Car GPS in the field ?

H

HotSteel

Joined
May 28, 2010
Messages
466
I've got a Garmin Nuvi 255W that I like a lot for car navigation. It's better than my previous GPS, but I'm careful not to sample better (more expensive) models -- might not be satisfied with mine any more. :)

I'm considering a GPS for the field. What do I lose, compared to a field GPS, by trying to get by with my car GPS in the field ?
 
Durability and weather resistance, mainly. And a GPS specifically designed for road navigation may not include the useful features found in handheld GPSes - tide charts, geocaching apps, external antenna jack, etc.

There are some multi-purpose models on the market. A motorcycle unit, for example, has the highway navigation features and is weather resistant.

For field use, my boy has a color touchscreen model (Oregon?) and I have an older GPS Map 76S.
If I were buying a new one today, it'd be one of the GPS Map 78 or GPS Map 62 models.
 
does your unit show the utm coordinates of your current location? if yes then that's all you really need since now you know where you are on the map (always carry a paper map and compass) and reference the map directly to navigate. once in awhile glance at the gps for the utm coordinates and paper map to verify you are where you think you are - it shouldn't be used like in a car where you depend on the gps unit completely every minute and every turn.

an outdoor-specific gps unit also has a bigger antenna so it doesn't lose signal under heavy tree cover.
 
does your unit show the utm coordinates of your current location?
Click to expand...

Yes, but it sounds like I can plug in destination coordinates as my "go to", or my original coordinates for my "go back", as a couple of examples of operations that can be performed without paper. I was thinking that maybe the field GPS would give more information in its display specific for hiking. The couple times I tried to use the car GPS to get back to my parked car it was harder than I expected to figure out which direction I was supposed to go.

Maybe the ultimate compass is iOS app Spyglass, but I haven't had time yet to go through everything it can do.
 
HotSteel said:
GPS antenna ? For improved GPS reception ? I guess it can't be anything else.
Click to expand...
The better GPS models have a jack for plugging in an external antenna, which works much better in dense forest or deep valleys and canyons. It also allows for more hands-free operation - stick the GPS in a backback or saddlebags with the antenna mounted somewhere and collect data without ever having to look at the GPS unit.

Waterproof is good.
Click to expand...
Critical when outdoors. Not only for rain but also dust, grimy sweat, morning dew, bugs...

In general I don't use a GPS to figure out where to go, but rather to see where I've been. ;)
 
Another thing that prevents the automotive units from being useful in the field, battery life. Many of the car GPSes are very slender and trendy with miniature internal Li-Ion batteries that can barely run an hour between charges (they are meant to be plugged in while in use).

The larger outdoor GPSes have advertised battery life of up to 20 hours. And when they go dead, you pop in a new set of AAs and start fresh. The automotive units don't have removable batteries, even if you were carrying extras.
 
Battery life, and topo or lack of it on the car gps units. I'd suggest you get the tool made for the job.
 
Excellent point about battery life, probably the most critical difference. I think I can get four hours from my car GPS, but I'd use that up in a hurry if I were in a bugout situation on foot. Of course, I suppose I can turn it off most of the time and just turn it on every hour or so to confirm my location. But then, sooner or later I would forget to turn it off until the next time I "checked in"; one hour down, three left.

AA batteries are good. The new camera I just bought is too small for standard batteries (it claims), so I'm forced to recharge or buy a backup battery.

Bob W said:
Another thing that prevents the automotive units from being useful in the field, battery life. Many of the car GPSes are very slender and trendy with miniature internal Li-Ion batteries that can barely run an hour between charges (they are meant to be plugged in while in use).

The larger outdoor GPSes have advertised battery life of up to 20 hours. And when they go dead, you pop in a new set of AAs and start fresh. The automotive units don't have removable batteries, even if you were carrying extras.
Click to expand...
 
I just downloaded a topo app for my iPad ("Topo Maps"), and it's very slick, but I have to download any topo maps before I get out of range of wi-fi or cellular.

I have the same problem with my Maps programs on my iPad Mini; it doesn't have previously downloaded maps of the entire USA, so it only downloads maps as required when I request routing to a destination. This means that, unless I have cellular radio to download new maps on the fly, if I deviate from the original plan the maps program is lost. Normally I do have cellular, but I suspect that eats up a lot of allocated data transfer.

On the other hand, having a 7.7" map on the dashboard is pretty cool. :)

Topo Maps keeps the topo map in the iPad until I specifically delete it; probably very memory intensive.

22-rimfire said:
Battery life, and topo or lack of it on the car gps units. I'd suggest you get the tool made for the job.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Most smartphones now have fully autonomous gps chipsets. Combine that with rugged case, powercell for battery backup, and the Backcountry Navigator app, you probably got more than you need.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top