GPS guidance

[alan]

I am beginning to think about purchasing a GPS but am confused about all the choices available and don't want to pay for features I don't need. I only plan to use it to find my way back to a point, & marking points of reference on a topo screen. What makes & models should I consider, what should it cost, and where is the best place to buy one? Thanks in advance for all input.

[Bushman]

Alan, I've been a Garmin guy for most of my GPS using life. Early on I found them easy to use and very accurate. I think that if I were looking for one now in order to save a few bucks I would look on E-Bay or Craigslist. For what you are looking for that basic yellow E-trex is all you would need for under $100. That said there is probably a bunch of them for sale by guys who want to up grade to the higher end models. I myself have never seen the value of a color screen and unless you get a larger, less portable unit those mapping features are very small on the screens. I just carry a folded up topo map to get the big picture of an area. I bought the Garmin Vista model and still like it a lot. I like the moving compass and the barometric pressure read out. It has the wayside locations and the highway system pre-loaded into it which I have found pretty handy when I'm traveling. The Vista can do more than what I use it for, but it is nice to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. A GPS is the handiest tool that I have ever used for woods navigation. I always carry at least one compass too, but the two in combination are terrific. The extra $ that I spent years ago to get the Vista over a couple of their lower end models has been long forgotten, but those extra features are appreciated in the long run. If nothing else, it gives you something to play with when you get bored on a deer stand.

[Greywolf]

You might find a great deal from Cabelas on a DeLorme (the topo map people)
PN-20.

[DancesWithKnives]

Bushman is right. For the basic stuff, I have an ultra-light Garmin Geko that was very reasonable. It does great on getting me back to my truck or helping me return to a kill site to get the rest of the meat out. However, it has no stored topo maps or any of the other deluxe features. If you think you might get into GPS more than I have and use those functions---and you can tolerate the extra weight and cost---then the upscale models are worth considering.

A couple of my buddies have also had very good luck with Magellans.

DWK

[alan]

I found a good price on new e-trex legend; Not the HCx version. What does that mean?

[LampLighter]

Alan

Whatever you do, be sure to first breeze by the site of www.tigergps.com

I bought two units and some software from them. I have the Lowrance iFinder Hunt C. I love it.

Garmin is not the only reliable unit out there. Take your time and do alot of research and read alot of reviews.

Regarding the question you asked, I believe the H means the newer loc on under heavy cover type receiver, the C might mean color, and the X means mapping, I think :confused:

[Bushman]

It means that it is the older black and white version with a slightly narrower screen and no topographic mapping feature. A very serviceable unit for what you want it for. I didn't like the purple color when I bought my Vista instead, but it does almost the same things. Reading about the newer color screen ones, I see that they have extended the battery life some, but I carry two extra batteries in the case anyway and I have never needed to change them out in the field. Pretty amazing what two AA batteries can do. I'd sure buy that one over the basic yellow one if a color screen isn't that important to you. If you have a Cabela's catalog around, you can see the difference in the screen size.

Lamplighter, I know that you have had some issues getting a lock when you are under foliage and I've seen that come up with other units from time to time. Well, that and testing yours to see if it could swim. I don't know if my Vista has any different receiver than any of the other ones, but I never had trouble getting a lock on under foliage with the Vista, with the old 45XL that wasn't 12 parallel channel yes, but never the Vista.

I just loaded the new version of Garmin Mobile PC (highly recommended) onto my laptop Friday night and it locked on sitting at my kitchen table shooting through the roof.

[LampLighter]

that and testing yours to see if it could swim.

Oh I will never forget that. I did buy another one.

[Bushman]

I was going to swim my old 45XL too if it wasn't for all the waypoints in it that I was going to load into my new Vista. I was headed over to Michigan on the car ferry and wanted to see how far across Lake Michigan we were. I went up to the front of the ferry where I had a clean view of the open sky and it told me "Poor Satellite Reception"!!! Say what? There wasn't a cloud in the sky and I could see the curvature of the earth from out there. I gave the thing away free, but if it worked like that, the price might have been too high. No such issue ever with the new Vista one.

[alan]

I ended up getting a raincheck on a Venture HC Bundle on sale for $170 and I have a $20 coupon. It looks like more than I need now but I'm sure I can grow with it. Thanks for input. Al

[Bushman]

That Garmin looks like a lot of GPS for $170. The new September issue of Petersen's Hunting just tested five GPS units and scored their Garmin, an Oregon 400T, higher than the others with a score of 36 using eight different criteria. Others tested were the DeLorme which scored 32.5, Lowrance with a score of 28.5, Magellan at 24.5 and Bushnell at 23.

[alan]

Dicks Sporting goods has them on sale with a "Bundle" package which includes 2008 topo dvd that can be downloaded if anyone is interested.

[alan]

Thanks again for all the help. With assistance from my son & his computer, he was able to load my Garmin with all the maps I need. I'm finally getting the hang of it but the last time out I somehow have a bold purple line with dots in the middle on the map display screen. It Looks like a bearing line or N/S line which keeps changing. Where did this come from? Can I delete it? Thanks: Al

[alan]

It seems the purple line was a stored track entered by my son and I didn't know how to delete it. Thanks to customer service @ Garmn they diagnosed the problem & now I know how to store & delete track logs.

[postoak]

The Garmin Etrex Legend doesn't work under tree canopies -- I couldn't recommend it to anybody who wants it for those conditions.

My new Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx works well under those conditions. I lost mine this past weekend! Unlike the Legend, which I wore hanging from my neck, the 60 CSx comes with a belt attachment. The piece that connects the body to the holster came unscrewed and my unit hit the dirt and I didn't notice it. Fortunately, I had walked in on one of my trails and stayed on it, so I was able to backtrack and found it about halfway back to the highway.

[postoak]

BTW, now is a good time to buy a 60CSx from Amazon. I paid $399.00 a month ago at Cabelas, and they retail for $535.99. Amazon has them for $279.99!

Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-GPS-60CSx-Handheld-Navigator/dp/B000CSOXTO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1253723884&sr=8-1)

[Renegade]

This page may help. They did have a comparison page but I don't know if they keep it current.
http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/