Welcome to this month’s GPS Training podcast, it’s our 32nd episode.

In this month’s we again have Ian and me Jon, both from GPS Training.Many thanks for all the feedback you sent after last month's podcast, number 31, about the interview I did with Paul Freeman, after he completed to Spine Race challenger event. I know I have had lots of emails on a number of you have been telling me on the courses how much you enjoyed it.Have you been up to much Ian over the past month?

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

This month’s Podcast we are going to look at -

· Garmin inReach technology, what is it and what units can you get with this technology in.

· We look at the different mapping options on both Garmin and SatMap GPS units.

· We then have Ian’s FAQ’s, the frequently asked questions Ian has answered whilst supporting our customers or on some of the GPS Training courses he has been leading.

To start this month’s Podcast, we are going to look at Garmin inReach, this is the technology Garmin have that enables two way satellite communication.

• Garmin bought a business called Delorme back in 2016

• Two-way satellite communicator, using the Iridium satellites, the same as a Sat Phone uses.

• You can send both pre-set and text messages from the unit via satellites.

• Initially Garmin just rebranded Delorme products, but over recent years we have seen the technology in new standalone products (inReach mini) and also in navigation GPS units, mainly the Garmin GPSMAP66i

• SOS button – GEOS Worldwide, is an independent emergency response organization headquartered outside of Houston, Texas. Their high-tech underground facility is the central component in their International Emergency Response Coordination Center (IERCC). That facet of their operation is somewhat self-explanatory. When GEOS receives a distress call, their IERCC department swings into action to coordinate an immediate and appropriate response. Sounds simple enough, but what does that actually mean?

• GEOS also maintains a large network of offices around the globe in Perth, Marrakech, Paris, London, New York, San Jose, and Los Angeles.

• You need a contract to get a Garmin inReach to work (like a mobile phone contract) and these start from £12.99/month but a little more for a more usable contract. I think we pay around £25.00/ month which is a good mid-range contract.

• Contracts vary according to number of Text messages you want to send each months and if your tracking points are included in the contract or not. The interesting thing is that all pre-set messages are unlimited and also the SOS button works on whatever contract you are on

Why, when going off grid is it important – mobile phone, cold temperatures, no mobile phone signal – personal experiences – 23% - top of The Cheviot 2 x runners

Other products in the marketplace

• Sole Walkers – SPOT

SPOT 3 – Comes in at £119.99 – What is the SPOT?

– Satellite GPS personal tracker

– You have a number of pre-set messages you can send, you set these up yourself online and you can send to multiple e-mail and text numbers

– Live tracking place – both online and in app

– Contracts are a little cheaper – £17.99 for unlimited everything

– You still get the GEOS SOS support

– Lightweight and stunning battery life

AND then last year we got the Spot X - £309.99

Two-way communication from Spot – NOT 100% worldwide experience

BUT you can only send messages and not receive them

inReach – Mini and GPSMAP66i

There are currently three models –

– Garmin inReach Mini – Tether with phone, GPSMAP66s, and Garmin Fenix watch

Small and hard to input messages but use presets mostly and phone keyboard is best options for messages

– Garmin 86i –

For on the water

Garmin GPSMAP66i – personal experienced

There are still inRaech SE+ and inReach Explorer units still around but 66i is so much better

Welcome to this month’s GPS Training podcast, it’s our 31st episode.

In this month’s we again have Ian and me Jon, both from GPS Training and we have an interview with a special guest an amazing individual called Paul Freeman.Have you been up to much Ian over the past month?

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

This months Podcast is going to be slightly different -

· We are going to start off with an interview with Paul Freeman, who has just completed the 108 mile Spine Challenger race. · · We then have Ian’s FAQ’s, the frequently asked questions Ian has answered whilst supporting our customers or on some of the GPS Training courses he has been leading.

To start this month’s Podcast, let's listen to my interview with Paul Freeman

Paul Freeman, one of the Shepherds Walks guides (parent company of GPS Training), who also leads our Map and Compass training courses for Shepherds Walks participated in this year’s MRT Challenge, he is raising money for Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue.

There are three races that make up the Montane Spine Race, if you don’t know the Spine Race is a continues race (i.e you walk/ run through the day and night) along the Pennine Way and if that is not hard enough in it’s own right, you do this in January.

The three races are -

Montane Spine Challenger - 108 miles in length

Started Saturday 11th Jan 2020: 8.00 amMontane Spine MRT Challenge – 108 miles (open to serving Mountain rescue team members)

Started Saturday 11th Jan 2020: 9.00 amMontane Spine Race – 268 miles in length

Started Sunday 12th Jan 2020: 8.00 am

On each of the three races there are time limits to complete them.

Paul is navigating this epic journey with a SatMap Active 20 GPS unit with Platinum mapping (1:10k, 1:25k and 1:50k).

He has in the build up to the event been on both our SatMap GPS training courses (in the Lakes and Northumberland) and also has attended number of our online webinars.

So, last week I caught up with Paul in the GPS Training office, he had his medal with him and I hope you agree it was a truly inspirational, open and honest chat with him.

If you want to lean more about the SatMap Active 20 Paul used for the race please go to the GPS Training website – gpstraining.co.uk – click on gps store – and the SatMap GPS units on the left hand side and at the time this Podcast was recorded, Feb 2020 we have 25% off all SatMap GPS units

Ian’s FAQ’s

In this part of the Podcast we talk over some of his FAQ’s, the frequently asked questions he has been asked whilst supporting our customers and also on the courses he has led over the past month.

Garmin FAQ

Route planning while away on holiday from the screen

Garmin – Route Planner>Create Route>UseMap>Select first Point>arrow/pin appears over you, the blue triangle>’Use’>move the map>’Use’>magenta line and blue headed pins appear and continue

Satmap – Main Menu>Folders>Create New Route>cross hairs appear going through you, the blue circle> ‘+’ symbol side bottom left>a waypoint appears>move the map> ’+’symbol>route line appears and so on.

Satmap

Lots of people struggle to activate the 1:25K scale on the Platinum version

a. Grey sheets top right of the status bar on the GPS Map screen to show the different layers are active

b. Main Menu screen shows the ‘Active Map’

c. On the GPS map screen, you need to be in at a scale of less than 1:37,347

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.

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 fut...

Welcome to this month’s GPS Training podcast, it’s our 30th episode.

In this month’s we again have Ian and me Jon, both from GPS Training

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

It’s the New Year, so today we are going have a slightly different podcast.

Not only have we got new theme music, which I know will make Ian happy, but it is going to be a Podcast of two halves –

The first part of this month’s podcast we are going look back at some of the key developments, stories and funny antidotes of 2019Then the second half we are going to look forward and dream a little in what we would like to see in the world of outdoor GPS navigation

I hope you enjoy the ‘slightly different’ January GPS Training podcast.

I must state I loved putting these months running order together, looking and listening back over the past year of Podcasts and also thinking forward to what we could have in the future in the world of Outdoor GPS navigation.

  --- So, first of all its’s time to look back at the past twelve months

The first-ever GPS Training Podcast – September 2017 – you may have heard this story before but back in one of our monthly staff meetings when I raised the idea of a podcast, one month later it happened.

In February 2019 (podcast number 19), which was Ian’s first podcast, Andy’s last one came out on the 31st December, we looked at –

It’s been an interesting year, key products –

GPSMAP66i – June, podcast 23 – big game changer, more of this to come? What is it, the iCasio Pro Trek GPS watch – July, podcast 24. Oli flew up all the way from Southampton to be on the podcastFenix 6 GPS watch, especially the solar charging option – September podcast (number 27) then the solar launch just last month December (Podcast number 29)GPSMAP86s and 86i – December (podcast number 29) - these are Outdoor GPS units that are very much aimed at the Sea Kayakers etc.Xpedition 2 (from SatMap) – we have not really discussed it on the podcasts, but we do like it

Key guests –

Andi from Garmin, talking about the 66i – that was a one-story podcast, as it was such a big launch (June, podcast number 23)Alex on twice from the AA team (August and October)

Alex and two of his friends Seb and Elliot set off on a 10,000 mile journey through 20 countries in a £600.00 Ford Fiesta and wow what an adventure they had.

Back in March (podcast number 20) I talked to some of our participants on one of the GPS Training courses we had had the previous month at Mungrisdale, in the Lake District. A cracking group that just ‘got it’.Tris, (podcast number 25) about how the 66i had opened the world up to him. He has epilepsyTom, from Garmin, who has been on lots talking about anything I ask him to talk about. A good supporter of us here at GPS training

Fun story –

Classification of GPS units, submerging GPS units – May, podcast number 22

Funny or memorable things that have happened to you on courses in the past year

Jon – Oct Peebles, after lunchIan, it must be all the rain you have had over the past yearAnything else

As a bit of an interlude between looking back at last year and looking forward to this year I want to discuss podcasts with you Ian for the next five minutes –

I want you Ian to pull your phone out of your pocket, or whatever you listen to your podcasts on.

And for you to tell me the top 5 podcasts you listened to,and tell me in one sentence why you listen to each of those podcasts ….

The looking forward to this year and beyond what would you like to see in the world of outdoor GPS navigation for handhelds, wrist-based GPS products and two-way satellite communicators

Before I start this piece, I must state I have signed a non-disclosure agreement with Garmin, but purposely I have not asked about any ‘roadmaps’ for next year.

So, we can discuss what we would like, rather than what I know is going to be around the corner.

These are the kind of things we discuss off air

...

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

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 29th 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 earlyWhether 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 podcastIan’s FAQ’s

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 –

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.

GarminIan 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 mapsInterchangeable batteries (on most models)Large screenThe great navigational experienceThe planning experience on OS maps

Benefits of a GPS Watch

LightweightNot just a Navigational aid - Smart Watch1.      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

It's our 28th

podcast.

In today’s podcast we ……

2 mins 30 seconds - Chat about the dreaded C word, yes Christmas. What top kit is around and is tempting us as we approach the festive period. Don’t worry it’s not all going to be about the most expensive thing in the market we will chat about things for all budgets.

40 mins - Then we are going to chat over the all new GPSMAP86s and 86i, these are Outdoor GPS units that are very much aimed at the Sea Kayakers etc but they have a couple of interesting twists compared to the 66s and 66i that Garmin already produce.

48 mins - And then we have Ian’s FAQ’s, Garmin unit, Garmin watch and SatMap

1. So Ian, it’s the start of November and here we go, we start the build up to Christmas, in the next few minutes we are going to look at some of te must have things we would have on our Christmas lists.

Best budget GPS (under £300.00) - GPSMAP64sx – Sleeping giant in this category or old unit rebranded?

eTrex 22x and 32x (you could get both of these with Birdseye Plus Vouchers)

Touch 25 (you could also get this with Birdseye Plus Voucher

and of course the Touch 35, which sadly with a Birdseye Plus voucher would push it over the £300.00 ceiling.

Best top end GPS unit (under £500.00) – including maps

Oregon 700 with TOPO PRO 1:50k/ Birdseye Plus Voucher

GPSMAP66s with TOPO PRO 1:50k/ Birdseye Plus Voucher

GPSMAP66i, with just the TOPO ACTIVE maps would also just sneak into this bracket by 1p.

SatMap Active 20 with 1:50k maps

Best top end GPS unit (unlimited budget)

Whatever you want – Oregon 700/750, 66s, 66i and Active 20 all these you could get with 1:25k and 1:50k and the Active 20 also comes with 1:10k

Best

Accessories for those already got a Garmin handheld GPS unit, lets put a budget

on this, lets sat £25.00 and think of a practical accessory (which you would

buy for yourself) and that accessory you may ask someone to buy for you, maybe

less practical but good fun.

Practical

Backpack tether - £17.99Bike Mount - £9.99Garmin retractable Lanyard - £19.99Garmin Carry case – £9.99/ £11.99Silicone case (eTrex Touch users) - £10.99Good batteries and charger? Less Practical but fun

Tempe sensor - £24.99Chirp - £20.00

And

then moving onto GPS Watches – Now I think watches are going to be the big

thing this Christmas, I know many of our listeners are handheld users but who

does not want a smart GPS watch on your wrist

Best Budget – Under £400.00

In

this category we have only got a couple of watches –

Garmin Instinct - £269.99Casio ProTrek WSD-30 - £399.99 (works with Viewranger app)

Best top end (unlimited budget)

Fenix 6 - £599.99Fenix 6s - £599.99Fenix 6 Sapphire - £699.99Fenix 6s Sapphire - £699.99Fenix 6x Sapphire - £749.99Fenix 6x Solar Edition - £849.99And we must mention all the Fenix 5’s are still out there

Anything

else we have mentioned that you would upgrade, purchase, maps, inReach Mini’s, Power

packs, Solar panel chargers

Goal Zero kit

And if you want to find out more about some of the products we have discussed go to gpstraining.co.uk – click on – GPS Store on the top menu – then – on the left-hand side you will see the different categories for the products we have discussed

2 – The next thing we look at on this month’s Podcast is a look at the all new 86s and 86i

We ordered some yesterday from Garmin yesterday but Garmin describe it as

–

GPSMAP® 86s - Marine Handheld Preloaded With Worldwide Basemap

£349.99 and £519.99 (£399.99 and £499.99 for 66s and 66i without maps –

interesting comparison.

Water-resistant, floating design, sunlight-readable 3" display and

button operation provide ease of use on the water

Built in battery, on both models, just like the GPSMAP66i, very interesting as heard nothing but good reports about that. Has memory card slot but Garmin don’t say if we can put Outdoor Maps (OS maps) on, lets see, I think it may just be the case of putting a TOPO PR...

Welcome to this month’s GPS Training podcast, it’s our 27th episode.

In this months we again have Alex on from the AA team, Ian from GPS Training and myself Jon, who is also from GPS Training

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

It's our 27th podcast.

In today’s podcast we look at –

· We again chat with Alex from the AA team. You may remember we last spoke to Alex in our 25th Podcast just before Alex and two of his friends Seb and Elliot set off on a 10,000 mile journey through 20 countries in a £600.00 Ford Fiesta and wow what an adventure they had.

· We chat with Ian about some of the stranger things people who have been on our courses are using their GPS units for

· And then finally we have Ian’s FAQ’s, Garmin unit, Garmin watch and SatMap 

The first thing we have this month’s GPS Training Podcast is a catch up with Alex from AA team. You may remember we last spoke to Alex in our 25th Podcast just before Alex and two of his friends Seb and Elliot set off on a 10,000 mile journey through 20 countries in Europe and Central Asia before finishing in Russia and all this in a £600.00 Ford Fiesta.

First of all Alex, it’s Mongol Rally you took part in, can you tell us a little bit about it.

The greatest motoring adventure on the planetA third of the way around the planet in a vehicle only fit for the scrap heapYou are all 24, what are your backgrounds?Whose idea was it and how long has it been in the planning?

The Schedule – Schedule 2019

21st July (from midday): Pre-launch fun at Junk Town (Czech Republic)14th August: Finish line opens16th September: Finish line closes

How do you get your car back?What spares are you taking with you?What mechanical experience do any of you hav

Fundraising

Raising money for two charities – mental health charity MIND and the Ashaninka project which helps prevent deforestation of the Amazon rainforest.

So where do GPS Training fit into their trip?

Alex contacted me regarding to buying an inReach mini

but we loaned him one of ours to use on the trip

If people don’t know what an inReach mini is, it is a –

Garmin two way satellite communicator

Uses the same satellites that Sat Phones use which enables two way text communication from anywhere in the world

Use it to track, report in and hopefully not use the SOS button

So if you want to know more about the boys trip please go to theaateam.wixsite.com/themongolrally2019

And if you want to find out more about the Garmin inReach devices please go to gpstraining.co.uk – click on – GPS Store on the top menu – then – on the left-hand side you will see – Garmin inReach – satellite communicators  

2 – The next thing we look at on this month’s Podcast is a chat with Ian about some of the different people we have worked with over past year - examples

Michael Eatough – Beijing to Paris Rally

Zoey – Ultra runner

BBC – Tracking – Dynasty series – Africa

4 – Ian’s FAQ’s

Welcome Ian back to the Podcast to talk over some of his FAQ’s, the frequently asked questions he has been asked on his courses over the past month.

This month we are going to look in depth into a question we get asked lots on our GPS Training courses around the country –

Garmin GPS – How do I customise data fields on my GPS?

Include being able to lock the data fields on the touch screen GPS’s

Satmap – how do I update my GPS software?

Satsync or if you have an Active 20 > WiFi Networks>Turn WiFi on>Manage upgrades and then you have the options of

Software upgrades

Refresh

Platform upgrades

Basemap upgrades

The screen will tell you what upgrades are available

Basecamp – how do I merge routes?

Windows - Select routes you wish to join> left click

Right click ‘Join Routes’

Window appears>OK

MAC – open up the first route, box appears and then ‘drag and drop’ the second route in to the box at the start or end of route 1

Welcome to this month’s GPS Training podcast, it’s our 26th episode.

Firstly may I apologize with the slight lateness of this months podcast, we very much aim to get them out on the 1st of every month, but with Garmin launching the new Fenix 6 GPS watch on the 29th August I thought it was best to delay the podcast by just a few days so we could get Tom on, from Garmin to discuss this new GPS watch from Garmin.So, as I have already flagged up we have Tom, joining us from Garmin and also Ian from GPS Training and of course myself, jon, also from GPS Training

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

It's our 26th podcast.

In today’s podcast look at the following –

· We have a chat with tom, from Garmin about the all new Garmin Fenix 6 GPS watch.

· We chat with Ian about the new way we are now doing our technical support here at GPS Training, for those of you who have bought a unit from us, been on one of our GPS training courses or alternatively bought one of our Bronze, silver or Gold support packages that we offer

· And then finally we have Ian’s FAQ’s, both Garmin and SatMap 

The first thing we have this month’s podcast is a chat Tom from Garmin about the all new Garmin Fenix 6 GPS watch

Tom, welcome again to this month’s GPS Training podcast

First of all Tom, lets start with the real basics –

What is a Garmin Fenix GPS Watch, as many of our listeners will be active users of GPS units, how does the Fenix differ from what many of our listeners are using e.g a GPS unit?

A – They are smart watches, fitness trackers and GPS navigational aid.

Can we get the timeline clear in our heads -

The last Fenix watch to be released was the Garmin Fenix 5 plus, when was that launched?

A – June 2018

So, we are 15 months on and we have the Fenix 6, what are the major differences between this and the 5 plus?

Size and build quality - NEW

The rugged yet sophisticated design features an always-on 1.3" display that's 18% larger than previous fēnix models. It includes a stainless steel or DLC coated bezel and is tested to U.S. military standards.

PacePro technology- NEW

A first-of-its-kind PacePro feature helps keep you on pace with grade-adjusted guidance as you run a course.

Power manager – NEW

View how various settings and sensors impact your watch's battery life, so you can make battery-extending changes on the fly.

Performance metrics - NEW

View advanced training metrics that include running dynamics1, heat- and altitude-adjusted VO2 max, recovery advisor and more.

Sports apps

Use preloaded activity profiles for trail running, swimming, running, biking, hiking, rowing, backcountry and resort skiing, golfing and more.

TopoActive Europe and ski maps

Use TopoActive Europe maps to navigate your adventures and view run names and difficulty ratings for 2,000 worldwide ski resorts.

One question I have been asked this week Tom (by Andrew Kennard) is – some of the earlier Fenix GPS watches supported OS maps, why was this stopped and is there any thoughts about this being re-introduced?

ClimbPro feature

Use ClimbPro ascent planner to see real-time information on your current and upcoming climbs, including gradient, distance and elevation gain.

Golf courses

Access full-colour CourseView maps for more than 41,000 golf courses around the world, and get button targeting and the PlaysLike Distance feature.

Turn-by-turn navigation

Follow a route or course with help from turn-by-turn directions, which let you know ahead of time when the next turn is coming.

Round-trip routing

Enter a distance you want to travel, and get suggested routes that will bring you back to your starting point. Trendline™ popularity routing helps you find the best local paths.

Multi-GNSS support

Access multiple global navigation satellite systems (GPS, GLONASS and Galileo) to track in more challenging environments than GPS alone.

Podcast 25

Welcome to this month’s GPS Training podcast, it’s our 25th episode

On this months Podcast we have some great guests, we have Alex, from the AA team, we have a guy called Tris who is using the Garmin GPSMAP66i and we have Ian from GPS Training also myself, Jon.

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

It's our 25th podcast.

In today’s podcast look at the following things –

· 2 min 10 sec - We chat with Alex from the AA team, Alex and two of his friends Seb, and Elliot Pote will motor over 10,000 miles through 20 countries including Europe and Central Asia - finishing in Ulan-Ude, Russia in a £600.00 Ford Fiesta

· 21 min 20 sec – We talk with Tris, Tris has purchased a Garmin GPSMAP66i from us. The Garmin GPS navigator with the two way satellite communication technology built in

· 34 min - And then we have Ian’s FAQ’s, both Garmin and SatMap and this time we are honing on a specific subject - Can I change the colour or transparency of the route and track line on my GPS?

 

The first thing we have this month’s podcast is a chat Alex from the AA team, Alex and two of his friends Seb, and Elliot Pote will motor over 10,000 miles through 20 countries including Europe and Central Asia - finishing in Ulan-Ude, Russia in a £600.00 Ford Fiesta

Alex, welcome to this month’s GPS Training podcast

First of all Alex, it’s the Mongol Rally you are taking part in, can you tell us a little about it

The greatest motoring adventure on the planetA third of the way around the planet in a vehicle only fit for the scrap heapYou are all 24, what are your backgrounds?Whose idea was it and how long has it been in the planning?

The Schedule - Schedule 2019

21st July (from midday): Pre-launch fun at Junk Town (Czech Republic)

How are you getting your car there?Start on the 22nd July?

14th August: Finish line opens 16th September: Finish line closes

How do you get your car back?What spares are you taking with you?What mechanical experience do any of you hav

Fundraising

Raising money for two charities - mental health charity MIND and the Ashaninka project which helps prevent deforestation of the Amazon rainforest.So where do GPS Training fit into their trip?

Alex contacted me regarding to buying an inReach minibut we loaned him one of ours to use on the trip

If people don’t know what an inReach mini is, it is a -

Garmin two way satellite communicatorUses the same satellites that Sat Phones use which enables two way text communication from anywhere in the worldUse it to track, report in and hopefully not use the SOS button

To make a donation visit theaateam.wixsite.com/themongolrally2019

So if you want to know more about the boys trip please go to theaateam.wixsite.com/themongolrally2019

And if you want to find out more about the Garmin inReach devices please go to gpstraining.co.uk – click on – GPS Store on the top menu – then – on the left-hand side you will see – Garmin inReach – satellite communicators

2 – The next thing we look at on this month’s Podcast is a chat with Tris Wyatt

Who are you and where do you come from - small amount of backgroundWhat activities do you do - walking, cycling etcWhat illnesses does he haveHow long you been using GPS units for and how did you navigate pre GPS?What appealed to you about the GPSMAP66i?What reassurances does it give you and your family?How have you found the unit?Have you any plans for your time in the outdoors going forward? I will email you a link to click on ahead of the interview on Thursday so we can both see each other. If you want to find out more about the Garmin GPSMAP66i please go to gpstraining.co.uk – click on gps store – and on the left hand side you will see Garmin inReach – Satellite Communicator

4 – Ian’s FAQ’s

Welcome Ian back to the Podcast to talk over some of his FAQ’s, the frequently asked questions he has been asked on his courses over the past month.

Welcome to this month’s GPS Training podcast, it’s our 24th episode.

On this months Podcast we have Oli, from Castio, Tom, from Garmin, Ian from GPS Training also myself, Jon, from GPS Training

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

It's our 24th podcast.

In today’s podcast look at the following things –

· 1 min 55 sec - We have Oli, from Casio who has flown up from Southampton to be on the GPS training podcast. We talk over the Casio Pro Trek Smart WSD-F30 GPS watch

· 14 min – we discuss about going overseas with your outdoor GPS unit, but with a Garmin or a SatMap GPS unit

· 32 min 20 sec – We have Tom on from Garmin, but this time we are not talking about Garmin GPS units but the shift in the magnetic North, this is a subject that has been in the news lots over the past few months

· 38 min 30 sec - And then we have Ian’s FAQ’s, both Garmin and SatMap and for the first time ever we have a FAQ for those of you wearing a Garmin GPS watch

The first thing we have this month’s podcast is a chat with Oli, from Casio about the Casio ProTrek smart watch

This is the third generation of the Casio ProTrek, the Outdoor multi activity GPS watch from Casio.

We had the F10, F20 and now the F30.

ProTrek – history - 1994 – first triple sensor watch (compass, barometer and Altimeter) from CasioG shock – proven brand – 1983F10 launched three years ago – 2016

Dual layer screen – explain what this isMilitary standard build – 50m water resistanceBUT no GPSWear OS by Google

F20 – launched – 2017

Built on what the F10 had but added –GPS added and now ability to work alongside ViewRangerWhat is ViewRanger and the benefits of this + track without mobileMaps can be downloaded offline (i.e. onto watch)And with the Wear OS by Google operating system you have access to the whole Google Play library

Golfers

Fishing

Runners

Cyclists – Strava

F30 – Launched – 2019

SmallerOLD screen not LEDFull Round ScreenImproved battery life – extend modeBands thinner and more comfortable

Key thing is the use of the ViewRanger app to download, view OS maps and download and follow shared routes.

If you want to know more about the Casio ProTrek GPS Watch please go to gpstraining.co.uk – click on – GPS Store on the top menu – then – on the left-hand side you will see - GPS Watches

2 – The next thing we look at on this months Podcast is going overseas with your outdoor GPS unit

Compatible paper maps and setting the varies grid options (position format) that are available.Calibrate your compass.Different map options that are available for different countries and regions.

If you want to find out more about overseas mapping for Garmin users please go to gpstraining.co.uk – click on – GPS Store and the left hand side under mapping you will see Open Street Maps – Garmin GPS

3 – Shift of magnetic North

What is magnetic North?

Difference between magnetic north (where the compass points) and grid north (the vertical blue grid lines shown on OS maps).The difference between magnetic north and grid north is often referred to as grid magnetic angle and it not only varies from place to place, but changes with time too, and needs to be taken into account when navigating with a map and compass.Back in 2014 there was a significant event in the changing direction of magnetic north relative to grid north on OS maps. For the first time in Great Britain since the 1660s, magnetic north moved from being to the west of grid north to the east. The change started in the South West corner of Britain, currently affects the areas to the west of the line on our map, and will slowly progress across the whole country over the next 12 to 13 years.

Shift of magnetic field –

The latest World Magnetic Model was designed to last until 2020, but magnetic north's rapid and unexpected surge toward Siberia was so great, that researchers had to amend the model early.

Welcome to this month’s GPS Training podcast, it’s our 23rd episode.

Today we have a special Podcast, today Garmin have launched the all new GPSMAP66i, the first ever handheld GPS unit from Garmin to incorporate the inReach technology into a outdoor ‘navigational’ GPS.

Don’t worry if none of that makes sense, it hopefully will do so over the coming 30 – 45 minutes and it is such a big change in the world of outdoor GPS navigation we have given the subject a full Podcast all of its own.

So we have got a special guest on to look at this all new product from Garmin, so welcome Andi Hayman, who is the Outdoor Sales Manager at Garmin to the GPS Training Podcast.I have heard on the grapevine Andi that you are a subscriber to the GPS Training podcast, many thanks for that.So, Andi can you just give us all a little bit of background about your role within Garmin.

· So Andi, we have two pieces of technology here that Garmin have put together in one to make the GPSMAP66i, I think a real game changer.

· The two pieces are –

The Garmin GPSMAP66st GPS unitThe Garmin inReach Technology

So, lets look at each of these firstly individually and discuss what each of them are 

So, firstly Andi, the GPSMAP66st – What is it and why this unit to incorporate the inReach technology into it?

Launched October last year

Buttoned GPS unitFirst to use GalilaoBacklit buttonsRound trip routing (cycling only)Better resolution screenLarger screen than any other buttoned GPS units from GarminGeocaching LiveDownload Birdseye satellite imagery over wifiExpedition mode – reduces track points to 1 minute and screen goes blank. Extends batter to up to one weekWorks alongside the Explore app

The GPSMAP66i is based on the GPSMAP66st, so Andi what does to ‘t’ stand for.

 

InReach technology, what is it and what are the benefits of it?

Garmin bought Delorme back in February 2016, who created this two-way satellite communication.

Since they bought Delorme Garmin have produced the –

Garmin inReach SE+inReach Explorer+Garmin inReach Mini

Andi, how exactly does this technology work?

Iridium Sattelite system, the same as SatPhones use

You need a contract to use the inReach technology, these start from £14.99/ month

Pulling both the Garmin GPSMAP66st and the inReach technology into one device.

Launch date – when customers will get the units

12th June

To find out more about the all new Garmin GPSMAP66i please go to – gpstraining.co.uk > gps store > and click on - Garmin InReach - satellite communicator on the left-hand side

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 unitPlease 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 coursesPlease 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 Andi for joining me on this podcast and I hope you get plenty of opportunity to get out and enjoy your walking.