Outdoor GPS from Falk: the IBEX 40

Falk kindly sent me the IBEX 40 GPS navigation device to test. Since I have so far only navigated with Garmin outdoor GPS units and smartphones, I was quite curious to see how the IBEX 40 would perform in practice.

Technical specifications of the IBEX 40

• IPX7: waterproof
• Colour display: 89 mm diagonal (3.5″), touchscreen. Dimensions: 11 x 7.8 x 2.5 cm
• Weight: 200 g incl. battery
• Memory: 2 GB
• Replaceable battery: lithium-ion, rechargeable. Slot: micro SD card up to 16 GB (SDHC). Connection: USB 2.0 mass storage
• Sensors: barometer and compass

What’s in the box with the IBEX 40

• Falk IBEX unit incl. lithium-ion battery, Falk cradle
• bike mount
• mains charger
• IBEX40 Germany Edition, item number: 1673170000, EAN code: 4260140572607
• USB cable
• printed quick start guide
• Magic Maps Tour Explorer 25 Germany

Shape and handling

In terms of shape, the IBEX 40 differs clearly from the Garmin GPS units of the Dakota or Oregon series. It took me quite a while to get used to the wider, somewhat angular design. I don’t find one-handed operation that easy, especially while walking. Because of the wide housing, the device doesn’t sit particularly well in the hand.

For Falk’s other target group, cyclists/mountain bikers, the handling and operation are probably a better fit. This clientele will certainly also appreciate the handlebar mount included in the box.

The device is operated largely via its touchscreen, which works very well after a short period of getting used to it. I was less keen on the two buttons on the left side of the device. They feel very spongy and are a bit stiff.

The power button can also be used to set the key lock and standby mode. The other button can be freely assigned, so you can choose whether to use it to control brightness & volume, save the current position or record a track.

On the underside of the device there is a USB port for charging and connecting to a computer. It is hidden under a rubber cover that is a bit stiff.

Display

The touchscreen of the Falk IBEX 40 is definitely one of the better ones among outdoor GPS units. In my opinion, it leaves all Garmin units behind. Even in direct sunlight it is still quite easy to read, despite slight reflections.

Battery life

Battery life is perhaps the IBEX 40’s weakest point. In practice, depending on display brightness, one charge lasts 6-8 hours. So if you want to go on a long tour, you should be sure that you can recharge, or carry a few suitable spare batteries.

Spare batteries are a bit of an issue, though – the battery can be replaced, but it is not a standard universal “round cell” or battery like those used in the Garmin Oregon or Garmin Dakota. You are dependent on Falk’s matching lithium-ion battery or on a “clone”, which are available for around 14 EUR, e.g. on Amazon.

The maps

The Falk GPS unit came with maps of Germany. I liked the quality of the maps. The included points of interest are handy too. In the forest on my doorstep, however, I had the problem that even heavily overgrown paths that haven’t really been passable for several years are still shown by the IBEX 40. But the same problem exists with other topo maps, such as those offered by Garmin.

In addition to the maps of Germany, further routable maps are available, e.g. for Austria, Switzerland, South Tyrol and Mallorca.

Geocaching

Geocaches can be transferred to the device as POIs, but there is no dedicated geocaching mode, which makes the whole thing less convenient than with the competition.

Planning tours directly on the device

An interesting feature that puts Falk ahead of comparable Garmin units is the ability to plan tours directly on the device. You simply open the tour planner and create a new tour. Now you can add various stops. These can be addresses, points of interest, map positions or recent destinations. Once you have done that, you can have a route along paths calculated between these stops.

Planning tours on the computer

If, like me, you still prefer to plan your tours on the computer, you can use the included MagicMaps software. But only if you are a Windows PC user. Anyone with a Mac or Linux system is left out.

The software comes on no fewer than 9 DVDs. One contains the Tour Explorer and the others map data for various German regions. In this scope, the software normally costs around €200. So it is fair to say that Falk hasn’t skimped on accessories. The maps are compatible with the MagicMaps smartphone apps, of which I have already introduced the iPhone app.

I will present the software in more detail in a separate article, as it would go beyond the scope here.

Routing with the IBEX 40

If you don’t want to plan your tours much in advance, you can also have the IBEX 40 calculate a route directly, just as you know it from a car sat-nav. The additional options you can choose for route calculation are interesting. First you decide between pedestrian and cyclist. Next you can have an easy, a short or a sporty route calculated. The route can be narrowed down further by choosing whether hiking trails should be preferred or not, whether you want to include via ferratas on the route, or whether you want to wait for ferries or avoid tunnels.

With these additional options, the device basically offers more than the competition when it comes to off-road routing. Unfortunately, though, these good ideas are not yet mature enough in practice on the IBEX 40 to be really convincing – as you can also read in other reports.

Verdict on the IBEX 40

Personally, I think the IBEX 40 is an interesting navigation device that should appeal to cyclists in particular. As a hiker, what I dislike above all is the device’s wide design and its rather short battery life.

Pros

• good display
• replaceable battery
• tours can be planned on the device
• software included for tour planning on the PC
• expandable memory
• routable