Pros: Superior features, Compact yet rough, Touch screen
Cons: Display hard to read in sunlight, Small, low-resolution screen, Performance not the best
To add to one more of the Oregon series, The Garmin Dakota 20 is one of the smaller versions of Garmin’s successful Oregon models. It’s almost balanced to reinstate the eTrex series, bringing all of the Oregon’s touch screen goodness while holding the eTrex’s small form factor, light weight and long battery life. Both units in the two-model Dakota series sport a 2.6” screen. On the Dakota 20, comes a tri-axial electronic compass, barometric altimeter, wireless data transfer between units and the ability to accept a micro-SD card, all features lacking on the Dakota 10. Topo maps are absent on both models.
Comparing Dakota to the Oregon series, the Dakota units have longer battery life and light weighted, whereas the Oregons have a larger screen and add 3D views, Wherigo support, a photo viewer, and NMEA / Spanner support. While the Oregon has a brighter backlight, the Dakota is a bit more visible under daylight and outdoors conditions. All of the newer generation high-resolution GPS screens endure a bit when it comes to visibility, but it seems like Garmin is making some development in this arena. Visibility isn’t a big deal when you carry one of these units in your hand, as you’ll instinctively lean it for the best view without thought. Nor is it an issue when powered with a car adapter, etc. Visibility is good in direct, full sunlight. It looked great in dark shade too. Its performance weakens at points in between, light shade or indirect light.
The interface is on the whole the same as that of the Garmin Oregon, with a main menu of 24 items spread across four screens (see below). It’s pretty perceptive and easy to use, but it gets much better if you take the time to customize it. While you would like to try your hands doing so, you will find these settings to deal with:
For user profiles, there is a “Change profiles” item on the main menu, and one can create a new one via Setup. You just need to tap the new profile to give it a name. Want track up when geocaching and north up, well the possibilities are nearly endless. Rearrange the main menu comes with setting this different for each profile. You can also create sun and shade profiles, use of this tool is to create a sun profile. Create this profile and then go to Setup > Maps > Advanced Map Setup. Set Shaded Relief to Do Not Show to enhance visibility in bright light. Credit GPS Fix with originating this tip.
The Dakota 20 has the same excellent route, track and waypoint management tools found on the Oregon series. Which possess, waypoints, it is the ability to project a waypoint, and to reposition one at your current location. With Tracks, you can choose to hide or show a track on the map and give it a custom color. The image at the right shows the View Track preview option. Routes lets view a map of the entire route, edit the route, reverse it and view an elevation plot.
Having a tri-axial compass means you don’t have to hold the unit level while navigating. The Dakota is set up for full paperless geocaching support, meaning you can see the description, logs, and hint, and you can log your attempt (find, DNF, etc.) for later transfer back to geocaching.com. Speaking of which, full access to these features requires a premium membership at geocaching.com. Shown below, clockwise from top left: Closest geocaches, geocache description, menu for a specific cache, and preview map.
The Dakota 20 is skilled of wireless data transfer with other well-matched Garmin units. You can transfer waypoints, tracks, routes and geocache summaries. One of the nice things about the Dakota are two types of free maps for them. GPS File Depot, mentioned earlier, has 1:24,000 scale topo maps posted for most of the US. I included a screen shot for one of these above in the touchscreen display section of this review. Also of note, is the new capacity to create and load custom raster maps to Garmin Colorado, Dakota and Oregon units, using their latest beta firmware.
Battery life was tested using fully charged 2,000 mAh Eneloop NiMH rechargeable batteries . Results ranged from 16 to 16.75 hours, without backlight use, under light canopy. Interestingly enough, the longer figure was achieved using the Alkaline battery type setting. Perhaps this will be improved in a future firmware release. Satellite lock was achieved in 14 seconds, with testing done under no shelter. The Dakota 20 is the touch screen unit that one founds suitable for fixed-mount, non-powered use. It will also attract those looking to spend less, or the ones desiring a lightweight or more packed in unit than the Oregon series. The Dakota is a great choice for hikers, bikers, geocachers and for all the users holding in hand while operating.
Cons: Display hard to read in sunlight, Small, low-resolution screen, Performance not the best
To add to one more of the Oregon series, The Garmin Dakota 20 is one of the smaller versions of Garmin’s successful Oregon models. It’s almost balanced to reinstate the eTrex series, bringing all of the Oregon’s touch screen goodness while holding the eTrex’s small form factor, light weight and long battery life. Both units in the two-model Dakota series sport a 2.6” screen. On the Dakota 20, comes a tri-axial electronic compass, barometric altimeter, wireless data transfer between units and the ability to accept a micro-SD card, all features lacking on the Dakota 10. Topo maps are absent on both models.
Comparing Dakota to the Oregon series, the Dakota units have longer battery life and light weighted, whereas the Oregons have a larger screen and add 3D views, Wherigo support, a photo viewer, and NMEA / Spanner support. While the Oregon has a brighter backlight, the Dakota is a bit more visible under daylight and outdoors conditions. All of the newer generation high-resolution GPS screens endure a bit when it comes to visibility, but it seems like Garmin is making some development in this arena. Visibility isn’t a big deal when you carry one of these units in your hand, as you’ll instinctively lean it for the best view without thought. Nor is it an issue when powered with a car adapter, etc. Visibility is good in direct, full sunlight. It looked great in dark shade too. Its performance weakens at points in between, light shade or indirect light.
The interface is on the whole the same as that of the Garmin Oregon, with a main menu of 24 items spread across four screens (see below). It’s pretty perceptive and easy to use, but it gets much better if you take the time to customize it. While you would like to try your hands doing so, you will find these settings to deal with:
For user profiles, there is a “Change profiles” item on the main menu, and one can create a new one via Setup. You just need to tap the new profile to give it a name. Want track up when geocaching and north up, well the possibilities are nearly endless. Rearrange the main menu comes with setting this different for each profile. You can also create sun and shade profiles, use of this tool is to create a sun profile. Create this profile and then go to Setup > Maps > Advanced Map Setup. Set Shaded Relief to Do Not Show to enhance visibility in bright light. Credit GPS Fix with originating this tip.
The Dakota 20 has the same excellent route, track and waypoint management tools found on the Oregon series. Which possess, waypoints, it is the ability to project a waypoint, and to reposition one at your current location. With Tracks, you can choose to hide or show a track on the map and give it a custom color. The image at the right shows the View Track preview option. Routes lets view a map of the entire route, edit the route, reverse it and view an elevation plot.
Having a tri-axial compass means you don’t have to hold the unit level while navigating. The Dakota is set up for full paperless geocaching support, meaning you can see the description, logs, and hint, and you can log your attempt (find, DNF, etc.) for later transfer back to geocaching.com. Speaking of which, full access to these features requires a premium membership at geocaching.com. Shown below, clockwise from top left: Closest geocaches, geocache description, menu for a specific cache, and preview map.
The Dakota 20 is skilled of wireless data transfer with other well-matched Garmin units. You can transfer waypoints, tracks, routes and geocache summaries. One of the nice things about the Dakota are two types of free maps for them. GPS File Depot, mentioned earlier, has 1:24,000 scale topo maps posted for most of the US. I included a screen shot for one of these above in the touchscreen display section of this review. Also of note, is the new capacity to create and load custom raster maps to Garmin Colorado, Dakota and Oregon units, using their latest beta firmware.
Battery life was tested using fully charged 2,000 mAh Eneloop NiMH rechargeable batteries . Results ranged from 16 to 16.75 hours, without backlight use, under light canopy. Interestingly enough, the longer figure was achieved using the Alkaline battery type setting. Perhaps this will be improved in a future firmware release. Satellite lock was achieved in 14 seconds, with testing done under no shelter. The Dakota 20 is the touch screen unit that one founds suitable for fixed-mount, non-powered use. It will also attract those looking to spend less, or the ones desiring a lightweight or more packed in unit than the Oregon series. The Dakota is a great choice for hikers, bikers, geocachers and for all the users holding in hand while operating.
For Further Reading,
0 comments:
Post a Comment