Simple GPS unit

DavidZ

DavidZ

Gold Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2004
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Anyone use a gps unit when hiking? As a asst. scoutmaster, I know the compass and map orienteering techniques, and a compass does not need batteries, but after using a GPS in the rental cars when I am traveling, I have an appreciation for these new fangled contraptions. Are the hand helds worth a second look, or are they just another expensive toy? What are your thoughts and recommendations??
Thanks,
Dave.
 
Waypoints and track back features are really great on the hand helds and you can get a basic Garmin for about $80. The ones with maps are a little more convenient, but I'm not sold on whether the mapping feature is really needed or not. My favorite is my Garmin summit with e-compass and altimeter. However, the e-compass tends to suck up batteries fast but works much better in walking mode then the GPS-based compass.
 
I enjoy my GPS. Alot. I have an old Magellan Meridian with topo maps. It works great for hiking, but even better for hunting. I use the waypoints to mark where I have seen game, or even to mark my kills. It is interesting to compare from year to year.

For hiking, I really appreciate the accuracy of the GPS. Not only to tell me when my fork is coming up, but also to give me an accurate distance (it is amazing how far off the guidebooks are) and to give me the reassurance I need if I start doubting myself.

Yes, I know how to use a map and compass. But I think GPS has a definite place in anyone's pack.
 
I have a Garmin C60x and its amazing. I use in for turn-by-turn directions in the car, marking fishing holes in the boat and as a backup on hikes. The garmin e-trex are simpiler units that are much smaller and would also serve your purposes well, I think.

When using a GPS unit in the field I think it would be better to turn them on once every few hours to determine location and heading then turn them off. This way you don't run hrough a bunch of batteries. I would also suggest getting a Garmin unit because IMHO they are the best units available.
 
I agree that Garmins are the bee's knees. I wish I had one. I agree that the e-trex will work for most people's needs.

I don't agree with turning them off and on though. It takes too long to acquire the satellites if you are moving at any kind of a respectable speed; and that takes up the battery juice. I use rechargeable batteries and take along at least one set of spares. I have never had a problem in the 5 years I have been carrying.
 
I dont know what the Garmin etrex are going for now, but mine has been alot of use. I did a fair amount of geochaching back in Nova Scotia, and its imparative, Mine will get accurate to 15 feet on a clear day, and on an overcast its gets around 25-30 of accuracy, thast still accurate in a situation when you turned around.

I usually dont navagate with the GPS while out, but its nice to have and set waypoints, or tag an area you really like, or something neat you find. I allway check the battries, and take spare for it, AA's.

I think they should be a part of any kit.
 
Idaho Jarhead said:
I agree that Garmins are the bee's knees. I wish I had one. I agree that the e-trex will work for most people's needs.

I don't agree with turning them off and on though. It takes too long to acquire the satellites if you are moving at any kind of a respectable speed; and that takes up the battery juice. I use rechargeable batteries and take along at least one set of spares. I have never had a problem in the 5 years I have been carrying.
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Do you know what model you have, Mine I thought was just the plain e-trex, but it only takes a few seconds(to be fair, on a good day) to get a signal. And I've also found that GPS's with all the bells and whistles are useless, just to know where you've been/going is what is nessisary.
 
I started out with a very simple Garmin GPS 12 (probably don't even make them any more).

I eventually upgraded to a more fancy Garmin (the 76CS). Even have all the topo software for it and stuff.

Playing with all the features is cool, but I have come full circle to using the GPS in the most simplest of terms. I don't use "trackback" because I rarely walk back the way I came in. I also found the maps not much use, because continually zooming in and out on a small screen takes too much time. I just use topos of the area anyway.

I basically mark the point I want to return to. Whether you want to put it away while still on, or do the turn-off, turn-on method, I do agree with putting it away. There is no need to be walking with your head down, looking at a small screen. Personally, I use the turn-off, turn-on method. Once the satellites are acquired in the area, it only takes a couple seconds to pick them up again. But, that is beside the point. Here is how I use it.

If you just whip the thing out, there are 2 ways to use it without further movement required.

1) My preferred method - Just initiate a "GOTO" to you starting point. On my map screen, I have it set up to report "bearing." It will only report a number when the "GOTO" is initiated. No walking needed, no history. Just fire it up, or pull it out of the pouch, read the bearing, and put it away. I then navigate with my compass. You can always pull the GPS out again to double check your navigation.

2) Works well too, but not as accurate. Most GPS units have the "map" page defaulted to "track up." Meaning that whichever direction you are moving is up. I don't like to have to move to figure direction. So, I set the GPS to "north up." The GPS does not require movement to know which direction is north. So, you pull it out of its case (or turn it on...whatever method you are using) and face north. Since the map is set to north up, you can visually see what direction you need to go.

Don't think that you have to go spend a ton of money to get usefulness out of a GPS.

B
 
Fonly said:
Do you know what model you have
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Fonly, I don't have an etrex, I've got a Magellan Meridian.

briangandrews, you are right about the satellite acquisition. I guess I just have never worried too much about conserving my batteries because I always pack spares.

An interesting story:

Last hunting season I found myself on top of a mountain in a snowstorm. It was a complete white-out and no landmarks were available. The most detailed map in the world wouldn't have helped in that situation. I was able to make it back to the road without problems though because I had my GPS.
 
I have a garmin e-trek legend, it's a simple model but it has a waterproof casing. It's a pretty popular model, and for good reason. I always forget how to use mine though, but I am slow with the technology, it took me a while to figure out my cel phone too.:D
 
Idaho Jarhead said:
An interesting story:

Last hunting season I found myself on top of a mountain in a snowstorm. It was a complete white-out and no landmarks were available. The most detailed map in the world wouldn't have helped in that situation. I was able to make it back to the road without problems though because I had my GPS.
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I would not downplay the importance of a map. Landmarks are only needed if you don't know where you are at. If use a map and refer to it, even only occasionally, you pretty much know where you are at. If you know where you are and where you need to go, you don't need to see landmarks. IMO, that is the safest thing you can do.

I have been in at least 4 situations, due to either weather, cloud cover, or trees, that my GPS had no reception for quite some time. I could see that easily happening in a thick snow storm as well.

I often find that spending just a couple minutes familiarizing yourself with the area with a good map is all that is really needed to get you out in the end.

To me, the GPS is just convenient. I still like using the old school skills :D

Glad things worked out okay for you.
 
briangandrews said:
To me, the GPS is just convenient. I still like using the old school skills :D
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I see it the same way, it fun to use but in reality I used a map and compass growing up. I would draw landmarks on my maps to know what to look for in certain areas and I was allways set anyways.

But it sure is nice knowing EXACTLY where I parked, you know?:D
 
I have 3 GPSes. A Magellan 315 that I've had for years, a Garmin eTrex that I picked up a few years ago new in the clamshell at a thrift for $10. Most recently I acquired a Garmin Forerunner 201 at another thrift store.

I find the Forerunner really useful for hiking. It fits on the wrist, battery life is 14 hours so for most day trips that's long enough, and it gives you elapsed time and pace plus distance traveled and has a tracking feature with waypoints. It also acquires satellites easily and doesn't seem to have trouble holding on to them.

I think that for the most part maps on a GPS are too small to be much use, but if someone wants to "loan" me a Garmin Colorado I'd be glad to have my opinion changed. ;)

Chad
 
I've upgraded my Garmin Ex-Trex Vista to the newer model as the battery life is MUCH better! I've been using GPS for years in the jungle, and it's gotten me back to camp all too often when nothing else would have except luck. But as good as it is, and I'll say again that I won't go without it, I ALSO won't go without a good map and a good compass. Unfortunately, a lot of the places we go don't have 'good' maps available since recent governments have them removed for strategic reasons... :(
That's when the GPS pays for itself!

Stitchawl
 
The newer GPS models don't take as long to "warm up" as they used to. Cold startup/new area, it will take a while to acquire the satellites. I believe the typical 2D is around 3 minutes, but overhead cover will always be your limitation. External Antennas help alot. When I go on vacation I use a laptop w/mapping software. I hook up my gps with the external antenna and it acquires satellites quickly.

I started out with a Garmin 12 and when I started geocaching in 04 I needed a better model as it was not as accurate as the newer models. I haven't looked into a GPS since then, but to me at the time the Garmin GPS60 model was the best entry level. This is the model I've been using since then.

Mapping to me for any GPS is just an extra bonus. I don't consider it integral. The problem with mapping is that it's costly for updates. Yes once a year is all you really need especially for topos. But for something like Tom Tom units I think they need to be updated more often due to road construction and a once a year update is not enough. (This also goes for PDA's even using it in an urban environment.) Heck several years ago, 5 to be exact, while using some mapping software on a Dell Axim, I sent a change to Navtech to update some road names. They still haven't done it on any of the internet maps I've seen. The name they have listed for a local road is wrong and has been for years. I've lived in this area for nearly 30 years and have never known it as the name they use on their maps.
 
Thanks all for the information. I think I will be getting one of the Garmin models based on what I read here so far. Now to figure out which one! :) I will still keep my compass and map though! Any one else?
 
Another vote for the E-Trex Vista. I have used it on my motorcycle, in the car and hiking throughout the mid-west. It is a great tool to have at your fingertips, but don't forget your map and compass.
 
ktrjc said:
Another vote for the E-Trex Vista. I have used it on my motorcycle, in the car and hiking throughout the mid-west. It is a great tool to have at your fingertips, but don't forget your map and compass.
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There is ONE problem I run into with my Garmin (and it was true of my older model too,) and that's when I take it to a different country it seems to take forever to acquire satellite links. I timed it at 7 minutes when going from Cambodia to Bali! In Bali I was 50k north of Denpasar in a wide open rice terrace, nothing overhanging to block signal for 500 meters in any direction. I wish that there was a way to add an antenna to the pocket Garmins... :( I'd like to be able to keep the GPS inside a pocket and only have the antenna sticking out or attached to the top of my pack.

Once it links up it's quick to respond to changes in my direction when laying tracks, and is accurate down to a few meters in open country most of the time.

Other than the slow link-up, I'm content to stay with Garmin pocket models for all my needs. It's great when hiking, and works fine when driving. It's just not a good street navigator for big city use for me, that that's more a problem with my eyesight than the unit itself!

Stitchawl
 
Thanks all for your input. I am leaning toward the etrex H right now. Anyone have this model? It looks simple enough, and should make a good entry into the GPS world. Any thoughts?
 
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