I usually just use a foretrex 301 for biking and running just to record rides and check GR but am thinking of getting an etrex 20 so I can see OS style maps. Can these be had for free or are the maps gonna cost me 10 times the price if the gps?

Me too. Great minds...

Can these be had for free or are the maps gonna cost me 10 times the price if the gps?

Free = No
10 times the price = It seems like it

You can buy and download map tiles from Garmin in 25k chunks but 25km doesn't cover much. An sd card with the UK on, in 1:50000 will cost about £180 or Scotland for £115. Something like the WHW in 1:25000 will be £115.

Works out much cheaper to buy a gps/mapping bundle.

You can get OSM maps for free online. We had a whole thread on here a while ago and I sent out some SD cards to people.
They worked fine on my older etrex legend hcx but I'm not sure if anyone got them working on an etrex 20. From what I've read online, it can be done but I don't know how as I have a different model. On the legend, it's just a case of creating a folder called "garmin" and having the map .img file in it.

Edit: just so you know, OSM are OS style maps but created by people so not as accurate or trust worthy as OS maps. Generally they're ok but in more obscure areas, there's less coverage.

2nd edit : for an idea of the difference between OS and OSM, nip over to bikehike and scroll through the map types for your local area and see how accurate/different it is.

I couldn't get one to work on a 20 but works fine on an eTrex venture cx ... I assume Garmin have changed the way things work.

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=13764

Excuse my ignorance of such things but is this the equivelant of the 1:50000 paper os map? Seems cheaper than other ones mentioned above.

Excuse my ignorance of such things but is this the equivelant of the 1:50000 paper os map? Seems cheaper than other ones mentioned above.

No, that's a topographic map not an OS. It shows roads, contours, rivers and certain tracks and paths but that's about all.

what do we think of errrr this...http://gb.ioffer.com/i/2012-garmin-gb-d ... -127349741

If it's legit* then it's very cheap.

*no real reason to think it isn't I suppose.

I use open source maps from these guys on my Etrex 20 for the about a year and another friend has done the same too.

http://talkytoaster.com/ukmaps.htm

Its free to download full UK maps, but the detail isn't quite as good an OS map. Having said that its got me round the Cairngorm loop and BB200 with out to many problems and with little prior knowledge of either route. I've never used proper OS maps on a GPS unit so can't really compare directly though.

Could be woth a go as it doesn't cost anything to try.

s8tannorm wrote:

Excuse my ignorance of such things but is this the equivelant of the 1:50000 paper os map? Seems cheaper than other ones mentioned above.

No, that's a topographic map not an OS. It shows roads, contours, rivers and certain tracks and paths but that's about all.

Cheers for that. I'm off to look at the talkytoaster site.

I've ordered the rather cheap full set to try, will report back.

If it's a load of rubbish then I'll try the talkytoaster ones

I use an etrex 30. I use the OS maps which generally are pretty good. Even though the detail is there if you have to delve into it too deeply it takes a fair bit of zooming in and out.

I only have the OS mapping for the middle section of england but do really like it.

I've seen new full coverage go for £50 or £60 on fleabay but never seen it that cheap before so have just had a punt at the cheap full coverage there so we shall see what is delivered.

SD card has turned up with the maps...GPS still in the post somewhere though :(

Mine seems to work in my etrex 30. Looked at maps in scottieland, and routes, quick guided ride round here. All seems to work fine. Ridiculously cheap

My 25 quid os maps seem to work fine too, how are they so cheap!

Oh God here we go.... Now the maps are cheap and easy to acquire legally (it seems) which is the cheapest device that will disay them.....

/runs off to spend the day on google shopping

which is the cheapest device that will disay them.....

I see that Amazon have got eTrex 20 for £135 ... don't know if it's cheaper somewhere else.

EDIT: Actually forget Amazon, these are cheaper: http://www.handtec.co.uk/satnav-gps/outdoor-gps.html

I got mine from amazon as handtec don't actually have stock

Garmin Oregon 20s back in at handtec for £130ish and I've ordered some of those maps from that website that screams "dodgy".....

Waiting for my Etrex 30 from handtec. "Dodgy" maps arrived yesterday. Just an SD card in a small case that has a very small Garmin sticker on it and a security seal.

Garmin Oregon 20s back in at handtec for £130ish and I've ordered some of those maps from that website that screams "dodgy".....

Will the Oregon 20 accept OS maps ? The eTrex 20/30 actually mentions OS style mapping but the Oregon only mentions Topo maps.

s8tannorm wrote:

Garmin Oregon 20s back in at handtec for £130ish and I've ordered some of those maps from that website that screams "dodgy".....

Will the Oregon 20 accept OS maps ? The eTrex 20/30 actually mentions OS style mapping but the Oregon only mentions Topo maps.

I didnt know there was such a device as oregon 20? are we talking about a dakota 20 or etrex 20?

I didnt know there was such a device as oregon 20? are we talking about a dakota 20 or etrex 20?

Very good point, it is a Dakota 20 ... Mr Storm was confusing me

Yeah. I'm getting my GPS state derived nomenclature in a twist! :D

Dakota 20 & iOffer maps have been dispatched....