I said in an earlier post, the GPS stuff is all new to me. I have a Delorme PN 40 that I picked up this summer. I’m starting to learn, but have a long way to go.

I upgraded to the new Topo 9.0 for $10 with the certificate that came with my unit. I have not yet got it upgraded on the unit.

Several issues that I encountered with my unit on my recent trip. It worked great for 6 of the 8 days. On day 7 and 8 it started to power off and on by itself. I did change the batteries about every day and a half depending on how long the unit was turned on. I used lithium Eveready batteries.

Specific tracks only saved two of the 8 days, but it did store the entire route, just not individual days like I had wanted. I may have saved them wrong. Time will tell.
Also the lanyard broke on day 6.

I gave the technical support a call last week and they suggested that I do a complete reset and upgrade to Topo 9. Tech support said that powering up and down could have happened because of “searching for satellites”, they also sent out a replacement for the lanyard.

Like I have said, I’m still in the “learning mode”, but overall I do have to say that it is a very rugged unit. It held up to the water, and was a very big help one morning in the fog. There would have been no way that we could have gotten the early start to beat the wind that morning without it.

They (tech support) were very good and courteous on the phone.
Maybe I need to try a little Geocaching to help with the learning curve.
KevinL

Lots of help here also,
Delorme Forums
I use the same batteries and get 2+ days of tracking [I'm guessing 16 hours total] per set. I still have a problem determining if I have turned the tracking on, so I check to make sure it is at the start of the day [or when I want to do a track].

My home made strap cure.

butthead

I like your solution for the new lanyard. Will heading to the IMTS show in Chicago here in a couple weeks and I know there will be pick something up to make something like yours.

I did notice on the Delorme forums that this has been a topic of concern and I see that you have chimed in there also.

Delorme must be listening because I received a package in the mail yesterday……my replacement lanyard. It is blaze orange and is also about six inches longer than the original that I received. Still think I want to make something that is a little stronger like yours.

Thanks KevinL

Butthead, how did the PN 40 hold up on your recent trip?

Guess I did read that you had some PC issues, just wondering if you have gotten a chance to look at your data yet?

Due to weather and some happenings at home [son moved back home from San Diego] I cut my trip short and base-camped on Little Shell. Did not save any tracks. Have used both the PN20 and PN40 for several trips and they work great. Navigated only with the GPS this trip and it hit each portage right on!

butthead

Pretty cool huh? The only thing I try to do now when I use only the GPS is to not look at it so much, I tend to miss things.

KevinL, did you upgrade to Topo9 yet? I just installed and upgraded mine and am very happy with the new program [Topo9], and with the firmware upgrade to the PN40. The export to GPS/external drive works much better!

butthead

Well to be honest with you I have a 50 – 50 on the install. I have installed the upgrade on one computer and have played around a little with the mapping software, but I have yet to plug the actual unit in. I hope to get to play around with it again here shortly.

Need to get to damn many projects done around the house before the snow flies…….Oh there is another one…..get the snow blower going.

A sample of the mapping that can be done with "Delorme Topo 9"

Mapsets are combination of Topo 9, NOAA Charts, and portage/camps overlay.

Screenshots are USGS, NOAA Charts, and portages/camps.

butthead

quote butthead: "KevinL, did you upgrade to Topo9 yet? I just installed and upgraded mine and am very happy with the new program [Topo9], and with the firmware upgrade to the PN40. The export to GPS/external drive works much better!


butthead"

I finally got it installed at plugged and a larger SD Card in the unit. Now for the next learning curve.