas

Product ideas

Please just email – [email protected]

2. GPS Training options for 2025

3.   Andy’s Top Tips

TwoNav – Units display set to go off after 30 seconds during use

Garmin – GPSMap67 series keys lock – tap power button once then select Lock Keys – Power Button unlocks

Winter walking, an update from Zoleo, a look back at 2024 and Andy’s top tips.

In this month’s podcast

1.   Winter walking – some things to think about

1. Batteries

2. Powerbank, don’t forget your cable to charge your mobile phone or wireless charging

3. Escape routes, planning for the worst-case scenario – watch a video – planning your walk.

4. Two-way satellite communication – this has become a lot more affordable over the past year with Garmin’s £7.50/ month contract

5. Headtorch/ torch

6. Extra clothing/backup clothing

7. Biffy Bag / Foil Bag

If anything we have missed, drop us an email

Andy’s video – contents of his rucksack ahead of the Spine Challenge race.

2.   Meeting with Zoleo last week – Bristol

John – VP – Vice president of sales

Roadpost Inc. Prevails in Arbitration Against Beam Communications Pty Ltd.

TORONTO, Nov. 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Roadpost Inc. is pleased to announce that the arbitrator in its case against Beam Communications Pty Ltd. has rendered a decision in its favour, finding Beam in material breach of the 50/50 ZOLEO Inc. joint venture agreement between the two companies.

The arbitration decision is final and binding, compelling Beam to sell its joint venture share in ZOLEO Inc. to Roadpost at fair market value.

Should the parties be unable to agree on fair market value, it will be determined by an independent professional valuator. The purchase price will be paid 25% at closing with the balance due in three equal annual payments.

Roadpost is confident that ZOLEO device supply will continue without interruption during this process. The joint venture agreement and related documents clearly define the mechanisms, including price, through which all necessary IP for manufacturing and operations will be acquired by ZOLEO Inc. pursuant to Beam’s share sale. It is Roadpost’s view that the device IP must be rolled up at no additional cost to ZOLEO or Roadpost.

So what does this mean for you, the end user?

Whilst we are talking about meeting with manufacturers we have TwoNav coming to see us early this month, any thoughts/ ideas from you the listener would be appreciated.

3. A look back at 2024, what would we like to see for 2025

TwoNav has to be the out subject of 2024

Garmin Fenix 8 – it’s been very well received

Lack of new Garmin handhelds, inReach Messenger plus only new device, fingers crossed this will change in 2025

4. Andy’s Top Tips

All about battery saving:

Watches

Spare batteries and power-banks keep in inside pocket next to body for warmth, Eneloop or lithium better in cold

What training opportunities do we have coming up in 2025, Fenix 8 – 6 weeks in and Andy’s top tips.

In this month’s podcast

1.   What courses do we currently have?

1. Online resource – £50.00/ year (included free with and GPS purchase)

2. Support packages – Bronze, Silver and Gold – £80.00/ £125.00/ £145.00 / year (included free with and GPS purchase)

3. Group training courses over Zoom – £74.99

4. Nationwide two-day training course – £195.00 for 2-day course

5. 1:1 over Zoom – 2 hours – £89.00

6. 1:1 in person, Northumberland, get in touch

A video looking at the training options can be seen here

Full review on the Garmin Fenix 8 – watch/ read it here

3. When teaching on a GPS Training course – What 1 thing that we each would encourage any GPS to do – the one action you would encourage every handheld GPS user to do

TwoNav – Route Off course alerts change distance & volume

Main menu – Settings – Activity Profiles – Alarms – Data Fields

Terra, Aventura Have different Tones options

Volume Top toolbar from map page Audio muted or change volume

Garmin – Push Button Units GPSMAp65,66,67 – Add Shortcut applications to page button

A good example satellite page to check grid ref & accuracy using Page button

Coris Vertix 2s, new inReach contracts, the all-new Garmin inReach Messenger plus and Andy’s top tips.

In this month’s podcast

1.   First thoughts on the Coros Vertix 2s

Robust tough sapphire screen sunlight readable, titanium bezel, big battery not all the bells and whistles but so easy to use.

Coros Vertix 2s – more here

2. New inReach contracts

10p / check-in

10p / trackPoint

50p / message/ weather

1 off payment – Activation fee – £39.99

Garmin inReach products – more here

3. New inReach messenger plus

What is the Garmin inReach messenger? – £199.99

Up to 28 days with a message or location sent every 10 minutes with full sky view; up to 14 days with moderate tree cover

What is the inReach messenger plus? – £429.99 ( 30 second voice message, photo’s)

— NEW — The ability to also send voice recordings, photos and group messaging on the Garmin Messenger app

Up until now Garmin’s inReach line used Short Burst Data (SBD) to send messages, but with entirely new hardware, the Messenger Plus uses Iridium Messaging Transport (IMT) to send messages 300 times larger than SBD. That means it can support photos, 30-second voice memos, and 1,600-character texts (previous inReach text messages couldn’t exceed 160 characters).

Battery

Up to 120 hours of text message or location information sent every 2 minutes in power-saving messaging mode; up to 70 hours in performance messaging mode.

Garmin inReach Messenger Plus – more here

4. Andy’s Top Tips

When on map or elevation plot screen

If you do press in scroll wheel you will see + – icon to use scroll wheel to zoom in and out – remember to press back button when finished or when screen unlocked scroll wheel will not move to next screen as still in zoom mode back button cancels

Remember you cannot pause or stop activity from map or elevation sreen but any other screen

The new Garmin Fenix 8, Irish mapping for a TwoNav GPS unit and a new GPS Training course for 2025.

In this month’s podcast

 1. It’s our 100th podcast

Sorry it’s a little late in the month, normally it is the 1st of every month.

Holidays and very busy at GPS Training

If you do not already do please subscribe to the GPS Training podcast on whatever platform you listen to us on

2. Fenix 8 – what has changed?

AMOLED screen – no longer EPIX

Fenix 8 – AMOLED

Additions –

– AMOLED comes in three sizes: 43/47/51mm

– Solar edition only – New edge ring solar panel is far more efficient, and no longer covers display, improving clarity

3. Irish mapping for TwoNav – potentially getting updated

Source: LPSNI Northern Ireland

Scale: 1:50.000

Format: Topographic

Size: 437.19 Mb

Resolution: 4.0 m/px

Version : 2012

£34.16

Southern Ireland OSM & TomTom

Overseas and Irish map options for TwoNav GPS Units

Over the next couple of weeks we will be putting our 2025 GPS Training courses on the website –

Two-day ‘physical’ training courses around the UK – £195.00

Scottish Borders

Northumberland

Lake District

Peak District

Northamptonshire

Gloucestershire

South Downs

New Forest

Then we have out 1:1 over Zoom – 2 hours – £89.00 – at a time that suits you best

BUT, new for 2025 we are having 1 day group courses over Zoom

These will be – £75.00/ person

10.00 – 16.00 (with x 1 hour for lunch – giving time to digest what has been taught

– 4 people on each Zoom training course

5. Andy’s top tips

If you own a computer you can organise your Routes into Folders

Then when you open up Routes from main menu you can see your folders

If you do not have pc you cannot create folders but you can change list order by going into Routes – tap 3 white dots bottom right – select Sort by – Date, Sport, File Name, Proximity, distance, Ascent etc

This will also change order in folders, ie distance longest first, ascent highest first etc

Handhelds goto Setup – Map – advance setup – Detail – change from Normal to more or most

Basecamp Mac – detail level bar toolbar bottom of map

Basecamp Windows – View – Toolbars – detail level tick – new box Medium, can change to higher highest or low, lower, lowest

Lower when moving around