Delorme Earthmate PN-20 Portable Navigator

This review is written in the context that I have owned 4 handheld GPS's, I also own a TomTom for the car. I also own and use DeLorme mapping software for a year previously to purchasing the PN-20 I should state that I'm always disappointed when any software directs you to make additional purchases, such as in the Topo software provided with the PN-20. I understand the need for updates in mapping software, however topographical features change very little over time. I expect to be able to pay for a product and use it up front. If this is possible with DeLorme's Topo software I have yet to find a way to do this, nor do I have any plans to pay any fees into the distant future. I've read other reviews stating how hard it was to load maps into the PN-20 but thought I would have an advantage since I've used DeLorme Street Atlas USA 2008 for more then a year and used it to load maps into my Palm. Not so and how disappointing. My PN-20 came with a set of 4 “Regional Maps” DVD (not to be confused with the “Topo USA” DVD) that where very easy to load onto an 8 gig SD card. I was able to fit 5 large states on the 8-gig card. The definition of “regional maps” is not defined but appears to be more geared to street mapping rather then topo, showing everything from residential streets to the Interstate freeway system. Although this provided turn-by-turn directions in the PN-20, it has not been able to find one address I've entered, not one, including my house. The PN-20 is able to provide turn-by-turn directions to “point of interest.” Again, how disappointing. Oddly – you are not able to load maps into the PN-20 from DeLorme's Street Atlas USA 2008 (purchased separately by me) and found a statement to this effect in the Street Atlas USA 2008 help section. What's up with that DeLorme, you should treat your customers better then that, considering the customer that purchased your software above and beyond what was provided in the box of the PN-20. To add salt to the wound – it was through the Street Atlas USA 2008 whereby I first learned of the PN-20. But wait, pass the salt again,,, the maps I loaded into my Palm from Street Atlas USA 2008 are able to find all my addresses, including my house. Wow my Palm can do what the PN-20 can't, do I dare say it again, how disappointing. I should say at this point that DeLorme's Street Atlas USA 2008 and Topo USA are able to import waypoints from other GPS devices and also use those GPS to collect data to run mapping and routing, including from my Magellan Explorist 210. Okay DeLorme, finally – thumbs up. For the money I like PN-20 unit itself. I would have liked to see a future that could organize waypoints better. Show by symbol would be nice, although there is the ability to show waypoints at a predefined magnification on the map. The ability to save sets of waypoints in separate files seems to be missing. The PN-20 replaces my Explorist 210, so this is quite a step up for me. It'll no doubt be a better hiking companion then the 210, but could be better if DeLorme wasn't holding back.

I did a lot of research before buying a gps unit as we didn't have a lot of money to spend on one but still wanted to get the most out of what we did have. I mainly use this unit for geocaching and it is great! I have just recently started using it to route my way to caches or to get me home when I've gotten lost going to garage sales! I like that the buttons are on the front panel rather than the sides where you hold the unit. The fact that the topo maps come with the unit are a great deal plus I got $140 worth of gift certificates for more maps that I haven't even needed to use yet! My dad is a Garmin user and has spent hours on the phone with customer service for his gps and he says that their topo maps are worthless. I haven't had a single problem with my Delorme and I have been using it daily since the beginning of April.

I have had this product for a short time only, I got it for geocaching only, I did recieve topo 8 maps, and 1GB card and card reader, computer cable. and a $40 map certificate for onling map downloads. It is a Paperless geocaching. I would recommend this unit to anyone wanting to by at hand held on a budget but wants top of the line features.

i really enjoy the pn20, its a great product and easy to use. although i am not to satisfied with the aerial imagery i downloaded with the $100 gift certificate, used 60 of it recieved the files found out the pictures are from 94-95 and one area is almost 40 miles out of place. needless to say i dont recomend the aerial imagery but everything else is great.

I found the Delorme PN-20 GPS on sale at Walmart for $150. This included the Topo 7.0 Software, where Garmin and others charge extra or the GPS / software bundles were much higher. The software and GPS came with two certificates ($140) to allow you to download different type maps that can be used with the GPS and Topo Software. I haven't had the opportunity to use my GPS as much as I would have liked (I purchased this after Christmas), but have taken it hiking in Western NC mountains and biking on the Greenway near our house. The preloaded software had many of the trails I want to hike on the Topo maps. I have been able to download geocache ".loc" files and load them directly to the GPS. I used the GPS to mark my parents land markers for future reference if needed. I've even used the "streets" version of the software to use in my car to get me to a concert in an area I was unfamiliar with. Overall, this was a great investment and the GPS is pretty awesome. It uses 2 AA batteries and seems to last a long time. The GPS was able to easily locate a number of the satellites pretty quick. After I had registered my software and GPS, I had a representative from Delorme contact me through e-mail and asked if I have any questions about the GPS or software. I was really impressed in the quick responses I received to my questions. Great deal and I highly recommend this product to someone that's getting into hiking / geocaching and on a tight budget. If you are an avid hiker / geocacher / boater and can afford it, I would look at the PN-40, which has more features and a faster processor to calculate positioning, etc.