To those of you with starter GPS systems, what do YOU use???

[SirAmmoDog]

I just bought SEVERAL books and maps off e-bay (I'm SOOOOO looking forward to my new hobby I have been waiting YEARS to do!) and want to know what you guys recommend and use on a daily basis for a starter GPS system.

I have heard Garmin, e-trex, Magellen, but what do those of you who use them on a regular basis in the field recommend for a starter? Am looking for inexpensive, ease of use, and reliable!

Thanks for your assistance! Hopefully by Monday, I'll be able ot post some pics of a nice afternoon out with some good finds!

Kyle R.

 

[NM5K]

Mine is a yeller feller.. I use an older
magellen meridian handheld. I bought it off
fleabay for $60.00 in like new shape. Then
I added a 1 gig SD card so I could store extra
maps. I was able to load detailed maps for the
entire USA and still have a good bit of room
left. So I can use the extra memory to store
track/waypoint files, etc..
The map software runs on my puter, so I can edit,
write any size of map, and then shoot it off to
the GPS using a fast SD writer. That is much better
than trying to use a serial cable , which is dog
slow.
It's not color, but I really don't need that too
much. I'm more concerned about accuracy, and the
meridian seems fairly good, being it supports
WAAS. They claim an accuracy of <3m. But in the
real world, if I let the thing find a lot of sats,
and get good and stable, I can probably get within
5 ft or so. Like I say, it's yeller, and a perfect
match for my ace 250..
I threw in a few captures from video I have using it
at my property in Oklahoma. The first two are taken
standing behind my car, which is in the driveway
leading in from the road, which is the line you see
at the bottom going left to right, or E to W.
The bottom one was taken at the S/E corner of the
property looking north.
I think you can click on each of those and get a full
size pix for more detail. The thing has various "nav"
screens, with maps, compass, data, etc, etc.. Most
screens can be customized. Works great as a speedometer
in a car.. It told me the speedo in my new corolla is
nearly right on the money at highway speeds.
It'll show the speed walking.. usually 2-3 mph for a
normal walk speed.
You can see all the tracks where I've wondered in and
out, and all around that place.. IE: the driveway has
multiple layered tracks from going in and out quite a
few times. That's the thick set of lines running from
the road, slightly to the n/e.. I'd have to zoom out
quite a bit to see the markers at the back of the lot..
"Straight north". I have a waypoint set at each corner,
then I walked all around the place to place track lines
as my property lines. I'm not fenced, so it's handy to
let me see where my lines are no matter where I'm at.
Anyway, it worked out pretty good for less than $100..
And they did make color meridians too, if that is needed.
The latest models are called explorists, and to tell the
truth, I think I got more bang for my money buying the used
unit. To get a new one that does all what mine does is not
exactly cheap. BTW, the top pix is best to show it's true
yeller feller color.. The bottoms are washed out, cuz I'm
catching the sun to light up the display.. Kinda blinds
the digi movie camera I was using.. Anyway, thats what I'm
using..
MK

 

[Neil in West Jersey]

[attachment 66292 Garmin.jpg]

The Garmin eTrex retails for about $100. I find it is useful...sometimes. There is no external antennae on the unit, which makes it difficult to pick up signals under even sparse foliage. There is no mapping capability, but that is OK for the remote sections of the Jersey Pine Barrens. It will not show highways, however. The newer eTrex H advertises better sensitivity even under thick canopies..

I wish I had spend the additional money for the GPSMAP60. It has an external Helix antennae and mapping capabilities. It retails for $250. Add about $200 more for the color version with some newer added features.

[attachment 66293 gps60.jpg]

 

[JoeinMemphis]

I use either an etrex legend (B&W screen) or more recently the etrex legend cx (color screen). Both have mapping capability and are easy to use. I got my cx last month at Bass Pro on sale for $199. The B&W unit would be cheaper. HH Joe

 

[NM5K]

The guy I work with has an Etrex. He's also
got a meridian like mine, which he bought after
the Etrex. It's ok I guess, but a used meridian
is a way better deal for the appx same amount
of money. You can probably get a color meridian
on e-bay in the appx $150.00 range.. I think most
end up going for less than 2 C notes..
The meridian golds, etc usually go for around a
$100, sometimes less.. Those are B/W.. More base
map mem... And the platinum has a multi axis compass
which works with no movement I think..
I've never really had any sensitivity problems so
far. Trees, etc seem to make no real difference.
The only thing I notice is if the pickup is marginal,
IE: in a house, vs outside in the clear,it takes longer
to initialize. But once it gets fired up, I've never
had it lose signal so far.
Even inside the car with it just sitting on the seat.
I can drive the 905 mile round trip, and nary a
glitch the whole way. But if I'm firing it up cold,
I'll hold it up to the windshield to let it initialize
faster.
I'm using the mapsend "streets" map database, which is
the usual software used on those. It covers down to
city street level, but of course, any real new streets,
it won't have as the software is maybe 3-4?? years
old. Shows lakes, most rivers, large creeks, etc.
I was surprised it even shows the little creek that
runs off to lake, which is a couple of lots down
from me. Mine is capable of overlaying the topo maps,
but I don't have that software. I'd like to get it..
Anyway, that map 60 looks pretty good. But.. if the
color version is $450 bucks, kinda pricy for what
it actually does.. The one I have will do most everything
that one will, cept no color, for less than a 1/4 of the
price, if that one is indeed about $450..
I saw the same thing comparing the meridians to the new
magellan models.. If money is an issue, you can get way
more bang fer buck buying a used one on fleabay.
Most are still in pretty good shape. I'd try to avoid the
abused ones... Mine was still about like new. Don't think
it had been used much. They are fun toys to play with.
I can measure distances with it, even fairly short,
tell you how far any location is from where I'm at, etc..
Even has menus with sun/moon/fishing, etc data.. :/
I used it a while back going to a friend of mines property
in Fayette county. Had never been there. He told me exactly
where he was, and I stuck a waypoint on it, and knew how far
away it was, and used the map to get there with no directions
needed. It'll even tell you the streets you are crossing as
you come up to them. It's not totally perfect, but pretty
good. Mine will not "direct" you though, like the latest
and greatest.
MK

 

[NM5K]

I just checked that CX out on the web, and thats
not a bad deal for color. I see as low as 199.00 online.
MK