Best_Buddies

If you are looking for an inexpensive no-frills model, you have three good choices. Garmin eTrex basic (yellow) -- No frills, but small and rugged. If you shop around, you can get one for around $100. Garmin GPS 12 -- A few more features than the eTrex -- Still well under $150. Magellan GPS 315 -- Nice unit. Has the advantage of a POI database, including thousands of cities. Not as nice as mapping, but still nice. The disadvantage is that it is not as waterproof or as rugged as the Garmin models. About the same price as the eTrex. Garmin eTrex Venture -- Also has a POI datbase, but the most expensive of the bunch (around $160). Small and rugged. Of course, you can get the Magellan Meridian Green (basic) for around $200 which offer a base map of the US. Later, you can add mapping software and extra memory. The Garmin eMap is NOT ruggedized or waterproof, but can be found relatively inexpensively ($150 or so). You can also add memory and mapping later, but the memory will cost 2 to 3 times what memory for the Meridian costs. Pick your poison. The good news is that when you decide to upgrade, you can sell the old one on eBay for 70% to 80% of what you paid for it (assuming it is still in great condition). ----- Any similarity between my opinions and reality is entirely coincidental. --Harrkev

Both are fine units.... The Vista has 24MB built in. The Meridian allows you to buy memory up to 128MB (less than $1.00 per MB). The Vista is smaller, lighter, and has a higher resolution (but physically smaller) screen. The Meridian has a better antenna and a better compass (Platinum model). Meridian has a more detailed base map, and you can download data in 5 minutes using a SD writer (under $20), while the Vista takes around an hour to download maps. It is a matter of personal preference. For backpackers, the size/weight of the Vista make it a winner. If you want boatloads of memory, go for the Meridian. In short, it is your call. Both have a different sent of advantages and limitations. ----- Any similarity between my opinions and reality is entirely coincidental. --Harrkev

quote:Originally posted by artysta: Hi! I am new to this whole thing and I want to buy my own GPS to go Geocaching. My problem is this...my friend said that if you get a "cheap" GPS that you can't get an accurate enough reading when you get close to your cache and stop moving. Does anyone have any suggestions on which GPS model is at least "good enough"? Any suggestions you have would be great! Thank you! As long as you get a modern unit (and not something discontinued years ago), it will work. Some units (eTrex) have worse reception under tree cover. If you do not get a unit with a compass built in, then get a $10.00 compass from your local sporting goods store. When you are not moving, you cannot depend on the "arrow" on a GPS. Instead, take the bearing and use a regular compass. For a beginner, the Magellan 315 (with the new firmware!) or an eTrex would be a good introduction to GPS and Geocaching. Then, after you figure out what you like and don't like, you can sell your old unit on eBay for around 80% of the purchase price, and buy yourself something nicer with mapping. Have fun, and don't forget that there is more than one web site devoted to this sport! ----- Any similarity between my opinions and reality is entirely coincidental. --Harrkev

This is strong competition to the eTrex line. It gives you almost the same memory as the Vista is approximately the same size. Backpackers are VERY concerned with size and weight. Now, Magellan has something to offer these people. ----- Any similarity between my opinions and reality is entirely coincidental. --Harrkev

quote:Originally posted by phantom4099: I have a small question, I know that the software and the basemap share the same memorey (evident when the 330 losses memorey to download detailed maps when a new software feature is added). Will the smaller basemap get in the way for future upgrades? The gold/plantium has plenty of room to alow any possible upgrades that magellen may issue, but will the plain meridian? I cannot imagine Magellan releasing a firmware update that would not work on the MeriGreen. This would be a stupid business practice. They do not want to shoot themselves in the foot. ----- Any similarity between my opinions and reality is entirely coincidental. --Harrkev

Just remember that using a GPS while orienteering is cheating!!! I have been orienteering a couple of times. Unfortunately, the Orienteering club does not ask what days would be good for me, so I keep on having scheduling conflicts. Experienced geocachers should probably start off with an Orange course. I bet that they can handle it. ----- Any similarity between my opinions and reality is entirely coincidental. --Harrkev

Just remember that using a GPS while orienteering is cheating!!! I have been orienteering a couple of times. Unfortunately, the Orienteering club does not ask what days would be good for me, so I keep on having scheduling conflicts. Experienced geocachers should probably start off with an Orange course. I bet that they can handle it. ----- Any similarity between my opinions and reality is entirely coincidental. --Harrkev

I frequent the "N" site and this one. Unfortunately, the "N" site does not have many listings for my state yet. The one cache that I placed is listed here and at the "N." ----- Any similarity between my opinions and reality is entirely coincidental. --Harrkev

I frequent the "N" site and this one. Unfortunately, the "N" site does not have many listings for my state yet. The one cache that I placed is listed here and at the "N." ----- Any similarity between my opinions and reality is entirely coincidental. --Harrkev

If it were me, I would not overly worry about the brand name of the battery. The way that I see it is that ANY 1800 will outperform ANY 1700. Some brands might give you and extra 15 minutes of performance, but it does not seem worth a lot of extra bother to get a certain brand. This site has some reviews. It is targeted for digital cameras, and their battery usage (short bursts of high current) is a lot different from GPS usage (constant low current). However, it is a good start. http://www.imaging-resource.com/ACCS/BATTS/BATTS.HTM The one thing that I will say is that you should get a charger that can do individual cells. If you decide to use NiMH in a FRS radio that takes 3 cells, it will be difficult to charge that 3rd cell. Do not charge a fresh cell and a dead cell in pairs. By getting a charger that does individual cells, you can avoid this problem entirely. ----- Any similarity between my opinions and reality is entirely coincidental. --Harrkev

If it were me, I would not overly worry about the brand name of the battery. The way that I see it is that ANY 1800 will outperform ANY 1700. Some brands might give you and extra 15 minutes of performance, but it does not seem worth a lot of extra bother to get a certain brand. This site has some reviews. It is targeted for digital cameras, and their battery usage (short bursts of high current) is a lot different from GPS usage (constant low current). However, it is a good start. http://www.imaging-resource.com/ACCS/BATTS/BATTS.HTM The one thing that I will say is that you should get a charger that can do individual cells. If you decide to use NiMH in a FRS radio that takes 3 cells, it will be difficult to charge that 3rd cell. Do not charge a fresh cell and a dead cell in pairs. By getting a charger that does individual cells, you can avoid this problem entirely. ----- Any similarity between my opinions and reality is entirely coincidental. --Harrkev

There is one more thing to think of.... If you are planning a trip to Europe or Australia one day, you can put a European or Australian base map in your Gold/Platinum/Marine. You also have the option of upgrading to a Marine base map. If you stick with the Green model, that is the only base map that you will ever have. The base map is used when you are zoomed out. This means that, if you go to Europe, it will be impossible to get a "bird's eye" view of the roads, even while using a European detailed map. If you are never leaving North America, this is not a big deal. Otherwise, give it some thought. ----- Any similarity between my opinions and reality is entirely coincidental. --Harrkev

There is a similar program for the Magellan Meridian series (which I had something to do with ). Hacking the lawyer screen is the best way to go. The only way to remove it is to re-flash the firmware, and if the average thief was smart enough to do this, then he would be smart enough to work for a living. ----- Any similarity between my opinions and reality is entirely coincidental. --Harrkev

There is a similar program for the Magellan Meridian series (which I had something to do with ). Hacking the lawyer screen is the best way to go. The only way to remove it is to re-flash the firmware, and if the average thief was smart enough to do this, then he would be smart enough to work for a living. ----- Any similarity between my opinions and reality is entirely coincidental. --Harrkev

Let me tell you about one hunt that I went on. My wife had to go to a large city about an hour away. We decided to nab some caches and make a day out of it. I had print-outs of the cache information for about a dozen caches. I had the coordinates, but NO detailed maps (I had a yellow eTrex at the time). Well, when hunting our first cache, I wound up in the parking lot of some sort of correctional institution. I was only 1/4 mile from the cache, but I was stopped by a fence, and had not idea how to get around it. We drove for a little bit, and chose the wrong direction at one turn. We were now on the other side of a lake from the cache, and just wanted to find a road to get us around. We would turn into a neighborhood, and find no way around, and had to leave by the same road that we took into the neighborhood. Eventually, we found our way to a VA hospital, and could tell that the cache was just 20 feet on the other side of a fence. Eventually, we found the entrance to the park and grabbed the cache. It took us more than an hour of driving around. If I would have had my Meridian back then, this cache would have taken 10 minutes. This is probably an extreme example, but I am glad to have a mapping unit. ----- Any similarity between my opinions and reality is entirely coincidental. --Harrkev

quote:Originally posted by Zartimus(carrdav):I just got one yesterday after looking at a pile of them. The 8 megs is a good size unless you are able to cover an incredible amount of ground in one day ;-) Or one TRIP. I do not like to travel with a laptop. I was once on a camping trip to Chatanooga, TN. My wife and I woke up early and got bored. We were in Savannah, GA by that evening. I like to take spur-of-the-moment trips. In a case like that, having a huge memory is nice. (Sigh) That was before the birth of my son. Now, traveling supr-of-the-moment is a *lot* harder with a 12 month old child. ----- Any similarity between my opinions and reality is entirely coincidental. --Harrkev

quote:Originally posted by wl125: Doesn't it comes with map software like all the other Garmin Units? I thought all you have to do it purchase an unlock code to unlock part of the region. Nope. That is only the products like the GPS V and the Street Pilot III. The Legend comes with NO detailed maps. The map software will cost in the neighborhood of $100 (more or less, depending on product). Then, you get to send up to 8MB of these maps to your Legend. I have a Meridian with 128MB. I cannot even imagine only having 8MB. Does anybody know if the Legend comes with a cable? If not, you will need to buy one ($20 on eBay). Also, if you plan to use this thing a lot, get some NiMH batteries and a charger. ----- Any similarity between my opinions and reality is entirely coincidental. --Harrkev

quote:Originally posted by wl125: Doesn't it comes with map software like all the other Garmin Units? I thought all you have to do it purchase an unlock code to unlock part of the region. Nope. That is only the products like the GPS V and the Street Pilot III. The Legend comes with NO detailed maps. The map software will cost in the neighborhood of $100 (more or less, depending on product). Then, you get to send up to 8MB of these maps to your Legend. I have a Meridian with 128MB. I cannot even imagine only having 8MB. Does anybody know if the Legend comes with a cable? If not, you will need to buy one ($20 on eBay). Also, if you plan to use this thing a lot, get some NiMH batteries and a charger. ----- Any similarity between my opinions and reality is entirely coincidental. --Harrkev

You said "Hiking"... If by this you mean having a pack with a sleeping bag, tent, esbit stove, etc. on your back, I would recommend an eTrex model. The size and weight are hard to beat, and it is easier than hollowing out the handle of your toothbrush..... If by "hiking" you mean "walking around in the woods", some great units are: Magellan Meridian series eTrex series (Vista is the best) 76S If you get ANY of these, you can't go wrong. Keep in mind that the 76S and Vista are limited to 24MB. The Meridian can go to 128MB, if this is important to you. ----- Any similarity between my opinions and reality is entirely coincidental. --Harrkev

BTW.. The 1-hour Rayovac charger is nice in that it charges each cell seperately. Not a big deal for a GPS (which always used 2 or 4 betteries). However, if you want to use rechargables in, for example, a FRS radio which takes 3 batteries, then the cell-at-a-time charging will be valuable. With a FRS radio that takes 3 AA batteries, and the $10.00 charger, you will only be able to charge two of the three cells (do not mix a dead and a charged cell on this type of charger). ----- Any similarity between my opinions and reality is entirely coincidental. --Harrkev

A couple of months ago there was a guy who got a brand new YELLOW eTrex for $160.00 (plus shipping). That is the worst that I have seen. ----- Any similarity between my opinions and reality is entirely coincidental. --Harrkev

Do you need to broadcast "call leters" every time you talk, like you do with HAM radio? ----- Any similarity between my opinions and reality is entirely coincidental. --Harrkev

Do you need to broadcast "call leters" every time you talk, like you do with HAM radio? ----- Any similarity between my opinions and reality is entirely coincidental. --Harrkev

It is normal for MapSend to "stop" at 90%. At that boundary, it has to do a LOT of work. It will remain at 90% for a LONG time, and then jump very fast to 100%. There IS a way to get an individual map piece over 32MB. The problem is (as you have probably guessed) that larger maps take a LOT longer to process. You should be able to make one 120MB map if you want to let your computer crank for a week or two... Check out the Yahoo group for the Magellan Meridian. I wrote a FAQ which covers a lot of these types of details. The FAQ is on the files section. You must be a member to see the files though. Eurpoean and marine base maps are available from: http://www.navi_no_censor_cache.com/meridian_basemaps/ *** REMOVE the "_no_censor_" from the link to get it to work. Instructions for transfering the new basemap are in the FAQ. ----- Any similarity between my opinions and reality is entirely coincidental. --Harrkev

quote:Originally posted by Yak Man: Cool, I never thought about getting a Libretto. I have a Thinkpad but I am afraid to leave it in the car when I go caching. I don’t know what a 48s is. Is it a typo of the Garmin 76S? Right now I have a Street Pilot Colormap. I need a good handheld unit. I have an IPAQ but battery life seems to be an issue. I don’t see how it could last long enough to use a GPS out in the field. Does anyone have any experience in this area? Sorry. You are right. 76S. (I have HP calculators on the brain right now) Using a Libretto assumes that there is a way to load all of the Garmin software to the hard drive so that it will run without a CD-Rom drive. I do not know if this is possible, since I do not have any Garmin software. I would not want to take a PDA into the middle of the woods. GPS receivers are designed to be oudoors and will survive little drops. Dropping a $400 PDA on a rock is not my idea of fun. If you are carefule, Ozi Explorere is available for PocketPC devices. I cannot comment on its quality since I not have a PocketPC. Windows is a necessary evil. I don't want to carry evil with me wherever I go. The new Sharp Zaurus running Linux -- that looks interesting... ----- Any similarity between my opinions and reality is entirely coincidental. --Harrkev