Older GPS unit accuracy?

J

jaymeister99

Joined
Sep 14, 2010
Messages
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Anybody got an older GPS unit? I was wondering how the accuracy compares to newer units. I've found an old Magellan 315 for sale and was considering a buy. I only want the UTM coordinates from it, I don't need maps and all the other stuff on a newer model.
 
Accuracy for the older GPSs as I understand it is more on the antenna and "selective availability" The newer ones extrapolate more, but its all the same physics. Older ones can have some speed issues, but I had a 315, and found it pretty decent for most stuff. I got rid of it as it wasn't very suited to geo-caching, as I didn't have a sync cable, and I had a smart phone that did the GPS stuff almost as well. Almost all of the GPS receivers on the market have parallel antennas which means each of the 12 channels can be looked at, at the same time. Much older units have serial antennas which means it can only get one satellite at a time, and has to switch between them to triangulate the signal.
I wouldn't spend that much on a 315, as there are better units available now for pretty cheap (little things like water-proofness and such) but I had no complaints with mine.
 
I have the 315 still and used it a couple of weeks ago just for the fun of it. Compare to my garmin60cx it takes longer to lock on and can lose signal easier. It also avg it self if you stop at one place for 1-3 min for accuracy. I would say for how accurate it is compare to the new one its about the same. Just stop and wait for 1-3 min and then take the reading. Its also as basic as it gets for a GPS. As Gadgetgeek mentioned there are lots of newer units that are real cheap. But for a few bucks and if its in great shape you won't go wrong. I won't sell my 315, Had lots of fun Geocaching with it and backpacking as well. If I go backpacking it would be my trusted 60cx I would take it over many of the newer units, It's as tough as they get always works and batteries last for a very long time. The bigger and nicer the LCD screen the more power it uses. I forgot to mention that my 315 is from 98 or 99.
Sasha
 
I saw one for $30 bucks. But, for around $60 I can get a fairly new etrex. For twice that I can get a brand spankin new etrex.

I'm leaning toward just getting a newer one, I don't need or want the extra maps and other (IMO) useless functions. But for just a bit more, I get faster locks and maybe a bit more accuracy.
 
A lot of old GPS units don't have updated maps, especially if you're talking about car GPS units. I bought mine about three years ago and it doesn't have the new stretch of 540 going around Raleigh so navigating the city is a pain. It also doesn't have 98 mapped well especially after they rebuilt the intersections and expanded the road.

However if you don't need the maps, their adequate.
 
The accuracy should be about the same, unless the military has loosened up it's signals. Basically, they degrade the signal to a certain extent for security reasons, whatever those are.

HOWEVER, if the newer units are all they are cracked up to be, it might be worth buying one. I have an old Garmin eTrex, the very cheapest one, from when they first came out, at least 10, if not 15 years ago. This things sucks. Very slow to acquire a signal, drops it all the time. Just walk into some trees (not dense canopy, just some aspens and evergreens), and it's toast. The ONLY thing that it's good for is to set a waypoint at the trailhead, and then if you get lost, find some high ground, spend 5 or more minutes getting another signal, and backtracking. Anything else, and it's completely useless. It also gave me readings that were quite a bit wrong when I was standing next to a very tall (over 1000 ft.) cliff - I was at the bottom. Evidently there's some instances like this where GPS can give you the wrong location. This particular unit, of course, jumped at the chance. I would never spend money on this hunk of junk again.

The newer models supposedly have much better antenna, and if that's the case, they could be worth buying. For me, once burned, twice shy. YMMV.
 
I have a Garmin 60CSX I bought in 2006 and its still going strong. I keep it updated though
 
I think Im just going to go with a new (or fairly new) etrex. I used to think GPS was for people who didnt know how to use a map and compass. That was before I got the Tom Tom in my car.

Its a heck of a lot easier, but it cannot replace a map and compass. I'll still be packing both.
 
My 60csx will pick up signal in the house if you're close enough to the window. It works extremely well in the woods and I wouldn't hesitate recommending it to anyone looking for one. I've used it laying out clearing limits for a road, and also walked some property for a client using it to get him an area summary. Put it this way, we used Survey Grade units which are $$$$ and in the open they are accurate to within .10' (tenth of a foot), but put them in the woods and you they're only as accurate as a handheld Garmin. Trust me, the newer units are pretty damn accurate.
 
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