Not sure what GPS to buy?

[+crodad]

I used a legend before I lost it. I loved it, the only thing I did't like was the 8MB of memory. It filled up to fast. I just ordered a vista. I didn't see any mention of the Vista in this dicussion. I was wondering if I made a good choice to upgrade to it.

[+redcoyote12]

Look back at post #42:

 

"The Vista CX is basically the Venture CX plus an electronic magnetic compass and a barometric altimeter. "

[+hukilaulau]

You might read this post here, this guy has had both and prefers the 210.

 

"I find my Explorist FAR more accurate than the Venture Cx."

 

Just in case you're on the fence still. Maybe email him.

 

I'm not sure what he means by "far more accurate". Consumer grade handhelds are all very similar as far as accuracy.

I haven't disagreed with anything Brian has said for about two years but I don't agree with this! I was happy with my eXplorist 200 and and then the SporTrak. When the SporTrak got stolen I got an Etrex Legend. The reception and accuracy were so crappy I often ended up putting the coords into the 200 by hand in the field to find a cache! Now I've got an eXplorist 500 and I'm happy again!

[+Steel City Seekers]

I haven't disagreed with anything Brian has said for about two years but I don't agree with this! I was happy with my eXplorist 200 and and then the SporTrak. When the SporTrak got stolen I got an Etrex Legend. The reception and accuracy were so crappy I often ended up putting the coords into the 200 by hand in the field to find a cache! Now I've got an eXplorist 500 and I'm happy again!

 

No, Brian is technically correct. Any of the consumer grade GPS receivers are accurate at 8-10 feet 95 percent of the time with WAAS corrections and receiving adequate satellite data. Reception, however, is an entirely different matter and determines whether or not the GPS is receiving adequate satellite data. Without a doubt, there is a difference in reception among receivers given various factors such as heavy foliage and "urban canyons," but they all should be relatively equal with accuracy.

 

It might be fair that the reception was not equal, but the accuracy most likely was. Brian didn't mention reception.

[+milesmac]

Have you considered a used model?

The Garmin GPS 12 is a great starter model available for around $35 on e-bay. Cables on ebay available from $8.

I've used one for 7 years. Sturdy model, good reception, user friendly.

I've had only minor problems, but Garmin support is exceptional. Just recently got free advice from them on a software fix.

The fact that they continue to give support for an "obsolete" model has definitely made me a loyal Garmin user.

 

i ended up buying a garmin 12xl off ebay $65 for the unit, $20 for shipping, $45 for the serial cable to download waypoints, then another $45 for the serial-to-usb adapter.

 

it was a poorly thought-out purchase and i regret trying to do it on the cheap. for the price, i could have purchased something newer, smaller, and much better...

 

live and learn.

[NatureGirl07]

Thanks for the info. I really didn't think of it ever happening until my boyfriend brought it up to me. I had mentioned to him about maybe buying one online. He is a police officer, so right away that is something he thought of. Then I wasn't really sure if it were possible or not. So I figured that I would ask. Thanks again!

 

Unlikely. I guess technically if someone could find a transmitter small enough, take apart the GPS, install it, reassemble the unit, then sell it to you, he could. But this would also apply if he sold you a car, laptop or just about anything.

 

It would take an incredible amount of paranoia to conisder the possiblility of someone doing this.