Quick GPS question

“I know Garmin has a couple GPS's that have issues in heavy tree cover, is the eTrex Legend one of them?”

“Now my buddy is looking for a GPS able to use the topo map programs, like MapSend or MapSource...he wants to spend around $200.00

Any suggestions?”

“hmmm, I think all GPS systems have trouble in trees.
You might want to tell him to hold off for a short while, there's a bunch of new Garmin's coming out which use a new receiver system that's supposed to be fantastic at getting a signal in virtually all locations.

http://www.gpsnews.org/gps-system/garmin-gpsmap-60cx-and-gpsmap-60csx/

This one is at the top of the range, but I think Garmin are bringing out others. Apparently to be released at the start of January.

They have expandable memory as well.”

“Also prolly means a bunch of the existing line going on sale any time soon.”

“I find that it's kind of hit and miss. When I've had my GPS (basic Etrex) in some wide open areas, receiving well, etc., then go into some trees, it still picks up the signal pretty well. But if, say, I've had it hanging around my neck and thus not getting a strong signal, then go into some trees, it doesn't pick up too well. Heck, sometimes I turn it on inside my house and it picks up the signal. Go figure....”

“The eTrex units have the sucky patch antenna. Best bet is to find a unit with a quad helix antenna. It won't always lock on in treecover, but it's a much better bet than a unit with a patch antenna.

Check out this buy: Magellan SporTrak Color, Bundled with TOPO Software and Case, $229

http://www.sportsauthority.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2051500
last edited: 12/27/05 1:51:05 PM”

“I have a Sport Trak Pro and it has trouble in the thick trees.”

“I don't leave my GPS on all the time. My batteries last forever. I usually mark my vehicle(s) and occasionally along the way & shut it down. I'm still using the Garmin 12xl (no color-no maps) but it will tell me what UTM grid I'm in on a topo instantly. Check out a few more numbers & it will pinpoint to the extent the military allows.

It backs up where I think I am (barring landmarks)using topo,compass & altimeter. I'm usually off trail unless I'm feeling lazy.”

“...it will pinpoint to the extent the military allows.

SA has been shut off for quite some time now. If your unit is WAAS-enabled, you can theoretically nail your position to within 3 meters. As always, your mileage may vary.”

“Mine's the eTrex Venture, have to agree w Bowlederman, hit or miss. Sometimes I have a great signal when I'm in the woods, sometimes I only pick up 3 sattelites when I'm on the highest peak around?

Still... I never leave home without it! :)”

“Thanks for the input folks....I think he's leaning toward the Garmin GPSMAP® 60 . It's a little more than he wanted to spend, but he has a $50.00 gift cert to help out.

I showed him the SportTrack Color, thats a heck of a deal, but he wants to spend the gift cert I think.

On that Magellan, thats a discontinued model, thats why the killer deal. If I had the bucks I would get it myself.

Thanks again.”

“mntsteve:

I got the GPS60C for Christmas. Yeah, its a lot of money to get into the 60 series, but dang its nice!”

“Me too T Mac! I have another question. I've got the Garmin steet maps and ave ordered the topo maps. If the maps I download overlap, which one does it display, or is there a way I can toggle between city select maps and the topo maps?”

“I dunno, I'm set to order the topo maps. My guess from playing around with the GPS is that you switch between the two programs, although overlay would be nice.

Which topos are you ordering? I think I'm getting the US Topo version, which isn't as detailed as the National Parks version, but more than half my hikes are outside the Parks.

WalMart has the US Topo for 75 and shipping. MSPR is something like 116.”

“I'm gonna get the 1:100,000 set TM. I ended up ordering it from REI as I had a gift voucher from there, and I 'paid' $100.
I'll prolly add the 24,000 nat parks at a later date. I'm not sure why they don't start adding 24,000 series for different states - there's gotto be a good amount of cash to be made there.”

“Yeah, I'd love a detailed Colorado set.

I think I'm ordering from REI, too, as I need the dash-mount and its time to inflate my dividend before year-end. :)”

“I was given the Legend for Christmas and willbe using it this week-end. If I can figure the thing out by then.

Is there a simple way to use this thing - like enter my dest, mark my car (starting point) and then do the 'goto' thing? I am having dofficulty with all of the instructions in the book.”

“Y2 - I don't think you can toggle the Mapsource maps. The topo maps have all the streets, just don't have the names of the residential type streets.”

“hmmm, so anyone know what happens if I put both the city maps and the topo map for the same area on my garmin, what map is shown?”

“Oh, and btw, garmin has just released now models with removable flash cards to store more data and improved reception.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060103/cgtu020.html?.v=36”

“I tracked down a copy of the US topo and loaded it to my Garmin. I only loaded a small section of the map, but its amazing. In areas outside of what I loaded, it shows the basic map. Once I cross into the area, it gives the more detailed view. That doesn't exactly answer your question, but its as close as I can get to an answer.”

“If you ever noticed, whenever you upload a new set of data to the unit from Mapsource you'll get a box displaying a message basically saying it is erasing previously loaded data first. So if you put street maps on first and then US TOPO quads, even for different areas, it erases the previous data set. For that matter if you had one set of quads of any kind on your unit and upload totally new quads regardless of type the previous data is erased unless that data is also included in the new map set. Hope this answers your question.”

“PS: For hiking, only purchase GPS units that have an outlet for an external antennae regardless of what kind of internal antenna the unit has. I keep my Garmin 76C in a pouch on my hip and duct tape the antenna and cable to my shoulder strap. When I backpack I put the antenna on the back of the pack. I use Garmins 27 something model antenna. I have virtually no signal loss. Last year I lost signal 3 times over 512 miles of collecting data at the rate of one data point every 53 feet.I think each time was contributable to the cable becoming lose on the unit.”

“Ya Y2 I saw the new models. Kind of upseting seeing I just got mine for Christmas. There's a great IDEA lets wait till after christmas to release new products. Then everyone will have gotten and older verison and want to upgrade the second they got it.”

“thanks mrhyker. I just got the topo disks yesterday, I'd ordered them and wondered how they worked.”

“I don't think a removeable card has any effect on reception. Can't see how!

If the on board memory is between 24 and 115 meg (my 76C) you can load tons of quads on the unit. My website covers hikes in VA, MD, PA and WV : www.midatlantichikes.com. I think I have about 30% of that region loaded and am only using about 10% of the onboard memory.”