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The Garmin 12 XL is one of the older models which still serve a useful purpose. The software programme which runs unit was revised and improved upon until 2006 when it could take you anywhere on the planet with an accuracy of just 3 metres, or say 10 feet, no further revisions, and consequently, no updates to the software have been made. It is in it's element both on the ground and in the air. The original Garmin 45 and it's subsequent successor, the Garmin 37, have both gone the way of the dinosaur and were not inclined to have the super sensitive in-built antennas of today, which first started in the Garmin 12, then The 12 XL. The 37 was the first in the world to incorporate what they call the Maidenhead system, that is the ability to lock in to a radio frequency and be given an arrow to show where the signal was coming from, very useful for pilots if other navigation systems failed, or there was poor visibility. It still survives into the 12 XL series, but not all of them have it, it depends on the soft ware package running it. The older models had an in-built restriction on speed, so if I travelled 160 km. per hour in a car, the gps accepted this but put into an aircraft which exceeded this speed, it gave no information, forcing people to buy the more expensive models for aeroplanes. This restriction has been lifted and the 12's and 12 XL's can keep up with you up to approximately 1000 miles per hour or 1600 kilometres per hour, especially useful when flying aircraft, which I do for a hobby. They are very reliable, very very cheap since no-one wants them anymore and I have bought a total of TEN or more for the purpose of gridding about ten thousand square kilometres of ground on a kilometre by kilometre increments. This is called aerial prospecting, especially good at looking for meteorites or gold from a light or an ultra light aircraft. I know of no other product on the market that compares both in price and dependability and for any pilot it is a must. In practical terms, it is the best of the best of the best and I must buy about five to ten more units to help me succeed in prospecting. C.P., outback pilot, Western Australia.Read full review
I have had two of these units in the past, excellent in there time but now outdated as they cannot be up graded as most modern gps, good unit if you want basic navigation, I used mine for marine navigation and although units well sealed both times the battery contacts and springs had corroded, they are not able to but opened by the everyday user, and service center's quoted more than the unit is worth. shame like much of todays technology is unserviceable so throw away and replace, shouldn't complain as worked well and accurate .... Island sailor, qld
Verified purchase: No