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Hawkeye
North Bay,ON
Feb 4, 2012
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PERFECT
Pros: easy too use
Cons: none
I have used this several times now mounted on my atv. Worked so well that my friend rushed out and got his as soon as we got home. Ordered online from here and had amazing delivery and at a fair price. Mounts are great and easy too use also I have used other Garmin products and this is by far the best one I have used and for the price u can't go wrong.
Recommend? YES
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F6SnoPro
Regina, Sk.
Jan 25, 2012
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GOOD SO FAR............
Pros: accurate, decent battery life
Cons: smallish screen
I bought this unit for snowmobiling and hiking. I've only used it on a couple of short hikes on known routes to test it out and get a feel for it. So far, so good. It seems quite accurate, as I've taken slightly different routes to and from my destination, using the Trackback feature, and it tries to get me back on my original route even if I'm only a few feet away. Overall, I think it is a good buy.
Recommend? YES
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Allan
Nanaimo BC
Jan 14, 2012
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GREAT LITTLE GPS
Pros: size, paperless features, commu. with other gps's
Cons: edge of screen has small gap
I use this GPS primarily for geocaching and it's great to have all the paperless features without getting a bigger unit. The main thing I like is the size. I used top have an Etrex Legend HCx and decided to buy this one after the etrex ceased to work, these Dakota's are around the same size which I quite liked.
Recommend? YES
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Huntin Dawg
Wasilla, Alaska
Dec 23, 2011
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AWESOME LITTLE UNIT
Pros: compact, tough, easy to use.
Cons: screen brightness a little dim
This is a great GPS for all around use. The base map it comes with is useless to me. I got mine in a package with topo U.S. 100k which is pretty good but I needed Alaska 124k. The Birdseye image compatibility is awesome. I like the ease of use with the touch screen. Functions are easy to find and customize. Battery life is amazing with Lithium batteries. I recommend spending the extra for Lithium because battery life is about 8-10 times that of Alkaline.
Recommend? YES
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Paul
B.C.
Dec 19, 2011
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I got the Dakota for my wife for geo cashing and its very simpel to use she loves the unit.
Recommend? YES
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tog
Germany
Dec 11, 2011
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AFTER SALES MISERABLE
Pros: basically a good design
Cons: absolutely miserable after sales service
Good little navi. However, the map which comes with it is rubbish. Having paid a lot of money for it I then found out they wanted to rip me off again for a hiking map. So I downloaded something better free off the web. Have still a lot of questions which they refuse to answer. They fob me off on the German service (because I am presently there) which is even worse! A car dealer with such miserable after sales service would go bust in no time!
Recommend? NO
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mchunter
Ok.
Nov 15, 2011
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GREAT LITTLE GPS.
Pros: fast locate,fast operation,handy size,topo cards.
Cons: exiting route planner shuts down unit.
Great little GPS. The size is perfect to stick in your shirt pocket if you don't want it dangling. Works good, except the accuracy is not real good. When zoomed down and trying to find a marked location, it seems to jump your location around some.
The only real defect problem I have had from the unit is when you go into Route Planner and try to exit out it shuts down the unit. I do not use the function, but only found this out while becoming familiar with the unit. I would have sent the unit in for a replacement, but I needed it during my warranty period with GPSCITY when I bought it, and since I didn't use this function it is not too big of a deal. Hopefully Garmin will come out with an update to fix this.
I would have given this five stars, except for this problem. Overall it is a great product.
Recommend? YES
15 viewers found this helpful.
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KLuWolF
Merritt, BC
Nov 14, 2011
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RUGGED & QUICK
Pros: touch scrn, profiling, memory, compact, liteweight
Cons: sml screen
This is a great GPS with many great features like profiles, good memory capacity, lots of calculators and tools, any position compass, barometer tracking, menu set-up, etc. The screen is a bit small but easy to work with even with my gloves on, once you get the hang of it. Works well with the Backroads Mapbook if you can afford it, but make sure you turn off the installed base maps to speed up the details. Tracked nicely on my walks even inside my pocket.
Recommend? YES
19 viewers found this helpful.
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pedro
Casper WY
Nov 8, 2011
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TOO DIM!
Pros: price
Cons: overall quality and ruggedness.
Screen is too dim. Batteries are difficult to install and there is a delicate back plate. The back plate has small portions of the frame that can easily line up falsely with the face and I fear will break readily.
Recommend? NO
15 viewers found this helpful.
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Andrew
Huntsville, AL
Nov 7, 2011
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TANDEM TOUR CYCLING GPS
Pros: rugged
Only con would be screen brightness
Recommend? YES
21 viewers found this helpful.
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Lost without my GPS
AZ
Oct 28, 2011
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AWESOME VALUE
Pros: screen clarity in any situation, size, performance
Cons: touch screen accuracy (which isn't really that bad
I need a GPS for my job and this was a perfect fit. The screen looks great in direct sunlight, no loading time between zooms and scrolling of the map. Setting way points are quick and easy. With constant use in a 10 hour work day there is still juice from the standard pair of AA batteries.
My only disappointment us the touch screen. It tends to favor the lowest point of the touch.
I wouldn't even look at another model after using this. It's perfect.
Thanks GPSCITY for the videos and the great deal!!!
Recommend? YES
17 viewers found this helpful.
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Louis
Saguenay, qc
Oct 18, 2011
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VERY NICE, GOOD PRICE
Pros: price, capability
Very nice, nice price, quick shipping
Recommend? YES
20 viewers found this helpful.
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Some guy, sg
Ontario, ON
Oct 12, 2011
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GOOD FOR THE MONEY
Pros: compass, altitude, easy-to-read screen
Cons: small screen
Works great, easy to read in all sorts of light, etc. The screen is smaller than you think it is (whole unit is smaller than the size of a fist), but this means decent battery life.
Compass & altitude is GREAT for what we were using it for (biking/hiking trails in Scotland), and well worth the upgrade from the Dakota 10
Recommend? YES
25 viewers found this helpful.
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noterbam, (marc andre)
quebec,qc, canada
Sep 27, 2011
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JUST LOVE IT
Pros: perfect so far
Cons: none so far
Begann "Geocaching", first with my garmin nuvi 255 wich wasn't as handy as the Dakota i got now. A topographic map preloades on a sd card is a must, so grab the bundle right away....... i learned.
Recommend? YES
23 viewers found this helpful.
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Mike
Quebec
Sep 26, 2011
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GREAT GPS FOR HUNTING
Pros: all of the above
Cons: none
Great all around device for hunting. I used it last weekend on a moose hunt trip (3 days after receiving it from GPS City). Very easy to use, very accurate, Used a micro SD pre loaded card. Very fast to find location (few seconds). Not a problem to read under sunny condition when hunting...maybye different when biking. Easy and very usefull sharing of POI wireleassly. Small and easyly fits pocket. Very fast shipping (ordered sunday PM on the web from GPS City Calgary and item was delivered on tuesday PM in Quebec City)
Recommend? YES
25 viewers found this helpful.
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Jacques CORRE$
Ottawa, on, canada
Sep 20, 2011
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DAKOTA 20
Pros: easier of use, size
Cons: the screen a touch sensitive
On a mountain biking trip I forgot my GARMIN 76csx, I ordered a DAKOTA 20 at GPSCITY and I received it the next day. I am very please with the DAKOTA 20 especialy the touch screen, much easier that my 76 csx to navigate the menu and the batteries last longer also. And at that price it was cheaper than AMAZON.COM. Thanks for the good service, save my trip
Recommend? YES
27 viewers found this helpful.
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Swaity, Aaron
Edmonton, AB
Sep 13, 2011
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AMAZING CANOE / BICYCLE GPS
Pros: seems extremely durable, screen size great
Cons: screen could be a bit brighter / easier to see
I wanted a GPS that was small enough to mount to my bike, but big enough screen to use in my canoe. I purchased two handlebar mounts - one went on my top tube of my bike (seems safer than handlebars if I go down, the gps is protected.) the other went on the thwart of my canoe. Both places work great, I can see details and track my progress.
I also tested it being waterproof / resistant. I had it submerged for about 1 minute during a lake paddle to see. Not the smartest, but I wanted to know.
I've also used the device for geocaching and road navigation. Both uses it has done great at.
Recommend? YES
30 viewers found this helpful.
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Jogoy
Montréal
Aug 25, 2011
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GOOD AND EASY
Pros: small and compact
Cons: take some time to get signal in a car or a house
Got a really good deal with this site. Good overall GPS, fast shippping and great price ! I'll try it in a hunting trip in few week !
Recommend? YES
35 viewers found this helpful.
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R-dubb
San Francisco
Aug 24, 2011
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COMPACT AND VERSATILE. EXCELLENT VALUE!
Pros: perfect size and feature set for hiking & biking.
Cons: screen not readable/reflective enough in sunlight.
I bought the Dakota for biking and hiking. With Topo 24k loaded, it does most everything well. I record tracks of my rides and also load tracks recorded by others. Very simple to manage. The one missing feature is a trip computer, altimeter, data field pair to record assent and descent. You can back into this information using the elevation plot function, but a simple data field would be more convenient. I'd also like to be able to control topo display independently from roads and trails. the screen gets too cluttered when trying to follow a trail at wide enough zoom settings.
Recommend? YES
43 viewers found this helpful.
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thburd
nebraska
Aug 21, 2011
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POOR FOR GEOCACHING
Pros: easy use menus
Cons: don't work
I bought this unit to replace the gps I started with which was a garmin V, I like the V but it is troublesome to get through the menus and it is getting old. I bought the Dakota 20 upon recommendations from a freind. I went out Geocaching and it was constantly 20-40 feet off. On the last one I could not find the cache in a clear area and so I gave up and broke out the V agian and i walked right to it. It was only 125 feet off. And yes i did callibrate it. several times.
Recommend? NO
41 viewers found this helpful.
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Warren
Toronto
Jun 28, 2011
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A FLAWED GEM
Pros: great for geocaching, and i do like the interface
Cons: dim screen and road navigation on etrex is better
I bought this as an upgrade to a stolen Etrex Legend which I use as a bicyle GPS. While I like the GPS I have to admit I prefered how the Etrex worked for road navigation. The biggest drawback for me though is the screen brightness. Compared to the Etrex the screen is much darker and much worse viewing especially in bright sunlight
Recommend? NO OPINION
72 viewers found this helpful.
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Michael
Trois-Rivieres, Quebec
Jun 9, 2011
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DAKOTA 20 (QUEBEC)
Nice product, quick shipping ! Belle machine, simple et efficace. Shipping rapide au Quebec, transaction simple !
Recommend? YES
80 viewers found this helpful.
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Raymond
Montreal, Canada
May 31, 2011
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EXCELLENT GPS FOR HIKING AND BIKING
Pros: small, waterproof, full featured.
Cons: none !
I've bought this GPS for biking (along with the bike mount kit). It's ideal. It's small enough to fit on my bike and yet big enough so that the screen remains quite visible. Though it does not have voice capabilities for driving direction, it emits a series of sound and the screen illuminates when its time to change direction. It also displays a full range of information for your exercise (speed, average elevation, duration,etc.).
You'll have to buy a map if you want street level detail -- City Explorer for North America is the one I bought from Garmin. Installing was a bit of a pain because Garmin website kept thinking it was on a PC and named the various drives of (SD cards and MobileMe account) with letters. Since I'm on a Mac, volumes have names, not letters. Once I've figured this one out, it was easy.
This GPS has the capability to use custom maps -- maps you do yourself. It's not so complicated. Like if you plan on doing some hiking in a park, you could download the map of the trails and, using Google Earth, make it a Custom Map. Maps needs to be 1024x1024 max, at 110dpi. So don't go thinking you can get the entire Montreal bike trail map digitized and uploaded as a custom map (like I thought I could do !!), it won't work. Tiles of 1000x1000 will work, though.
It has good satellite reception. I start it indoor in my kitchen (near the window) and in about 60 seconds, signal is acquired and I'm ready to go.
Finally, this GPS also serves as a logger. I use it to map my track and keep a record of how many kilometres I do (walking, biking). Tracks can later be converted into routes.
The whole kit I now have consist of : - Dakota 20 - 4Gb Micro SD card -- to store my maps (base memory is around one 1GB I think) - Bike mount kit - 4 NiMh Eneloop batteries (2 in the unit, 2 extra). Batteries last around 12 to 14 hours, depending on usage. - Heart Rate Monitor (which I ordered here too). I use Garmin Connect to download my tracks and heart rate info from the Dakota 20. - North America City Explorer maps.
Recommend? YES
81 viewers found this helpful.
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gman
Red Deer AB
May 10, 2011
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A GREAT UPDATE
Pros: lots of features
Cons: screen a bit hard to read in direct sunlight
My Geko 201 was showing signs of age and after looking around, I chose the Dakota 20. The learning curve was not too steep and I found some free online maps for a trip to Europe which were invaluable. I wasn't sure a color screen and mapping capability were that useful, but now I'm sold.
Recommend? YES
89 viewers found this helpful.
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Cylidd
Québec QC
May 9, 2011
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OUTSTANDING FOR GEOCACHING
Pros: very easy to use.
Cons: very sensitive touch screen.
What to say... I use to have a Garmin eTrex Legend HCx for geocaching, but the navigation through the menu was awful. So I purchase this Dakota 20 and I love it! Easy to use, navigate, manage, reset. There's only one flaw : the touch screen is quite sensitive. Ir you handheld the GPS or let it hang on your chest, anything that touch the screen may change the display or activate a function (it's happening to me all the time). Other than this : just perfect.
Recommend? YES
83 viewers found this helpful.
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mlkluther
Canada
Apr 23, 2011
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WORKS WELL
Pros: easy to use
I bought this primarily to use for geocaching. The paperless caching was the major factor in this purchase and it works very well.
Recommend? YES
89 viewers found this helpful.
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Bluekodiak, Scott
Liverpool, Nova Scotia
Apr 6, 2011
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GREAT ALLAROUND GPS
Pros: paperless geocaching
This does everything and a little more than I need. Love the paperless geocaching. Quick sat. responce. very user friendly.
Recommend? YES
97 viewers found this helpful.
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Al
Victoria, BC Canada
Mar 22, 2011
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EXCELLENT ENTRY-MID LEVEL GPS
Pros: compact, well set up, great ram mount/peripherals
Cons: dumps user defined profiles.
Having switched from Magellan Explorist 500, to Triton 400, to Garmin Etrex Vista HCX to the Dakota 20, I find the touch screen and interface easy to navigate. No major issues, however I have noticed that when i create profiles for personalized use, then modify these profiles for specific settings, the profiles randomly get dumped when external vehicle power is used then unplugged For example, I have Garmin Topo Canada loaded for Bike and hiking/geocaching, and Garmin North America City Navigator for Automobile. When I inadvertently lose a profile it is frustrating and I have to reset the settings. Point #2, It should be advertised that the Garmin TOPO Canada is "routable" (that is, one can use "where to" to go by road, and the GPS gives turn by turn directions), otherwise I would not have purchased the Garmin N.A. City Navigator. Otherwise, no major issues.
Recommend? YES
99 viewers found this helpful.
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Abramobeast
Thunder Bay
Mar 22, 2011
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VERY USER FRIENDLY GPS
Pros: user friendly touch screen
Cons: screen on the small side but not too bad.
I have been actively using my new Garmin Dakota 20, all winter long, for some winter geocaching. The touch screen and easy downloading of caches, makes the experience that much more enjoyable.Only wish the screen was a little larger but I also like the compact size!Guess I can't have both.
Recommend? YES
92 viewers found this helpful.
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Richard
New Mexico
Mar 18, 2011
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VERY GOOD GPS..BEST OF THREE I'VE HAD.
Pros: intuitive navigation
Cons: hard to read in bright sunlight
My first Garmin, purchased 14 years ago is still very functional but technically outdated. My second Garmin was a great unit I lost it. This Dakota unit has more function but is easy to use comes up quickly, and a very fast learning curve.
Recommend? YES
98 viewers found this helpful.
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jhyla
Ferndale,MD
Mar 13, 2011
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GOOD FOR THE PRICE
I really like this little gps unit. Lots of good features and I have never been taken to the wrong place. Very accurate unit.
Recommend? YES
102 viewers found this helpful.
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Waterskippers
Saint Paul, MN
Feb 19, 2011
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GOOD COMPACT GPS
Pros: good signal capture, compact, easy to update.
Cons: low contrast in direct sunlight.
Have been using this for about 3 months now. Very good reception of signal and compact size. Battery life has been good so far. Very reliable and a huge step up from my old Garmin Geko 201. The electronic compass has been more valuable that I initially expected, glad that I picked the 20 over the Dakota 10. The only drawback so far is that in direct sunlight, the display can wash out. I knew about this ahead of time and it is still visible. (Sounds like a common problem with most touchscreen GPS units.)
Recommend? YES
98 viewers found this helpful.
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Tony
Newfoundland
Jan 30, 2011
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EXCELLENT UNIT!
Got it for a fantastic sale price very quick shipping arrived earlier than expected.
GPS is excellent to use.....getting excellent indicated accuracy, but it does take longer to fuller acquire and lock on than my eTrex Legend Hcx
Recommend? YES
105 viewers found this helpful.
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gpswind
Halifax, NS
Jan 6, 2011
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PAINFUL EXPERIENCE
Pros: light weight
Cons: high probability to become completely dead
I just got my new Dakota 20 from gpscity yesterday.
*First I did the software update yesterday: *
After my Dakota 20 was updated from v3.1 to v3.8 by webUpdater with a 4G SD card inside the unit, the map page became completely dark. It was frozen when I tried to change the map selection and even couldn't be shut down by the power on button. Every thing was frozen. It is unbelievable that hardware power on button was also frozen. I can only switch it off by remove the battery.
Then I removed the 4G SD card and copied the gcd firmware file of 3.82 into the unit directly. After the update process, everything seems ok.
*Then I did the outdoor test this afternoon:*
This afternoon, I took a test on my new Dakota 20. I used the track log (10 second interval) and stopwatch function. It worked for the first about two hours. After I saved the current track and stopped the stopwatch, I switched off the unit. Then I went to a new place. 10 minutes later, the unit couldn't boot up again.
When I came home and connected it to computer, the computer couldn't find it. After I hold the power button about 30s, the computer established the communication with the unit. I cleaned all created gpx files, but the unit couldn't boot up.
Finally, I use the back-up files to restore the whole system to original situation, but the unit still cannot boot up. It seems the unit has some hardware problem.
I think Garmin shouldn't deliver this kind of product. The product quality is really too bad based on my experience and the information on web.
People use gps in hiking for safety, but the probability of Dakota 20 becoming completely dead is too high.
Recommend? NO
121 viewers found this helpful.
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Jesterger
Guelph Ontario
Dec 24, 2010
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BEST GEOCACHING GPS
Pros: gps city's great price and fast delivery!
Cons: garmin's poor intruction manual.
This is an awesome GPS for geocaching. The accuracy is amazing. The paperless geocaching feature sure makes life a lot easier and the touch screen is great for navigating through the on screen menus. I have only had it a month and I have a lot more to learn about this little gizmo but I can tell I will be enjoying the experience.
Recommend? YES
111 viewers found this helpful.
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geojibby
Oxbow, SK
Dec 24, 2010
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AWESOME FOR GEOCACHING
Pros: battery life, ease of use, paperless caching
Cons: screen still a wee bit tricky to read in the sun
This is a really wonderful GPSr for geocachers and outdoor enthusiasts. It has all the necessary features and then some. The Dakota fits very well in the hand and is intuitive to use. I did a video review of the unit, you can access that video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3z-rmNT4Xs. I got mine on a black friday sale which made it very affordable and a real steal of a deal! I highly recommend it, especially if your principle use of this GPSr will be geocaching. The paperless capability and convenience is worth the price.
Recommend? YES
109 viewers found this helpful.
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Hugo
Québec
Dec 24, 2010
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EXCELENT UNIT IF YOU KNOW ABOUT GPS
Pros: extremely small, yet having sd card storage
Cons: small screen make it hard to have a birdview
This tool is perfect for backpackers or world travellers. If you are travelling light, and if you got over the fancy smartphones that only get their signal when they have enough battery and enough of your time standing in the steets waiting, you want this small device.
Battery life is good, functionality is excellent, and it gets the signal in seconds, even in house. Small screen, but you also get a smaller device. And you can put many parts of the world in a SD card, to be good to go wherever you want. Openstreet map project allows you to download missing parts along your way. You can also quickly download google earth maps for a small zone. All this take a few minutes in your local cybercafé. I have copied basecamp files on my unit, so I can lauch it on the spot and use any PC as an host. Also, I have mobilemap java map maker to download small maps on the go. I've be a techno traveller, trying to fit every single function into a small laptop or computer. Don't fall for this if you are travelling, and don't think an ipad will make you a road warrior. Use real tools for the job.
Recommend? YES
99 viewers found this helpful.
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debcon
Vancouver Island, B.C.
Dec 20, 2010
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LOVE MY LITTLE DAKOTA
Pros: fast accurate directions, small size is handy.easy
This is my 3rd GPS and so far my favorite. I use it for Search and Rescue, kayaking, hiking and geocaching. I have it loaded with Regional maps, topo maps and Bluecharts. The size is perfect, tucks in anywhere, the options are easy to find and I get better coverage in difficult terrain than either of the other devices. Love the touch screen.
Recommend? YES
100 viewers found this helpful.
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ddavidds
London. ON
Dec 16, 2010
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DON'T BUY A DAKATA 20
The ads for the Dakota 20 started out saying that the unit would do turn by turn instructions if you bought upgraded maps. Not only are there no maps available for this product on the Garmin site, the Dakota 20 is not listed for sale as of today. The updated ads (after I bought it) don't say that it will do turn by turn anymore. Everytime I log into the Garmin site to try to buy a decent map, there is yet another software update. Ripped off for $350
Recommend? NO
112 viewers found this helpful.
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kevin
calgary
Oct 12, 2010
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CRAP
Pros: great when it works
Cons: scares to death easily
killed it on my first hike so I upgraded to a Oregon 550 which has yet to be scare tested.
Recommend? NO
104 viewers found this helpful.
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Jim
Waterloo On
Oct 5, 2010
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SCREEN TO SMALL FOR CITIES
Tried to use it in Paris, screen is just too small to give the detail we needed.Also not a unit for the first time GPS user. Otherwise fine.
Recommend? NO
100 viewers found this helpful.
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Roger Latour
Westree ON.
Oct 5, 2010
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REALY GOOD UNIT FOR BEGINNER
Pros: it can play the bigger boys
Cons: smaller screen
Good unit ,easy to operate , basically has all the same functions as the more expensive GPS but the screen is smaller reselution not as good. Once you load it with Canada topo V4 maps it comes alive.All around good unit
Recommend? YES
106 viewers found this helpful.
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Jessica
Calgary, AB
Sep 30, 2010
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THE GARMIN DAKOTA 20
Pros: i liked the lookup feature for restaurants, etc.
Cons: see above review
I guess the biggest disappointment was that there is no "spoken directions" option - making it almost impossible to drive and use the GPS at the same time unless you have another person with you reading it. I think it's because this is supposed to be more for hiking - but still I think it's a really important feature to have. Also the functionality is lacking in that it's not easy to go back and forth from map view to directions - and sometimes it randomly decides not to beep before a turn that you're supposed to make.
Recommend? NO
101 viewers found this helpful.
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Greg
Vancouver
Sep 20, 2010
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HANDY BUT SMALL
So far I love the Dakota, my only con so far would be the size of the screen. It's much smaller than I thought it would be (one of the drawbacks of ordering online). I tend to add a fairly large number of waypoints and routes, and typing names in with the small character buttons on the touchpad is challenging, even when using a pen as a stylus. Other buttons for typical functions are large enough for fingers. Other than that, everything has been great. If screen size is a concern, you might want to consider the Oregon instead. If you don't expect to type in many names, the Dakota is great.
Recommend? YES
104 viewers found this helpful.
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Tyler
Halifax
Aug 28, 2010
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GREAT GPS
Pros: features, ruggedness, accuracy
Cons: touchscreen a little finicky
This is my first GPS and I am beyond impressed with it. I use it primary for cycling to trace my route, track my stats and find where I'm going. I'm impressed with the battery life and I've never really had an issue with screen brightness.
The unit is very tough. I've dropped it, had it in rain, and heat and its held up to everything. It's great on the trail and the also the road. I used it on a 10 day hiking camping adventure where I used it on the trails and as my guide to get to all my destinations. It worked flawlessly the entire trip.
The device has so many features its amazing. The altimeter was really helpful when I was hiking various mountains.
My only minor issue is I find the touch screen a bit finicky. Compared to other touch-screen devices it's not as easy to scroll around the screen. I think it might be a trade-off for the ruggedness of the unit.
The unit is accurate. I never once had a problem where it gave me a bad directions. It also maintained a good signal strength while I was in thick canopy or hiking in a valley.
I've read some reviews that mentioned an issue seeing the screen in direct sunlight. In my use I haven't had too much trouble with it. In direct sunlight it does wash out a bit, but I was still able to see everything clearly and able to use it. I really didn't find sunlight was a big issue.
Anyways, I highly recommend the unit and I'm still very impressed to this day with it.
Recommend? YES
107 viewers found this helpful.
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Gary
Sioux Lookout, ONT
Aug 27, 2010
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GREAT HANDHELD
Pros: very accurate
Cons: screen can be a bit of a pain to read sometimes
My First GPS with mapping, will never go back :)
Recommend? YES
111 viewers found this helpful.
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llefeb
Humboldt, Sask.
Aug 25, 2010
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MY BEST GPSR
Cons: unable to delete geocaches unless hooked to pc
Bought this to upgrade from etrex legend & go paperless which works great. Has helped me find my last 15 of 200 caches.
Recommend? YES
104 viewers found this helpful.
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FISTERRA
EDMUNDSTON N.B. CANADA
Aug 23, 2010
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GEOCACHING
Cons: j aimerais que le manuel soit dans la boite et non
J aI acheter se produit quelq un me la conseiller et je suis tres satsfait du produit. fonctionne a la merveille et tres exact tout trouver les locations des cache. se n est pas mon premier gps et je le recommende beaucoup.
Recommend? YES
102 viewers found this helpful.
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Philip
Saskatoon, SK
Aug 16, 2010
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GREAT FOR GEOCACHING
Pros: lightweight, touchscreen, paperless caching
Cons: would like better reception under tree cover
Bought this to be able to go paperless caching which works great. Good visibility. Like being able to use AA batteries.
Recommend? YES
109 viewers found this helpful.
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rejean
rouyn noranda
Aug 12, 2010
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ROUYN NORANDA
je suis tres satisfait du produit. je l utilise pour toute sorte d activiter. fasille a utiliser je le recommende
Recommend? YES
100 viewers found this helpful.
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QTEEEE
Mississauga, ON
Aug 7, 2010
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DAKOTA 20
Pros: works great with geocaching.com
Cons: screen display
My first GPS. Bought it for geocaching. Decided to buy one that is paperless. Luv it for that aspect alone. The only negative is the ability to read the screen when in bright sunlight. It's not always the best. Garmin really needs to improve this. Other than that, I'm happy with this!
Recommend? YES
108 viewers found this helpful.
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Bigmountainj
GoldenBC
Aug 6, 2010
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NEW TO GEO CACHING
Pros: easy to use, accurate, paperless geocaching
I did some research for a new GPS and kept coming back to the Dakota 20. It has a ton of great features yet is simple to learn. I have put on Garmins North American Map on it (need to purchase sd card) and it works great as an automotive unit as well. The main complaint I have heard is the brightness of the screen, I have nothing bad to say about it though.... it is what it is. My one suggestion is if you want to use it as a vehicle unit use your passenger to read the screen.
Recommend? YES
103 viewers found this helpful.
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Dystrukshun
Prince George, BC
Jul 20, 2010
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GREAT FOR GEOCACHING
Cons: mapless. instructionless :(
After using my Blackberry 9700 and also a friend's older Garmin for Geocaching, I decided it was time to upgrade to paperless and checked out some models online. After making the decision to go with the Dakota 20, I can't say I've ever looked back. Once I got some maps on this sucker, I have to say that it really is a superior device. Uploading field notes, navigation and overall 'dummy' use is pretty awesome for someone like me who has ZERO knowledge of how to use these things!
Recommend? YES
117 viewers found this helpful.
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Judi
Mississauga, ON
Jul 10, 2010
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FUN GEOCACHING GPS
Pros: easy to carry, compact, stylish, robust
Cons: base maps only, instructions req'd for best use
Got the Dakota 20 on my birthday & am thoroughly loving it! Was previously caching with a TomTom 130 which always keeps me on the road (rather than on the path).
The Dakota 20 is a fantastic piece of machinery, loads of fun, stylish and easy to use... only once you read through the instructions.
If this is your first GPS, spend some time with the instructions and reading the forums for quick tips and best practices. The simplicity on this one only comes after a few tries.
One downfall is the requirement for additional map products which don't come pre-packaged.
Recommend? YES
131 viewers found this helpful.
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Charline
Fredericton NB
Jun 7, 2010
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NOT AS IMPRESSED AS I HAD HOPED
Pros: usually very accurate, easy to operate,
Cons: can go wanky for no reason i can figure out.
While this unit is much better than my old unit (Explorist 2000) and has performed well most of the time, several times the unit has led me way off course or in a big circle around the cache. Once it took me about 2 kilometers off course. Later it took me right to the cache ...& I didn't change the co-ordinates. Other times it is spot on. As far as I can tell, it isn't operator error.
Recommend? YES
124 viewers found this helpful.
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Rafael
Brasília, Brasil
Jun 1, 2010
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VERY NICE FOR BIKE USE
Pros: small size, touchscreen, rugged
Cons: screen readability in shadow on irdirect sunlight.
Screen readability cuold be a bit better under shadow or indirect sunlight.
Recommend? YES
118 viewers found this helpful.
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Brian
Denver, CO
May 20, 2010
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FANTASTIC LIGTLE UNIT
Pros: small, lightweight, good battery life
Cons: scren a little difficult to see
I owned a eTrex Legend previously, but wanted the upgrade for paperless geocaching and the touchscreen. So far, I'm VERY pleased with this great little unit. The size, battery life, good reception, paperless geocaching and more are great. The screen could be a bit brighter, but it suits my needs just fine.
Highly recommended - a very nice product.
Recommend? YES
121 viewers found this helpful.
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Scout001
Lacombe, AB
May 6, 2010
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GREAT PAPERLESS GEOCACHING
Pros: touch screen, quick & accurate readings
Cons: poor screen lighting
We did some homework prior to purchasing this unit as we wanted to find a GPS to be used primarily for geocaching without having to drag along sheets and sheets of paper. We've used it now for several weeks with great success. It's only our second unit so we don't have a lot to compare against - but so far we have few complaints. Works well as a road navigator also. Would be nice to be able to plug into car adaptor to save battery power.
Recommend? YES
133 viewers found this helpful.
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fire guy
wyoming
Apr 27, 2010
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DAKOTA 20
Pros: nice size
Cons: not software compatible
My biggest issue with this unit is that it is not compatible with Garmin’s own Map Source software. I have not been able to download tracks or waypoints to the Garmin Map source software. I contacted Garmin and exchanged the unit and the new-second unit I received did not work any better. I am returning this and going back to my Vista HCX which works like a charm!
Recommend? NO
171 viewers found this helpful.
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Doon
Nova Scotia
Apr 15, 2010
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DAKOTA 20
Pros: multiple uses for basic cycling and fitness.
Cons: map window too dark to see clearly while cycling
Good size for the bike, multiple uses for basic navigating to fitness gps (heart rate & cadence), I have a micro SD already installed to store downloaded birdseye google earth images (geo referenced) to unit. Weird that it's eats batteries so quickly even on energy saving mode and the rechargeable batteries the fastest, unfortunate the map window is too dark to see while cycling. The simple bike holder also good in keeping unit locked safely and ease of removal.
Recommend? YES
136 viewers found this helpful.
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Yves Labelle
Kapuskasing, Ontario
Mar 25, 2010
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GARMIN DAKOTA 20
Pros: user friendly, paperless geocaching
Cons: none
Excellent value for money paid. This is my first experience with using a GPS and Geocaching. Vey user friendly. Had no problems with unit and it does evrything it's suppose to do. Did not experience any problems with reading screen in sunlight or in the shade.Had unit for about 1 month.
Recommend? YES
151 viewers found this helpful.
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daniel claveau
mascouche,québec,canada
Mar 2, 2010
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DAKOTA 20
bon gps ,précis,excellent pour le géocaching,
Recommend? YES
169 viewers found this helpful.
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Tim H
Niagara Falls, ON
Jan 19, 2010
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PAPERLESS!
Pros: easy to use, intuitive
Cons: reset setup after batteries died
What a step up to be able to check out logs/hints/cache details while out searching! Still learning all of the capabilities that this unit has! Wish that the unit would work with adapter in the car to save batteries, but as soon as you plug into the unit it goes into HD mode. Good thing the batteries last a long time!
Recommend? YES
225 viewers found this helpful.
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jim
canada
Dec 10, 2009
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GPSCITY.CA
Pros: rugged and full of features
Cons: screen a little small
The Dakota 20 is is a fantastic unit. The only thing that could improve it would be a little bigger screen. And even that is a matter of opinion depending on what you use it for.we Skidoo with it,and it's a bit hard to glance down and get information without stopping. Having said that it is packed with features so many in fact i'm sure there are some i will never use!!
Recommend? YES
175 viewers found this helpful.
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River Tat
South Louisiana
Dec 1, 2009
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GREAT FOR NON-TECH USERS
Cons: would like to see tide time table in the unit.
Bought this unit for my father-in-law who is not very good with new technology. The touch screen and well lit icons allowed him to pick it up quickly. He was very happy with it saying alot to an old dog who hates new techs.
Recommend? YES
185 viewers found this helpful.
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blaufman
Hamilton, ON
Sep 28, 2009
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MISSING SOME FEATURES
Pros: size, touch screen, accuracy, battery usage.
Cons: a couple simple features missing
This unit was bought to replace my 76Csx. For the most part, it does just that. A key upgrade is the 3D compass which makes Geocaching easier when you're close to the cache. However, this unit is lacking in a couple areas that surprise me:
The calendar will not bring up the caches you found on a given day - it will just show you all that you have found of the ones stored - period. The car adapter fits badly and falls out very easilly. This unit does not detect the presents of the adapter power and give you the option of full brightness on your display - brightness is a universal setting (maybe that's my power adapter??). When plugged into the laptop, it is in HD mode. This is where you have to delete Geocaches & other weypoints. While it would be nice to manage these more via the unit, by laptop is acceptable I suppose. POIs don't show up until your really zoomed in - more than I typically have my GPS set for. Perhaps this is a function of the map? While the touchscreen works great, a stylus like I have for my pocket PC would have been nice - my fingers are too fat for some of the specific navigation you direct with your fingers - on the map and even when typing in words & numbers some times. In the overall scheme of things, these issues are minor, and having it to do over again, I would buy the same unit.
Recommend? YES
231 viewers found this helpful.
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Earl
Rockwood, Ontario
Sep 22, 2009
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NEW DAKOTA 20
Pros: great memory easy to use long battery life
Cons: barometric altimeter
Just returned from Alaska with it...good sensitivity on plane and most locations (even onboard ship). I have had 3 Lowrance GPS's...no comparison. I just downloaded all Ontario and half of Alberta from Topo Canada, and I still have 400 meg of memory. Batteries last for days, and no need for anything other than basic alkaline. Screen is good for personal viewing, but a little hard for 2 people to view at the same time. Touch screen is great, but I like to use something a little more pointed than my finger when working on detail on maps. Menus are straight forward and simple. I wish the altimeter was not just barometric, but GPS as well....this is one of the disappointing aspects of the Dakota 20. So far, I am extreemly pleased with the rest of it. (I am not a geocacher)
Recommend? YES
218 viewers found this helpful.
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Bush Creatures
Edmonton
Sep 7, 2009
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PRETTY GOOD FOR GEOCACHING
First of all, a big salute to GPSCity. Called my order in at 2:00 pm and FedEx delivered it at 9:00 am the next day.
Nice compact little unit. Touchscreen and paperless caching is awesome. Definitely finds the caches.
Has about 2/3 the battery life of my 60CSx but still gives me two days of caching on a set of rechargeables. Cached with it in bright sunlight and in the dark and in the rain and no problems with the display or touchscreen. We'll soon see how it goes at -30C.
A few things annoy me like no ability to mass delete loaded caches unless it is connected to the comp. and it sorts found caches by distance and not date and time. Does not come with a carbiner or belt mount but I remedied that pdq with a small $8 belt mounted dig. cam. case that even has a small pouch for spare batteries.
All in all, very happy with it.
Recommend? YES
246 viewers found this helpful.
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Richard
Edmonton
Aug 25, 2009
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DAKOTA 20
Pros: too numerous to list
Cons: can not delete geocache without a computer
I bought 2 one for myself & one for my brother we both like it very much. My friend ordered one the next day he tried mine and loved it. Some glitch with the directional arrow, when approaching the coordinate at about 12m or less it stop directing and I have to watch the distance left to destination. I'm not talking about the problem happening when someone stop moving and the arrow suddenly point another direction. As I am moving slowly toward a cache it stop directing when getting close, very annoying. Also same problem as the Colorado and Oregon the calendar feature of Map60CSX is not there, that is showing the waypoints found that day. The found cache can not be deleted without being connected to a computer and it is not friendly. Many plus sides, the compact form is great, the interaction speed is awesome. Strange, sometime when moving in a vehicle it slows down and it need to be reset. For the micro SD position I prefer the one in the Legend HCX along side of batteries, versus underneat, that little trap door can easily crack the chip when installing. Fat fingers like mine does not make it easy. Thanks
Recommend? YES
207 viewers found this helpful.
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(4.2/5.0 based on 73 ratings)
