GeoLeeBea
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Posts posted by GeoLeeBea
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I have an eTrex 20 and recently upgraded to a 62s.
I'm much happier in the woods with the 62s than I was with the eTrex 20.
Interesting…. Is that from any particular features, or do you simply find the 62s to be more accurate?
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The eTrex 20 is an excellent choice! I use one myself. The eTrex features GLONASS (which the 62s doesn't have). This means it has about double the satellites to lock on to, which makes reception great just about anywhere. If you're worrying about reception in the woods, don't. My etrex 20 has always been nearly as accurate under heavy tree cover, as in the middle of a field.
As for your factors be be juggled:
- I mentioned the accuracy, which bang-for-the-buck, can't be beaten by the eTrex 20
- Waterproof just the same as the 62. One meter for up to 30 minutes. (IPXJ7? or something like that)
- Can download maps to the unit itself, or to a micro-SD card. The unit has 1.7 GB of built in memory.
- 2 AA batteries lasts "up to 25 hours"
- I use an 8 gig MicroSD myself
- It does indeed feature paperless geocaching
- $199 (I got mine for 150 on amazon)
Wow, great info, ADKer! Just what I was hoping for. I discounted GLONASS but now see where it really helps. (In your "bang-for-buck" comment I gather you meant "can't be beat by 62s.") Also I didn't know the eTrex was just as waterproof.
I guess I yielded to "external antenna envy" in favoring the 62s. I suppose Freud might say, "sometimes an antenna is just an antenna." Thanks again.
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At 14', I'd put the GPS (phone or GPSr) away and start looking.
I don't believe anything would get one within seconds every time.
The CO could be 20 feet off too.
Does "beginners caches" come up on the phones? I no longer use one (serves no purpose for me).
Keep track of hide styles and concentrate on small and regulars, no more than 2/2 in difficulty and terrain for now if finding them's difficult.
I know you're asking about GPSrs and the 62 series (to me) is tops, but a GPSr isn't gonna help you find them with pinpoint accuracy. You have to do the searching on your own.
Thanks, and I appreciate what you are saying. The searching I'm down for, what I'm trying to shake is a GPS that has inconsistent readings. To answer your question we are focusing on beginner caches, but that does not absolve our directional device from changing frequently while standing in one place. Lack of pinpoint accuracy I can live with, the lack of consistency needs fixing by using a device meant for such purposes.
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For iOS you may want to check out Commander Compass. There is a lite version that is free. The full version sometimes goes on sale or is offered for free for short periods.
Spyglass by Pavel Ahafonau
They are all in the same family of apps. See for yourself: http://happymagenta.com/spyglass/manuals.html
And it is probably the best for iOS.
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I just started geocaching this week along with my 8 y.o. daughter. Great fun, yadda yadda. Short story is that it looks like we'll be doing a bunch more.
So far we have ventured out with only the Groundspeak iPhone app, the merits and deficits of which (there are both) needn't be raised here. I will say that the jumping-around of the cache location (e.g., 14 ft. west instantly becoming 22 ft. east then to 8 ft. north) is a growing frustration. All but the most obvious hiding places become flotsam. Nano Cache? Forgettaboutit. Also the app beats down the iPhone battery like it holds a grudge.
So I'm in the market for a handheld, and after a cursory search came up with the Garmin GPSMAP 62s as the answer. See if you agree. (I was considering the eTrex 20, but didn't think it would have the same in-woods accuracy.)
The factors to be juggled are these:
• Looking for spot-on, locked-down accurate readings to the thousandth of a minute. [Correct term? Like "38° 53.246" seen in GC descriptions] I know about WAAS but I'll admit ignorance about GLONASS.
• Waterproof-ish, in case the kid drops it, etc.
• I believe somewhere I have the Garmin MapSource discs for Topo North America. (I bought it ten years ago for a unit which was stolen before I loaded the maps. Maybe I ebay'ed it, but I think it's around.) In any case I can download the maps I need.
• A camera in the GPS is of no real use to me.
• I have a trove of rechargeable AA batteries at the ready.
• I have an 8 GB MicroSD card laying around looking for a new use.
• Importing geocaching data direct to the unit sounds like a nice feature.
• Budget was $200 US, which I am stretching a bit to $250 for the 62s. The $399 base model of the GPS MAP 64 is out of the question.
Pundits, please hold forth.
Second Guess My GPSMAP 62s Choice! :)
in GPS technology and devices
Posted
Well, I just got my eTrex 20 (a week late -- my mail carrier is afraid of the snow) and took it to the field. All I can say is "What a difference a day makes!"
The change from just the iPhone was swift and dramatic. The specificity was greater and the "dancing around" aspect was significantly reduced. It definitely let us know when we were at GZ.
I chose the eTrex 20 over the 62s based on all your reports of their comparable features [special props to ADKer & BlackRose] as well as for the price. My daughter loves how the unit fits in her hand as if it was made for it. She insists on holding it and taking the lead. This is fine with dad who can man the iPhone, without which he feels naked anyway. With the eTrex we found our first micro caches yesterday, just like seasoned pros.
I added a Pocket Query from here with only minimal suffering. (Surprisingly there are steps that neither this site nor Garmin fill in.) I also located my old Garmin MapSource TOPO 2007 disc, so the only question now is whether I use that or download newer (better?) Topo maps from online. Feel free to chime in on this.
Thank you for everyone who contributed to the discussion. It was enlightening and enjoyable to read.