new gps

[+Trevuuuur1993]

Hey,

I'm looking into buying a new garmin gps for geoaching. I was wondering if anybody had any advise on one. (200-300$$$)

One with a usb cable, or if you know of another fast way to upload caches

Edited September 12, 2007 by Trevuuuur1993

[+TrailGators]

Hey,

I'm looking into buying a new garmin gps for geoaching. I was wondering if anybody had any advise on one. (200-300$$$)

I would recommend one of the new Garmin HCX GPSs.

[+Trevuuuur1993]

One with a usb cable....

Or is there another way to upload the geocaches on to a gps

[deltaf508]

HCx is the way to go. This is my first GPS and I'm thouroughly impressed.

 

They all should come with a USB cable (or some sort of cable to transfer information).

[+kd4crs]

I just bought the Garmin GPSMAP 60 CSx. There is a $50 rebate on the 60 series until December I think. Shop around on the net and you can get some good prices.

[+Bushlight]

Go with a garmin one that will auto route for you

[+dontpanic0]

I suggest HCx, or CSx if you can find a good deal on it. I have an HCx and I love it, but lots of people say the CSx is great too. They seem to have basically the same features, but csx has bigger screen.

[gallet]

@='dontpanic0'

 

...but csx has bigger screen...

 

Tiny bit bigger but not better resolution. Also screen is not as bright, many complaints about viewing in bright sunlight. And less battery life.

[+dontpanic0]

Its actually a fair bit bigger, but yes, less resolution. And yeah its less bright.

[gallet]

in real terms, viewing the 60CSx at 10 inches is pretty much the same as viewing the HCx at 9 inches. However the height to width ratio is a bit more on the 60CSx but this extra height is taken up by a menu bar that tells you what page you are on, as if one couldn't tell that the altimeter was on the altimeter page and the map is on the map page, etc.

 

Another way of looking at it, is that because the HCx has 10% more pixels and is 10% smaller across the width it would mean the although the 60CSx is 10% bigger it needs to be viewed 10% further away to attain the same clarity of resolution.

 

This is what tipped me towards the HCx after 4 weeks of soul searching. I felt that Garmin (as usual) were messing with my mind.

Edited September 13, 2007 by gallet

[spotmom]

Hey,

I'm looking into buying a new garmin gps for geoaching. I was wondering if anybody had any advise on one. (200-300$$$)

One with a usb cable, or if you know of another fast way to upload caches

 

We originally got 2 of the garmin Rino 120's for hunting. They turned out to be refurbs and we paid for new so we sent them back. While we had them we tried them out walking in the woods, checked satellite reception, etc.

The 120 dropped reception when walking in moderate tree cover, couldn't seem to get better than 60-90 foot accuracy (WAAS enabled) and could often not get enough satellites for 3D reception on my front porch. They also only had a serial cable, PIA to hook into the back of the computer.

 

After sending the 120's back we pooled the money from 2 and bought one 520 HCx and WOW! Gathers 6-9 satellites in the house, never drops them, can get to 9 feet on a regular basis, most often about 16 feet. Has a USB cable. If you can afford it get a Garmin with the HCx antenna. The 120's without it were basically useless since they lost reception every time we went into the woods.

 

Guess we were lucky about the refurb snafu, or we would never have gotten the HCx. The compass is about useless since it is not magnetic, but I can get a pocket compass for a buck vs the extra expense of going to the 530. We did get a great deal from an online retailer for about $350 with shipping. You won't regret spending the extra $$.

 

Just my 2 cents worth.

[+wmz505]

I like the eTrek HCx (vista or lengd). The Garmin website allows you to search the geocaches and directly download them to your unit with a single click, using the included USB cable.

 

-wz

[+Chuy!]

I submit the Legend HCx for your consideration. I believe it's $220 at most retailers.