GPS'sssss

Submitted: Thursday, Dec 01, 2005 at 21:50
ThreadID: 28559 Views:2974 Replies:16 FollowUps:6
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Anyone recommend a cheap not all singing - all dancing GPS for a newby?

Any usefull comments would be good..

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Reply By: Dave ....Adelaide - Thursday, Dec 01, 2005 at 22:00

Thursday, Dec 01, 2005 at 22:00
Hi Crazy

I bought a brand new Garmin Etrex on ebay for $152.00 delivered to my front door , so far seems relatively easy to use ........Cheers ....Dave
AnswerID: 142032

Reply By: Big Woody - Thursday, Dec 01, 2005 at 22:05

Thursday, Dec 01, 2005 at 22:05
Hi Crazy,

I agree with Dave above. The Garmin Etrex is probably the best value for money base level GPS on the market.
They have proven themselves to be very reliable and have been around for a long time.

Check out the ebay ones, they are very good value.

I have purchased a couple of items for my yacht on ebay from a seller called Marine Wholesalers (I think). I would not hesitate to buy from them again. They seem to have a lot of Etrex's go through on their listings.

Regards,
Brett
AnswerID: 142033

Follow Up By: muzzgit (WA) - Friday, Dec 02, 2005 at 00:45

Friday, Dec 02, 2005 at 00:45
Hey guys. although ebay may be good, spare a thought for the bloke who's filled his store with product for you to look at, gives all the good advice when you need it, and is only trying to pay off a mortgage and put his kids through school.

..........the local bloke...........
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Reply By: Exploder - Thursday, Dec 01, 2005 at 22:11

Thursday, Dec 01, 2005 at 22:11
I have a Magellan Explorest 100. It’s nothing fancy no colour screens, lap top hook-up’s or road map’s to load onto it, just the basic GPS. It does every thing I need it to, and as long as you can read a real map (not a Street directory) a Map you will be fine.

As long as you leave it on so it can log your track you can’t get lost.

I suspect this is the sort of GPS you are looking for, I didn’t even read the instructions and this is the first GPS I have owned and only the second one I have ever used.

And it is Waterproof.
AnswerID: 142036

Reply By: Member - Ed. C.- Thursday, Dec 01, 2005 at 22:11

Thursday, Dec 01, 2005 at 22:11
Yep, have to agree with the above....
Chalk up another vote for the Etrex..
Confucius say.....
"He who lie underneath automobile with tool in hand,
....Not necessarily mechanic!!"

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AnswerID: 142037

Reply By: Casnat - Thursday, Dec 01, 2005 at 22:13

Thursday, Dec 01, 2005 at 22:13
Suggest you don't fall into the superche@p optipon and take the cheapest price. $160 odd but sent mine back 3 times and eventually luckily just got my money back

you get what you pay for
Trev
AnswerID: 142038

Follow Up By: Dave ....Adelaide - Thursday, Dec 01, 2005 at 22:18

Thursday, Dec 01, 2005 at 22:18
Hi Trev

What brand was it??....cheers ...Dave
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Follow Up By: muzzgit (WA) - Friday, Dec 02, 2005 at 00:48

Friday, Dec 02, 2005 at 00:48
I think what he's trying to say is.......avoid the cheap nasty GPS for sale at supercrap.

If you stick to Magellan or Garmin, you should do OK.
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FollowupID: 395665

Follow Up By: flappa - Friday, Dec 02, 2005 at 09:36

Friday, Dec 02, 2005 at 09:36
I had a Supercheap GPS , biggest piece of crap I have EVER seen.

Returned for a refund.

AVOID AT ALL COSTS.

Magellan Explorist 100 is a good base model GPS.
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FollowupID: 395704

Reply By: Member - Jay Gee (WA) - Friday, Dec 02, 2005 at 00:03

Friday, Dec 02, 2005 at 00:03
Another vote for eTrex.

And - they are already cheap enough - wouldn't bother going secondhand
AnswerID: 142057

Follow Up By: Pluto - Friday, Dec 02, 2005 at 01:19

Friday, Dec 02, 2005 at 01:19
The Etrex is probably the best value for money and probably the cheapst handheld that still has data interface. This is a feature worth looking out for. You'll really appreciate it once you've spent an evening entering half a dozen waypoints for your next trip.

The Magellan Explorists are also worth a look, but you only get the interface from the 400 up. Makes them a more expensive unit, but they've got a lot of features lacking in the base model Etrex.
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Reply By: Member - Troll 81 (QLD) - Friday, Dec 02, 2005 at 02:22

Friday, Dec 02, 2005 at 02:22
I have the Etrex Legend as well and I have been very happy with it. I have not used it with my laptop for turn by turn navigation but it's just good to know that the next town is 200km's away and at my current speed I will get there at X time
AnswerID: 142068

Reply By: signman - Friday, Dec 02, 2005 at 09:08

Friday, Dec 02, 2005 at 09:08
Another vote for e-trex. Will do most things the all singing ones will do. Just a suggestion- when you do get one, purchase the cig. lighter adaptor cable and if you're gonna use it with a 'puter, you'll also need the cable for that.
I've been using e-trex for 4 years now- done many trip using it, and even swmbo likes to operate it.
I have it mounted in the opening above the glovebox (in the Rodeo) with it angled toward the driver.
You may want to do a deal with a retailer for the unit, cables & mounting bracket??
AnswerID: 142090

Reply By: slow mower - Friday, Dec 02, 2005 at 09:32

Friday, Dec 02, 2005 at 09:32
If you insist on buying from e-bay, be careful that you don't end up with a unit that DOESN'T have an Australian Base Map. Could make it very difficult when trying to navigate. Also keep an eye out for 're-built' units that are sometimes 'considered' as new by some 'less than honourable' people.
AnswerID: 142093

Follow Up By: Big Woody - Saturday, Dec 03, 2005 at 07:48

Saturday, Dec 03, 2005 at 07:48
slow mower,

This is true on the mapping gps units.

However, at the bottom end of the etrex range the units do not have a base map and so it doesn't matter.
I have the GPS Map60CS which is a mapping unit. Even though mine has the Australian base map I have done some research and if you purchase one with the U.S. base map, when you load the Australian versions of City Navigator, Metroguide, or Bluecharts, the software overrides whichever base map the unit has and will work as normal.

Regards,
BW
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FollowupID: 395815

Reply By: cruiser - Friday, Dec 02, 2005 at 10:47

Friday, Dec 02, 2005 at 10:47
Guys, just something to keep in mind with the Etrex legend. It only connects to a PC with a standard RS232 serial connection. If you have a newish type laptop, it may not have this connection as most of the newer laptops only come with a USB connection.

Whilst it is possible to get a RS232 to USB adaptor, it is more expense and stuff to have to carry.

Also, keep in mid that most of the Etrex legends on ebay are selling for around $299 plus $20 freight. Johnny Appleseed GPS are selling them for $297 and I think that includes freight Australia wide, but dont quote me on that.

Johnny Appleseed GPS

BTW, I have no association with them at all.
AnswerID: 142101

Reply By: Fat Terry - Friday, Dec 02, 2005 at 12:21

Friday, Dec 02, 2005 at 12:21
I also got the eTrex, and as others have said it also has the data link capability. If you're technically minded you can knock up a cable and car power supply for it very cheaply ... if not you can clock up a fair bit extra cost for cables.

I paid around $170 for mine, and Id recommend the unit in answer to your question.
AnswerID: 142115

Reply By: Fast_Patrol - Friday, Dec 02, 2005 at 12:58

Friday, Dec 02, 2005 at 12:58
maybe think about a bluetooth gps - johnny appleseed sell them - no screen and no wires at all, very compact - it simply transmits the location it is at. You can connect to most newer laptops and pda's where, and use something like oziexplorer to do the mapping.

Cheers
Andrew
AnswerID: 142119

Reply By: Member - Geoff M (Newcastle) - Friday, Dec 02, 2005 at 13:54

Friday, Dec 02, 2005 at 13:54
Hello Crazy Dog,

Another vote for the Garmin ETrex, real easy to use.
Paid about $150.00 for mine with combined data and ciggy lighter cable.

Geoff.
Geoff,

Grey hair is hereditary, you get it from children. Baldness is caused by watching the Wallabies.

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AnswerID: 142128

Reply By: JAS095 - Friday, Dec 02, 2005 at 16:50

Friday, Dec 02, 2005 at 16:50
I will also put in a vote for the Etrex I have had one now for around 5yers and the unit has done me well on foot bike and car I have used it with my laptop and oziexporer and waypoint manager and had no problem. I am now sicking with Garmin and geting GPSmap 60cs for the mapping function. But as a 1st GPS can not gopass the Extrex.
AnswerID: 142150

Reply By: Member - Davoe (Widgiemooltha) - Saturday, Dec 03, 2005 at 03:16

Saturday, Dec 03, 2005 at 03:16
Nother vote for etrex tough and reliable. Except I paid $360 for mine although that was in 2001
AnswerID: 142206

Reply By: Big Woody - Saturday, Dec 03, 2005 at 07:56

Saturday, Dec 03, 2005 at 07:56
Let me start out by saying I do not have any association with the ebay seller below but I have purchased a marine radio and a fishfinder from them and have been very happy with price and service.

Wholesale Marine

It is worth checking them out. I could only see the standard Etrex though and not the Geko or Legend versions of the Etrex if you wanted to go up a model or 2.

Cheers,
BW

AnswerID: 142210

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