Help with new GPSr

[+Us 4 and Jess]

As a lot of you will know a certain member of our team (ahem NOT ME) dropped my yellow earlier this year and broke it now I only have half a screen.

Luckily Gryfindor UK (my youngest son) has a yellow too so I have used his up to now, but I have just been told if I am a good girl Santa Claus might bring me a new one for Christmas

 

What I want is just another basic GPS but one that is a bit better under the trees and a cloudy sky than my yellow was.

I am a total techno numpty I dont want any mapping with bells and whistles ect.

 

Just something simple but a bit better than my yellow, what should I ask good old St. Nic for?

 

Mandy

[+JeremyR]

I think there's a "eTrex H" version of Lil Yellow out now, isn't there? Same in every way as the regular version except it has the high-sensitivity receiver...

 

Amazon Linky

[+Mr'D]

I had a GPS60 until I broke it

It performed well under tree cover as it has an external antenna.

Jon

[Red Squadron]

As a lot of you will know a certain member of our team (ahem NOT ME) dropped my yellow earlier this year and broke it now I only have half a screen.

Luckily Gryfindor UK (my youngest son) has a yellow too so I have used his up to now, but I have just been told if I am a good girl Santa Claus might bring me a new one for Christmas

 

What I want is just another basic GPS but one that is a bit better under the trees and a cloudy sky than my yellow was.

I am a total techno numpty I dont want any mapping with bells and whistles ect.

 

Just something simple but a bit better than my yellow, what should I ask good old St. Nic for?

 

Mandy

 

I use a Garmin Etrex Legend and it works well in most conditions although under tree cover it is not so good.

Edited October 27, 2007 by Red Squadron

[+dino-irl]

Anything other than a yellow will give you some bells and whistles. If you were happy with what you had then go for the same again but the "H" version will give you that extra sensitivity that you want.

 

Oh and buy a case for it this time

[+jerryo]

<snipI have just been told if I am a good girl Santa Claus might bring me a new one for Christmas <snip>

I don't know why you're getting excited about the prospect of getting a new etrex if THAT'S the condition for it.

 

If you were to get a GPSr with mapping, you don't have to use that function. The 60Csx enables you to just view the little arra without faffing about with maps. Obviously there's the price to consider. Not sure if the H is better/same as the 60 but knowing your love of trees, you'd better go for the best.

[+Bear and Ragged]

I upgraded to the blue Legend.

 

Worth it for the extra waypoints that can be loaded (1000 instead of 500) and surely anything now new has the better/newer chip in?

 

G

[+Dizzley]

I see the GPS60CSx and GPS76CSx look almost similar for mapping units.

 

The 60 has a sticky out aerial and internal memory and has that manly look about it.

The 76 floats.

 

Anyone got any opinions on either? It's my 50th birthday coming up and I've started making puppy eyes and leaving a Garmin ad around the house.

[+Us 4 and Jess]

<snipI have just been told if I am a good girl Santa Claus might bring me a new one for Christmas <snip>

I don't know why you're getting excited about the prospect of getting a new etrex if THAT'S the condition for it.

 

I'll see you tomorrow

 

Thanks for all the info folks

 

Right so I think I might try the new "H" model it's a pity it is still yellow did fancy something a bit less bright

 

Next question

 

Where is the cheapest place to get the newer model from in the UK? Or would it be cheaper for me to have it sent in from the States like our other yellow was?

 

Mandy

[+keehotee]

30 seconds on Google says this is probably your best bet

[Edgemaster]

...and surely anything now new has the better/newer chip in?

Nope, the old models have the same sensitivity they've always had, they're still using the same old parts internally, and they will do until they stop that range. However, the newer models - the H range - will have the new chips.

 

Have you considered a Gecko?

They're currently going quite cheap here.

[+Us 4 and Jess]

Have you considered a Gecko?

They're currently going quite cheap here.

 

Does Aldi in Leigh still have any of the Geckos left? and is anyone close enough to get one for me? I will pay for the GPS and the postage by cheque or Paypal if anyone can get me one

 

M

[+Dizzley]

Hope you can get a Gecko, Mandy, but those eTrex Hs look good for the money.

[+macroderma]

I see the GPS60CSx and GPS76CSx look almost similar for mapping units.

 

The 60 has a sticky out aerial and internal memory and has that manly look about it.

The 76 floats.

 

Anyone got any opinions on either? It's my 50th birthday coming up and I've started making puppy eyes and leaving a Garmin ad around the house.

 

It's all down to personal preference

 

I have a 76Csx, mainly because it floats (been there, done that....). The 60 is waterproof, but if you drop it in deep water.....They are both a bit too expensive to risk!

 

Otherwise they are pretty much identical, at one stage the 76 was shipping with a larger memory card, so that is worth checking

 

Performance is awesome - I get a GPS lock inside my house and it is brilliant under trees. It doesn't chew through batteries either - I get at least 8-10 hours on rechargeables.

 

Screen is bright and clear enough to use in the car if you can live without voice commands

[+dino-irl]

at one stage the 76 was shipping with a larger memory card, so that is worth checking

This is one of the reasons I went for the 76 but I read on Usenet last week that the smallest card Garmin ship with is now the 128 although they don't advertise it on the site. How correct that is I'm not sure and it was Usenet after all

[+Pharisee]

at one stage the 76 was shipping with a larger memory card, so that is worth checking

This is one of the reasons I went for the 76 but I read on Usenet last week that the smallest card Garmin ship with is now the 128 although they don't advertise it on the site. How correct that is I'm not sure and it was Usenet after all

To use either to it's full potential, you're going to need Topo maps as well so unless Garmin are supplying them with a 2Gb card you're going to replace the one supplied anyway. On top of that, memory is so cheap these days it's hardly a selling point.

 

I use a 60CSx (with Topo) and love it to bits. It really is the donkey's kn*b

[+dino-irl]

Ah but UK Topo wasn't an issue with me

[+Beds Clangers]

Use to have a 76 until someone broke into my vehicle and knicked it!!!!!!

 

Was using a 60c but convinced work that I needed a 60CSx, those "sensors" make all the difference.

 

Put the pair together and the 60CSx will get full lock while the 60c is still flapping about. Under trees and poor signal areas the 60CSx is FAR, FAR better I assume that is the new "chip set" working.

 

Still have the 60c, nothing wrong with it has a small mark on the screen, was going to put it on e-bay, anyone intrested? E-mail me if you are.

 

Cheers

 

St. Nick (Beds Clangers)

[+The Mighty Shark]

oops...wrong post

Edited November 3, 2007 by The Mighty Shark

[+Jonovich]

it's a pity it is still yellow did fancy something a bit less bright

 

If you buy the protective Garmin case (and it sounds like you should) for the Etrex, then it doesn't matter what colour the Etrex is, the neoprene case is a dark green colour and totally masks the Etrexs' colour inside.

 

As for buying a flashier newer GPS with UK Topo mapping... that would really necessitate going up hills to get the best benefit from the Topographical mapping and I didn't think you did hills Mandy?

 

J