I know I know each user has different needs that serves their purpose, no one unit serves everyone.
But I'm special I geocached for several years using the Etrex Vista HCX. The unit does far more than I ever used. Windows based home support for PQs and updating maps. GSAK and Mapsource. Eventually I burned out and took a hiatus of several years. Thinking about returning to the game, and here are my questions:
1. iphone app or a dedicate hand held? if Iphone I'd want to be able to access the satellite constellation directly, not triangulate through and rely on the cell tower network. Which app?
2. If separate handheld, I prefer to stay with Garmin. Want the least expensive unit that will do color, touch screen , updatable maps, 2000 caches and paperless caching for everything but entering logs ( ill do that manually at the end of the trip)
I have been unable to find a website that allows me to select a collection of Garmin GPS units and show a features comparison table. Am I missing something?
1. Well, it depends on your own preferences. I prefer to keep my phone for urgent calls (like 911 in case of emergency or letting my wife know where I am now) and have a separate GPS unit for tracks, though I have a lot of friends who are just hiking using their phones/tablets for navigation. In my opinion, too much can go wrong with a tablet, the OS can get unstable, the app can crash etc. With a dedicated device it's much easier to navigate, and yes, it doesn't have any bells and whistles but it works well for a single purpose - navigation. Once again, I'm talking from my experience. As for capabilities, Mineral2 already said that the quality of phone navigation is quite decent, works offline pretty good and such. The choice is yours.
2.As for Garmins, here are my two coins - I'm quite happy with both Oregon (slightly cheaper, about $400), and Montana (about $550). Both have touchscreen, color display, have similar battery life and support geocaching, but Montana's screen is bigger.
which gps should I buy
in GPS technology and devices
Posted · Edited by jean_w
1. Well, it depends on your own preferences. I prefer to keep my phone for urgent calls (like 911 in case of emergency or letting my wife know where I am now) and have a separate GPS unit for tracks, though I have a lot of friends who are just hiking using their phones/tablets for navigation. In my opinion, too much can go wrong with a tablet, the OS can get unstable, the app can crash etc. With a dedicated device it's much easier to navigate, and yes, it doesn't have any bells and whistles but it works well for a single purpose - navigation. Once again, I'm talking from my experience. As for capabilities, Mineral2 already said that the quality of phone navigation is quite decent, works offline pretty good and such. The choice is yours.
2.As for Garmins, here are my two coins - I'm quite happy with both Oregon (slightly cheaper, about $400), and Montana (about $550). Both have touchscreen, color display, have similar battery life and support geocaching, but Montana's screen is bigger.
Good luck choosing.