whats a good gps.
- Thread starter Cricket
- Start date
Cricket said:
IMHO, the Garmin Etrex (yellow one). It is easy to use and is quite cheap now. There are also lots of accessories you can buy for it (software, cables, etc.).
Whichever one you choose, make sure you learn how to use it...not like a friend who just expects it to tell him where his truck is every hunting season :roll: :lol: .
Good luck.
James
- Location
- Near Coldwater, Ont
I have the same one that Stanway mentioned. It is very basic, without a lot of bells and whistles (read very easy to use). Most importantly, it works. It does not have a built in compass though, so you will need one of those to navigate as well. The GPS gives you distance and bearing, you dial the bearing in on the compass and off you go.
There are many different models of good GPSr's that will do the job for you within the price range that you mentioned. It really depends on what you want the GPSr to do for you. If you need the electronic compass capability, you are likely looking at spending $300.00 or more.
Basic units which will give you the ability to "back-track" can be found for that $189 price. I may stir the pot here, but I would recommend any to your liking from the Garmin line. There have been too many firmware and software issues associated with the newest Magellan's out there: the 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 series to be exact. See the thread at http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=105870 for a comprehensive list of some of their problems.
So in short... Stanway gave you a good example. The Garmin Geko line is the cheapest out there.
PS: Don't forget to hit the refresh button to see the "bug list" at the link.
Garmin = Good
Magellan = Bad.
JMHO. Cheers.
Basic units which will give you the ability to "back-track" can be found for that $189 price. I may stir the pot here, but I would recommend any to your liking from the Garmin line. There have been too many firmware and software issues associated with the newest Magellan's out there: the 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 series to be exact. See the thread at http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=105870 for a comprehensive list of some of their problems.
So in short... Stanway gave you a good example. The Garmin Geko line is the cheapest out there.
PS: Don't forget to hit the refresh button to see the "bug list" at the link.
Garmin = Good
Magellan = Bad.
JMHO. Cheers.
[.
IMHO, the Garmin Etrex (yellow one). It is easy to use and is quite cheap now. There are also lots of accessories you can buy for it (software, cables, etc.).
Whichever one you choose, make sure you learn how to use it...not like a friend who just expects it to tell him where his truck is every hunting season :roll: :lol: .
Good luck.
James
[/quote]
I'm with stanway also. I have the Etrex Legend which has a few more capabilities without breaking the bank. I can load Topo maps into it and other functions that many would find useless. Whatever the case may be, you should first learn something about orienteering and map reading before relying fully on a G.P.S. Remember, It's all fun and games untill you run out of batteries. :lol:
IMHO, the Garmin Etrex (yellow one). It is easy to use and is quite cheap now. There are also lots of accessories you can buy for it (software, cables, etc.).
Whichever one you choose, make sure you learn how to use it...not like a friend who just expects it to tell him where his truck is every hunting season :roll: :lol: .
Good luck.
James
[/quote]I'm with stanway also. I have the Etrex Legend which has a few more capabilities without breaking the bank. I can load Topo maps into it and other functions that many would find useless. Whatever the case may be, you should first learn something about orienteering and map reading before relying fully on a G.P.S. Remember, It's all fun and games untill you run out of batteries. :lol:
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
Make sure that is it a 12 channel GPS. Yes, there are some older versions with less resolution.
I have a Etrex but lost it (I guess I need a GPS for the GPS ). I now have a Garmin Gecko. Even more basic but 1/2 the size, about the same price and basic functions are way easier/quicker to use. Same format as the other when you need to go home.
Jerry
I have a Etrex but lost it (I guess I need a GPS for the GPS
). I now have a Garmin Gecko. Even more basic but 1/2 the size, about the same price and basic functions are way easier/quicker to use. Same format as the other when you need to go home.Jerry
Doesn't the Gecko take AAA batteries. AA's are cheaper. I had a Magellan Sportrack and found it very user friendly. Unfortunately the battery housing cracked and I killed the GPS when I had to swim after getting caught by the tide.
I'm presently using a Garmin rino. I find the functions a little more complicated. The neat feature about this unit is that it has a built in FRS radio. Additional to direct communication, you can also track your hunting partner if he has a similiar unit. So if Grampy has a jammer while hunting, you can find his corpse and mom can cache in quicker!
Both have gone to Quad. helix attenna's which are generally considered better for getting signals in cover. If you can pick-up a WAAS satellite accuracy is within 3m's.
If you haven't been spoiled by the most up to date features, a good old Garmin Etrex or Magellan 315/20 will get you back to camp.
I'm presently using a Garmin rino. I find the functions a little more complicated. The neat feature about this unit is that it has a built in FRS radio. Additional to direct communication, you can also track your hunting partner if he has a similiar unit. So if Grampy has a jammer while hunting, you can find his corpse and mom can cache in quicker!
Both have gone to Quad. helix attenna's which are generally considered better for getting signals in cover. If you can pick-up a WAAS satellite accuracy is within 3m's.
If you haven't been spoiled by the most up to date features, a good old Garmin Etrex or Magellan 315/20 will get you back to camp.
Homesteader
CGN Regular
- Location
- In a Wallow West of Edmonton.
I vote for the garmin legend, I have the venture which is a model down and it is awesome. I have seen the legends selling new for around $190, I believe it was at walmart. Check them out, small, nice size screen, and very user friendly. They sure are amazing units.
Goodluck, Homesteader
Goodluck, Homesteader
- Location
- WMU247 near Edmonton
I have used a lot of different GPS units over the last 10-15 years those first ones were huge compared to now.
I particulary liked the old garmin GPS II+ units, great features and accessories
I have not used any of the newer ones and keep meaning to buy one myself I just havn't found one I like yet, but I think I'll be getting a garmin unit when I do.
I particulary liked the old garmin GPS II+ units, great features and accessories
I have not used any of the newer ones and keep meaning to buy one myself I just havn't found one I like yet, but I think I'll be getting a garmin unit when I do.
- Location
- WMU247 near Edmonton
doubble
Damn... and I just bought an Explorist 300.
I already have one of those $1000+ map units for in my truck and while on the motorcycle, I just bought the Magellan one for playing around with.
I may have to play around with it and decide if I want to keep it before my 30 days are up.
I already have one of those $1000+ map units for in my truck and while on the motorcycle, I just bought the Magellan one for playing around with.
I may have to play around with it and decide if I want to keep it before my 30 days are up.
Steyr101 said:
Take it back and get a Garmin now!... before it's too late. Interestingly... (and fortunately), I too was going to buy a Magellan. A 600. I happened to stumble upon the Geocaching website in search of some good GPS advice http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?s=1f697ad4fceafbc1c94174d014601f93&act=idx and discovered the "bug list" I posted above.
That by itself didn't turn me off... I wrote to Magellan to find out from them if they where planning any upgrades to correct the problems owners of their GPSr's had... well no reply from them told me to steer clear.... I even wrote them again... in case they didn't get it the first time or thought it was a troll trying to stir the pot... but again no response.
Now in all fairness to Magellan, there are features that their units have that the Garmins still don't. The best one in my opinion is the SD Card capability. This gives the owner of the Magellan virtually limitless memory options. Because of costs, I settled for the GPSMap 60C (the one in my avatar). It comes with 56 Mb of memory... enough, but hardly what you can get for the Magellan's i.e. 1 Gb SD Cards for under $100.00.
If Garmin comes out with an SD Card capable unit right soon... it will crush Magellan given the problems they are having with firmware and software. Cheers.
I played that Geocaching game for a while. It was fun and I learned lots. Even won a few GPS's and cache playing games on VanIsle. The game was a victim of it's own popularity IMO.
www.gpscentral.ca is an excellent place to compare and buy GPS's in Canada.
www.gpscentral.ca is an excellent place to compare and buy GPS's in Canada.
I did a bit of a seach on GPSs a couple of weeks ago and also found that the basic Etrex was very well recommended at a very good price.stanway said:
Check here for the best price in Canada....
http://www.gpscentral.ca/products/garmin/etrex.htm
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