Which GPS Device ?

Great to have you on board.

The most popular GPS unit for use with OSM, by a long chalk, is the Garmin eTrex Legend HCx. It's rugged, has plenty of memory (if you put a MicroSD card in it), lasts a day on standard rechargeable AA batteries, and is fairly easy to use. You can put your own maps on it, and indeed many OSMers either use the mkgmap program to create their own Garmin map 'images' from OSM data, or download one of the many pre-built images. These include customised walking, cycling and boating styles and even 'no-name' styles which highlight unnamed roads in OSM.

Uploading traces to your computer, if you have a MicroSD card installed, is a simple matter of connecting the two via a normal USB cable, putting the Garmin into "mass storage mode", and copying the file across. (If you also want to copy waypoints, you'll need to use GPSBabel or a similar program.)

After years with a little map-free yellow eTrex and a Geko 201, I got a Legend HCx for Christmas a few years back and have been delighted with it. Having the OSM map on your GPS really does make a difference.

Don't take too much notice of the list price on the Garmin site - in the UK these units are widely discounted, and I presume the same is true in the States.

Second, if detailed maps are the issue with the Garmin units, can I download OSM maps and use in a handheld GPS?

You can find prebuilt OSM Garmin maps at Dave Hansen's site - just choose the size and range you wish to cover. They are simple to load on Garmin devices with a Micro SD card:

1. Download the image file covering your range of interest
2. Unzip if necessary and rename the file to gmapsupp.img
3. Plug the GPS unit in “mass storage mode” (Setup->Interface->USB Mass Storage)
4. Put the file gmapsupp.img in the Garmin directory (create the directory if it does not exist)
5. Unplug the GPS unit

You haven't mentioned what secondary uses you have for a GPS unit. Do you really need on-device maps?

Worth mentioning are MTK-based devices, which are typically marketed as "photo taggers". Photo taggers are marketed towards photographers who want to geotag their photos, but they're great for OpenStreetMap'ing too.

Most photo taggers have no screen, minimal buttons, and almost no human-device interaction. A toggle power switch starts logging location to their internal memory, while some other units can tether via USB or Bluetooth to your laptop/phone. Typically, there's a single button for marking waypoints. Tracks are then downloaded to a computer via Bluetooth or USB. MTK-based devices are MUCH more accurate than low-end Garmin units, and also don't have odd restrictions on tracks (e.g. many Garmin units are limited to 10,000 points/track).

I own and love my Qstarz Q1000-BT ($100 USD at Amazon). It stores some 100,000 points and has some 10+ hour battery life, with user-replaceable Nokia mobile phone battery. A cheaper alternative popular with many OpenStreetMap'ers is the Transystem i-Blue 747, which you can find for less than $60 USD.

I recommend to use a PDA, because its extra cost for map services is 0. Just search the wiki ( http://wiki.openstreetmap.org ) for PDA Operating systems like "Windows Mobile", "Android" or "iPhone" and you will find plenty of free applications.

hi I have tried three devices 1. garmin etex. ok with 2000mah NMH batteries but would need download traces each day as it has a small memory, no map display,serial cable extra and its not usb so you wiil need an adaptor it will cost more than legend in the end. 2. the garmin vista HCX. is great with 2000mah NMH batteries (as settingfor them and good ones will last 30 hours) takes osm map (the best) and its routable I've a 4GB card installed which will hold a big map and record months of traces,day light viewable (the sun lights it up) screen is small only downside. 3. Road Angel Adventurer. its a car sat nav that will display expensive British Maps.the battery is built in and after 5 hours you may be lost with no battery. My advice go for new model vista or legend,set on save to memory card,don,t lock to road,set to record every second,upload your trace, edit with potlach2.Buy the little windowed pouch with it to protect it.A visit to a mapping party would have helped get going much quicker I think.So welcome and good luck

Hi again If I want to know about a device I look on the makers site for the instructions PDF file then you can really read the instruction first! please ignore if you've already thought of this.A lot of sales staff haven't had time to read the manuals so they may not be much help.