SGX and G5

[Golfdoctor]

Need little Helpful info Please

This will be my first Golf GPS unit.

SGX - Do you still need to down load the course's and is there a Fee (yearly) to use it?

G5 - Is it a LCD screen? and there is no Fee right?

Looking for something with large number's and a clear screen.

Thanks, If you can recommend another, Please do.

[Zunes]

SGX still has a yearly fee. Unit will comes with basic yardage to the green for thousands of courses, but after a month, poof, they're gone unless you pay. You will need to download if you want detailed info on any courses.

Garmin is free of fees. My personal opinion owning both a Garmin G5 and a Skycaddie SG5 is that the Gamin screen is harder to see and the numbers much smaller. Not a factor for young eyes but if you're older check them out before you buy.

If the SGX has a good whole hole view like the Garmin then it will be a better product and worth the yearly fee. If Skycaddie can't get their "holeview" up to speed then its a toss up as to which unit is better.

[whchoclte]

One feature of the G5 I like is keeping score for your forusome. I believe the SGX is just individual.

[yahtzee]

[quote name='whchoclte' date='24 February 2010 - 10:07 AM' timestamp='1267024057' post='2273910']
One feature of the G5 I like is keeping score for your forusome. I believe the SGX is just individual.
[/quote]


Why would you want to keep score for your foursome?

[slash77]

I'm interested in these 2 as well. I'm debating getting the G5 or waiting for the SGX to come out. I've previously owned the SG2.5 and SG5, but I'm really interested in the touch screen and the ability to see any yardage to the hole/hazard.

For those of you that own the G5, are there any negatives besides the small numbers?

[Bucken77]

As far as I know SGX is not a touch screen

[Golfdoctor]

Thanks guy's, I think I've narrow it down to the G5. I like the fact that there's NO fee's and a touch screen as to move the pin. The one guy that I do trust over at Golfsmith recommends the G5 highly.

[Nota_Bogey]

[quote name='slash77' date='28 February 2010 - 10:27 AM' timestamp='1267381662' post='2283319']
I'm interested in these 2 as well. I'm debating getting the G5 or waiting for the SGX to come out. I've previously owned the SG2.5 and SG5, but I'm really interested in the touch screen and the ability to see any yardage to the hole/hazard.

For those of you that own the G5, are there any negatives besides the small numbers?
[/quote]

I've had the G5 for a few months now and it could be the perfect GPS, except for the screen. Unlike the incredibly bright screens on a typical Garmin auto GPS, this screen is very low contrast, washed out and is very difficult to read in sun or shade. Unfortunately, the brightness level is not adjustable and neither is the font. At first, I thought I had received a defective unit and sent it back to Garmin for a replacement. They were very accommodating and sent me a new unit... same issue. I did discover that the screen is a little brighter if you use lithium rather than alkaline batteries. Rather irritating that this is not mentioned anywhere. It does go into an energy saving mode if the unit is unused for a brief time. The screen brightness between the regular and energy saving mode is negligible.

The unit is rock solid and performs very well in every other aspect, but I am tired of struggling to read it. When I hand it to friends, they invariably they start tilting it every which way to try and read it. I would guess that Garmin made the screen this way to extend battery life, but I much rather have a readable screen at the expense of replacing the batteries every round.

I will look at the SGX when it comes out and regretfully dump my G5 if the SGX has a readable screen. I suggest you field trial a G5 before buying.

[BirdieBob]

Keep in mind that when comparing the G5 vs. SGX that the SGX course will need to have "HoleVue" in order to be comparable to the aerial view already incorporated into the G5. If you check on the courses that Skygolf has with "HoleVue" you will find very, very few. It could be years before your course will have the HoleVue capability.

Apples vs. Apples G5 remains the best choice at this time.

[friscoloco]

[quote name='BirdieBob' date='10 March 2010 - 02:54 PM' timestamp='1268261698' post='2307432']
Keep in mind that when comparing the G5 vs. SGX that the SGX course will need to have "HoleVue" in order to be comparable to the aerial view already incorporated into the G5. If you check on the courses that Skygolf has with "HoleVue" you will find very, very few. It could be years before your course will have the HoleVue capability.

Apples vs. Apples G5 remains the best choice at this time.
[/quote]

You may want to take a look at the Bushnell XGC. Although it is not a touch screen, the screen is extremely bright and it is convenient to operate with one hand as compared to the two handed operation of a touch screen. Also, the number of course maps available far exceeds anyone else in the industry. At $249.99 and $35 for membership (100 courses or 1 year, whichever happens first) it is a good buy. The drawbacks are that it only allows you to keep score for 1 person and the fee for courses.

[BirdieBob]

[quote name='friscoloco' date='10 March 2010 - 03:43 PM' timestamp='1268264630' post='2307522']
[quote name='BirdieBob' date='10 March 2010 - 02:54 PM' timestamp='1268261698' post='2307432']
Keep in mind that when comparing the G5 vs. SGX that the SGX course will need to have "HoleVue" in order to be comparable to the aerial view already incorporated into the G5. If you check on the courses that Skygolf has with "HoleVue" you will find very, very few. It could be years before your course will have the HoleVue capability.

Apples vs. Apples G5 remains the best choice at this time.
[/quote]

You may want to take a look at the Bushnell XGC. Although it is not a touch screen, the screen is extremely bright and it is convenient to operate with one hand as compared to the two handed operation of a touch screen. Also, the number of course maps available far exceeds anyone else in the industry. At $249.99 and $35 for membership (100 courses or 1 year, whichever happens first) it is a good buy. The drawbacks are that it only allows you to keep score for 1 person and the fee for courses.
[/quote]



Review at Golfwrx:
http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/335320-bushnell-yardage-pro-xg-mini-review/

[friscoloco]

[quote name='BirdieBob' date='11 March 2010 - 07:38 AM' timestamp='1268321899' post='2308941']
[quote name='friscoloco' date='10 March 2010 - 03:43 PM' timestamp='1268264630' post='2307522']
[quote name='BirdieBob' date='10 March 2010 - 02:54 PM' timestamp='1268261698' post='2307432']
Keep in mind that when comparing the G5 vs. SGX that the SGX course will need to have "HoleVue" in order to be comparable to the aerial view already incorporated into the G5. If you check on the courses that Skygolf has with "HoleVue" you will find very, very few. It could be years before your course will have the HoleVue capability.

Apples vs. Apples G5 remains the best choice at this time.
[/quote]

You may want to take a look at the Bushnell XGC. Although it is not a touch screen, the screen is extremely bright and it is convenient to operate with one hand as compared to the two handed operation of a touch screen. Also, the number of course maps available far exceeds anyone else in the industry. At $249.99 and $35 for membership (100 courses or 1 year, whichever happens first) it is a good buy. The drawbacks are that it only allows you to keep score for 1 person and the fee for courses.
[/quote]



Review at Golfwrx:
[url="http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/335320-bushnell-yardage-pro-xg-mini-review/"]http://www.golfwrx.c...xg-mini-review/[/url]
[/quote]

BirdieBob,
That is the review on the XG (LCD and only image of green). Here is a review on the XGC:

[url="http://thehackersparadise.com/home/?p=3639"]http://thehackerspar...om/home/?p=3639[/url]

[BirdieBob]

Ah! Thanks.

Since I am still using a SkyCaddie 1 that I bought 5 years ago, these reviews are very valuable.

[Howie]

[quote name='friscoloco' date='10 March 2010 - 06:43 PM' timestamp='1268264630' post='2307522']

You may want to take a look at the Bushnell XGC. Although it is not a touch screen, the screen is extremely bright and it is convenient to operate with one hand as compared to the two handed operation of a touch screen. Also, the number of course maps available far exceeds anyone else in the industry. At $249.99 and $35 for membership (100 courses or 1 year, whichever happens first) it is a good buy. The drawbacks are that it only allows you to keep score for 1 person and the fee for courses.
[/quote]

Where is the online database of courses available for this unit? Perhaps I am just missing it, but if not this would seem odd not to make such information available for those attempting to make a decision on a golf GPS.

UPDATE-- seems this is one of the iGolf compatible units... so, if a course is available there, it can be downloaded onto this device.

[friscoloco]

[quote name='Howie' date='28 March 2010 - 03:22 PM' timestamp='1269814977' post='2346540']
[quote name='friscoloco' date='10 March 2010 - 06:43 PM' timestamp='1268264630' post='2307522']
You may want to take a look at the Bushnell XGC. Although it is not a touch screen, the screen is extremely bright and it is convenient to operate with one hand as compared to the two handed operation of a touch screen. Also, the number of course maps available far exceeds anyone else in the industry. At $249.99 and $35 for membership (100 courses or 1 year, whichever happens first) it is a good buy. The drawbacks are that it only allows you to keep score for 1 person and the fee for courses.
[/quote]

Where is the online database of courses available for this unit? Perhaps I am just missing it, but if not this would seem odd not to make such information available for those attempting to make a decision on a golf GPS.

UPDATE-- seems this is one of the iGolf compatible units... so, if a course is available there, it can be downloaded onto this device.
[/quote]

Howie,

Yes, all of the Bushnell GPS products utilize the iGolf database. You can search for courses on igolf.com. In my opinion, the level coverage is only second to Skygolf's database.

[hamsey]

[quote name='Nota_Bogey' date='10 March 2010 - 02:49 PM' timestamp='1268246977' post='2306909']
[quote name='slash77' date='28 February 2010 - 10:27 AM' timestamp='1267381662' post='2283319']
I'm interested in these 2 as well. I'm debating getting the G5 or waiting for the SGX to come out. I've previously owned the SG2.5 and SG5, but I'm really interested in the touch screen and the ability to see any yardage to the hole/hazard.

For those of you that own the G5, are there any negatives besides the small numbers?
[/quote]

I've had the G5 for a few months now and it could be the perfect GPS, except for the screen. Unlike the incredibly bright screens on a typical Garmin auto GPS, this screen is very low contrast, washed out and is very difficult to read in sun or shade. Unfortunately, the brightness level is not adjustable and neither is the font. At first, I thought I had received a defective unit and sent it back to Garmin for a replacement. They were very accommodating and sent me a new unit... same issue. I did discover that the screen is a little brighter if you use lithium rather than alkaline batteries. Rather irritating that this is not mentioned anywhere. It does go into an energy saving mode if the unit is unused for a brief time. The screen brightness between the regular and energy saving mode is negligible.

The unit is rock solid and performs very well in every other aspect, but I am tired of struggling to read it. When I hand it to friends, they invariably they start tilting it every which way to try and read it. I would guess that Garmin made the screen this way to extend battery life, but I much rather have a readable screen at the expense of replacing the batteries every round.

I will look at the SGX when it comes out and regretfully dump my G5 if the SGX has a readable screen. I suggest you field trial a G5 before buying.
[/quote]

There is a firmware update that will allow you to calibrate the brightness of the screen. I find in the energy saving mode the screen is hard to read, tap the screen once to wake it up and had to problem reading the screen. Did you install the latest firmware? Might work better for you. Mine is still at the default settings.

Norm

[pavlam05]

I'll see if I can get any feedback in this thread...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A couple of questions that I have...

I believe this one has been answered to some degree already, but; aside from the smart club technology and size of screen, how will the sgx really differ from the SG5? It appears to me that the SG5 has software updates that give it many of the same features the SGX will have.

My second question has to do with the Skycaddie memberships. Someone mentioned earlier that he/she heard that Sky Golf intended to make some changes to their membership plans. Does anyone have any info as to what kind of changes may/will be made, and when?