+ForsdykeFinders Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 I have recently encouraged my Father In Law to get into geocaching and we bought him a yellow Etrex for his birthday. When we are out and about in the woods looking for caches, my old Magellan 315 seems to get far better reception and accuracy than the Etrex. Is this normal? The Etrex seems to work fine in the open. Quote Link to comment
+plymplodders Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 I recently received a new yellow Etrex after my old one went wrong & the newer ones seem to hold the signal much better than the older ones but you're always likely to get that problem in trees. Pete Quote Link to comment
+Learned Gerbil Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 The trusty 315 had a quad helix antenna whilst the yellow Etrex has a patch antenna. It is not unusual for quad helix to perform better in tree cover, especially for older designs like these. Also rememebr that a patch antenna device has to beheld flat for best reception whilst a quad helix device needs to be held upright. Quote Link to comment
+walkergeoff and wife Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 Also remember that a patch antenna device has to be held flat for best reception whilst a quad helix device needs to be held upright. Interesting. Anyone know what kind of an antenna the Garmin GPS12 has? I have noticed that, it, too, is good under tree cover. Quote Link to comment
+Learned Gerbil Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 I think it is quad helix - note also that antenna size has a lot to do with it also and the etrex has a small antenna. Quote Link to comment
Beer Monster Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 ... size has a lot to do with it also... Where have I heard that before? Quote Link to comment
+Birdman-of-liskatraz Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 ... size has a lot to do with it also... Where have I heard that before? Maybe here? GCT0P4 - Is size important? Quote Link to comment
+The Hancock Clan Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 Page 43, eTrex manual... ??? Quote Link to comment
alistair_uk Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 In my experience of my yellow eTrex the signal is rather inaccurate under heavy foliage. What is rather strange is that the accuracy improves under trees when the weather is overcast. I am still very happy with the little device though and have not immediate plans to upgrade. Quote Link to comment
+pieces_of_8 Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 I had a Magallen 315 and it was very good under trees, then i upgraded (or maybe not!) to a Etrex Legend and there was a noticeable difference in performance under trees...the Etrex being far worse. I have to do alot of triangulation now, where as i could (with the 315) just arrive at "X" marks the spot and 95% of the time it'd be spot on. But i still find them...most of the time Mart Quote Link to comment
+HazelS Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 The newer Yellows also has WAAS fitted now - might be worth checking to see if it's switched on while under tree cover. If you're not in trees switch it off - makes it less reliable!! Just my 2 penneth worth... from caching with people who use yellows Quote Link to comment
+Happy Humphrey Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 From other recent discussions on this topic, I learnt that Magellan units tend to keep a satellite lock in trees, where a Garmin will have given up: however, the Magellan position indicated may be rather inaccurate under these circumstances. Your choice depends on whether you prefer to know that you won't be able to find the cache, or whether you'd like to be given the wrong area to search... The new X-Series Garmins should give new levels of accuracy in these difficult areas. It's only in heavily wooded areas that there's a real problem getting to the cache: normally if the GPSr has had a good view of the satellites for a while before entering the tree cover, you should get a fair indication of your position. If the cache is only a short way inside the forest, you can use the heading and distance from the last good signal to get close. HH Quote Link to comment
+The Mars Bars Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 I have a Yellow as well as a GPSmap 60cs. One has a patch antenna and the other a quad helix. Neither will hold onto a signal even under moderate tree cover. I also have a bluetooth Globalsat BT 338 linked to my PDA. This will lock onto the satellites inside my house, away from the windows. The difference is the chipset used....Bring it on! Sirf III chips in Garmins new range! about time too. Quote Link to comment
+*bingoboy* Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 I have a GPS12 that I will bring with me when I am caching in a wood I find it will hold a signal much better under cover Quote Link to comment
+ForsdykeFinders Posted January 18, 2006 Author Share Posted January 18, 2006 Many thanks for all the useful info. Quote Link to comment
+dino-irl Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 The difference is the chipset used....Bring it on! Sirf III chips in Garmins new range! about time too. Now if they would only add Bluetooth then they would be the perfect tool Quote Link to comment
+Berrow Wayfarer Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 I've been caching with an Etrex legend for a couple of years. After my first few forest finds I was getting increasingly frustrated with the lack of reception. I bought myself a Magellan Meridian Colour based on reception quality recommendations from other cachers. It is better, there is no doubt, but there was too much about the Magellan I didn't like in comparison to the Garmin. A US cacher told me that a Magellan "will guess" where you are, based on your movement since it last had a strong fix, giving the appearance that you still have a decent signal. Whether this is true I don't know. I've now found over 400 caches with my trusty Garmin, and remain frustrated with tree cover. As long as their is a decent hint and using good old fashioned "Cacher Vision" I've got by just fine. I think the ultimate answer is the new chipset previously mentioned. I'll be looking at upgrading this year, once I've saved the cash! Quote Link to comment
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