hour3suns Posted May 29, 2007 Share Posted May 29, 2007 Is there any difference between picking up the satellite signals and types of GPS out there when it comes to tree coverage? Or are they all going to have issues when under the trees? Quote Link to comment
Xlobsterman Posted May 29, 2007 Share Posted May 29, 2007 Is there any difference between picking up the satellite signals and types of GPS out there when it comes to tree coverage? Or are they all going to have issues when under the trees? YES, there is! For the past year I have been using a Garmin GPSV on my ATV in the deep woods here in Nova Scotia. I had to hook-up an external antenna to get better reception under the heavy tree cover. I just purchased a Garmin GPSMap 276c, and I don't need the external antenna on this unit. It seems to have a faster processor, and will pick up sattelites even indoors. So, IMO a newer unit should provide better reception, and coverage. Also, I have heard the units with the SirF chip seem to have a more sensitivity, and better reception? Quote Link to comment
+rstickle Posted May 29, 2007 Share Posted May 29, 2007 I have heard the units with the SirF chip seem to have a more sensitivity, and better reception? That's the answer! The 60/76 series using the SIRF chip set is "levels" above the older Garmin's for pick-up in wooded areas (and any place else)! Quote Link to comment
+admo1972 Posted May 29, 2007 Share Posted May 29, 2007 Tell me about it. I am already thinking of upgrading my GPSr to a 60CSx (I have the Garmin Vista). IMO, removing as many of the "annoyances" as possible will make caching more fun. I was in one area of some woods the other day, and was the accuracy of the GPS was 140 feet! It sent me in wide circles all over the place. Almost had to log as a DNF, and then miraculously it got a better fix and I was able to zero in on the cache. I can only imagine that the new chipset would have made this find much much quicker. Quote Link to comment
+rlridgeway Posted May 29, 2007 Share Posted May 29, 2007 Newer GPS units have much better satelite reception than they did in the past. Seven or eight years ago reception inside of a building was unheard of, now it is common. With a Sirf III receiver tree coverage should not be a problem. Quote Link to comment
+Indotguy Posted May 30, 2007 Share Posted May 30, 2007 I do a lot of caching in the woods and my Lowrance iFinder works very well compared with what I used in the past (Garmin Etrex and Magellan Gold). Quote Link to comment
+IVxIV Posted May 30, 2007 Share Posted May 30, 2007 It also seems to me that "wet leaves" (after a rain or morning dew) have more effect than dry leaves when it comes to signal aquisition. And (I guess obviously lol) "no leaves" in winter makes for better signals! Quote Link to comment
+Edison.Starfire Posted May 30, 2007 Share Posted May 30, 2007 I rode around on trails through wooded areas with my eXplorist XL this weekend and it did fine on the 45 minute ride. I had it in the Magellan carry case on my side also so the newer units must be pretty sensitive. Under light foliage while holding it unsheathed it was tracking 11 birds. Quote Link to comment
+imajeep Posted May 30, 2007 Share Posted May 30, 2007 I got a Garmin eTrex Vista in April. It worked great until the leaves came out on trees late in the month. I quickly sold the Vista on eBay and bought a Garmin 60 Csx. What a difference! I have used the 60 under heavy tree canopy in Georgia and Illinois, and it works like a champ. I have used it in the deepest canyon I could find, downtown Chicago, with similarly great results. The difference is the SIRF III chipset. It's been king of the hill for a while. But there are other enhanced-sensitivity chipsets out there, and rumor has it Garmin is going to use them for upgraded versions of the eTrex line. So there may not be as much difference between the eTrex and the 60 in the future. Quote Link to comment
+Thrak Posted May 30, 2007 Share Posted May 30, 2007 I loved my 76CS but, once I tried the 76CSx I was very impressed with the difference the new chipset made. I wouldn't buy any unit with the older chipset now. I'm totally spoiled. Quote Link to comment
CraZySteve Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 Hi All, I am new and I have a Garmin GPSMap 60Cx and I love the coverage I get in the woods. I love the unit period! I use it for my ATV and this winter on my snowmobile as well. -Steve Quote Link to comment
+Roving pigeon Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 I have 2 GPS units, an eTrex Legend that loses reception quite easily under trees, and a GPS Map 60 Csx with ultra sensitive antenna, with which I have never lost reception, get reception from min 5-6 satellites under heavy tree cover. Quote Link to comment
+DonB Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 I do a lot of caching in the woods and my Lowrance iFinder works very well compared with what I used in the past (Garmin Etrex and Magellan Gold). I have the iFinder Hunt, and they do very well under heavy tree cover. I can't remember ever losing reception while caching. Quote Link to comment
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