DeLorme Earthmate PN-40 GPS for Serious Outdoor Adventures

DeLorme Earthmate PN-40 GPS for Serious Outdoor Adventures | Review

DeLorme’s Earthmate PN-40 reflects in its solid design and performance the quality that DeLorme put into their GPS products for professionals. It’s a handheld GPS worth looking at seriously if you will depend on your GPS. The DeLorme PN series oudoors GPS navigators have been used successfully in numerous Arctic and Antarctic expeditions.

DeLorme Earthmate PN-40 GPS

The PN-40 has a high sensivity STMicroelectronics Cartesio GPS chipset, and preloaded map and imagery. Its both rugged and waterproof (IPX-7) for demanding outdoor conditions. Map display is on a 65K-color daylight-readable transflective TFT screen by Sharp suitable for any light conditions including direct sunlight.

Data layering is an impressive feature of DeLorme’s PN-40. It lets the user select which map or imagery type to use for their current location. Overall, the device provides a far more encompassing view of the surrounding geography.

Highlight Features of PN-40 versus PN-20 Predecessor

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 so that everything is in its correct relative position on the navigation display as you hike, bike or drive
3-axis electronic compass with integrated accelorometer which gives you direction even while standing still
Sensitive barometric altimeter for accurate altitude readings
WAAS enabled accuracy to 3 meters
In-device high-capacity (32 GB) SD memory cards with fast USB 2.0 data transfer (500 MB onboard Flash memory)
Greater detail onboard U.S. base map data now including with secondary and connector roads, along with major highways and thoroughfares for the entire world (detailed U.S. street and backroad detail still provided via included Topo USA software)

How Rugged is the PN-40?

Very tough is the answer as one would suspect from the mention of the PN series having been successfully used in Arctic and Antarctic expeditions.

The PN-40 is waterproof to the IEC 529 IPX7 standard and will function in high-humidity environments, including sustained humidity levels over 90 percent, and in rain. It has been rigorously tested to function in high-vibration conditions such as encountered during off-road driving. The operating temperature range for the PN-40 is between -20 C and +75 C and it will cope with rapidly changing temperature within this range.

Generous Mapping Data Inclusions

When considering the PN-40 against other outdoor handheld GPS navigators its important to consider the value of the mapping data which is included which may not be on other devices. The PN-40 comes with up-to-date DeLorme Topo USA mapping software which is the full version of Topo USA, with all its desktop and GPS capabilities included. Also included are; East, Central, and West regional DVDs with detailed U.S. street and topo maps by state or region, a 1-GB SD card, detailed user manual, Quick Start Guide and two AA batteries. There is even a $40 certificate for downloading sample supplementary datasets and a new $29.95 Map Library annual subscription plan offering for unlimited data downloads.

The PN-40 will hold up to 1,000 user-defined waypoints, 50 routes, and 10 tracks. They can be easily downloaded or uploaded using the included Topo USA software. Both road and trail routes are automatically displayed as generated using Topo USA. Road routes and direct (point-to-point) routes also can be generated on the PN-40.