GPS Units Feedback

Submitted: Sunday, Oct 07, 2007 at 07:31

ThreadID: 50314 Views:3081 Replies:4 FollowUps:9

This Thread has been Archived

GPS Units, Navigators & SatNav

In this article we look at ready to go navigation devices and satnav units. You'll learn how different devices work, their limitations and advantages plus we include a section on the hybrid Hema

Therifleman

I would appreciate some advice on the purchase of a hand held GPS.I can not choose between"Garmin" Etrex or "Magellan" Explorist 100.I only need a basic unit to enable me to retrace my steps in heavy forest or to find a gate etc in a paddock at night.But, ease of use is most important as I am not very confident with electronics & computers etc..Thank you.

Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator Share

Reply By: Hairy (NT) - Sunday, Oct 07, 2007 at 08:18

Sunday, Oct 07, 2007 at 08:18

Gday,
Go down a couple posts, youll find some info starting there.
Cheers

AnswerID: 265385

Follow Up By: Member - George (WA) - Sunday, Oct 07, 2007 at 13:54

Sunday, Oct 07, 2007 at 13:54

I have a Garmin GPSmap 60CSX. not the most economical unit on the market but then you get what you pay for. It gets a fix on sattelites within 45 sec, no problem getting a signal in forrests. IMHO it is better to get a better than basic model. You will soom get the hang of it and then you will want something better than basic. I find the garmin units great for ease of operation
Cheers

Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message

FollowupID: 527362

Reply By: Bonz (Vic) - Sunday, Oct 07, 2007 at 08:29

Sunday, Oct 07, 2007 at 08:29

I have found the Garmins to be a little more intuitive in the way they are set up and operate so I guess I would go that way, but if u are learning from scratch either would make a good unit.

Check battery life in the unit and compare them if you are planning on using for walking etc.

Another thing, go for the SirfIII chipset if you can. It performs MUCH better in low reception areas and gets a fix faster. Also, try one out in the heavy forest you intend to use it in as overhanging trees and canopies of forests can cut down a GPS signal making it unusable. When I used mine in Switzerland there are large areas of track missing where the GPS lost signal when walking in the Swiss Alps.

It may not do what u want.

Good luck

.
Time is an illusion produced by the passage of history
.

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message
Moderator

AnswerID: 265388

Follow Up By: Mike Harding - Sunday, Oct 07, 2007 at 14:01

Sunday, Oct 07, 2007 at 14:01

Despite his goat propensity Bonz makes a good point. The older 12 channel receivers in handhelds such as the eTrex suffer considerably under heavy forest cover. My experience of the SirfIII chipset is that it performs MUCH better in these conditions however I don't know if it is available in handheld units?

An excellent site for all things GPS:
More GPS stuff than you can poke a stick at

Mike Harding

FollowupID: 527363

Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Sunday, Oct 07, 2007 at 16:09

Sunday, Oct 07, 2007 at 16:09

Mike I checked and almost all the new models use the SiRFIII chipset, wish my GPSMAP60CS had it, but tis a gr8 unit anyways

.
Time is an illusion produced by the passage of history
.

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message
Moderator

FollowupID: 527378

Follow Up By: Member - Davoe (Nullagine) - Monday, Oct 08, 2007 at 07:53

Monday, Oct 08, 2007 at 07:53

I likw my etrex - had it since 01 and it is sturdy and reliable- BUT
it can hvae problems retaining a lock in woody areas and when walking you cant chuck it in your pocket and have it reliably retain a lock - it need to be held out away from the body.
i really see the difference when i use My GF Mio street nav and it gets a lock very fast just sitting on the passenger seat while on the move. The etrex takes ages on the dash.

Yes an etrex will have you retracing routes and setting waypoints with only 5 min reading the instructions.
Battery life is V good and can be increased at the expense of accuracy using powersave mode (still good down to 20m or so)

FollowupID: 527473

Reply By: Member - Doug T (Qld) - Sunday, Oct 07, 2007 at 09:25

Sunday, Oct 07, 2007 at 09:25

Chuck Conners
Try this website

Garmin Handhelds
.
.

gift by Daughter

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog Send Message

AnswerID: 265398

Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Sunday, Oct 07, 2007 at 16:12

Sunday, Oct 07, 2007 at 16:12

Hey Dougster! Wonder why JA dont have the Garmin Quest on that page?

.
Time is an illusion produced by the passage of history
.

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message
Moderator

FollowupID: 527380

Follow Up By: Member - Doug T (Qld) - Sunday, Oct 07, 2007 at 16:25

Sunday, Oct 07, 2007 at 16:25

Bonz
Quest is not a handheld type, it's in the Street Navigation section but it can be used as such ,

.

gift by Daughter

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog Send Message

FollowupID: 527385

Reply By: Member - Prickle (SA) - Sunday, Oct 07, 2007 at 10:34

Sunday, Oct 07, 2007 at 10:34

Therifleman,

I have a Garmin Plus II for sale that would suit your needs. New memory battery.

Would be ideal for what you want.

$200.

I am in Adelaide.

Feel free to email me if you want more details.

Regards

Russ

Life-often hell but never boring.

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog Send Message

AnswerID: 265410

Follow Up By: Therifleman - Sunday, Oct 07, 2007 at 19:23

Sunday, Oct 07, 2007 at 19:23

Gents.,thanks for your advice.I went into town today & bought a "Garmin" GPS72.Not the bottom of the range,I only hope I can cope with the menu,s etc..Probably like buying a new mobile phone-use the basics & then expand on that.By the way,Doug T is dating himself calling me "Chuck Connors"-must be about the same vintage as me.Cheers.

FollowupID: 527402

Follow Up By: Mike Harding - Sunday, Oct 07, 2007 at 19:42

Sunday, Oct 07, 2007 at 19:42

One wonders why you bothered to ask if you were intending to buy a few hours after posing the question.

The GPS72 is akin to my 12 year old GPS12XL - more memory and twiddly bits but pretty similar. A good GPS, in it's day, but now a little outdated and poor performance under tree cover - I've walked a good few km I didn't need to because of it's inability to get a new fix or let me know the old one is outdated. When under tree cover ensure you see it update before believing it.

Mike Harding

FollowupID: 527413

Follow Up By: Therifleman - Monday, Oct 08, 2007 at 06:58

Monday, Oct 08, 2007 at 06:58

G,day,in reply to Mike Harding.I went and bought the GPS 72 because I needed it.I was advised by an older bloke who seemed to have similar interests .So far-so good ,I feel I could have got away with the Etrex or similar but would agree with the advice given that"when you master the basic one you,ll be sorry you d
idn,t get one with more features".

FollowupID: 527466