GPS suggestions

[greyhounder]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=383&item=3683805800&rd=1

This is the 60C and it’s really at a good price right now ($270, and a WI seller to boot.) Still in the undecided mode myself, although I have put in my bid on this. The auction ends in about 12 hours.

Bec

[AuntieNae]

I started with the Garmin Extex Vista .. great little unit there.

I graduated to the Rhino 130 after attending my first breakfast event. I liked the walkie talkie and ability to beam coordinates between others in our group.

When the Garmin 60CS was coming out, I did a pre-order and got it for a good price. I absolutely love it!

However, I now use both the Rhino and 60CS when we go geocaching .. when one can not lock signal, the other can .. when one has accuracy problems, the other does not .. and, since my niece, nephew and friends do not have their own GPS, it comes in handy to have 2 along.

All have their good points and bad points. I agree with an earlier post to ask others to try their units at events .. nothing beats hands on.

[greyhounder]

I’d love to get the chance to try out some of the other GPSrs at some of the events (although that involves me socializing, which I’m pretty poor at). I tend to eavesdrop more on folks and peek at their GPSrs (hoping one will call to me, “pick me!”) I’ve gleaned a thing or two that way.

I’m so much better on these message boards, where I seem to have no issue whining away!

Again, thank you so much everyone for all your comments!

Bec

[Buy_The_Tie]

Here’s the content of an E-mail I put together for my bro-in-law who was shopping for a GPSr recently:

Garmin 76S (This is the one I would buy for me)
Pro: Lots and lots of memory (24 MB, load in the maps you want and forget about it)
Pro: Big Screen (we’re all getting older, aren’t we?)
Pro: Built in compass (Don’t need to constantly switch between compass and GPSR while hunting a geocache)
Pro: Quad Helix Antenna (good for hunting under heavy tree cover)
Pro: Built-in barametric altmiter (cool for in the airplane, check the pressurization)
Pro: Built in antenna connection (Add an external antenna while in the car, easier to use)
Pro: Less expensive cigarette lighter adapter for the car.

Con: Physically arger than the e-trex series.
Con: Decreased battery life (solved with Ni-Mh batteries)

Garmin 76
Pro: Big Screen (we’re all getting older, aren’t we?)
Pro: Quad Helix Antenna (good for hunting under heavy tree cover)
Pro: Built in antenna connection (Add an external antenna while in the car, easier to use)
Pro: Less expensive cigarette lighter adapter for the car.

Con: A little light on memory (8 MB, You’ll need a computer to load in new maps when you go somewhere new).
Con: Physically arger than the e-trex series.
Con: Decreased battery life (solved with Ni-Mh batteries)

Pro: Less expensive cigarette lighter adapter for the car.

Garmin E-trex Vista
Pro: Lots and lots of memory (24 MB, load in the maps you want and forget about it)
Pro: Built in compass (Don’t need to constantly switch between compass and GPSR while hunting a geocache)
Pro: Built-in barametric altmiter (cool for in the airplane, check the pressurization)
Pro: Physically Smaller

Con: Dinky Tiny Screen
Con: Patch Antenna (Complaints from Geocachers about use in heavy tree cover)
Con: No external antenna connector (must keep this on the dash in the car)
Con: No external antenna connector (crappy antenna? Tough!)
Con: Buttons on the side of the unit (IMHO) are physically hard to press.

Garmin E-trex Legend
Pro: Physically Smaller
Pro: Most bang for the buck
Pro: $$$$$$$

Con: A little light on memory (8 MB)
Con: Dinky Tiny Screen
Con: Patch Antenna (Complaints from Geocachers about use in heavy tree cover)
Con: No external antenna connector (must keep this on the dash in the car)
Con: No external antenna connector (crappy antenna? Tough!)
Con: Buttons on the side of the unit (IMHO) are physically hard to press.

[greyhounder]

Oooh! That is a good breakdown of a few units. The tiny, dark screen is an issue for me (yes, yes, my eye appointment is tomorrow….)

I’m still drooling over the Garmin GPSMAP 60C. Just not sure I want to plunk down that chunk of change (of course, I have almost no willpower, and can be swayed by peer pressure!)

It seems to me that a majority of you all use Garmin devices. That is also a considerations (ya know, I gotta go along with the crowd), of course, I am always willing to do something totally different too.

Again, thanks so much for the input!

Bec

[Natloh2]

My Magellan seems to get the job done, I have a found a few caches here and there with it.

[Cathunter]

I have never thought an external antenna would be too important. My Garmin Legend works fine in the car (has never been on the dash) and even gets decent reception as I sit here at my PC (several feet from the windows with closed blinds). The time I always totally lose reception is in pine trees.

I’d like to hear more from those who use an external.

[wzbt03]

My 76S will pick up a signal in dense forests much better then my Garmin Legend. I have found many times when I can only get the signal from the 76S.

In the deep deep woods of New England, even my 76S gave up on me at times.

[Ray]

External antenna… nudge Steve B. He reports positivily of the use. The only difference I have noticed is the GPS seems to get a satalite lock faster with the external antenna. It doesn’t seem to be worth the $90 investment.
tb

[greyhounder]

Please excuse the stupidity — but where does one use an external antenna? While walking around looking for caches? While in the car? In the house?

My SporTrak does a great job at finding satellites, even from inside near a window. I only put it on my dashboard to get a signal lock, and then it rides in the cupholder between my car seats.

Bec

[SirPoonga]

Grey, there are some more power external antennas, just a convinience I think. I had one, didn’t care for it. For older units like my old Garmin III++ I could see where it would help. The antenna wasn’t sensative when someone int he passenger seat of the car was using it.

quote:

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Garmin E-trex Vista
Pro: Lots and lots of memory (24 MB, load in the maps you want and forget about it)
Pro: Built in compass (Don’t need to constantly switch between compass and GPSR while hunting a geocache)
Pro: Built-in barametric altmiter (cool for in the airplane, check the pressurization)
Pro: Physically Smaller

Con: Dinky Tiny Screen
Con: Patch Antenna (Complaints from Geocachers about use in heavy tree cover)
Con: No external antenna connector (must keep this on the dash in the car)
Con: No external antenna connector (crappy antenna? Tough!)
Con: Buttons on the side of the unit (IMHO) are physically hard to press.

---

I have the normal Etrex, I have my opinions on it. First, I thinkt he buttons are too easy to push accidently, I do that all the time witht he buttons being ont he side. NThe antenna is super sensitive. When I first got it I was playing with it, downloading waypoints and such. I had to go to the rest room. Well, I took my GPS with me. My bathroom is in the middle of the house, I was getting at least three signals with an EPE of 51ft within the house, WTF!

I have heard patch antennas are the best type, most of the do it yourself antenna sites are patch antennas too. Though quads are really good too.

Now, I do miss the mapping of the III+, I’d get a V if I had the money. But my Etrex has suited me fine for geocaching. I don’t think the scree is that tiny, it isn’t much differnt than the III+ I had. Now the geko has a small screen.

[greyhounder]

Thanks, SirPoonga — this too is very helpful to me. The eTrex series is still high on my list as well.

(and I had my eye exam last night, so we might now have the issues with reading the screens on any GPS all worked up — meaning, I’m getting older…..)

Bec

[thennig]

You took you’re GPS with the bathroom with you? Hee hee.

Sorry- I don’t know much about different GPS units- just reading through. We use a Garmin 12. I like it- nothing fancy but it does the job.

[Cathunter]

quote:

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Originally posted by greyhounder:
My SporTrak Map just isn’t making me happy.
Bec

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Could it be that you have just gotten spoiled from using the Roadmate?

If you want to trade my Garmin for your Sportrac for a few weeks, i’d be interested.

Russ

[greyhounder]

quote:

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Originally posted by Cathunter:
Could it be that you have just gotten spoiled from using the Roadmate?

If you want to trade my Garmin for your Sportrac for a few weeks, i’d be interested.

Russ

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Yeah, maybe I am a little spoiled by the Roadmate…hadn’t even thought about that!

But yes! I would definitely be interested in trying out your GPS as a sort of exchange student program. Are you sure you’d be willing to be without your Garmin for a few weeks??

Bec

[Author]

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