Handheld GPS units

If you don't require maps installed the Etrex Yellow is a great little GPS we have had one for many years and it would fill all of your listed requirements. Now if you want to get into Geocaching you might want to go to a slightly more expensive model that has pre-installed maps. We have spent most of the last two years geocaching our way around Oz in our caravan - we use a Garmin Vista very reliable. :-)

Garmin Etrex 20 is a brilliant unit. Takes maps (on microSD) and you can plug it into a USB port or adapter in your car to save batteries. Takes AA batteries and runs for ages on lithium AA's. Add Garmin Topo Australia and you are set.

hi
ive got an old hand held gps- emap- model garmin which came with vehicle mount and 12 power cable and plug adaptor and has downloading of maps and data capacity which i still use and its never missed a beat
has a lot of features and so i would highly recommend one of their later models
i wouldnt hesitate to buy another one
cheers

Hi Penchy,

I own the early Etrex, the very basic model. I was in Cape Your in October, hunting with my nephew and son. The Etrex was an absolute necessity in that country. It is mostly very flat and featureless. My son and I would have been lost quite a few times without the GPS. We never normally use one as we both have good senses of direction but in that country they are needed. Our basic Etrex lost signal in the scrub but would regain signal in an open spot, to lead you back to the car. My nephew had a more expensive unit to keep track of his two dogs and it never lost signal even in very thick scrub.

Go for a more expensive unit and it will be worth it.

Greg.

For bushwalking and hunting, go for something with a gyro so you can get direction without moving - it's amazing the difference it makes when on foot.
I've got a garmin gpsmap78sc which is a bit further up the range, but is waterproof, floats, has mapping both downloadable and sd, plugs into computers and bluetooth, and has a gyro (as you turn, so does the map, so select waypoint, turn until machine points to waypoint, wander off into bush - it has to be tried to be appreciated, I also have standard handhelds (Gps 72, magellan gps 2000) which are not used any more. The ability to have good mapping software (oztoppo/shonkymaps) on hand helps to make informed decisions based on the terrain you are in. The sc version also comes with the complete bluechart ocean series for australia and NZ if you happen to use boats like myself. Not much else to say. It's pretty powerful, a few hundred $$ more and a complete waste of money if you don't think you need the features it offers. For me its a godsend having the ability to have both 4wd and ocean mapping on the one waterproof handheld device. I also carry my iphone with various mapping applications, but away from battery chargers, I wouldn't rate a phone much better than a toy, and certainly wouldn't rely on one even though they have great, cheap map packages and powerful gps chips (with gyros).