Looking for cheap but good GPS for hunting
- Thread starter billd_697
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Explorist 200.
the 300 sets you up a notch but..... 200 for the basic one.
Wallmart is where I got mine. 199 for the Explorist 300. 150 or so for the 200. Your thumb will hurt a bit for the first days ..... the joystick is stiff at the beginning, but it's waterproof and sturdy.
Worked vary good for me. I don't have a vast experience with other GPSs though.
the 300 sets you up a notch but..... 200 for the basic one.
Wallmart is where I got mine. 199 for the Explorist 300. 150 or so for the 200. Your thumb will hurt a bit for the first days ..... the joystick is stiff at the beginning, but it's waterproof and sturdy.
Worked vary good for me. I don't have a vast experience with other GPSs though.
I've used a lot of GPS's for work and for play. (Garmin, Magellan, Trimble, Eagle) I know some guys are magellan fans, but I think Garmin hit the nail on the head when they focussed their marketting on
1) small and fast machines like the etrex series. (you can spend between $100-$500 for these units depending on how many bells and whistles you want) x3 on the yellow one (for $100-150)!
2) small, fast, and well-written manuals. (Anybody who can read - can do everything most people will actually do on an etrex (the yellow one), within about 15 minutes)
3) reliability. (I've had my etrex (the $100 - $150 one) for about 6 years) It was faster than my Map 76s (the expensive one) so I got rid of the 76s. I've also stood right beside someone using a Garmin 12xl, and got a signal (in the bush) before them.
As the saying goes: "get a garmin or get lost". I know some other companies seem to give you a better deal on options (comparably, you may get more options on a magellan, or eagle, or knock-off brand for your dollar) but in the end, the priority is being able to use a reliable machine. If you can't operate it, you won't enjoy it or use it. If it doesn't pick up signal when you want to use it, you're compassing out anyway
(editted to add: I've had really bad luck with the compass feature on any gps: It's nothing like a magnetic compass, it will confuse you, and it eats batteries)
My $.02
D
1) small and fast machines like the etrex series. (you can spend between $100-$500 for these units depending on how many bells and whistles you want) x3 on the yellow one (for $100-150)!
2) small, fast, and well-written manuals. (Anybody who can read - can do everything most people will actually do on an etrex (the yellow one), within about 15 minutes)
3) reliability. (I've had my etrex (the $100 - $150 one) for about 6 years) It was faster than my Map 76s (the expensive one) so I got rid of the 76s. I've also stood right beside someone using a Garmin 12xl, and got a signal (in the bush) before them.
As the saying goes: "get a garmin or get lost". I know some other companies seem to give you a better deal on options (comparably, you may get more options on a magellan, or eagle, or knock-off brand for your dollar) but in the end, the priority is being able to use a reliable machine. If you can't operate it, you won't enjoy it or use it. If it doesn't pick up signal when you want to use it, you're compassing out anyway
(editted to add: I've had really bad luck with the compass feature on any gps: It's nothing like a magnetic compass, it will confuse you, and it eats batteries)
My $.02
D
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Daniel (editted to add: I've had really bad luck with the compass feature on any gps: It's nothing like a magnetic compass said:I stand correctedThank you
I would have thought that would be a good feature but have no experience with it
- Location
- Hillbilly shack in the boonies
I find it a bit of a battle between Magellan and Garmin, and the one that comes up with the largest , and clearest screen, keeping the overall size to a minimum, will win the day.
Options are wonderful, the magnetic compass is like , from standard to auto drive.
barometric pressure is a nice to have, should be linked to a short program/visual alarm cue ,''get up the deer are on the move'' another , ''relax , looks like you got 4-6 hours'', LOL
Right now, I would get a good 12 channel, second hand, reason, there are changes inline for GPS systems, I would wait it out, much memory available in these units, just think of even first aid ''help'' file.
Frank
Options are wonderful, the magnetic compass is like , from standard to auto drive.
barometric pressure is a nice to have, should be linked to a short program/visual alarm cue ,''get up the deer are on the move'' another , ''relax , looks like you got 4-6 hours'', LOL
Right now, I would get a good 12 channel, second hand, reason, there are changes inline for GPS systems, I would wait it out, much memory available in these units, just think of even first aid ''help'' file.
Frank
update
I was just looking at the "bells and whistles" in the catalogue:
-Barometric altimeter (you gonna use that?)
-weather forecasting (yeah, right!)
-10 routes vs 1 (you only use one at a time, if at all) Not a fantastically usefule feature, (IMHO), but maybe for a trapline or something.
-"basemap of north America" Read that as "you are near vancouver, 20km from the nearest major highway. (if you got there, you knew that)
-color screens are nice sometimes. I find you end up screwing with your contrast more often. (to each their own)
-ability to upload and download points (there is some free mapping sofware available over the 'net) The etrex does it (I think, but don't quote me) and it's valuable to go to a point where you've never been, or to see where your point actually fell on a map (which swamp was I in, who's property was I on...etc)
-ability to upload maps (I think this starts with the etrex legend - level) is useful, if you want to pay $100 for the maps, learn how to use the loading program (which isn't hard, but still ) and load up the maps you most commonly use. As you get into more expensive units, you're paying for memory (IMHO) to load more maps. You can load several basemaps on a small unit (like a legend) depending on how many "features" you want to use (like topography), but a load large geography into a bigger unit (like a map76 CS level). Then you're talking $400- infinity when you include the cost of the mapping program.
I like GPS's. I don't want to sound like a know it all, but I've used them a lot. Just trying to be helpful.
D
I was just looking at the "bells and whistles" in the catalogue:
-Barometric altimeter (you gonna use that?)
-weather forecasting (yeah, right!)
-10 routes vs 1 (you only use one at a time, if at all) Not a fantastically usefule feature, (IMHO), but maybe for a trapline or something.
-"basemap of north America" Read that as "you are near vancouver, 20km from the nearest major highway. (if you got there, you knew that)
-color screens are nice sometimes. I find you end up screwing with your contrast more often. (to each their own)
-ability to upload and download points (there is some free mapping sofware available over the 'net) The etrex does it (I think, but don't quote me) and it's valuable to go to a point where you've never been, or to see where your point actually fell on a map (which swamp was I in, who's property was I on...etc)
-ability to upload maps (I think this starts with the etrex legend - level) is useful, if you want to pay $100 for the maps, learn how to use the loading program (which isn't hard, but still
) and load up the maps you most commonly use. As you get into more expensive units, you're paying for memory (IMHO) to load more maps. You can load several basemaps on a small unit (like a legend) depending on how many "features" you want to use (like topography), but a load large geography into a bigger unit (like a map76 CS level). Then you're talking $400- infinity when you include the cost of the mapping program.I like GPS's. I don't want to sound like a know it all, but I've used them a lot. Just trying to be helpful.
D
Levi Garrett said:Right now, I would get a good 12 channel, second hand, reason, there are changes inline for GPS systems, I would wait it out, much memory available in these units, just think of even first aid ''help'' file.
Frank
Good point. Supposedly the "watch units" will be sub metre accurate within a couple years
because of the number of satalites and changes in signal stuff. (not my forte) We'll see.Best of luck
D
Levi Garrett said:Right now, I would get a good 12 channel, second hand, reason, there are changes inline for GPS systems, I would wait it out, much memory available in these units, just think of even first aid ''help'' file.
Frank
There is the European system coming in 2007 as I recall, I believe that the new handhelds will be able to use both systems and obtain better accuracy and info.
I too wanted a mapping unit, but with the new maps in the works and the new system coming soon, I went cheap, for short term!!
I use a Magellan 12.
I think its one of the very first GPS' out there.
Not downloadable, not compadible actually kind of outdated for todays technology, but it works good and has never let me down.
Can't buy the 12 now an ebaying we'll go and ebaying we'll go hi ho the ....
I think its one of the very first GPS' out there.
Not downloadable, not compadible actually kind of outdated for todays technology, but it works good and has never let me down.
Can't buy the 12 now
an ebaying we'll go and ebaying we'll go hi ho the ....
Rhino said:
I also have a Garmin Rino 120 and would highly recomend it, especially if you can talk you hunting partner(s) into also purchasing one. They have come down quite a bit in price and can be found for about $260 or so. It may have more features i.e. two way radio than you want though. This is my first GPS and one thing I can say about Garmin products is that they are very user friendly and easy to learn how to use.
JohnC
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Ahsan Ahmed said:Agree on that Etrex.......simple and very user friendly.....available in Camo as well. Good idea to carry a conventional compass in addition
More than a good idea - the conventional compass is absolutely essential. They're cheap so you should have at least 2.
