CHOOSING A GPS GADGET

[+dennyb59b]

Am extremely new to geocaching, and want to ask all you well weathered cachers would a EXTREX LEGEND COLOUR be a good buy and an adequate buy.

[+Train_Man]

The Etrex Legend C went out of production when the Legend Cx came in. I'd suggest getting either a Legend Cx or a Vista Cx (vista if you want compass/altimeter). The older non X version will not have a memory card slot or very good reception, both of what I find very important. If you get a Legend Cx at a good price it might be $260 or so, or used you might find one for <$200.

[+hiikaash]

i'm not a fan of those. i would recommend a explorist 210, becuase of the memory and usb cable for downloading

[Marty_Bell]

Mam just get that bloody etrex ordered thats what i got just do woman.

 

LOL

 

Your Loving Son

 

Marty

[+briansnat]

If you can find a Legend C cheap, go for it. It has been discontinued (only because the CX came out), but is a fine unit. I wouldn't pay much over $180 for it though because with the new Garmin rebate, you can get a Venture CX with a slot for a memory card for around $160 (you will have to shell out bucks for the memory card though).

 

The Legend C has great reception so I'm not sure what Train_Man is talking about. I think he might be confusing it with the older BW Legend which isn't known for its great reception. The Legend C is a totally different animal and has the same receiver and antenna as the CX.

 

i'm not a fan of those. i would recommend a explorist 210, because of the memory and usb cable for downloading

 

The Legend C has more memory than the 210 and uses a USB cable.

[+Fhantazm]

As it stands right now there is an accuracy problem with the etrex "x" units. Your info on the older C units not having good reception is incorrect. The "C" units are every bit as sensitive as the "x" models, and now with the current "x" accuracy issues, probably even more so. I think you are probably thinking of the older B&W units. All of the color etrex's have almost identical reception. Like Brian said, if you can find a good deal on a Legend C, jump on it. I loved mine while I had it.

 

 

The Etrex Legend C went out of production when the Legend Cx came in. I'd suggest getting either a Legend Cx or a Vista Cx (vista if you want compass/altimeter). The older non X version will not have a memory card slot or very good reception, both of what I find very important. If you get a Legend Cx at a good price it might be $260 or so, or used you might find one for <$200.

Edited August 24, 2006 by Fhantazm

[+cachenut06]

As it stands right now there is an accuracy problem with the etrex "x" units. Your info on the older C units not having good reception is incorrect. The "C" units are every bit as sensitive as the "x" models, and now with the current "x" accuracy issues, probably even more so. I think you are probably thinking of the older B&W units. All of the color etrex's have almost identical reception. Like Brian said, if you can find a good deal on a Legend C, jump on it. I loved mine while I had it.

 

 

The Etrex Legend C went out of production when the Legend Cx came in. I'd suggest getting either a Legend Cx or a Vista Cx (vista if you want compass/altimeter). The older non X version will not have a memory card slot or very good reception, both of what I find very important. If you get a Legend Cx at a good price it might be $260 or so, or used you might find one for <$200.

I have a magellan explorist 500, and its perfect, id recommend the 500, or any of the lower models, the color screen isnt really needed, but i like it for in the car, i had a etrex camo, and it wasnt very spectacular. From the person above me, are the new garmin color gps having reception issues? i was going to buy a venture cx, but i got set on the explorist 500

[+Fhantazm]

Yes. Please feel free to see this thread

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php...=134219&hl=

 

 

 

<$200.

From the person above me, are the new garmin color gps having reception issues? i was going to buy a venture cx, but i got set on the explorist 500

[+BAMBOOZLE]

Am extremely new to geocaching, and want to ask all you well weathered cachers would a EXTREX LEGEND COLOUR be a good buy and an adequate buy.

 

A copy of a posting, mostly for new cachers.

 

From what I have read I am convinced the Magellan Platinum is superior to the newer units. I have used them for years and currently have 4 , 2 of which I got on ebay. They have a 3 axis compass, sd card slot, sunken-large screen, wonderfull operating buttons, quad-helix antenna all of which the new ones lack ( some have some features, but not all) The Mapsend software works great with these.....I'm including a list which may be of use to you......it was posted by a couple of us on our states website. You can get these on EBAY with extras.

 

LIST OF USUFULL GEOCACHING ITEMS

I can’t say that mine is better than any other because I have only used 1 other. But my Magellan Meridian Color with Mapsend Software gets the job done. I can carry the whole Southeast US on my 500 mb sd card and have plenty of room for more. That includes dirt and gravel roads. Last summer, I lead a column of cars carrying 19 people across the Florida countryside in the middle of the night for 4 hours, and I did it from the rear of the column via CB radio. Missing signs were not a problem. That’s real-time mapping capability in a practical application. Superior signal stability under harsh conditions, etc, etc. So Watcha, what kind of Magellan are you using? And what did you do to provoke it?

 

Doggy is right.......again.

Bamette and I each use a Meridian Platinum ( Magellan) with Directroute Software and I have a Platinum for a spare. With the SD card capability you can store maps, lists of caches, etc. ( an immense amount) and you also have an electronic compass, big screen, easy to use buttons, and maintain a lock under heavy canopy for hours. I also have two Garmins but the Platinums are the way to go.

Grab you a couple of Palms on ebay, download spinner and plucker, and you're good to go. On a cross country trip you could load dozens of spinner files ( one for each city?) on your Magellans SD card and use plucker to put each one on your Palm, charge your batteries, and you're ready for weeks of caching ( you can also get the Platinum GPS on ebay w/ lots of extras for about $150.).

 

A convenient holster will give you a place to carry and protect your gpsr. A PDA holster will do the same for your PDA. An adaptor for your cig lighter will stretch your batteries life. A probe will help you avoid biting varmints. A mirror with an intense pocket flashlight will get you past those out-of-sighters. I like to use a lensatic compass for precision. I also use a wrist compass clipped to my watchband for qlance orientation. That’s just on the weekends of course. I like it so much that I’m looking for 2 more, one for my dress watch and the other for my son. I guess they’re out of season? If you are really loaded for bear, bring along a metal detector. If the cache has a coin in it or is made of metal, it will give you the edge. I guess that’s about it. I’m not saying I do that. It’s an interesting thought though

 

To add to the geocache tool list you must buy a top of the line MAHA battery charger ( I use three) and a supply of MAHA POWERX Ni MH batteries .....these are the best made ( don't take my word for it, look it up ) then you will have plenty of batteries for your digital camera ( my wife and I each carry one), GPS unit, flashlights etc.

For a small , powerfull flashlight you can't beat a Surefire L4 Digital Lumamax ( 5 blinding watts of LED driven by two 3 volt lithium batteries.....the batteries are $15 for a box of twelve and have a 10 year shelf life....kind of pricy but well worth it...will light up the woods.

I don't know if the most important thing was mentioned....a good walking stick. Local cachers and special guests can get one free at the View Carre' cache.......don't leave your car without your stick.

Also a small pocket screwdriver for digging out micro logs and other probing.

AND DON’T FORGET TO BRING A PENCIL.

LIST From Above :

 

1. Magellan Meridian Platinum GPS Unit + Belt Holster (EBAY- If you will have a regular partner , get two )

2. Palm M500 PDA and case ( ebay- buy an extra for backup )

3. 12” metal probe for searching tree cavities etc. for micro caches

4. 2 “ or 3” extension mirror

5. Small, intense flashlight ( Surefire L4 Digital Lumamax )

6. Pencil

7. Sharpie ( Fine Point)

8. Cotton Gloves

9. Pocket Screwdriver

10. Walking stick

11. Plastimo Iris 50 Hand Bearing Compass ( Great for offset caches)

12. C401FSDC MAHA NiMH Battery Charger

13. Maha 2500 mAh NiMH PowerX AA Batteries (GPS,camera,flashlights,etc. )

14. Digital Camera

15. Access to computer w/ internet connection ( premium membership in geocaching.com is best )

 

INFORMATION ON PAPERLESS CACHING

 

I got started with step by step info. I got from the Florida Geocaching website and I keep copies here at my View Carre' cache to hand out to others. I am not hi tech and can't quite use my cell phone but this guide is can't miss. If you can't find it email me and I can fax it to you.

 

http://www.floridageocaching.com/paperless.htm = step by step instructions.