Looking for a GPS with high detail zoom level

[RonnieLena]

I'm having big problems finding a suitable GPS for exploring very unpopulated parts of the world that doesn't have major roads.

Then I zoom out to see a whole country (500km) I would like to see even the smallest roads if I want to, not an empty screen.

 

We have always used Streetpilot 7200 in our expedition vehicles, they allows you to set zoom levels manually on every object which is what I want.

But they are getting old and have very low resolution.

I've tried buying a Garmin 2797 but it's just as bad zoom level as the rest modern Garmin I've tried, the smallest roads disappears after 0.8 km zoom level at best!

 

It must be Garmin maps compatible, I want to use OSM maps etc. I would prefer a big screen 7-8" and a GPS that can calculate routes.

Any suggestions? Hack the Garmin 2797? Any good app for Ipad? Or Android? Or Win 8 tablet?

[insig]

Try removing the basemap from the device. You're looking for gmapbmap.img (at least that is what it is on outdoor handhelds). The basemap draws quick when you are zoomed out and see lots of the world, but it isn't very detailed. Once you hit a certain zoom level, the device starts drawing the base map as opposed to other maps. It's going to slow down the map drawing because of all the extra detailed information the device has to churn through, but you'll get to see more when you are zoomed out really far.

 

I do know that there are zoom level setup items for certain map features in outdoor handhelds. For instance, I can set user waypoints to show up at the 500 mi zoom level on an Oregon.

 

EDIT: Alternatively, you could modify the OSM you are using to tell it that the roads are major roads (this might have undesirable effects elsewhere though).

Edited September 2, 2014 by insig

[+Timpat]

I know this doesn't answer your initial question for a new GPS, but in your old one there should be a setting for Map Detail- set it to Most and see if that helps before buying new.

[RonnieLena]

Unfortunately removing the basemap doesn't help, the smallest roads disappears already after 0.8km (.5miles (with most detail)) and it doesn't use the worldmap/basemap until much farther out.

 

Maybe handhelds work better but they are too small for us. And waypoints doesn't help much as we are driving in rural areas where we (and not many other Europeans neither) never been before to explore.

 

To modify the map sounds like a lot of work as we're using a lot of different map but maybe it could be a solution, I check into it!

 

Maybe it best to continue to use our oldies, the Streetpilot 7200 from 2006/2007 in which we can choose to see the dirt tracks then zooming out to see half of the Sahara if we want to and live with the slow and old screen...

And use the nice looking but, for an adventure, useless 2797 then finding hamburger restaurants at home

Edited September 4, 2014 by RonnieLena

[+Mineral2]

You might want something like a Montana where you can customize what features show up at a given zoom level. The Montana is also a hand-held GPS, so you can take it out of the car with you, but it's got a large enough screen to be used as an automotive navigation device.

 

PS, a 7-inch screen is a tablet. I think the largest Nuvi that Garmin makes is a 5-inch screen. If you need something larger, you might consider just using a tablet with a map installed locally on the device.

Edited September 5, 2014 by mineral2

[39_Steps]

4" Android tablet/cell phone in pocket for turn by turn OSM voice directions, plus a mounted large screen computer tablet for wide but detailed display?

[+Mineral2]

You can now get 7" nuvis ... https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/on-the-road/in-car-sat-navs/latest-range/nuvi-2799lmt-d/prod154721.html

 

My god. I might need a bigger car just to fit that on the windshield and still have room to see the road.

[RonnieLena]

The one we always had on our expedition is a 7" Street Pilot 7200. And we tried to buy a 7" Nuvi 2797 now but it was useless for us. Due to the lack of option to set zoom levels on each objects, to be able to see the smallest roads on which ever zoom level I want.

As I understand no Nuvi have that option. And found no android app neither.

Maybe a Montana will work but they are way to small when traveling such a big distances.

We decided to continue to use our old but faithful Streetpilot 7200 instead and live with the low resolution and slow screen. They have couped with 90000km (60000miles) bumping around all Africa, so they will probably last a little longer too.

Edited September 6, 2014 by RonnieLena