Alphawolf

My take on apersson850's post is that those things can't be done without a compass, therefore those are reasons to buy a unit with internal compass. I don't think he meant you couldn't do them with a handheld compass, because obviously we have been doing them for a long time. It really just comes down to one simple little thing... Does someone want to spend the xtra $$ on the "S" models to have an "all-in-one" unit. For geocaching where getting lost isn't ever a factor, then you really don't need a separate compass to accomplish your task safely, so get the internal and have a blast with it. For any situations where getting lost could be a possibility, then not having an actual, real, magnetic compass and map with you is just plain foolish. Therefore, why pay the extra money and give up the battery life for a unit with an internal compass, when you already have one in your pocket anyway? The altimeter? Sorry...I have never been able to justify that one in my world for anything at all. My GPS and map tells me everything I need to know about my altitude. But, if you're getting the internal compass, then the altimeter just comes along with it anyway. For my uses, and admitting that I am a "weight weenie" because of backpacking reasons, I am not giving up the battery life, carrying the X-tra weight, or paying the x-tra money for a unit that does nothing at all to help my off road navigation abilities.

I need a bit more info. You said you are trying to take coordinates from a map and put them into mapsource for a waypoint right? Which is it that is giving you the northings and Westings (lat.long.)? Is it the GPS or Mapsource program? Once you set the GPS to UTM and "apply" the change it will read out coordinates in UTM which is the zone number first, then the easting , then the northing. In Mapsource, you need to set the Position format to UTM by going to "edit" then "preferences" then select the "position" tab and make the change to UTM and click "apply" Do Map datums in Mapsource the same way.

Well, keep in mind, you can turn off the electronic compass if you aren't usung it. There is basically and "on-off" option for it. Keeping it off when not using it will make your batteries last much longer.

Really? No "red X" or anything? It comes up on my browser. Hmmm, interesting. Try this URL...Maybe that'll work My Webpage

Here is a picture I found of me doing just what we've been talking about...I am plotting a waypoint from my map into my GPS. This is about 18 miles east of Canyon Village in Yellowstone Park on my way to a place called Fairyland Basin. This is typical tree cover there, and I had no problems with satellite reception on the 101.

Hey Mr.Bond: Just because my "profile' doesn't state something, it doesn't tell you anything about me now, does it? While you are out chasing geocaches in a "20-30 mile radius", I'm 35 miles (off trail) into the Yellowstone backcountry looking for (and finding) geothermal spots that far fewer people have been to than the summit of Mt. Everest! The "geocaches" I have to find with my GPS are sometimes the only drinkable water within 5 miles, or maybe the only legal place to camp within 12 miles. If I "miss" and don't find the spring, it's a bit more serious than not finding an ammo can hidden in the brush. Oh yes...And I do an occasional geocahe with some kids around the neighborhood once in a while too when I'm bored, I just let the kids log the find!

You know, I really don't know much about its ability to maintain a lock under cover. That's because, like I said, I never leave it on. I have never once had a problem trying to get it to lock up whenever I do turn it on though. As for changing my waypoints or destinations enroute, that is where my map and a grid card come into play. I actually have done this many, many times. I simply pull coordinates off of my map with my grid card and plug the numbers in to create the new waypoin(s). Total time, start to finish for plotting and entering a new waypoint from a map is about 3 minues.

When I am "bushwacking" that is, traveling cross country, off trail, I use my GPS and compass to navigate. I have my map with me of course, but it is only to "check" my progress. I never leave my GPS turned on, so as to save battery life. A usual scenario would be as follows (In fact this is the very way I use my GPS 98% of the time): I have previously entered a waypoint and I am now moving towards that waypoint. It might be my camp or my truck or whatever. I turn on my GPS, wait until I have satellite lock up and do a "GOTO" for the waypoint. On my compass page (Of course it isn't really a "compass"), I don't even pay attention to the bearing arrow or the heading directions around it. I simply look at the distance and bearing windows. I am always standing still when I do this. I'm not moving at all. Now, say it says my truck is 6.2 miles at bearing 270(mag.) , I simply turn my GPS back off to save batteries and put it away. I then pull out my compass, sight a bearing of 270 and walk towards the most distant thing I can see along that bearing line. I will occasionally redo this drill on my way to my truck, especially if I have had to detour around an obstacle, checking distance, bearing and re-shooting with my compass. It works perfectly standing still, and I haven't missed (AKA: gottten lost) yet!

Wait a minute...I see what you are saying. You were comparing units with and without the compass, not comparing units with compass to a user with a seperate GPS and compass . You are right, if your unit doesn't have the compass, and your not moving fast, and you don't know what the directions are, you're screwed for a while. (eventually, even at crawling speed, your GPS will figure out your track direction.)

Hmmm....If my Foretrex is reading in "degrees" instead of "cardinal letters" for my bearing , and my gps is set to magnetic north instead of true north, then all I have to do is shoot a bearing with my $8.00 Silva compass a follow it. Even if I am sitting still.

Excellent point...I totally forgot o mention that, and it is imperative that the datums match.

For 99.9% of users I have talked to, the altimeter is just something "cool" to mess around with. I mean come on...Your altitude is what it is at any given moment. Are you going to climb a tree or dig a hole just to make it say something different on the screen? You can get into all sorts of hypothetical situations where someone can use an altimeter (assuming you have very recently calabrated the danged thing), but in reality, they serve very few people any real function. If I have an "S" model in my hand, the altimeter page never even gets looked at, let alone messing with calibrating it.

You are set to a Lat. Long. position format. (There are about 3 common "flavors" of Lat. Long.) You need to go into your setup and change the position format or coordinate format to UTM.

Quite a jump there! I never said I have never used one. I have sold GPS receivers now, for nearly 7 years. I teach GPS navigation clinics on an ongoing basis. I have owned more GPS receivers in the last 7 years than I can remember, and have taken home and used and taught private lessons with them all. I reiterate...I use a Foretrx 101 for any off road navigation for any reason. I could take any receiver I wanted to out of the case (We have over 25 models to choose from) at any time, take it home and have it for the weekend. But I don't.

Curious minds want to know...Why the 201 with rechargeable batteries over the 101 with alkalines? Agian, just curious.

Well, let's put it this way...I carry a Garmin Foretrex 101. Just about as simple as you can get. I carry an eight dollar Silva compass with me always, and I challenge anyone with an "S" model to do anything I can't do while navigating. If you have the extra money to spend on the "cool" factor. then go for it. You won't be sorry. But, again, you wouldn't be able to do anything I couldn't do. Oh and yes...The altimeter needs frequent calibration to be accurate, and the compass needs to be calibrated when you change batteries.

Sorry...Garmin units require Garmin software and The same with Magellan.

Did you make sure the Map Datum is set to WGS 84? That is the default "out of the box" setting, but don't know if you ever changed it from that setting or not.

I have a 330. Awesome unit for car navigation, but not suited for geocaching. You can't put in Lat. Long. waypoints. It has an internal rechargeable battery, but it is short lived. I would reach for my Garmin Foretex 101 or my Magellan SportTrack Map for geocaching everytime before my 330 or IQUE.

I have people ask this question about "calibration" routinely. It is important, I think, to clearly spell out: You can't "calibrate" a GPS. You can only calibrate the compass in those models that have internal compasses (most don't). The GPS part of the receiver is only ever as good as it is at the time...You can do nothing to calibrate it to better performance.

My understanding is the P2P only works on the lower FRS power, not on the higher wattage GMRS channels. Is this true? Same on all RINO units...Both old and new?

They really could care less about folks with low power handhelds...They are more worried about 150 watt base stations using repeaters to talk all over yor state and beyond. That is who can mess the service up if they don't know what they are doing. Don't even begin to worry about the FCC coming aftr you while using your 3 watt handheld! No worries mate!

I.ve been selling these radios for about 7 years now. You do need a license if you are using the GMRS freqs. That being said, I personally know of not one single person who has ever bought that license, and I know of not one single person who has ever had any run-ins with the FCC. There just isn't any "radio police" running around your neighborhoods.

So what's the difference between the 530 and the the 520? Just NOAA weather channels?

Way Cool! That thing will sell like mad.