GPS suggestions

[greyhounder]

My SporTrak Map just isn’t making me happy. It might just be because I’ve been in a bad mood lately, but when something makes me think about my GPS (like seeing batteries in the grocery store) I get angry and that’s just not the way to go geocaching.

I’ve got those stress cracks that some other SporTrak owners have, the thingie loopie thing that connects to the battery compartment has fallen off numerous times and now is lost, the screen has a sort of “haze” on it and is hard to read at times, the batteries are hard to get at, and it eats batteries, including rechargables….that’s enough whining, sorry…

I’ve only had this GPS a few months, but I am ready to get something else RIGHT NOW!

So, I need suggestions from all of you. What unit do you use, and why do you like it?

Thank you very much — I promise to try to not be so whiny in the future.

Bec

[Miata]

I just bought a Garmin V with maps and auto routing and just love it! I also have a Garmin III which only has a real cheesy map, but helped me find 235+ caches! I still use it and have been leaving my GPS V on the dash.

[Paul]

We both use Garmin Legends. They don’t go though batteries too bad and can store more waypoints than we would ever need.

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PWB – Comet Cache Chasers
http://www.cachechasers.com

[Cathunter]

I use a Garmin Legend also. They seem to be good for about a year of heavy use. Mine has had the screen ribbon cable go bad, the clickstick sticks, and the grip that surrounds it comes loose. These are all things common to the Etrex series of Garmin units.

I think the Magellan is comparable to the Garmin. Not a bad unit. I would research the warranty situation.
As for batteries, I get about 8 hours on energizers, 4-5 hours on rechargeables (I use energizers). Things of importance- make sure WAAS is turned OFF. It seems to have a major effect on battery life. Backlight & compass is tough on the batteries too. I bought a car cord, which powers the unit while I am on the road.

Garmin has great customer service too. Out of warranty, $100 and a trade-in gets a new (refurbished) unit. For that price, I don’t think i’ll be getting that $450 color unit anytime soon.

[Ray]

We are a Garmin family. Our first 400 caches were with a Garmin 12. It is great under cover but eats batteries. Our next 200 were found using a Map 76. Beautiful Display and better with battery consumption. We have been using a pair of Garmin 60C’s since January and can’t find enough positive things to say about the unit. It has some minor flaws but power consumption is not on that list. We use Alkalines and have changed batteries 3-4 times on each.

[Green Bay Paddlers]

We’ve been Magellan owners from Day 1 and are pretty happy with the line. I did the research last summer between the Meridian Gold and the SportTrak Map. I went with the Meridian because of the expandibility using an SD Card. I’ve been pretty happy with the Meridian and it has been a good unit for us…

P.S. When I saw that Lil Otter uses a Meridian Gold – I was sold!!!!

[Mama Fishcacher]

Sorry to hear your GPS is making you unhappy! Whine about it all you want. Where else can you go to complain about a GPS unit?? 😉

We use a Garmin 72 and love it. I like the big screen it has. And in the almost year I’ve had it, I think I’ve changed the batteries just once. (And I keep the WAAS enabled all the time, and I don’t cache at night so I don’t use the backlight.) Granted, I’ve only found just under 60 caches, so my battery use might be a little slower than those that cache more frequently. Also it’s a marine GPS, so it is waterproof and will float! (Which might come in handy on vacation in Minnesota next week! Hee hee! As well as the “best fishing times” table it has!)

And as for memory, I don’t know how many waypoints I’ve put in it, but I’ve only used just under half the memory. If I remember, it says it holds 500 waypoints. I haven’t tried getting a cable to just download the waypoints – I just enter them manually for now. And I haven’t downloaded any software in it either. I just use MapQuest to look at where I’m going.

~Mama Fishcacher

[Big Yonsson]

I use a Lowrance ifinder.Comes with backgound maps,lakes,…..Can add more to it and if the screen gets scratched up to bad you can replace it with a new front of any color……

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[subterranean]

Add my name to the list of Legend users. The Legend is a feature-rich unit that has an affordable price (you should be able to find a new one for about $150 online). I really only have one complaint… it doesn’t have external antennae capabilities.

One other point: the cheapest prices will be found on eBay, but if you don’t buy from a regular store (some eBay sellers are regular stores, though) and get a store receipt, you may not be able to use Garmin’s warranty.

Matt

[Green Bay Paddlers]

http://www.froogle.com to find the best price. This is how I bought my Meridian. Scans the whole net for the best on-line price for any item. Good stuff….

[Buy_The_Tie]

Now…. I don’t want to ruffle any feathers… but….

I was one of the people at the campout this spring who was uploading data to everybody’s GPSr’s. I saw MANY different models of GPSr that day.

There wasn’t ONE SINGLE GARMIN unit that had any problems connecting with the PC and accepting the data waypoints.

There were MULTIPLE Magellan units that would not accept any data at all, and a couple of them that we had to work on for a long time before they accepted any waypoints.

So…. if compatability with your PC (and somebody else’s) is important, I say buy a GARMIN of any kind and you’ll be happy.

[Green Bay Paddlers]

I agree with Buy_The_Tie…. You’re going to want to talk to someone that has worked with a variety of units. Magellan/Garmin can really get to be like Chevy/Ford for some people. Hook up with a someone who has test driven a few different makes…

[greyhounder]

Thanks everybody for your input (so far, keep it coming!) This has been very interesting for me, as well as educational. I have been looking at the Garmin Legends for a while now, and am sort of leaning that way, but thus far am not committed (that’s a scary word even in reference to a GPS!)

I’ve been making notes from all of your posts and will be doing some research. Keeps the posts coming!!

Thanks!!
Bec

[skarolek]

Bec,

My first 45 finds have been using a Garmin etrex vista. I got a good deal on ebay. I want to give this one to my brother for his birthday so I can justify buying a new 60CS for myself… I’ve been shopping for those on ebay too. I’ve lost track of how many things I’ve bought there. I shop online a lot and often wind up on ebay or amazon.

The etrex vista accepts 500 waypoints (although I’ve used software that doesn’t care to download 1000 waypoints into it) and can hold a rich set of maps from Garmin’s MapSource products.

The 60CS can handle more waypoints, more maps, has a bigger screen in no less and does routing. Of course it costs more too 😉

Have fun selecting your new toy!
Steve K

[greyhounder]

I’ve been looking at the 60C and CS too. Quite pricey, but intriguing….I like the dedicated geocaching mode!

Bec

[Author]

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