DeLorme PN-40 Review - Design

The DeLorme PN-40 has the same physical dimensions and outward appearance as the PN-20, but the simarities are mostly skin-deep. The PN-40 has an elongated oval shape, with a bulge at the top, a flat face, and a chubby bottom to hold the batteries. It has 7 buttons, a rocker button, and a 4-way directional pad, and that is it. With Garmin now offering a touchscreen model, some have complained that the PN-40 is not a touchscreen device. DeLorme has stated that their design choice was heavily influenced by the degradation of screen image that a touchscreen causes, due to the extra material between you and the actual screen. I agree with their choice based on those grounds, but also because a touchscreen device would be clumsy if not impossible to use wearing gloves, would constantly have mud and grime rubbed all over it, and would probably result in a screen that was easier to break, since the screen would need to be closer to the face of the device. The buttons on the PN-40 are responsive, soft-textured, and big enough to operate wearing gloves or with ham-hands like mine. They are hard to accidently press, and I've only had that happen in the DeLorme supplied belt holder.

Another area of criticism has been the screen itself. The PN-40 has a clear, sharp, bright, but small screen. DeLorme has stated given good reasons why this particular small screen was selected, including that and was the clearest and best screen they could provide for outdoor use. It also has the benefit of saving some power, and most importantly, keeps the size of the unit quite small. If you have poor eyesight the screen might present some issues (DeLorme is working on bigger fonts), but I find the clarity of the screen far outweighs the size. It is also important to note that the screen is fairly high resolution for its size.

The device comes with a lanyard, and in the bulge above the main body there is a hole for its attachment. The device communicates with your computer via a smooth "metal dot" type connector on the top rear of the device. A cable is provided that allows a USB connection via this connector, and an optional cable provides both USB and power.

The battery compartment is held in place by two screws, operated by metal loops. It is easy to remove, and seems a nice departure from many of the more confusing battery compartment schemes of old. The device holds two AA sized batteries. The PN-40 can utilize standard alkalines, lithiums, and NiMH rechargables, as well as an optional DeLorme Li-ion rechargable battery pack. While the battery life is less than what most people are used to, I can get about a day and half out of a set of Duracell 2650 batteries with the compass, barometer, and WAAS turned on, more if I turn the unit off when I'm not using it. The unit has profiles for each most battery types, and the battery life indicator is pretty accurate.

Behind the battery is a flip-up SDHC slot, which feels flimsy, and I recommend being very gentle with it. The good news is that the handful of people who broke it on their PN-20 and PN-40 units have noted that the pressume from the battery is typically sufficient to lock the SDHC card in place. The device is rugged, and is waterproof to the IEC 529 IPX7 spec. The unit is a hideous orange color, which makes it virtually impossible to lose. Actually, it grows on you in about five minutes, and the visibility aspect makes it totally worth it.
The physical design is ideal for the bushwhacker in my opinion, small enough to fit almost anywhere, light enough to not weigh you down, and well molded to the hand. The physical design suggests DeLorme had the hiker strongly in mind, and may have a bushwhacker on staff. ;)

Next: DeLorme PN-40 Review - Field Operation
Back: DeLorme PN-40 Review - Introduction

More photos:
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=8682232
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=8682231
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=8682229
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=8682228
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=8682227
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=8682226
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=8682224

DeLorme PN-40 Review - Introduction

I have been promising a review of DeLorme's new PN-40 handheld GPSr for a while now. Due to some issues with the Cartesio GPS chipset in the unit, I held off until DeLorme could issue a firmware update containing a fix from STM, the manufacturer of the chipset. That update has been release as a beta test, so I finally feel like I can give the PN-40 a fair analysis.
My intention is to provide a review of the PN-40 from my perspective, that is, from the perspective of a hiking who does a lot of bushwhacking, off-trail hiking, and abrupt roadside/trailside photography. In terms of a GPSr, in my mind the needs of the bushwhacker fall somewhat between the needs of the geocacher and those of a trail hiker. The bushwhack hiker needs to have the ability to accurately navigate off-trail to a fixed point (like a waterfall) or a series of fixed waypoints, like a geocacher. The bushwhack hiker also needs the ability to record an accurate track, to allow for a return, like a trail hiker. Where the bushwhack hiker experience differs is that often, the bushwhacker needs the ability to make more fluid decisions, which is why so many bushwhackers have rejected the GPS as a navigation device, and have retained their topo maps. To bushwhack you need to be able to visualize the terrain ahead of you, since you often need to make decisions regarding potential routes suddenly, usually because your planned route didn't pan out.

DeLorme is a fairly new entrant into the handheld GPS market, as the PN-40 is only their second GPSr, succeding the outwardly similar PN-20. DeLorme has been making GPS products for a number of years, and they are primarily a map company, so it wasn't a huge leap for to enter the handheld GPS market. DeLorme's map company heritage means that unlike most handheld GPS units, the maps come first.

Next: DeLorme PN-40 Review - Design

Phragmipedium besseae in bloom.

A few weeks back I took delivery of a Phragmipedium besseae. It was selected for me by Dean at Paphiness Orchids from the stock at Orchid Zone. It is my first Phragmipedium, and is also the very first non-Cypripedium slipper orchid I've ever seen in bloom. The plant arrived with one bloom in moderate bud, and another in a very early bud. A third bloom has already come and gone. The current bloom is the second bud.

Phrag. besseae is originally from Ecuador and Peru. It is normally a bright red color with yellow highlights. It has transparent windows in the sides of the pouch, which presumably aid in keeping insects in the pouch long enough to pollinate the flower.

You can read more about it at:
http://www.goreorchidconservatory.com/SpecPgs/Phrag-besseae.html
http://www.slipperorchids.info/phragdatasheets/besseae/index.html

More photos:
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=8682214
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=8682198

The current plant situation...

As some people may know, I've become deeply interested in orchids ever since we stumbed on that small patch of Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens (Yellow Ladyslipper) in Sipsey Wilderness. It started with just the Cypripedium, but I'm branching my interests out, and that includes getting around to actually growing orchids.

My current Cypripedium list is in flux, but I just ordered several Cypripedium guttatum seedlings from Spangle Creek Labs. Those little plants, when they arrive this spring, will take part in an experiment that may very well result in their doom. I'm interested in seeing how northern climate Cypripedium species like guttatum, yatabeanum, passerineum, and arientinum fare in windowsill culture with refrigerator vernalization in winter. Since passerineum and arientinum are too expensive and aren't available as seedlings, and yatabeanum isn't terribly easy to get, these poor little guttatum ended up being subjects in my experiment. When they arrive, they'll be photographed, and potted for windowsill culture, and I'll photodocument their little lives from that point on, using this blog.

I've just taken delivery of a single Showy Orchis and a single Catesby's Trillium, which are de-vernalizing in the house right now. They are from a nursery in N. Carolina, so they are expecting a shorter winter than they would get here in New York. I'll also be chronicling their development, since I'll probably be self-pollinating the Showy Orchis for seed.

In the realm of tropical orchids, I currently have 2 Phals, a massive Phal. Malibu Real, and a smaller unknown hybrid. I also have a Paph delenatii and a Paph armenicum, as well as a Phrag. besseae that is currently in bloom. Photos to follow. I'm lusting for a Mexipedium right now.

So... That's where we stand on the plants. Plants were becoming a big interest of mine last time I was blogging, but now I have more to blog about with my interests growing.

Old Posts

For now, old posts from last year can be found at:
http://junkmail.szulecki.com/

I'm back...

I'm moving back to using this blog again. The blog software package for my web host is tedious at best, and I'd like to get back to using the blog once and a while. Pending for the next few weeks is a review of the DeLorme PN-40 GPSr, some discussion of my orchid growing activities, etc...

Little River Canyon - Fall Foliage

Well, I cancelled my scheduled dayhike in Sipsey for today due to a number of factors, but I did managed to head out for a sunrise at Little River Canyon. Sunrise was a letdown, so I wasn't upset that I was running about 30 minutes late and missed the actual sunrise at the canyon. Too much yellow and orange in the sky, no reds or purples during the full twilight and sunrise phases due to the clear but polluted air. There was a great deal of mist in the areas along I-59, but it didn't seem to develop in the canyon. The purpose of the trip was to spend some time using the Graflex Pacemaker Speed, but I think I've finally realized that I need to stop trying to feed it color film and treating it like a view or field camera, and instead stick to B&W and let it be used for purposes closer to its press heritage. This comes as the result of wasting about $6 worth of film... 2 sheets were hosed due to an exposure calculation error, I wasn't paying close enough attention and didn't properly read my dSLR for metering, and WAY overexposed them. At least one more sheet bought it due to a mistake with the viewing shutter mechanism, I accidentally left the shutter open when I removed the darkslide. We'll see what comes out, but I think I may just stick to sunny f/16 with the camera from now on.

Here is what the canyon looked like about 30 minutes AFTER sunrise:http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=6597062

But, with that failure under my belt, I headed from the rim of the canyon over to the parking area next to Little River Falls. As I said, there was a great deal of moisture in the air despite the lack of rain, and as such highly angled light rays were visible in a number of locations. http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=6597063

I made and effort to get down to the rocks below Little River Falls, but failed for the 3rd time, so I contented myself with some reflection shots of the pool below the falls. The falls themselves were really too bright, and there were people around.
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=6597068
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=6597067
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=6597064

The foliage this year is proceeding slugglishly and isn't all that fantastic. Despite Scipio's constant protestations, I managed to get a few decent leaf shots.
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=6597075
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=6597071
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=6597072
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=6597069
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=6597073

I wish I had thought to schedule some fall foliage time in GSMNP. I'd really love to see this falls in the fall (NOT FROM TODAY).
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=6046552

While I was taking leaf photos a mosquito landed near something I was photographing. A failed exposure rendered a very evil subject.
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=6597084

It wasn't an unproductive trip despite several failures.