GPS Questions

[Cody JW]

I am planning on purchasing a GPS.Right now I just want a simple one that i can just punch in latitude and longatude and have it take me to the spot.I have seen the Garmin e trex for about 100 bucks.I also saw several other more expensive ones.I was wondering if anyone can tell me the differences betweeen the less expensive ones and the 400 dollar ones. I suspect the diffrences is features such as altimiter( I do not need one i already have one) and ability to down load onto maps ect.If all I want to do is the simple stuff will the etrex be ok or do I need to consider a more expensive model?

[wyandottecaver]

I have had both the etrex (cheap) and 60Cs ($$$) the main differences are memory, ability to upload maps, and color screens. My experiance is that you really want to be able to upload topos and the color screens in the newer garmins actually use LESS battery power.

[Amazingracer]

The etrex is a good model. The cheap one has no click-stick so you navigate everything (and type) with an up or down button. The next model up the etrex scale has the click stick.

As far as reception and what not goes. The etrex worked fine with me, only catch is they are patch antennas so they need to be held horizontal for the best reception. As opposed to the 60Cs that have quad helix antennas so they get best reception vertical. Any garmin that has an x at the end (60CSx), has the new chipset to improve reception and accuracy, just fyi.

The 60Cs are the top of the line, and are good units. If you are looking to simply mark cords then the yellow etrex should do fine. But if you want to do more then the flood gates open for options.

[NZcaver]

You could also take a read through these threads:

GPS recommendations

GPS receivers

GPS questions

What to look for in a GPS?

New Garmin GPS

[Komebeaux]

Check out the Garmin Foretrex 101.

It's made to mount on you wrist, it's cheap, and it can be used for what you are looking to do.

[bsaul2000]

Personally I look for gps units that can hook up to a computer and allow me to transfer points back and forth. That has not only been helpful, but a lot of fun to centralize my trips locations or caves on a program like TopoUSA. Usability is a factor in my opinion. A couple of friends have the Magellan explorist 210 and for my taste, I don't like it at all. They love it. The Garmin has always been more straight forward to me and seem to be designed in a user friendly manner.

The only problem I see with a cheap one is if you plan on growing to do other things. For you, it might be fine.

Ideally, if you could use one for geocaching for a few days, it would help you figure out the features you like and need. Geocachers are really mini-experts in gps technology.

[werewolf]

More about GPS than you want to know:

http://gpsinformation.net/

[SpeleoRover]

May be more than you want to spend, but the Garmin GPSMap 60 is a fantastic piece!

[Komebeaux]

Personally I look for gps units that can hook up to a computer and allow me to transfer points back and forth. That has not only been helpful, but a lot of fun to centralize my trips locations or caves on a program like TopoUSA. Usability is a factor in my opinion. A couple of friends have the Magellan explorist 210 and for my taste, I don't like it at all. They love it. The Garmin has always been more straight forward to me and seem to be designed in a user friendly manner.

The only problem I see with a cheap one is if you plan on growing to do other things. For you, it might be fine.

Ideally, if you could use one for geocaching for a few days, it would help you figure out the features you like and need. Geocachers are really mini-experts in gps technology.

I think virtually all GPS units can be hooked to t PC and transfer points.

[David Grimes]

I think any GPS is way better than no GPS the real issue is that hooking your GPS to a computer to upload points in most cases requires you to buy extra software in most of the cheap units allot of the more expensive ones come with this software.

You can save a little money if you are willing to manually input the points and your coordinates your wanting to visit.

I bought a Magellan Explorist on clearance for $65 and it does not connect to a computer but all I want it to do is save cave locations for future reference and it does that very well and is rather accurate I also get the coordinates off the GPS and enter them in on google earth and pin the locations on my computer for backup purposes.

[YuccaPatrol]

The Garmin 60 series units are great, especially the "x" units that have the sirf-star III chipset that makes them keep a signal lock even under heavy tree cover.

If you get a mapping unit, a friend might be able to install topo maps for free because those are the only maps Garmin offers that are not locked.