Searching for a new GPS

“My GPS was ripped off, so am in the market for a new one. I had the low end Garmin ETREX and had never hooked that up to a computer. Am not sure what all you can do hooked up to a computer... Download geocaching waypoints, correct? And perhaps connect to mapping software?

I need to know how that works, because I would like to both plot geocaching waypoints and also have fun plotting trips in advance... and then coming back and being able to print a map of my route.

I am concerned about compatibility with my mapping software. The two products I currently use are from National Geographic TOPO!

--Back Roads Explorer, with its umpteen CDs. It’s Version 3.4.0.

-- National Park Maps, which says it is Version 2.7.7

I can currently manually plot waypoints from the geocaching site. I can draw routes and get approxmiate mileage (which I recently used on the Upper Iowa weekend canoe trip... a very nice feature to trace that river route and get mileage). It will do an elevation profile, too.

Ideally, I'd like to be able to use this software. I figured it would just work with any GPS, then after some searching I see that Garmin has their own mapping software I assume they'd like to sell. And somewhere else I saw a compatibility chart which did not list the National Geographic TOPO! products as compatible with the Etrex Legend, which is the GPS I'm thinking of getting. I think it did show it compatible with some other Garmin model, like "72" or something??

I've jotted notes off to both National Geographic and to Garmin. But any personal experience and advice is welcome!

THANKS!! :-)”

“I have the Legend C...love it. I haven't had any experience with anything but mapsource city and topo. You're gonna love syncing it to your computer...manual input blows!

with everything you are planning to do sound like you'd be better suited with a Garmin 60C or 60CS. Also, go ahead and get a PDA too!
last edited: 6/22/05 11:09:16 AM”

“Ahhh, but funds are limited. I'm thinking of spending $200 tops... and hoping for less.

thanks! I did look at Garmin's page and it looks like a lot of what I see on other websites is already gone from their product line, like the Gecko. Interesting...”

“Also, from what I've read, I think I want a WAAS-enabled model, just makes sense.”

“look at the new magellan explorist stuff, that's pretty good. Rechargeable battery seems a pain though.”

“I'm partial to Garmin... ya gonna make me do a real, all-out product evaluation?? lol

I suppose I should. I just know how to use the Garmin Etrex models. And I hate that learning curve when you get something totally new!”

“that's half the fun of a new toy lizs!”

“I want to think the explorist you can't sync with your puter... However on the cuteness level they score big.”

“what is WAAS enabled?”

“at www.gpsonsale.com they have the extrex legend C for 259.99 -50 buck rebate and you're at 200.00
last edited: 6/22/05 11:45:01 AM”

“I only just found out about WAAS.. like yesterday! lol... sounds like it increases accuracy a lot.

Here's a link:
http://www.garmin.com/support/faqs/faq.jsp?faq=1&webPage=Main%20web%20page

And Carlette, oh you are checking it out, aren't ya, girl?? lol

Under $200 is a lot better for finances. I saw the regular legend somewhere, I think, for $136. More moola for trips!! :-)”

“lol..Liz...I checked it out two months ago then got hooked. I coudln't afford the big boy 60 c. Just this week a friend of mine just gave me a pda as they were upgrading...the pda is the best thing since sliced bread when caching.

have used teh legend to mark a route I took river camping...really helpful on that river winding my way back. Saved teh route for the next trip but haven't printed maps...I'm interested in learning more about doing that. You'll be able to help me in that dept it sounds.”

“Etrex Legend. I've had mine for 2 years now and love it. WASS enabled. yada yada yada.
For $200 you can't go wrong.”

“I have a garment etrex vista (which seems to be WAAS). I must admit I've never used it for anything other then as a backup to confirm where I think I am with my map and compus. It was a gift from a friend, but I think she was able to get a pretty good discount on it by shopping around.
last edited: 6/22/05 12:10:18 PM”

“Searching for a new GPS?

You can find one at N45.398° W92.656°.”

“I use my Etrex with TOPO! all the time. It records where you're going as you hike/bike/drive as a "track," then you just hook it up to your computer, select the download tracks from the menu when in TOPO and it plots where you traveled. Also, I always mark my actual campsite with a waypoint using the Etrex. That would be easy enough to enter the coords manually, but if I also mark a bunch of other stuff, like lunch spots, good viewpoints, trail forks, etc., TOPO can download all those waypoints at once. I also do the reverse: draw a route in TOPO, then have it create waypoints and a GPS route, then upload to the Etrex so I can follow it. Where an actual trail exists, it's just fun to watch my progress, but it's really helpful if I'm on a cross country route.

Regarding the WAAS feature on some GPSs: the Etrex tells me I'm within 15-20 feet accuracy when it's reading 4 or more sats - that's good enough for me.”

“ooooh, you are telling me what I want to hear, Bowlderman! And just to be sure -- cuz I see that Garmin has something they call TOPO -- you are talking the National Geographic software? which is TOPO! (gotta have that exclamation mark! lol)

Very, very helpful. And letting me know how I can use the info both ways.

As far as WAAS, I sometimes have trouble with my Etrex, especially in heavy (or not so heavy) leaf cover. Nothing's quite so frustrating as not being able to move and have it track. OR... maybe what's worse is stopping and the Etrex just keeps logging off feet like you're walking, just kind of automatically.

I hope the bastids that stole my Etrex GET LOST!!! I wish I had a waypoint for H-E-L-L on there.

ahhh, that made me feel better!! :-)
last edited: 6/22/05 1:06:10 PM”

“eTrex Legend(can be found for $170) It is on sale at my work for that price, but i see it at that price a lot of places(online too)
-8mb ram
-waas
-good screen resolution
-nice built in base map(all main highways, each exit on interstates with ammeneties at each exit) and some larger streets.
-16-20hrs battery life
-you can download points from TOPO! software as well as maps themselves from the garmin proprietary topo or street mapping software”

“From what someone told me, you can't actually load a TOPO! software map on it, however. Is that right? You can download tracks or waypoints, but not the actual map? So you either have to use what is on the Etrex, or buy their mapping software?”

“I bought a reconditioned Magellan Platinum for 189.00. They normally sell for 267.00. It has nice features and works well under trees and such. It has a temperature, barometer history feature (which is a gimmick, it takes readings only when the unit is on so you would have to leave it powered up all the time, the batteries only last 14 hours and it zeros out when you change the batteries) and it also has a compass that is not dependant on the satellites. Very few GPS's have that feature.”

“Mapsource ...detailed streets and topo for the extrex line. What comes on it is base maps only.”

“correct. You can only load maps from garmin proprietary software, aka mapsource.

but you can put points tracks from your national geographic software. You just wont have any topo map underneath.”

“So.... is it weird not having the topo map on there? You just have no features, kinda like now when I geocache ? (errr... when I USED to geocache before my GPS was stinkin' stolen!!)”

“No, it's not weird.”

“I just posted on the geocaching forum, too. Holy SHEEYAT! I see some models require cards (I presume like a digital camera memory card) for extra memory? AAACK!”

“most come with base memory and you do not need a card.

for example.. the garmin 60CS has 56mb of permanant memory.. that will hold the topography of the whole state of georga.

and, correct, it will be a blank screen unless you are near a highway...the highway is built in.”

“Interesting... I got this response from Garmin when I e-mailed and asked about my current mapping software.

Thank you for contacting GARMIN.

As long as you do not purchase either the LegendC or the VistaC you will be ok. These units cannot work with any third party software as they only use USB connection. You will be able to transfer waypoints and routes to the software. I would recommend a unit like the Map60CS or the Map76CS. If
you call customer service at the number below, any rep can discuss your purchase
with you in more detail. Thanks for using Garmin.

Have a nice day!

800/800.1020


He signed it and all (I took his name off). So here I was thinking the USB connection would be a good thing, but apparently not, if trying to download waypoints, etc., from National Geographic TOPO!”

“ching ching.........60CS or 76CS

*drooling*”

“LOL... noooooooooooo!

So I'm probably back to the regular ole Legend or Vista. Gotta look for good bargains next. (guess I can live without mapping for now) Speaking of which, on the geocaching forums some guy has written a book on how to take info and map your own maps. I'll have to post a link for that on a separate thread.”