I’m also very pleased to report that the PN-60w & SPOT Communicator systems that were used on the climb performed perfectly, allowing us to track our progress and send messages along the way. This was my first extended trip into an area with no cell phone coverage so I want to compliment the project teams from DeLorme and SPOT on a job well done. The messages appearing on the Shared SPOT Page are a confirmation of a lot of hard work that has gone into this project. A three day climb in the High Sierras with editors from Backpacker Magazine doing their own evaluations of our progress really was quite a test! You can imagine how exciting it was to hear all the messages I sent being downloaded to my phone as I was showering up at the Mt Whitney Hostel in Lone Pine.

I’ve attached a couple of photos from the summit. I’ll be posting pictures along with some great video from the trip onto the Summit For Someone SPOT Adventures Page when I get a chance. Take a close look at the USGS Benchmark and notice that the auto calibration feature on the PN-60w had our elevation at 14,025 feet as compared to the surveyed 14,042, not too shabby when you consider I’ve gotten so used to the auto feature I don’t calibrate on my own anymore! I can handle a difference of 17 feet after flying from Maine to California and climbing to 14,000 feet…

Take a look at the messages on the SPOT Adventures Page to see some of the details we sent back. Use the arrows at the bottom of the message list on the left to scroll through all of the Check-in and Track Progress messages, there were quite a few sent over the three days! My summit message appears on the second page. They cover a wide range of topics from curious marmots to icy alpine swimming to geocoins dropped off above 14,000 feet. I’m sure you’ll find them entertaining. My favorite part of the trip was being able to say goodnight to my daughter and check-in with the rest of my family back in Maine. It was rewarding to see the Backpacker crew doing the same thing before turning in each night… Peace of Mind Wherever You Go. Verified on the slopes of Mount Langley in the Sierra Mountains!

Take care,
Chip Noble
DeLorme

This picture was taken when we got our first view of Mt Langley’s summit. Check out the PN-60w on my hip and the SPOT Communicator on my shoulder!

This picture was taken at the summit of Mt Langley. You can see Mt Whitney in the background, the tallest peak to the left of the range and the highest summit in the United States lower 48! At 14,494 feet it is 452 feet taller than Mt Langley.

There is a USGS survey marker on the summit of Mt Langley. I was very impressed to see the PN-60w reporting 14,025 feet and the benchmark reporting 14,042 feet. Not bad having traveled from Maine to California without any calibrating!

The group took a break to rest at the top. I shot this picture from my perch on the edge of the mountain. Keep this photo in mind when you look at the aerial imagery on the SPOT Shared Page. The approach we took to the summit was gradual but you can clearly see the point in the imagery where the summit drops to a shear wall facing North. I took a photo looking down from here but can’t post it because it will scare my mother!

Okay, okay… I’ll get back to the tech talk now because I know that’s what you’re here to read about. As all of you know, we started taking orders for our Earthmate PN-60w SE & SPOT Communicator last Friday. I’m very excited by the response that we’ve received already. To give everyone a little glimpse into what the SPOT Communicator is all about, I’ve brought along GPS devices and satellite messengers for the people from Backpacker to test out. You will all be able to follow along in real-time on DeLorme’s Shared SPOT Page as we hike from the trail head to our base camp tomorrow, make our summit attempt on Wednesday, and descend back to the trail head on Thursday. We’ll be using the PN-60w & SPOT’s satellite communicator to track our progress, as well as send messages as we go. The live map will show our location, updated every 10 minutes, along with the messages we send. Please note that right now it shows my less exciting final test run along the highway from Maine to Connecticut… I’ll be clearing that out just before we start climbing tomorrow. When I return to civilization I’ll upload photos and video to the Backpacker Magazine’s Summit for Someone SPOT Adventures page so that you can experience a little bit of Mt. Langley, California’s southern most 14er in the Sierra Range!

To hold you over until tomorrow… here’s a screenshot from Topo North America 9.0. It took me a long time to finish setting up the GPS devices because I kept getting distracted by the amazing 3-D view with Digital Globe imagery draped over the mountain. I can’t wait to see this in person…

Take care,

Chip Noble
Team DeLorme

I had no idea there were so many geocaches in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia until I used the geocaching features in Topo North America 9.0 to download the pocket query for the area…

This should definitely improve Team DeLorme’s chances of finding a few caches to drop off Eartha 3-D geocoins while we’re there this weekend. Be sure to follow our DeLormeGPS Twitter account for more information!

Chip Noble
Team DeLorme

I’ll be giving a talk on DeLorme’s new GPS device and our partnership with SPOT, showing off the new geocaching features in Topo North America 9.0 and on the PN-60w’s SPOT Communicator Page, and answering any questions that current and potential DeLorme customers might have.

Here’s a sneak peek at our new Geocaching feature for Topo North America 9.0—the ability to synchronize all of your Pocket Queries with the Topo software and the GPS device, all with a single click of the Sync button! I  have the Auto Sync option enabled so all I have to do is plug the GPS device in and wait for the progress bar to let me know the sync is complete.

If you look closely at the image above, you’ll see the GeoWoodstock VIII PQ, the GeoWoodstock Meet and Greet PQ, and the Groundspeak Lost and Found PQ. Team DeLorme will have a booth at all three events and will be looking for members of Team Serious and the general public to stop by to talk shop! Pay no attention to the Easy Caches Near GeoWoodstock VIII PQ, I have no idea where that search came from…

It might be worth your while to follow our Twitter account too, since that is the way we will announce the geocache location of each new release of our second generation Eartha 3-D geocoin!

We’ve created a new feature allowing users to log their Geocache Find message directly to the GC.com cache page with their SPOT Communicator.

This can be done anywhere, regardless of cell phone coverage! We’re very excited to start dropping of geocoins and sending satellite messages to help people find them. Watch the Twitter account though, we’re not mentioning the coins in our geocache logs since we want to give everyone a level playing field for getting release news. We don’t want to give any unfair advantages to cache owners…

I should also mention that there’s going to be a 2-D version of the Eartha coin available at GeoWoodstock and the Geocaching.com event, just ask about it at the DeLorme booth. If you’re a coin trader we’ve got a very limited number of the Team DeLorme coins too… trade and have your coin put on display in the Team DeLorme geocoin collection at DeLorme Headquarters!

Stop by and visit if you’re in the area, we hope to see you all there!

Chip Noble
Team DeLorme

I will be testing the limits of my GPS knowledge, my cycling skill, and my marriage… you see, I bought a tandem bicycle for our sixth run from Sunday River to the sea. My wife, who patiently waits for me to run all of my GPS tests, will now be trapped on the same bicycle with me! We’ve added to the excitement by picking up our new ride just yesterday so neither of us have actually ridden a tandem before… not even our dog Beezy, although she had some suggestions.

Fortunately we’ll have our Earthmate PN-60w & SPOT Communicator with us to make sure we don’t get lost.

Although I’m not sure I want to see the new profile information as we approach the big hill in the middle of day one in Weld!

I’ll have full trip statistics with me so that I can keep track of how far it is to the finish!

For those of you looking to follow along, you’ll be able to track our progress on this three day ride… complete with Type & Send messages giving updates on how things are going… Note that there are no messages on the site yet since we don’t start riding until tomorrow morning.

Team DeLorme – Trek Across Maine Shared Page (Sorry – the Trek is over so there is no content on the live site, I’m working on a SPOT Adventures Page with all of our messages.)

Keep an eye out here and on our Twitter account for reports from the field. Now I have to run and finish packing the car!

Ride safe,

Chip Noble
Team DeLorme

You can follow all of the DeLorme and SPOT activity by going to our Teva Mountain Games Shared SPOT Page below… you can see all of the Check-in messages and Tracks being created by media, athletes, and people checking out the new release!

Sorry, Teva SPOT messages have expired, the shared page is no longer available.

Check back for more news from DeLorme, SPOT, and the Teva Mountain Games!

Chip Noble
Team DeLorme

The following screenshots and descriptions are part of my results for a Beta Challenge that requires the use of all the hardware and software we are releasing to Plan, Explore, and Share the results of an adventure. While not a major summit here in Maine, our Pleasant Mountain hike was my daughter’s first ascent so we were pretty excited to be able to send a message to her grandparents from the top!

Here are the steps we followed to put the trip together:

Planning

The Planning screenshot shows two waypoints—one for the parking lot and another for the summit of Pleasant Mountain. We actually used the DeLorme Atlas & Gazetteer descriptions to select the mountain because it is the closest one to our house that had over 1,000 feet of elevation gain. I created a route from the parking lot to the summit and then created a track based on that route so that I could profile the hike on the PN-60w. I used the Geocaching features in Topo North America to create a Pocket Query in case there were any caches on the mountain. The last thing I did was download the aerial imagery for the mountain so that I could see detailed information about the terrain.

Exploring

When we arrived at the parking lot, I picked the Pleasant Mountain Route and started navigating. I also opened the Pleasant Mountain Track so that I could view the Profile Page. During the hike, we created a few waypoints and took a lot of pictures (did I mention it was our daughter’s first hike?). We sent a few messages with the SPOT Communicator and recorded our track the whole way. When we got to the summit, I changed waypoint layers to view the geocache pocket query. Unfortunately I was not able to find “Pleasant Surprise” so I had to log a “Didn’t Find It.” We did locate the USGS Benchmark on the summit and were able to mark a waypoint to compare later.

Sharing

After we got home, I used Earthmate GPS Sync in Topo North America to download the new track and update the waypoint file in my Pleasant Mountain Hike project. I also copied the pictures from our camera and used GeoTagger in Topo North America to map them. I went to my online SPOT account and viewed the messages that I sent and verified that they all went out to the right contacts. I created a Map Share so that you can see the results, and I’ve also included the Topo North America project file in case any of you are interested in climbing Pleasant Mountain here in Maine!

MapShare Link

Hopefully this “round trip” example gives you a little taste of how the Earthmate PN-60w, SPOT Communicator, and Topo North America can be used to plan your adventure, explore with all the maps and GPS info you need, and share your trip with friends and family from the trail or from home once you return safely.

We took a second hike this past weekend and found ourselves battling the black flies on the way to the Bald Mountain summit. Please forgive the single take video on YouTube but we were getting chomped and I didn’t have time for edits! My daughter was calling for the loons to swim toward us in case you can’t understand the yelling two-year old in the background. The video shows an Earthmate PN-60w with aerial imagery, contours, and track information. I go quickly through sending a Check-in/OK message to the Team Serious beta testers that are working with the PN-60w and SPOT Communicator. The screenshot below from SPOT’s website shows the “Wish you were here!” message as it was received along with other messages sent while using Track Progress to let family and friends follow our hike. We also sent a message from the west side of the lake when we found our first geocache with the new GPS and satellite communicator!

Keep an eye out for more information about the Earthmate PN-60w and SPOT Communicator as we head into the summer. DeLorme and SPOT are attending lots of events so there will be opportunities to check things out here or in person if we are in your neighborhood.

Chip Noble
Team DeLorme

Good news… SPOT received their FCC certification paperwork last night so we are good to go with offering the PN-60 w SE for sale now with the SPOT unit to follow later in August when available.

As communicated in my blog posts, DeLorme customers who have signed up will be notified via email today with a link that will lead them to a total of $150 in savings for this combination product. We are doing this in part to thank many of you for your patience while we have been waiting for the SPOT cert to come through.

This way you can step up to the SE model with 16-GB of internal memory now and then later when available receive a SPOT unit shipped at our expense with a total savings amount that equals the cost of the SPOT unit when sold alone. It’s a great offer and only available for existing DeLorme customers as part of our loyalty program, especially given that supplies are genuinely limited (I know everyone always says this but it is true).

You can also call us at 800-561-5105 if you prefer over email and our East Coast call center opens at 9 AM this morning to help you.

Our supply of SE units is smaller than I had hoped but we do have more being produced now. Anyone who signed up to be notified will be eligible for this introductory offer through this summer and then we will need to see how inventories are looking and plan from there out.

We have recently received some very exciting news about this product combination, some involving a major tech celebrity who will be using it soon and others involving prestigious advance award notifications, which we hope will come to fruition. (Amazon has already named it one of the Top Tech Products of the Year.)

This is truly a fun and fascinating new product pairing based on my own experiences and we are all excited and feel like we are on the cusp of seeing the rewards of our labors. This has been one of those rare stretch projects where two teams (DeLorme plus SPOT) had to work together with a great deal of complex technologies and boil them all down into a product that many people will be able to enjoy.

So thanks again for your patience and I will continue to provide updates here so you know how supplies and timings are looking as we continue down the road.

p.s. I imagine Chip will make a post or two but he is getting ready to go on a private climb with the top editors of Backpacker who are eager to see it all work and report back from remote locations. We also are a sponsor of the Boy Scouts’ 100-year Jamboree and will have many people there running GPS and geocaching sessions. We also will be attending the Midwest Geobash this summer.

CMason
DeLorme Staff

PN-60w and SPOT Communicator: Question and Answer…
Published: Jan 19, 2010

There have been a lot of great questions posted since our announcement at CES: DeLorme and SPOT—Handheld GPS Meets Satellite Communication. I’ve gone through our blog, our forum, and a few other locations writing answers and providing more detail. Sometimes it can be hard to keep track of all the information, so I thought I’d bring the answers back here to our blog to keep everyone informed.

Differences between the PN-40, PN-60, and PN-60w…

• All the devices in the PN-Series line are built with the same form factor so don’t worry about your existing mounts, batteries, cables, or other accessories—they’ll still work.
• The PN-Series devices all use the same screen and the same GPS chipset so expect the same daylight readability and fast acquisition times.
• The PN-60 and PN-60w have an ambient light sensor to control the screen backlight and help with power management.
• The PN-60 and PN-60w have 3.5 GB of internal memory compared to the 500 MB in the 40.
• A PN-60wse to be sold directly from DeLorme will offer 8.0 16.0 GB of internal memory.
• Improvements have been made increasing processor speed and USB transfer rates.
• The PN-60w is the only device with a wireless antenna and the ability to connect to the SPOT Communicator.

Power management improvements…

• Considerable effort has gone into our power management update on the PN-60 and PN-60w.
• Our tests have shown a 30% improvement when running two AA Energizer batteries in Normal mode with 14 hour test results and there’s still work to be done for our Power Saving mode.
• In Power Saving mode, the ambient light sensor detects when there’s enough daylight or darkness to reduce the screen backlight.
• In Power Saving mode, the accelerometer detects when the device has been stationary and the GPS can be stepped down or turned off.

USB transfer rate increase…

• There is a 40% increase in the transfer rate between desktop and device. This will be important when moving large map packages to the device.
• We have removed the Connect to Computer screen when first connecting the PN to the desktop.
• The user will be able to place waypoint, geocache, track, and map files on the internal memory or the SD card without making changes to the computer connection.

SPOT Communicator features…

• The final plastics for the SPOT Communicator are still being engineered. It will be about half the size of the PN-60w.
• The SPOT Communicator runs on two e2 Lithium batteries.
• The SPOT Communicator has a power button and an SOS button built into it for use without the PN-60w or in case the 60w is damaged or runs out of power.
• All of the non-SOS features like Check In and Tracking are triggered by the PN-60w interface using the wireless connection.
• Text messages for Check In, Help, and SOS are created using the virtual keyboard in the PN-60w interface.
• The SPOT satellite messaging system is send only—from the device to the satellites to the SPOT back office. It is not possible to receive message receipt confirmation or replies.

DeLorme-SPOT vs. PLBs…

• The DeLorme PN-60w and SPOT Communicator offer functionality not available in a Personal Locator Beacon; text messaging, multiple distribution lists, and tracking.
• Use the DeLorme-SPOT system to send a 50-character Check In text message to let friends and family know details of your trip.
• Send 50 characters of detail about your emergency should you need to request assistance.
• Choose from your e-mail and text message distribution lists in the field; send a private message to your wife or an announcement to all of your geocaching friends.
• Use the Tracking feature to send location updates to your SPOT Adventures page with a 10 minute interval so that your adventure followers can watch your progress in real time.

New features in the PN-60 and 60w firmware…

• The PN-60 and 60w have a new icon based UI that people reading this blog have seen.
• There is also a new Profile Page for viewing an elevation graph of your active or saved track file.
• GPX files containing waypoints, geocaches, and tracks can be stored on the internal memory or the SD card.
• The PN-60 and 60w have activity based settings so the user can view info fields and other configuration details for the activity they are doing. When their activity changes the user can choose a different activity setting to update info fields; think Hiking, Cycling, Geocaching, Hunting, Fishing.
• There is a new button lock feature, an improved keyboard for text entry, and the screen will flip if you turn the device upside down… sweet.

Firmware updates for the PN-30 and PN-40…

• We will continue to support all of the PN-Series devices and will release a 2.8 firmware update for the 30 and 40.
• The 2.8 firmware update will deliver waypoint and track file management on the SD card.
• This update will not include new features for the PN-60 and 60w, such as the UI update, Profile Page, or activity-based settings.
• The 2.8 firmware update is available only with Topo USA 9.0—PN-40s and 30s with the 2.8 firmware update will not work with Topo USA 8.0 and earlier versions.

Fall firmware update for Wireless Mesh Networking…

• The PN-60w has a wireless antenna that uses an ultra-low power transmitter and can travel long distances.
• Current tests show roughly one mile with a clear line of site, range decreases with more uneven terrain, and obstructed views.
• The wireless protocol is 802.15.4 and is not compatible with home wireless solutions using 802.11.
• Any PN-60w device can connect to others in the area and transfer waypoint, geocache, track, and route files along with location information and text messages.
• Each device has a security feature allowing the user to join a network, deny someone access, or hide their device completely.
• The wireless antenna can be turned off to save power.

Data updates…

• We are releasing worldwide high resolution aerial imagery for the PN-Series devices as a new NetLink subscription. This subscription will be available for PN-60 owners with Topo USA 9.0 as well as owners with previous PN-Series devices and earlier versions of Topo USA.
• The resolution of this imagery varies throughout the world but will be equal or better than that currently offered in the Map Library subscription for the US.
• We will release more information about the worldwide high resolution aerial imagery as development progresses.
• Our 1:250k world vector maps will also be offered through NetLink for purchase in small coverage areas. This dataset will appear in Topo USA and on the PN-Series devices giving more detailed roads to international users.
• For those familiar with DeLorme’s Atlas & Gazetteer series, we will be including the Gaz descriptions for Unique Natural Features, Family Outings, and Outdoor Activities so that people can search Topo USA or their PN devices for paragraph descriptions of interesting destinations.

Topo USA 9.0 updates…

• Topo USA 9.0 will release with the PN-60 and PN-60w. It will also be sold as an upgrade for Topo USA 8.0 owners.
• Topo USA 9.0 contains the 2.8 firmware update for PN-30 and PN-40 owners. This update will allow PN-30/40 owners to use the new Sync dialog.
• There is a new Earthmate GPS Sync dialog in Topo USA 9.0 that uses a single button to update all files on the desktop and the device.
• Hardcore Serious Tool users can still use one way send or receive to manage their GPS data.
• A Geocaching.com Pocket Query sync feature in Topo USA 9.0 will allow users to send pocket queries directly to their PN during a sync update.
• There are no data format changes in Topo USA 9.0 or the new GPS device; maps created with Topo USA 8.0 are still compatible with the new PN-60 and 60w.

XMap Service Pack…

• XMap 7.0 will be updated to work with the PN-60/PN-60w and PN-30/PN-40 soon after the product releases.

NetLink and Map Library updates…

• Existing Map Library subscriptions will transfer to the new Topo USA 9.0 release.
• No changes to the current NetLink order process are planned based on the new world imagery and world vector map data.
• Canadian PN-Series users are now able to view DeLorme street level vector maps, Canadian 1:50K topographic sheets, and will soon have high resolution world aerial imagery.

Pricing and Release Schedule…

• The Earthmate PN-60 will retail for $399.
• The Earthmate PN-60w will retail for $449.
• The bundled PN-60w and SPOT Communicator will retail for $549.
• The standard SPOT annual subscription costs $100 with Tracking and Messaging for roughly $50 each.
• I’ve heard a few ways to look at the annual subscription… my favorite breaks it down to about $17 a month.
• Unfortunately there will not be a trade-in program for existing PN-Series users to upgrade.
• All components of this project, the PN-60w, SPOT Communicator, Topo USA 9.0, Worldwide Aerial Imagery, and DeLorme World Vectors are scheduled for a May 1st release.

Wow, I didn’t realize how many good questions were out there! I hope that everyone finds these details useful. Keep posting new questions and we’ll do our best to answer them. The design and development process are in full swing so there are new and exciting features coming on-line every day! Thanks for taking the time to read this update.

Take care,
Chip Noble
Team DeLorme

Update 01/31/10: Questions from Team Serious Tools…

The power users on the DeLorme Forum have been posting lots of good questions so I’ll answer here in the hopes that others will benefit from their inquiries…

• The 2.8 firmware update will be made available with a Cache Register update for existing users and will be made part of the Cache Register product that is available for new DeLorme geocachers.
• The 2.8 firmware update for the PN-30/40 will work with waypoints, tracks, and maps created in Topo USA 8.0, users will just have to manually transfer the data by changing the Device Setup>Connect to Computer setting. Note that users will need to export their Draw layers as GPX files with Topo USA 8.0 then do the transfer. The Topo USA 9.0 Earthmate Sync dialog will do all of this automatically during the transfer.
• DeLorme will be working with 3rd party developers to help update support for the new PN sync protocol. We want you all to be able to use your favorite data management packages with your new PN-60s and updated firmware.
• NetLink will continue to work with older versions of Topo USA. There are improvements being made to the NetLink tab and new datasets being prepared as part of this release. Check your NetLink tab for the Canadian 1:50K Topographic Sheets that have already been added to the Map Library subscription.
• The 2.8 firmware update will be part of the Topo USA 9.0 setup, the Cache Register update setup, and the XMap 7.0 service pack setup. There will not be any charge for the Cache Register update or the XMap service pack.
• Topo USA 9.0 delivers updated topographic data, roads, trails, and the new DeLorme Atlas & Gazetteer points with detailed descriptions for Unique Natural Features, Outdoor Adventures, and Family Outings.
• The PN-60 delivers processor speed improvements, 3.5 GB of internal memory, an ambient light sensor and much improved battery performance and USB transfer rates.

More updates as the questions come in… For those interested in following the questions and answers in all the different locations… I check the following threads pretty regularly:

• DeLorme Forum: DeLorme Earthmate GPS PN-60/60w
• DeLorme Forum: DeLorme Earthmate GPS PN-30/40 – Firmware version 2.8
• Groundspeak Forum: Search for +DeLorme -Challenge to separate threads about DeLorme’s products from the DeLorme Challenge geocache efforts to find a cache on every page of a state’s Atlas & Gazetteer.

Take care,
Chip Noble
Team DeLorme

SPOT Communicator

As you may have heard, DeLorme has partnered with SPOT to release a new PN-Series GPS device that will use the SPOT satellite system to communicate text messages from remote locations where cell phones don’t have coverage. The PN-60w will connect wirelessly to the SPOT Communicator and be able to send free form text messages to friends and family as well as to websites like Twitter and Facebook. We’re also working closely with the folks at Groundspeak to deliver some very exciting geocaching features, including the ability to log finds directly from the field!

Both companies have been hearing from users looking for a GPS with great maps and the ability to share location information with others and we’re thrilled to be making this request a reality. Users will be able to create text messages and send them to e-mail or cell phone addresses. They will also be able to update social networking sites or use the SPOT Adventures page to share their messages. Along with text messaging, users will have access to standard SPOT features like Tracking and SOS Emergency Assistance. I have been testing the SPOT devices for a while now and have been very impressed with the ability to send a pre-canned “All Okay” message to my family while in the woods or let my friends track my progress on a multi-day cycling trip. During the Trek Across Maine I sent Check In messages at each rest stop and also used the Track Progress option to send my location to our SPOT Adventure page every ten minutes while on the ride. Fortunately, I haven’t had to test the SOS feature, but the “Peace of Mind Wherever You Go” slogan has really held true when I’m in the North Maine Woods, well outside of cell phone coverage. We’ll be taking the current SPOT messages to the next level by allowing users to type in their own free form messages from the field.

Hardware Updates

Along with the great satellite communication capabilities provided by the SPOT Communicator, there are additional hardware improvements coming with the PN-60w. The new device will have significantly improved battery performance using an ambient light sensor to control backlight intensity along with other measures as part of our redesigned power management system. The PN-60w also provides 3.5 GB of internal memory available for storing maps, waypoints, geocaches, tracks, and routes.

 New Interface

There are several new and exciting software features coming with the Earthmate PN-60w too. We’ll be releasing a new interface that gives the PN-60w a stylish look and improves menu navigation. The icon based main menu will provide easy access to each page on the device while streamlining the sub menus used to access individual page details.

Profile Page

There will be a new Profile page for viewing elevation data from tracks, showing where you’ve been and where you’re going. The active track can be profiled to show an elevation graph of the ground you’ve covered so far on your trip. Profiling a saved track while you’re traveling along that same path will show your GPS location on the graph—letting you know how far you’ve traveled and how far you have to go before the next summit. I was able to use the Profile page quite a bit before the end of the cycling season and actually got to demo it for George Hincapie and David Zabriskie during the Dempsey Challenge, a Maine cycling event for Patrick Dempsey’s Center for Cancer Hope and Healing. It was very exciting to see the enthusiasm for the feature and to know exactly when those hills would be over during the 100 mile ride!

SD Card Storage

The PN-60w will read GPX files from the SD card as well as internal memory, allowing virtually unlimited waypoints, tracks, and maps. Users will be able to create waypoint, geocache, and track layers to better organize their GPS data on the device. I’ve loaded all of my waypoints for my different activities and am able to quickly change between waypoint collections when I need to see locations or mark a new coordinate. It’s been a great improvement in organization alone—I’m now able to view only the waypoints around camp rather than every point I’ve ever created. I’ve also been able to organize all of my geocache pocket queries. I have four pocket queries with 500 geocaches in each list; that’s 2,000 geocaches. I switch pocket queries based on where I’m located and who I’m caching with. It’s great to be able to pull up the “Kid friendly caches” list when I’m out with my nieces but go back to the “Caches with travel bugs” list when I’m looking to trade a Team DeLorme coin!

Worldwide Aerial Imagery, World Vector Base Map, and Canadian Topographic Maps

While I’m talking about the new hardware and firmware features I also need to mention some very exciting data features that will be appearing at the same time as the PN-60w and SPOT release. DeLorme will be creating a new map subscription level through NetLink offering aerial imagery for the world along with the ability to purchase sections of our new world vector base map. This will allow subscribers to download high detail aerial imagery like that used by Google and Microsoft for anywhere in the world and then combine that imagery with 1:250K worldwide vector map data.

For those interested in Canadian data, we’ve already released our 1:50K Canadian Topo Sheets dataset that provides topographic maps to go along with the street level detail found in Topo USA. Adding the worldwide aerial imagery subscription will provide a great variety of maps for those looking to explore in Canada.

Wireless PN-60w Networks

The last feature that I’d like to share will be delivered to PN-60w users through a firmware update in the fall. The “w” in PN-60w stands for wireless, as illustrated by the wireless connection to the SPOT Communicator. It also stands for wireless because users are going to be able to create wireless networks with other PN-60w owners and see everyone’s locations on their device. Current testing has shown an average range of around half a mile with results varying by terrain and line of sight. We are very excited to do more testing with this new functionality as it will be a great way to keep track of friends while fly-fishing or teammates while cycling! Friends will be able to see each other in real-time while skiing or snowmobiling. We hope that anyone with the need to see the location of others in their group will take notice of this new feature when it becomes available. Along with being able to see the location of other PN-60w users, it will be possible to exchange waypoints, tracks, and routes through the wireless network—allowing users to share geocache locations or a mountain bike trail with friends at the trailhead.

My apologies for writing such a long post but there was a lot to share! This is the biggest project I’ve worked on in my 12 years at DeLorme and it’s been hard for all of us to keep things quiet this long! There will be a lot more information shared as we approach the May release date of the PN-60w and SPOT Communicator. Feel free to post any questions you might have here or on the DeLorme forum. You’ll find details on our CES Press Release as well. Thank you for taking the time to learn more about our upcoming release!

Chip Noble
Team DeLorme

Storing waypoints and tracks on the SD card has caught the attention of many PN-40 owners who use Topo USA. I am writing this post to let all of you know that we are going to release a version 2.8 firmware update that delivers this same waypoint and track support on the SD card, as well as support for geocaches. You will be able to copy GPX files containing waypoints or tracks from Topo USA to your SD card and open them while you are out on the trail. You will also be able to save newly created waypoints and tracks while you’re out, for use later with the device or with your desktop software.

There is still a 1,000 waypoint or geocache limit for each GPX file and a track is still limited to 10,000 points with one active and one viewed; however, the size of the SD card you’re using is the only restriction for the number of files you can take with you! I’ve loaded every important waypoint and track file I’ve created over the years and have been thrilled with the ability to switch between Trek Across Maine cycling locations and Moosehead Lake upland spots. I’ve added waypoints to several different files during the same outing and have really enjoyed the added organization provided by separate files.

So for those of you looking at the 2.7 firmware update, keep in mind that we did not deliver support for the geocaching.com GPX attributes or the ability to open a track file that has been saved to the SD card. These features will be made available with the 2.8 firmware update that is expected to release in the Spring. If you are interested in seeing waypoint support on the SD card before then, the 2.7 firmware can be used with Topo USA, even with geocaching pocket queries, so long as you import them into Topo USA then export the GPX file from the Draw tab and transfer it to the PN. This puts the geocache point in the correct format for the pre-2.8 firmware to recognize.

I hope this helps clarify the firmware schedule for PN owners with Topo USA now that the PN-Pro firmware update has been released. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Thanks,
Chip Noble
Team DeLorme