Lowrance XOG any good for Geocaching?

[+Texas4Ever]

Just got one for Christmas and was wondering if I should keep it. Also do I need to download anything for it? Any help on this would be great!

[Bill W]

Just got one for Christmas and was wondering if I should keep it. Also do I need to download anything for it? Any help on this would be great!

 

I just took mine back. Street addresses are not accurate. My street address was 3 blocks off. When i tried to update software, the device turned off and could not get it on again. Exchanged it and it happened again. I am now looking for something different.

[yougogirl64]

When geocaching I prefer a handheld model. I have a Blue Legend which is an older model. It works for me but maybe not for others.

 

There are a lot of options as far as handheld units go, so read through the forums - they have a lot of useful information.

 

Good luck in your search.

 

Happy New Year!

[+Texas4Ever]

I think I will keep the Lowrance. I have not experienced any problems so far and found some caches already with it. Should I get the topo maps?

[BobMorphew]

The XOG has a claimed battery run time of up to 2.5 hours but 1-1.5 hours seems to be the reality. It seems to be designed for use when plugged into a 12V outlet, even though it claims to be a crossover.

 

Bob

Edited December 28, 2008 by BobMorphew

[Neos2]

At $5 a satellite image a 20 mile by 20 mile area will run you about $300...I just looked at a set of the county I live in and the views ran $150.

 

The topo maps on SD cards run about $109 and don't do auto-navigation, they just act as maps on a screen. There are some real disadvantages to that. Small screen size (compared to having the paper map out there to look at) means you really can't see much detail until you are zoomed in so far you don't get much information about the general area. That means they are really only useful for getting some general info--like which side of the canyon to approach from, etc. And of course, since you have limited battery life, it means you can't count on the maps to help you hike back out if you get lost (unless you pack extra batteries).

 

Add to that the poor screen visibility, lack of high sensitivity reception, no WAAS reception, low low low battery life (2 hours?) or having to add an outside battery pack and well, honestly it sounds like a nice enough in-car unit, but a very poor choice for geocaching.

 

If you are serious about geocaching, you will be much happier with a handheld unit. If you really like this unit for driving purposes, then I'd recommend buying an additional handheld unit.

[+Texas4Ever]

At $5 a satellite image a 20 mile by 20 mile area will run you about $300...I just looked at a set of the county I live in and the views ran $150.

 

The topo maps on SD cards run about $109 and don't do auto-navigation, they just act as maps on a screen. There are some real disadvantages to that. Small screen size (compared to having the paper map out there to look at) means you really can't see much detail until you are zoomed in so far you don't get much information about the general area. That means they are really only useful for getting some general info--like which side of the canyon to approach from, etc. And of course, since you have limited battery life, it means you can't count on the maps to help you hike back out if you get lost (unless you pack extra batteries).

 

Add to that the poor screen visibility, lack of high sensitivity reception, no WAAS reception, low low low battery life (2 hours?) or having to add an outside battery pack and well, honestly it sounds like a nice enough in-car unit, but a very poor choice for geocaching.

 

If you are serious about geocaching, you will be much happier with a handheld unit. If you really like this unit for driving purposes, then I'd recommend buying an additional handheld unit.

 

Thanks for the help Neo.

[+thekeysmith]

I have been using the Lowrance XOG for two weeks straight now it is a great unit I have never had a street navigator before thought I new all the roads, short cuts, back roads, of California and western Nevada I have found more with this little gem. I just got back from a 3 and a half day working trip and used the XOG for my navigation to 30 of my job sites from Bakersfield Ca. to Sacramento Ca. to Reno NV. to Mammoth Lakes Ca. to Ridgecrest Ca. then back to Bakersfield Ca. Caching all the way 155 finds out of 155.

 

The XOG has a nice size touch screen that works great, do not have to worry about buttons sticking.

Gets me within three feet of a cache without bouncing, every time. You need this when the cache is under a foot of snow. Make one three foot dia hole in the snow instead of a 10 to 15 foot dia hole. Works graet under under trees with thick snow covering them. Like up at Nordic, Ca.

 

What is even nicer is the back light is adjustable to three different settings bright for day time road navigation dim for night time diving. I like the size of the screen I do not have to use a magnify glass to see the letters and numbers of the waypoints. What Lowrance needs to make is a attachable handle to make it a hand held.

The rechargeable battery last 2 hours plus and can recharge in the car in between cache, nice.

 

The price for the Garmin Oregon 599.99 without street voice navigation.

The price for the Lowrance XOG 160.97 W/shipping and tax from walmart.com

 

Wow, time for beer thirty with louse change. 439.02 = 49 six packs of Sierra Nevada with tax and crv.

 

Want to party.