A cheap but still good enough GPS.

Blood_Grooves

Blood_Grooves

Joined
Oct 28, 2007
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931
well i am looking for a simple, not advanced, and not expensive gps. not one of the car ons that will only do roads and that stuff but a trail one. i dont want to go over $150 but possibly $200 but no more than that.

is there a GPS at that price thats "ok"

i dont go on 7 day trips maybe 2 to 3 at max, and i just want to learn how to use a GPS and compass.
 
i am lookong at the garmingps 60, is that any good it looks, and sound awsome...


it says it dont have a compass how do you back track then dose it just point to you next way point???

EDIT i would probably get the gpsmaps 60. it has base maps and sence i dont have a computer (or dont use one very much i might be able to do it at freinds house) it easyer this way.
 
It's hard to go wrong with any model of Garmin. You may want to consider one of the slightly smaller, cheaper, and lighter eTrex models. The eTrex H is almost 2oz lighter than the 60. I've used this model quite a bit and it works quite well for a ~$100 GPS.

You will still need a good compass (Suunto is best in my professional opinion). When navigating through the bush, you shouldn't be holding the GPS in your hand trying to follow the little arrow every step, you'll end up walking in circles, better is to stop, take the bearing and distance to the waypoint you are navigating to from your GPS, set the bearing on your compass and walk. You can turn the GPS off while walking to conserve batteries. Get in the habit of counting your paces and know how long your pace is (for example mine is roughly 13-15 paces = 25m). Stop again in the next clearing or convenient spot (this distance will increase over time as you get more confident in your abilities) and check your bearing and distance again, as well as your cross track error, this will let you know how far right or left you've deviated from your original straigh line path and you can correct for it on your next leg if necessary.
 
I used to use a Cobra 100 that I got on ebay for 50 or 60 bucks IIRC, new-in-box. It allows you to store waypoints, routes and tracks. It's got a fantastic backlight you can almost read by but it doesn't seem to trash night vision too badly. Battery life(2 X AA) is about 8 hours, although the backlight will obviously shorten this. Thick tree cover (when you can't see any sky) will block the signal, but it's reaqcuisition speed is almost instant. No base maps or pc link, but I didn't miss them until I had used a unit with that capability.

I used to tuck it under a cord on top of my pack so I could reach back behind my head to grab it, then put it back when I was done.

Garmin's Etrex is supposed to be a good entry level unit as well. My sis uses one as a backup at work. A buddy uses a Magellan Explorist (500 LE I think) and loves it. I don't have much experience with other consumer models.
 
I have an eTrex, small light. I always need to reread the instructions when I did it out. It is neat and very usable for hiking. Mine was bought for hunting a large tract of land with numerous fire roads. Eats batteries, so carry an extra set and if used in a vehicle, get the power adapter.

I read an interesting article about a hunter that went for a quick hunt. Thought he new the area, took a GPS. Bad weather hit, snow with heavy cloud cover. The GPS was worthless. He hiked in the wrong direction to get back. Panic set in and her forgot to do the basic survival tasks. Of course he went lite, quick hunt and all, and left much of his gear behind. Finally, he got a grip and started surviving. He was rescued by some surveyors. Anyway, always have a compass too and often stop and look back making mental notes.
 
get your self a used Garmin eTrex Dont worry about how good the reciption is... Trust me its better then you think. Do remember ANY GPS unit might be off by as much as 30ft. Most of the time they are with in 10ft. If you do get to like the GPS then you didnt spend too much money on the basic one and would have more to buy a fancy GPS later. Some of the best advice you would get from GEOCACHING.COM . You should also try Geocaching its lots of fun and get you out there.. I recharge the batteries as my last for about 12-18 hours. I got two Garmin 60cx and one magellan 315.

Sasha
 
ya i want to try geocaching looks fun.

i am trying to get a etrex venture on ebay for 30 or 40 bucks (used)

EDIT: could i still look up cordinants on the etrax H?
 
I also recommend the yellow eTrex H.

After having a high sensitivity receiver I now feel that they are a necessesity. They work under forest canopy when a regular GPS (I have several regular ones) will not.

If you will be traveling in open areas then any GPS is fine. If you'll be traveling in forested areas, areas with valleys, cities with tall buildings, or in a car, then the high sensitivity receivers are highly recommended.

For example, at my son's summer camp last year I had my Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx with a high sensivity receiver, and he adult leader in the next camp over had a Magellan without the a high sensitivity receiver. We were under moderate tree cover at our camp site. I could easily get a lock, but the Magelllan could not - not until he walked to the road. I don't think this is a Garmin vs. Magellan thing, but a matter of the high sensitivity receiver.

My favorite book on map & compass navigation is The Essential Wilderness Navigator: How to Find Your Way in the Great Outdoors, by David Seidman and Paul Cleveland. My favorite web site is http://www.compassdude.com . For using a GPS & map together, see http://www.maptools.com .
 
I have the little yellow Garmin eTrex. An older one but still works great. A no B.S. GPS. Seems to give me all the info I would need in the field. (Note: I am a surveyor and use high tech GPS at work.) The eTrex seems to track & backtrack my progress well in boat, car, on foot, ... No matter what GPS unit you have, you should allways have at least a TOPO Map and a Compass.(Don't Trust Anything With Battaries!!) Think I paid around $100 for mine. Very happy with it! Good luck, MW
 
sir woodley said:
I have the little yellow Garmin eTrex. An older one but still works great. A no B.S. GPS. Seems to give me all the info I would need in the field. (Note: I am a surveyor and use high tech GPS at work.) The eTrex seems to track & backtrack my progress well in boat, car, on foot, ... No matter what GPS unit you have, you should allways have at least a TOPO Map and a Compass.(Don't Trust Anything With Battaries!!) Think I paid around $100 for mine. Very happy with it! Good luck, MW
Click to expand...

Well said!

With a topo you can save money and not get a maping GPS. I use a $70 Garmin Geko 201 for SAR and it keeps up the heaviest most expensive on the market. I use it for positional info only. Nav is done with map and compass as I do not trust anything with batteries.

YOu cant go wrong with garmin.

Skam
 
Blood_Grooves said:
could i still look up cordinants on the etrax H?
Click to expand...

Sure it will! It displays coordinates in several forms including several formats of Lat/Long, UTM, and several others. It will display the coordinates of your current position, allow you to save/enter waypoints, and will provide you bearing & distance to a selected waypoint. I'd suggest you learn about and use UTM coordinates as described at http://www.maptools.com

Also, take a look at these manuals from Garmin:
http://www8.garmin.com/aboutGPS/manual.html

Make sure to carry extra batteries!

I'd also suggest you make sure your compass has adjustable declination (as opposed to a declination scale). That way you can set your GPS and compass to "true north" and they'll work very well together.
 
I have a Magellan Sport track Map. I love it. It has gotten me in and out of town with the 'basic' maps and we have found lots of GeoCaches around the country. ~<$200
I sent it along with a scout troop that canoed 80+miles in Minnisotas boundry waters over the course of a week. When they got home I printed out all the maps of the lakes and taped them together for a cool map of their course. It took a ton of batteries to leave it on all day though.

Badge54
 
kenk said:
adjustable declination (as opposed to a declination scale
Click to expand...

Just a random thought - that sounds to me like something that needs to be mentioned for the planned 'tutorials' sticky. I'd bet that the majority of people you come across haven't updated their compass' declination settings for the map they're using or for the current year. Anyone who's not great with math could probably benefit.
 
I recently bought the eTrex H. I only need basic GPS so it was perfect for me. You can get a cable for your PC and there's free software that will let you create and download waypoints to it, a real time saver if you know coordinates ahead of time. Pretty good bang for the buck, imo. At first it wouldn't lock on at all and I thought I'd have to send it back :grumpy: but a quick call to the customer service number told me how to do a manual re-set and after that it will lock on even when I'm in my house sometimes.:)
 
I've had an eTrex for a while, I put it on the dash of the car, I have a handlebar clip, and use it on my bike.

No bigger than a cell phone, but it's hell on batteries.


and learn to use the manual back up system, a map and compass.

:thumbup:
 
For $100, can't beat the Garmin eTrex Basic yellow. For under $150 my choice would be the eTrex Legend.

i just want to learn how to use a GPS and compass.
Click to expand...
I suggest starting with a map and compass only, then suplimenting with the electronic toy after becoming proficient with the map. My reasoning, a GPS is not much use without the basic map skills. A small park or farm, Suunto M3 Leader compass, and a 7.5 minute USGS topo map will get you on the right track.

Best Luck!
-Bob
 
Got an eTrex Legend for christmas and so far I'm liking it. It's really easy to use, I think I've figured it all out already. The base map leaves a little to be desired, but I'm going to add a small bit of Topo 2008 for the areas I travel.
 
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