Well, I was in Manchester on Saturday and popped into the Cotswold shop. I came out with a new Satmap Active 10 Plus.
The one I'd seen on offer, turned out to a last years one. Anyway with BMC 10% discount I decided to get it in Cotswold.
Ive been thoroughly reading the instructions this time and realised, how much I'd missed with my first one.
I set it up properly this time and downloaded a route through their on line route planner.
I downloaded the same route onto my Garmin Legend, and field tested them against each other today in the continuous pouring rain and drizzle over the Anglezarke moors.
I parked up at Rivington Barn and did a circular inc Rivington Pike, Two Lads fell, Winter Hill, Spittlers Edge, Great Hill, White Coppice, Anglezarke Reservoirs and back to the Barn.
There is only a worldwide map on the Garmin, so it was relying on the route pointer once I activated the navigation. As usual the pointer was brilliant and I could just have simply followed it's direction the whole way round.
On the Satmap, I had the GB 1:50,000 map SD Card inserted. Good big bright screen with very good map, showing my position by means of a blue dot which was very acurate, and again I could have followed the whole route by use of this. Only downside to that is the drain on the battery if doing multi day trip. The route pointer was however fluctuating at times, giving completely wrong direction. It settled down during the last 5 miles, but as yet I don't feel confident with it, which a big disappointment.
The log and other info read outs on both were top notch, and with the garmin you defo also need a map. With the Satmap it makes sense to carry one just in case but you could put it in the sack and just use the devices screen if you wished.
The Garmin tells you if you have gone off route and by how much, the Satmap just points to the next waypoint, however by switching back to map view, you can physically see if you are off route. This is particularly useful if doind a lot of walking during the hours of darkness, as I do, or on an unfamiliar mountain route in thick pea soup.
Still moe to discover about the Satmap, but so far so good, just apity about the pointer.
Dave.

Hi Dave
I only ever use my satmap in map mode, with my blue circle showing where I am and the red dotted trail showing where Ive come from. Im not sure what you mean by the 'route pointer' so have not seen that instability. One thing worth mentioning when in map mode is the 'Trail up' or 'North up' options. The former ensures what you see on the screen is what your seeing on the ground, ie a right fork on the ground shows as a right fork on the screen. 'North up' is like using a static paper map held in fixed position noth upwards, if your heading south your heading down the screen not up, does that make sense ? Ive seen my screen swirling around when using 'trail up' whereas north up gives you a locked solid screen all the time you just have to translate it correctly (not hard). If you use some of the advanced battery saving modes you cannot select 'trail up' as it uses more processing power and therefore more battery, you only have north up mode in that case. Try playing with battery settings, screen brightness and hibernate modes/timers to save battery.
Good luck with it.
Les
PS Im hoping to experiment with a small solar panel to charge mine from the rucksack top before our end May PW.

Thanks Les. Yes I think Ive got most of what you say sussed and Ive set it for good power saving. My comment on power usage, is just what I suspect but may be wrong, as there seems to be plenty of battery power remaining after my walk and ive been using the map screen most of the day.
The pointer is allied to the compass. When following a route, you can switch to 'compass mode' and then press the right hand lower button to activate the route pointer. This pointer then points directly to the next waypoint. This is extremely useful if following a mountain route along a crag edge during bad visibilty due to cloud or whiteout, as when pointing correctly can save you actually walking through the cornice and over the edge. (as we discovered when doing Ben Avon, it was only the gps that got us safely through). So you can see the importance of its reliability. I have contacted Satmap asking about this.
Dave.

I confess, as I have said before, that I have not used the route plotting software,preferring to rely on the blue position marker and the red breadcrumbs trail. I have not had problems with the direction of travel indicator.

As regards maps, mine is too old for the full GB map that is now supplied so I have to purchase 1:50000 or 1:25000 maps independently.

My "site centred" 1:25000 map has proved invaluable as it covers most of northern England between the Lakes and Harrogate and North of Cross Fell down to Skipton (expensive though). I have supplemented these with a Derbyshire 1:25000 and a Borders 1:25000,both bought off Ebay at a tenner each.

I keep an eye out for a cheap Dartmoor one and various thers but paying over £10 is against my Yorkshire roots!

Dave
Not sure but have you calibrated the compass on your unit ? I know if you dont the compasss can be a bit hit and miss so if your pointer uses this feature it may be worth a try. Im told Satmaps tech support is pretty responsive so Im sure you'll sort it.
I note your point regarding bad weather and steep drops, I'll make sure I get familier with this feature !

SC
£10 for a area card is very good, I'd always assumed those deals were not genuine items so had avoided them, maybe I'll try one.

Les

I like my Satmap but wish the screen was easier to see. I often have to look for shady, dark areas to see it clearly. Do you people have the same problem or maybe I have a duff unit?

I found the opposite, the screen is very easy to see and the boost button lights it up really well.
Have you got your illumination on a very low setting>

Dave.

Always check when buying off Ebay that the card comes with its original packing. If it is, it is likely to be genuine. If not, avoid it.

As regards illumination on a bright day, have you tried the night setting?

SC,
The direction of travel pointer line coming from the blue circle, you mentioned - on mine there is no pointer/line.

Les,
I did re-calobrate the compass at the start of my walk and agin after a few miles - made no difference to the pointer.
Dave.

Try ringing tech help. They have always been very forthcoming when I have rung them

Ureka! I've got it.
I received this e mail response from Satmap support,

Main menu>settings>compass settings>grid magnetic angle>”automatic”

Main menu>settings>GPS settings>use GPS compass>”1kph/0.6mph/0.54”

Recalibrate the compass - Main menu>settings>calibrate compass>

I had done the first and last correctly, however in GPS compass settings, I had set it to 3 mph instead of 0.6 mph, as I thought it was to be set to normal average walking pace.
Just set a route to test around the block, and it's bang on now. No fluctuating, steady as a rock.
Interestingly too the blue circle direction pointer has suddenly appeared.
I now think I'm in love with my Satmap.
Thanks for all your help, Les and SC.
Dave.

Slowcoach and Slogger, where are thr boost button and the night setting - sorry hopless with gadgets!

You will find you can adjust the illumination in 'Settings'.
The boost button is the little round one next to the one/off switch.
Dave.

Just a though about your "direction of travel" indicator. This is a feature that was introduced via an update. I wonder if you have the latest version of the software installed. Worth a check.

I just updated my software to the latest v1.5, there is a new feature (for me at least) where you can select the colour/shade of the active route on the map. I can now select a very pale blue so I can see the path detail underneith the active route. If you touch the joystick the route turns to a very dark blue so you can easily view the route overview but normally its quite feint so you can see the detail, this seems to work very well. All selectable in the route/edit option.
Les

Mine came with the v1.5 software, and as ive signed up to the new Expedition planning, I am going to make a few SD route cards. Ive just done one of the Cambrian Way, all nearly 290 miles of it in three sections. Almost 1500 waypoints. The planner and unit can only handle up to 500 waypoints at a time for a route.
I'll do the C2C next, then Offas Dyke.
Dave.

LLoving my Satmap more and more.
I purchased a 4GB SD card solely for use with my Satmap.
Using their Expeditions route planner to great detail with 1:25,000 mapping, I have now plotted and saved onto it, the full Cambrian way, Coast to Coast (official route) and Offas Dyke path.
These are all very close to 1500 waypoints each.
The way they work is - you insert into the Satmap the SD routes card and transfer the chosen route section to 'Internal Storage'.
Then take out the SD card and insert the mapping SD card.
The chosen route then shows on the mapping.
Mine is 1:50,000 at the moment, but obviously will show more details if you have 1:25,000 maps or map tiles.
Dave.

Mine was invaluable today walking between Tailbridge and Brownber Head. No maps to unfold in the rain/sleet/snow. Very poor visibility but easily managed to forge a direct line to the summit by keeping the DOT indicator under a "Go TO" set on the top.

"LLoving my Satmap more and more"

Is it a Welsh Satmap?

Glad your getting on well with it Dave, I think you got a (relative) bargain at the price you mentioned. I use walking Highlands site to plot my routes currently, download them via Satsyn direct to the Satmaps internal memory. Im currently plotting my LEJOG route at the moment, I'm upto my 9th 500 way point section so far, I actually enjoy playing with these map tools when Im not out and about.

Any idea of how many waypoints the internal memory can take?
Dave.

Im not sure Dave but my 9 files plus some other local walks had only used around 30%. I all routes stored on a laptop as GPX files and each 500 point file is tiny, just a few Kb's each so I dont think capacity will be an issue. Its also very easy to upload them afresh using satsync from the PC.