Need a cheap GPS unit, I have some questions.

[seth1452]

I was wondering if the Garmin eTrex was a good solid cheap unit to buy. Will it have the capabilities I need? Or I would like to hear some better suggestions on which unit I should get. I found 5 caches without one already, but the hints were rather good.

Edited December 3, 2007 by seth1452

[seth1452]

sorry for the bump.

Edited December 3, 2007 by seth1452

[+El Diablo]

Really no need to bump a day old thread. To answer your question...a GPS unit is like buying a car. You can buy a cheap car or an expensive car. Both will get you where you want to go. The more money you put in it, the more bells and whistles you will get.

 

El Diablo

Edited December 3, 2007 by El Diablo

[+briansnat]

The eTrex will get you to the cache. Just be sure to look for the eTrex H. The H is important. H means that it has a high sensitivity receiver for better reception under trees.

 

Oddly enough Garmin sells both the eTrex and eTrex H for the same price, though the latter is a superior product.

 

As El Diablo so aptly put it, more money will get you more bells and whistles. Things like color displays, mapping, turn by turn driving directions, expandable map memory, additional waypoint capacity and more. What it won't get you is better accuracy. A $90 eTrex or eTrex H is as accurate as a $300 unit.

 

Beware of GPS envy. You buy a bottom line GPS like the eTrex H and are very happy with it. It gets you to the caches. Then you go to a geocaching event and see someone with a 60CSX or Vista HCX, see what they can do and you think "Wow, I want that". Next thing you know you're spending more money on another unit.

 

So my advice is to get the best unit you can afford. You aren't saving money if in 6 months you decide you need a better unit.

[seth1452]

Thank you for all the help, I am going to get what I can afford with is the garmins. At the moment that is anyways. When I get my income taxes ill get a better one,and pass this one on to my best friend who also does this with me. That way it won't go to waste.

[+EEeee!]

As bells and whistles go, the only one that I would find really, really hard to live without is the ability to load multiple caches directly from the computer using a USB cable.

 

Saves a LOT of time and effort punching coordinates in.

[+flys low]

ohhh but the big expensive ones are so much fun. I have a 76 csx and it has a sesitive receiver and it is amazing in heavy cover, there are cheaper options with sensitive ant.

[seth1452]

Ordered a eTrex Venture® HC from homedepot online today. I ordered next day delivery so hopefully in the next few days I'll be able to sart finding more!