DeLorme Earthmate PN-30 Green Handheld GPS with 1:100k Topographic, Detailed Street Maps and POIs

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 4 x 7.8 inches ; 1.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B002CM3HFE
• Item model number: AE-8091-201
  

By : DeLorme
List Price : $299.95
Price : $239.95
You Save : $60.00 (20%)

Product Description

Color: Green
Amazon.com Product Description
The Earthmate PN-30 is a high-sensitivity, high-performance, bright-color-screen handheld GPS that offers an unrivaled selection of display options including up-to-date DeLorme Topo USA topographic maps; color aerial imagery, USGS 7.5-min. topographic quad maps, and NOAA nautical charts.


A high-sensitivity, high-performance, bright-color-screen handheld GPS that offers an unrivaled selection of display options. Click to enlarge.
With its 32-channel STMicroelectronics Cartesio chipset and DeLorme ConstantLock technology, the PN-30 acquires satellite signals quickly and retains them in the most challenging GPS environments. Map and imagery displays are lightning-quick thanks to a powerful dual-core processor.
The on-board base map includes major highways and thoroughfares worldwide plus secondary and connector roads in the U.S. Detailed U.S.street and topo maps can be selected from the Topo USA software, which is included in the Earthmate PN-30 bundle.
The PN-30 holds up to 1,000 user-defined waypoints, 50 routes, and 10 tracks. All can be easily received from or sent to the Topo USA software. The device displays both road and trail routes automatically generated using Topo USA. Road routes and direct (point-to-point) routes also can be generated on the PN-30.
Available onboard Flash memory totals 500 MB and the PN-30 also supports high-capacity SD cards (SDHC) up to 32 GB. The 65K-color daylight-readable TFT screen provides clarity in any light conditions including direct sunlight. The PN-30 is WAAS-enabled, waterproof to IPX-7 standards, comes in a rugged, impact-resistant rubberized case, and weighs just over five oz.

GPS for All your Favorite Activities
Serious Performance

• Blazing-fast, high-sensitivity 32-channel STMicroelectronics Cartesio chipset
• Dual-core processor for instantaneous map and satellite imagery redraws, even with large aerial imagery files and multiple maps layers
• 360-degree raster rotation sets the PN-30 apart from other common GPS handhelds. With a 360-degree rotation road, building, and other images really are on your left or right as you look at the map and walk, bike or drive
• WAAS-enabled for accuracy within 3 meters
• Supports SDHC high-capacity SD cards (up to 32 GB) for fast and direct map transfer from the included maps discs

Serious Maps

• Included. Comes with four discs containing detailed hybrid 1:100k topographic and street maps of the entire USA, highways and streets for Canada and major roads for Mexico. You do not need anything else to hike, geocache, or navigate the backcountry. It's all in the box.
• Also Included: Sample Certificate. A $40 certificate is included for downloading sample supplementary datasets. Take a "test drive" with any of the supplementary datasets DeLorme offers: high-resolution aerial imagery, USGS 7.5-Minute Quad Map, NOAA Nautical Charts, and more.
• And for only $29.95. Subscribe to the DeLorme Map Library. Get all the USGS Quads, NOAA nautical charts and high-resolution color aerial imagery to layer with your topo and street maps. No hidden charges.
• DeLorme Map Library on Amazon.com.

Serious Tough

• The PN-30 is waterproof to the IEC 529 IPX7 standard
• Designed to function in high-humidity environments, including consistent humidity levels over 90%, and in the rain
• The PN-30 has been rigorously tested to function in high-vibration conditions such as off-road driving
• Operating temperature range for the PN-30 is -20 degrees C to degrees C. The PN-30 should function in extreme cold as well as rapidly-changing temperature environments

Serious Value

• No one else offers COMPLETE U.S. hybrid, routable Topographic and Street maps WITH your initial purchase
• In addition, subscribe to the DeLorme Map Library of downloads for all the USGS 7.5-minute Quads, NOAA nautical charts, and Hi-Resolution Aerial Imagery you want. All downloads are accessed through the NetLink tab of your DeLorme software

Serious Quality, Service ; Support

• Renowned DeLorme-Quality Maps
• Quality Geospatial Engineering
• Quality Hardware Engineering
• Quality U.S.-Based Customer Service
• Quality U.S.-Based Technical Support and Open Online GPS User Forms

What Else Should I Know?
High-Performance TechnologyFeatures STMicroelectronics Cartesio chipset and updated DeLorme firmware for amazing signal acquisition and retention, map scrolling and redraw--even with multiple layers of imagery, topo and street maps.
Multiple Views of the Same GPS LocationOn-device data layering lets you select which map or imagery type to see of your GPS location. Switch among data types to gain a comprehensive view of where you are--it's revolutionary and provides a whole new level of geographic detail.
Bright Color ScreenWorks in bright sunlight to total darkness. Sharp brand screen featuring the latest transflective screen technologies to maximize visibility under a variety of lighting conditions.
Rugged and WaterproofConforms to IPX-7 waterproof standard with impact-resistant rubberized housing for a solid grip. Concealed battery compartment with SD card slot.
Easy Exchange of Maps, Tracks, and WaypointsExchange routes, tracks and waypoints between the GPS and Topo USA (two-way transfers).
Extensive On-Device Memory500 MB of available internal flash memory in addition to the pre-loaded world base map. Holds up to ten tracks (10,000 points per track); 1,000 user-defined waypoints; and 50 routes. SD slot also available.

 

DeLorme Earthmate PN-30 Green Handheld GPS with 1:100k Topographic, Detailed Street Maps and POIs

 

Technical Details

• A high-sensitivity, high-performance, bright-color-screen handheld GPS that offers an unrivaled selection of display options
• Comes with three discs containing detailed hybrid 1:100k topographic
• Super-high-sensitivity 32-channel Cartesio chipset by STMicroelectronics delivers near-instantaneous signal acquisition
• Includes Topo USA 8.0 PC software for planning before you go
• One-year warranty

Customer Reviews

Was looking at several alternatives for a hiking GPS when I noted Amazon's excellent price on the PN-30 ($199 as of 10/23/09). With the faster dual-processor setup, fixed WAAS bug, and higher sat tracking count, the PN30 is a great little GPS for that price.
Using a SDHC 8GB card I was able to quickly load the supplied base topo maps for NV, AZ, CO, NM, UT, CA, and OR. At first cold turn-on it took about 10min to lock in several sats to get a fix. However, all cold starts since then have taken about 30 seconds to get a 3D fix. Very nice. That was the 'easy' part about setup.
If you want color map overlays, aerial image overlays, etc. you have to use the Topo8 software and the netlink feature. There is a learning curve here and while it is not cliff-like, it is somewhat steep (particularly compared to a Garmin GPS, for example). I was able to get a few different areas of aerial image overlays and color maps for a couple of hikes I was going on, however, the download link failed on the 2nd set of maps and continued to fail. As a prior reviewer stated, you can still get them via email, which ended upworking fine. Still feel like I've only barely wet my feet as it were with the Topo8 software. I'll keep digging (luckily there is a wiki and a support board), but it is like slogging through a swamp getting around in there.
The unit itself has a small but VERY VERY visible screen for daylight use. I can barely see the screen on my friend's Garmin Colorado 400T, but the PN30s screen is super easy to read outside in bright light. Yes, compared to some other units out there the PN30s screen is quite small, but you get a damn good screen for quality and daylight visibility. I'll tell you, it is not fun trying to read my friend's Garmin 400T in bright daylight...there's quite a bit of cursing going on at times! (Don't get me wrong the 400T is very NICE, but that horrid screen just does not work in the daylight)
Interal setup is not particularly user-friendly, but it is doable without the manual if you want to go that way. Pages are straightforward, and layering easy to figure out (though learning what Level of Detail to use in Topo8 BEFORE you download is a good idea since my aerial images are not visible at all until you get down to about 640' scale).
Phsyically, it is a bit 'fat' at the bottom, but tolerable and fits the hand well. I have a few gadget pouches and it does not fit in a normal camera pouch due to the thickness at the bottom (~2.5"). The little metal dots for the USB interface connection are okay, though getting the plug in the first time was struggle. It was tight and I thought I was going to break the unit. I understand the use of the metal dots to keep the unit sealed, however, I wonder about connectivity and conductivity over the life of the unit. I guess we'll find out. Same with the memory card location. To keep the unit water-tight it is located under the back panel, beneath the batteries. Get a big SDHC card so you don't have to swap out the card.
I looked at the PN40, but with nearly all of the same features, the PN30 was the best 'bang for the buck'. I am quite happy with the unit thus far. I'd have rated it a 5 if it was not for the less-than-user-friendly setup and Topo8 software (and really out of date road maps for Vegas!)

I purchased this for my daughter for Christmas because my entire family is into geocaching and I have a similar model, the PN-40, that I purchased last year. There is a bit of a learning curve for this device, but it is much nicer in my opinion than some of the other GPS units used for geocaching. I have compared it to several Garmin products, and really like the PN-40 and PN-30 a lot more. One person I know has to carry a Palm for to store cahce information on and his 60-CSX to locate them. The PN-30 stores all that information on one device. While it used to be true that it was easier to load up a Garmin with geocaches from the [...] website or from GSAK, this is no longer the case as the Delorme PN-series are now included in both and load just like the Garmin units do. In addition to that, the PN-30/PN-40 also includes street maps, which the Garmin units do not, unless you pay an additional fee for them. This is nice because it allows me to drive to get close to a cache and then get out and search for it while walking all with one device that has everything you need to do so included with it. I have nothing against Garmin, in fact, I own a Nuvi that I use for trips, it's just that I honestly believe that the PN-30/PN-40 are better and nicer devices for geocaching.
I was a bit surprised and disappointed that the unit my daughter received was clearly a refurbished unit, even though Amazon did not advertise it as such. If it was being sold as a refurb, then it should have been advertised that way. What I eneded up with was paying a new price for a refurbished device, although Amazon did make this right with me by refunding a portion of the cost. The unit appears to work just fine (we haven't thoroughly tested it, but it loaded up maps just fine), but it is scuffed up considerably, especially on the back. The front and screen look fine though.
Overall, I'm not too concerned that it is a refurb though because this will work very well for her. I also know from owning a PN-40 that had some issues with it that Delorme's support is second-to-none and that if there are any issues with it that Delorme will take care if them. It is nice to work with a company that actually cares about it's customers, and Delorme sets the standard that others should try to achieve in customer support. Amazon does as well! I had to send in my PN-40 twice, and on the second time requested a new unit and Delorme did that for me even though they did not have to. Turn-around was quick both times I had to send it in and I have had no trouble since getting the new unit. The first unit I had was bought as soon as the PN-40 was released, and the issues with those early models have been worked out now. Also, the PN-30 appears to run faster than the PN-40 does.
Since my daughter is using this for geocaching she doesn't have to deal with the Delorme software other than to load the maps onto the device. This is very easy to do. All you do is select the maps you want, broken down by regions and states, and let them copy onto the device's SD card. I would recomend getting a 8 - 16 GB card for it, though a 2 GB card is included. If you do need to use the software, I do agree that it can take some time to learn. For Geocahing, just use GSAK and the tools available on the [...] website and you'll be set. No need to use the Delorme software.
This unit is just like the PN-40 except that it does not have a compass that works when standing still or barometric altimeter on it, neither of which we use for geocahing anyway. If you need a compass, a real one would work better than an electronic one anyway. I think the compass on the PN-30 works if you are moving, but I have not verified this. If you want what I view as the best device for geocaching or hiking, then look no further. The PN-30 is definitely it!