GPS Advice

“Hi,
I'm kinda new to this and just moved to the Appalachia (sp?) area and am looking for a fairly good GPS. I am looking to spend under $400 and I want one that will last and will withstand getting dropped, durable.

Any thoughts? Where to get the best price?

Thanks.

KR.”

“What specifically do you intend to do with it? There are LOTS of different models and prices and what is best for you depends on what you need/want to do.”

“KR (really cool name by the way), I don't mean to be a jerk but are you pretty good with land nav? I hate it when people who can't handle a map and compass rely on electronics. If the GPS goes out it gets ugly.

That being said I saw in Maxim mag a Garmin GPS 2 way radio (5 mile range), really neato”

“I have found lots of reviews on lots of models. I would like something that I can upload and download to my computer. Store locations, directions, basic stuff. What else can GPS' do?

I just moved to VA and took a week and a half and some friends and I went up to Mt. Rogers. Awsome time. I'd would have liked to save where they took me on a gps so I could go back someday, stuff like that on a gps device.

Plus Im a little older and not upto date on technology so all the help and detail the better for the old man. lol.”

“Topo maps and a compass are old school to me. But too many times I have had to try and read moist or wet maps and it a pain to carry, I dont like to fold the maps. GPS seems logical.”

“I have a Magellan 115. It does everything you seem to be asking for. I’m not sure if it is still made. I got it about 3 years ago. But to be honest, I almost never take it hiking with me (too much weight). I use it more for marking out hot fishing holes.”

“I would use this for fishing as well. Weight is an issue but a I assume these have belt attachments. I can handle that. Ones I have been looking at are getting small now to that not being an issue.”

“check this out

http://www.gpscity.com/”

“Thanks Donman. I will check this out. Break is over back to work.”

“I have had an eTrex Legend for a few years, I like it and it would probably fit your needs. But, I don't use it to replace a map or campass.”

“The Garmin V is real popular, it has autorouting capability if you intend to use it on the streets.

The Magellan Meridian seems to be popular among those that Geocache or use their GPS's in the mountains. The Topo map programs for both these unit's leave something to be desired if you are use to USGS 7.5, but they will get you there.

I am using a Meridian Platinum and love it. To those that say it's to heavy compared to the Garmin eTrex series, I say... Do some push ups! It's only about 3oz heavier and the bigger screen is worth it to me.

You would be happy with either Garmin of Magellian I suspect, they both make fine GPS's.

You can get info on both unites here

This is also a good site for information, check under "GPS Unites and Software" and "Getting Started".”

“another suggestion -- contact the guy at www.tvnav.com -- I expect if you call him up and talk with him he'll be able to set you up right.”

“uh, that would be units...

I got my Magellian Platinum for $250.00, including shipping, shop around.”

“I use my magellan sportrak pro for geocaching as well as general navigation.
check out geocaching.com -- there are several forums with advice on selecting a gps device.
I just took mine hiking this weekend. While it normally gets good reception, it lost contact under heavy tree and cloud cover. So as someone mentioned above, knowing how to read a compass and map is invaluable. unfortunately that's a skill i still need to learn.”

“There is a lot of debate on the type of antenna and how well they work under tree cover...general consensus seems to favor Magellan over some Garmin units because Magellan uses A Quad antenna and some Garmin's use a Patch antenna.

I use GPS's to teach map and compass...I give folks coordinates and locations, using UTM or Long and Lat, then have them find them using a map and compass, then they cross check them with their GPS.”

“ive got a garmin etrex (pretty much the absoloute barebones model) and its worked pretty well for me, got it used for $65.

there's a section where people sell used gps recievers on www.geocaching.com (sorry, dunno how to link), and they'll have some insight on what to get, too

later,
-nate”

“I have the Garmin Legend. It kicks butt and is under $200. Does everything I want it to do and then some. I agree with Donman though about the map and compass. I just view my GPS as a fun toy for the most part. Navigation techniques w/o using electronics are essential.”

“If you haven't done so yet, track down a land nav course. They can actually be pretty fun.”

“I have the Etrex, very basic, and geocache, too.

I'd like to take an orienteering course somewhere, some day! I'm pretty good with directions in a car and love maps.

However, on a recent geocache in some woods of a state park, the cover interfered with the signal, we forget to mark a waypoint for the Jeep and -- long story short -- we ended up coming out a long ways from where we went in. And this was in a well-populated park with roads, streams and people!

We knew we'd end up somewhere from which we could readily find the Jeep, but it sure made a point about navigation in the woods, especially those you're unfamiliar with.”

“Try gpsinformation.net

Most gps units will do what you want. Some come with cables to download/upload waypoints. The ones that do not come with cables have cables that can be purchased separately.

Do you want mapping in your gps? Current mapping gps units only use 100k topo maps, not the 24k which is what you really need when hiking.

WAAS capability is nice, but WAAs signals are not always available in the backcountry.

I have a laptop computer mounted in my vehicle that I connect to a gps with topo maps and street maps. Computer mapping software is relatively cheap and very robust. I never get lost. Much to the chagrin of some on this board.

Maptech has the entire AT on CD for $99.”

“Great!

Thanks for all the info and sites, lots to read tonight. Very helpful everyone. Thanks again!

I will let you know what I decide on and if anyone is in the VA area we could get a group and try it out.

KR”

“Yes, Cool name.

I have a Garmin eMap (no longer available) which allows me to upload and download maps, waypoints, and routes. I love it. It is my second Garmin product and I prefer them over others I have tried.

If I was replacing it I would seriously consider the Garmin Rino (top end model).

I agree with all the comments about being map & compass savvy. Competent use of a GPS requires knowledge of map & compass and about 10-20 hours of practice with your GPS units software and features.”

“A warning about the Magellan units that don't take memory cards....you can only upload four sections of the map (US, Canada, or World). So if you intend on taking a long vacation, and you want detailed maps for say Everglades NP, Yellowstone NP, Sequoia NP, GSMNP, and the Grand Canyon...you can only upload maps for four of those parks. Kind of a ripoff. Even if each park is only 1mb a piece and you have 23mb available...there's nothing you can do. Four user-defined regions is the limit. I have had some heated arguments with Magellan's customer service over this since they told me they put the "limitation" (which I call a bug) into the software intentionally. Garmin units do not have this problem.”

“These models use windows based technology to facilitate use. The 110 costs about $180 and has a two way radio which will (if you want it to) show your position on other users screens when you are in radio range.
Three AA batteries run the thing for about 15 hours. I found the operating system easy enough to learn and use effectively after about one day of using it.
I do not like the lay out of Magellan screens. They are bit to mysterious for me, and north keeps moving around, on the Garmin model, north is on the top of the screen all the time.
One more thing, get a compass to go with your GPS and learn how to use it. And don't skimp on cheap maps that have limited detail. Buy a good map for all the places you go, and know how the map and compass work together. In other words, if you don't know what the declination diagram at the bottom of the map is, you need to learn how to use the map.”

“Garmin screens can be set with North at the top of the screen or set up to rotate with your direction of travel. I am sure the Magellans have the same option.”

“Yea, Magellan's can be set for North on top....as for how intuitive the screens are, I suppose it's what you are use to, I play hell using my partners Garmin, where as my Plat seems easy.

I have a friend that has about 4 of the storage chips, 128 megs each I think (I think you can use 256 with some tweaking) He has Topo maps for all of CA, Oregon and Washington..it takes about 1 min to change the storage cards.”

“I had an eTrex Summit and really liked it. I sold it and got a RINO and it's both impressive and disappointing too. The Rino doesn't have a built in compass which means I don't have the confidence in the direction to the next waypoint when I stop and bring it up to look at it.

On the other hand, having the radio and GPS in a single unit is nice, and light too. I always carry a compass and map (plus spare batteries), and generally never use any of it, map, compass, or GPS. By the time I enter the waypoints in the computer I know my way around the map and the area so well I don't need to check.

Of course, one of these days I'm going to need to move after dark or in zero vis and then I'll be glad I have the nav toys along.

The best part of all is the software used to generate the waypoints, Delorme Topo 3D. Waypoints plus zoom and pan 3d views for the whole US plus elevation and mileage profiles all in one package.”

“have the garmin geko 201. hiked 6 days in montana recently. never really got lost but the geko worked great. very small. certainly kept me clear on my route and it was nice to know distances accurately. i also bought the garmin "mapsource" cd's of the entire us. did my route on computer and down loaded it into the geko. actually had my route, waypoints distances down to a few meters. the geko was $140 (the 201 model takes downloads the 101 does not), the map source was extra and a bit pricey $100 plus. was a good addition to my gear. virtually no weight and no space.”

“To get back on topic, I ordered the Geko 301! $250. Basically its the 210 but it has an electronic compass and a barometric altimeter.

Very small, which is good. I cant wait for it to arrive.”

“Dude get off the GPS thing. Learn how to navigate without one you wuss!”

“Oops.. 201 not 210..”

“No one cares!”

“Now you gotta try some Geocaching....start with a few easy ones, then head out for some 5's.”

“I read about it but never done it. Souns fun. Might need to starting points though... new toys coming need all the help I can get.”

“Go here , punch in your zip code and see what pops up.




Note...no vIoLin links were used in this post.”

“Anyone know a site on the web that has lists of locations and their gps coordinates? I'm working on a report and I need a set of gps coordinates, but I don't want to drive all the way out to the location to get one. Maybe something by state and then further broken down into counties or something? Thanks peeps.”

“Doesn't mapquest do that?”

“SMW, try this .”

“Or try this:
http://wayhoo.com/index/a/b/”

“Chili

I couldn't get mapquest to do it for me. I know they used to, but I couldn't figure it out or something. I tried that travelbygps site, but probably didn't spend enough time on it.

Karo-
Just what I needed. Thanks, I bookmarked it.”

“your welcome Stick, also try easygps a free download to save and manage your waypoints and routes:
http://www.easygps.com/”