GPS advice needed

[grift]

ok fellow flashlight/gadget freaks i need input. i'm looking to get myself a hand held GPS for hiking/camping/canoeing. i'd also like to use it in my car if it would be able to serve me there as well.

i'd be mainly using it canoeing on different rivers and on a nearby river ALOT. it would get use hiking as well. and as i said if it could be used in my car to navigate around town etc, that is a big plus.

it needs to be at least dunkable in water, small enough to easily carry, and be reliable and well made. i'd like to keep the price under $400 but cheaper than that is a big plus.

when making a suggestion please be clear on the EXACT model/version you are reffering to.

TIA

 

[Sigman]

THANKS for that site!

 

[grift]

i had looked at that site a little before, but seems alot was old and nor updated. and i was being lazy and would prefer opinions from my fellow CPF members whom i know have some of the same tastes, opinions, and preferences as myself.

 

[grift]

Originally posted by dilettante:
Check out http://joe.mehaffey.com/

I'd get a GPS-V for your application and budget. My Brother-in-law has one--SWEET!

I'm getting a Magellan Meridian Platinum for Christmas, but I don't plan to use it in the car.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">those are two i had been looking at as well and it seems a really hard choice for me to make between them. i'll wait and see if more people can sway me one way or another w/their input.

 

[dilettante]

If you plan to use the GPS more in the car, the GPS-V's turn by turn navigation is really nice. It took my brother-in-law and I from my house in central Seattle to the Museam of Flight no problem. Amazing. you tell it where you want to go and it beeps at you and tells you when and in which direction to turn.

If I recall correctly, the Platinum doesn't have anything like that. It's antana is also not detachable like that of the GPS-V. The detachable antana can be handy in vehicular applications. Finally, you can switch the screen orientation on the GPS-V from portrait (for handheld use) to landscape (in the cradle on the dash). The GPS-V also has a long battery life because it uses more AAs than most other units.

I'll also be interested to hear what others have to say . . .

When I was shopping, www.gpsonsale.com had some of the best prices for the units and software.

 

[Unforgiven]

The Garmin E-Trex series are waterproof to 1 meter and are priced reasonable.

 

[Skid]

I currently own a Magellan SportTrack Map and I am getting the Magellan Meridian Platinum for Christmas. One feature I do not like about most handheld GPS's is that they do not have electronic compasses. I am not sure that the Garmin V comes with this feature but the Platinum does.

But, if you are going to be using the GPS while hiking or anything outside of a vehicle I would personally (and I am) get the Platinum. The Garmin V is a great GPS but the size was a big determining factor for me. It is quite a bit bigger than the Platinum. Since most of my use will be for geocaching and hiking my decision was clear.

BTW, the Platinum floats.

Skid

 

[grift]

Originally posted by Skid:


BTW, the Platinum floats.

Skid

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">yea i noticed and thats a big plus for me when canoeing. when you say the V is alot bigger than the Platinum how big is the difference? is it so much bigger that carrying it is gonna be a hassle?

 

[dilettante]

Check out http://joe.mehaffey.com/

I'd get a GPS-V for your application and budget. My Brother-in-law has one--SWEET!

I'm getting a Magellan Meridian Platinum for Christmas, but I don't plan to use it in the car.

 

[Harrkev]

I am a little bit of an expert here. I wrote the FAQ (now out of date) for the Magellan Meridian series....

Here is what I would recommend as far as requirements:
1) Rugged and waterproof.
2) Mapping capability.
3) Suitable for general navigation (not just car use).

Because outdoor use is primary, and car usage is secondary, I would not go for the Garmin GPS V. It is made to sit in a car. While it can be carried by hand, to me is has sort of a strange shape for hand-held use. It is also larger than others made for hand-carry.

Here are the models that I would focus on:

1) Garmin eTrex (Vista or Legend)
2) Garmin 76S
3) Garmin Rino 120
4) Magellan Meridian series
5) Magellan SporTrak pro

The first thing that you should know about these Garmin GPS receivers is they all have a fixed amount of memory for downloadable maps (largest is 24MB). You get what you get, and no more. The Meridian series used standard SD cards (up to 128MB). This means that you can have an infinite supply of map space (just buy more cards). I have in my Meridian about 5 times as much data as the largest Garmin can hold. I would also rank the Garmin maps as being of a *slightly* higher quality than the Magellan maps.

The first decision that you will have to make is how much memory you need. If you only need one state, or a part of a state, then ANY of the above models will be OK. However, I like to travel (at least before I had children

). I do not always know where I am going to wind up, so to me it is worth an entire section of the country without having to plan ahead which maps to download. If this is important to you, then the Magellan Meridian is the only game in town.

Let's look at each model in detail...

1) Garmin eTrex. These are small and cute. The antenna is these does not work too well while under tree cover. Otherwise, they are nice units. The Legend ($220) has 8MB for maps, while the Vista ($305) has 24MB (plus a compas and barometer). The have nice hi-resolution screens, but the screen is small and can be hard to read while driving. Great size for hiking, though.

2) Garmin 76S ($390). Feature-wise, this is an eTrex Vista in a larger case (compass, barometer, 24MB), with a better antenna, and a larger screen. It is a very nice unit, except that the button are on TOP of the unit, and the display is on the bottom (what were they thinking). It is also the most expensive unit.

3) The Garmin Rino 120 ($220) is a GPS with 8MB for maps, plus a FRS/GMRS radio! If you have two of them, you can transfer your location to the other unit to display on their map! This unit also features a nicer antenna than the eTrex series.

4) The Meridian has a lower-resolution screen than any of the Garmin offerings listed, but it has the most memory (up to 128Mb per card). This is the one that I own. This comes in several flavors. The "green" has only a 2MB base map (most Garmins come with an 8MB base map) that cannot be changed. The "Gold" has a 16MB land base map. The "Marine" is the same unit, but with a marine map (and different colors), and the "Platinum" has the land map, but adds a 3-d compass, barometer, and thermometer. For any of the 16MB models (not the "green"), the base map can be replaced with base maps of American, Europe, or Australia, and all available in land or marine versions. It also has a very nice antenna.

5) The Magellan Sprotrak Pro ($250) is basicly a Meridian with 23MB for maps (no upgrade), a 9MB base map, a slightly smaller screen, and a smaller case. Unless the antenna performance is really an issue, the eTrex Vista is probably a better choice.

By the way: NONE of these units offer turn-by-turn navigation. The only units to do this are not (in my opinion) suited for outdoor use. Also keep in mind that you will have to include mapping software (around $80-$120), plus a memroy card ($20-$60) if you get a Meridian.

Do you need a compass??? All GPS receivers can tell you which way north is if you are moving. Only units with an electronic compass can tell if you are stopped. This is probably not a big deal, but can be nice to have.

You really need to look at your travel habits to determine how much memory you need. Then, you need to determin how much you want to spend. This should narrow it down to 1 or 2 units. Then, go look at these units in person. Comp-USA carries the Meridian series, and some of the Garmins.

When it comes time to buy, be sure that you purchase from someplace who can help you if there is a problem. What does it matter if you get a great price off of the internet, but they never answer e-mail in the event of a problem. I have ordered from www.thegpsstore.com . They actually have a store in NC, and give you their phone number. They cannot hide after the sale. They are very knowledgable, too.

I hope this helps, and let me know if you have any more questions.

 

[e=mc²]

FWIW, I have the GPS-V and LOVE IT. The main difference between it and the other MAP capabable GPS units (handheld) is that the maps in the GPS-V are truly ROUTABLE. This means that you enter a street address or intersection and press find, it will dynamically plan a route and guide you to your destination. If you venture off-route, it recalculates an alternate route from your current position, whilst moving. This is a great feature, especially if you encounter a detour along the way. You can even shift modes of navigation: fastest, shortest distance, avoid major highways or favor major highways. You can find business that are listed in its POI database by category e.g. food, fuel, lodging, even shopping centers and specialty stores like Radio Shack and Homey Depot. Then you press GOTO, and voila, you are routed there. The unit cost me $450 at SportsAuthority (online, as the stores don't carry it). Best price I could find this past June when I acquired it. I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea. This little unit holds so much data for a given geographic area, I was truly impressed. The unit is not without shortcomings, but they are really minor, compared to how well this unit performs, that I can easily overlook them. Backlighting is accomplished with WHITE LEDS, so this should strike a chord with the LED fanatic amongst us. Any questions, I will be more than happy to answer via e-mail as this unit has too many good features to mention all in one posting.

Ed.

 

[Harrkev]

Originally posted by e=mc²:
FWIW, I have the GPS-V and LOVE IT. The main difference between it and the other MAP capabable GPS units (handheld) is that the maps in the GPS-V are truly ROUTABLE.
<<SNIP>>
Ed.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Yup. If only Garmin would make the V in a package that was better suited for hand-held use, and allow memory expansion through SD or CF cards, then this would be the absolute best general-purpose GPS in the world!

 

[dilettante]

One more thing in favor of the Meridian Platinum is its barometric altimeter. I've read that altitude is the least accurate of the axes a GPS measures (although in practice GPS readings are probably as good as those of barometric altimeters because most people don't recalibrate barometric altimeters often enough). I hike in the Cascades a lot and use an altimeter more than a compass, so I wanted this feature. My search came down to the Platinum and 76S and I chose the Platinum because I thought it was a better value.

The Garmin eTrex Summit, eTrex Vista and Map 76S also have a barometric altimeter.

I also like the Platinum's "three axis" compass because you DO NOT have to hold the Platinum in any particular position for the compass to read correctly (unlike the VISTA where you have to hold it level for the compass to function.)

 

[Harrkev]

Originally posted by dilettante:
One more thing in favor of the Meridian Platinum is its barometric altimeter.
The Garmin eTrex Summit, eTrex Vista and Map 76S also have a barometric altimeter.

<<SNIP>>

I also like the Platinum's "three axis" compass because you DO NOT have to hold the Platinum in any particular position for the compass to read correctly (unlike the VISTA where you have to hold it level for the compass to function.)

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Too bad the Meridian Platinum does NOT have a barometric altimiter........

The hardware is there, but they rely on the GPS fix to get the altitude, and use that to correct the barometric pressure to sea level. Perhaps a future firmware change will improve this.

The 3-d compass is nice. If you need a compas, it is an improvement over the compass in Vista or 76S.

 

[cannon50]

For about $215 you can get the Garmin eMap that can be loaded with up to 128 meg of topo and/or street maps. The unit is updatable via the Internet for free (not the maps). Drawbacks are - not waterproof but waterproof poly sheaths are available that make it float-Map CDs are expensive as are the various size memory cards. 8 to 128 megs. I like mine in its earlier configuration and with 8 megs. It is good enough to contain 2 or 3 counties worth of roads and trails and street addresses, etc. Fits in shirt pocket and very rugged.

 

[sotyakr]

Harrkev, thanks for the informative post.

I've had the Magallan Sportrak Pro on the top of my shopping/wish list for a while. I was in Costco today and they've got a package including the Sportrak Pro, car mount, CLA, MapSend software, cables, case and batts. selling for $290, minus a $100 rebate through Jan. 6. 2002. Couldn't pass this one up, so I now have my X-mas present to myself a few weeks early. Costco seems to be reasonably prompt with their rebate fulfillments, so I shouldn't be waiting too long for my $100 back. Cool toy! Can't wait to try it out in my kayak.

Now I just have to borrow someone's PC (I'm on a Mac), to load some maps into it.

 

[dilettante]

Originally posted by Harrkev:
Too bad the Meridian Platinum does NOT have a barometric altimiter........

The hardware is there, but they rely on the GPS fix to get the altitude, and use that to correct the barometric pressure to sea level. Perhaps a future firmware change will improve this.[/QB]

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Harkev, how did you discover that? I haven't read that anywhere else. (Never mind . . . I missed the part about you writing the FAQ, above

)

Joe Mehaffey says "the barometer functions as a REAL barometer and is not simply used for altitude smoothing and readout as in VISTA.) HERE. But HERE he says "The relationship of the barometer to the GPS altitude isn't known at this time. However, the barometer readings don't increase with altitude decreases (and vice versa) as the Garmin Vista (incorrectly) does."

GPS Central says "Barometric pressure is used in GARMIN's eTrex Summit, eTrex Vista, and GPSMAP 76S to provide altitude information. In the Magellan Platinum, the barometer is used to give barometric pressure readings" LINK

That's a bummer--it's being incorrectly advertised as having a "barometric altimeter" by many (if not most) vendors

I might as well get a SporTrak Pro and carry my Thommen mechanical altimeter (I'll be carrying a compass in any case).

 

[e=mc²]

Originally posted by Harrkev:
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by e=mc²:
FWIW, I have the GPS-V and LOVE IT. The main difference between it and the other MAP capabable GPS units (handheld) is that the maps in the GPS-V are truly ROUTABLE.
<<SNIP>>
Ed.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Yup. If only Garmin would make the V in a package that was better suited for hand-held use, and allow memory expansion through SD or CF cards, then this would be the absolute best general-purpose GPS in the world!</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Harrkev, thanks. That reminded me of the ONE shortcoming that I DO have a problem with and that is the inability to expand the meager 19MB of memory. You can fit no more than one state in it's memory at one time. I do travel with a laptop, so I wind up uploading map data quite frequently as I travel from state to state. CF or SM cards would be a big PLUS. I have complained to their (Garmin) product developement team about this already. They said to get the new Color street Pilot Renegade, to be released in January '03 which is 512MB capable, but at $1195 MSRP, I think I'll pass. To rich for my blood. It does talk however, but still to much $$$

Ed....

 

[Gone Jeepin]

My .02... I have been using a Garmin III + and Etrex Vista. Both have mapping features and the ability to use the optional CDs from Garmin. I have gotten incredible value from the III+ and keep it in the Jeep. I upgraded to the Vista early last summer and for the field I think it is the best for features vs size and weight. Decent run time for GPS as well.

I would strongly recommend lurking around geocaching.com and pick up what you can learn before you spend. Their links section is very good as well.

Good luck.

 

[Harrkev]

Originally posted by cannon50:
For about $215 you can get the Garmin eMap that can be loaded with up to 128 meg of topo and/or street maps. <<SNIP>>

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">The problem with the eMap is that it is suitable ONLY for use in a car. It does NOT have some features essential for hiking/boating etc. It also is not waterproof at all. If you compare this to the Meridian, the screen resolution is about the same, but the Meridian offers more for boaters/hikers. Also Garmin memory is more than 3x as expensive as standard SD cards.