+MountainView823 Posted October 21, 2009 Posted October 21, 2009 I just started geocaching, and I'm having a blast! I've been using a friend's eTrex Vista, but I've been frustrated by it's reception in the woods. I want to get a GPS exclusively for geocaching, and I have no clue what to get. My two main criteria are that it gets great reception and that it has an electric compass. Being inexpensive would also be a great attribute. Please help! Thanks! Quote
+Hrethgir Posted October 21, 2009 Posted October 21, 2009 (edited) Garmin eTrex Vista HCx- sounds like your friend has the non-H model; the H stands for High Sensitivity receiver, works much better under cover. DeLorme Earthmate PN-40 Garmin Oregon 300 or 400 Those are the ones that come to mind. Also, go look through the GPS Hardware sub-forum here, lots of info in there. Oh, and welcome to the forum! Edited October 21, 2009 by Hrethgir Quote
+Chi-Town Cacher Posted October 21, 2009 Posted October 21, 2009 I've got a Delorme PN-40 and love it. In another forum thread I wrote up what I see as the pros and cons of this unit. If you're interested in reading that thread you can CLICK HERE. You may want to check out other threads over in the GPS and Technology forum and you should be able to find lots of useful information. Another great resource over in that forum is the topics pinned at the top of the page where lots of reviews of different GPSr units can be found. Good luck in finding the GPSr that will be a good fit for your personal desires. Quote
Motorcycle_Mama Posted October 22, 2009 Posted October 22, 2009 Garmin Vista HCx would be my choice in this situation. Quote
+briansnat Posted October 22, 2009 Posted October 22, 2009 (edited) I just started geocaching, and I'm having a blast! I've been using a friend's eTrex Vista, but I've been frustrated by it's reception in the woods. I want to get a GPS exclusively for geocaching, and I have no clue what to get. My two main criteria are that it gets great reception and that it has an electric compass. Being inexpensive would also be a great attribute. Please help! Thanks! The updated version of your friend's Vista might be an option, the eTrex Vista HCX. It has a high sensitivity receiver that gives excellent reception under trees. If you are comfortable with the Vista other than the reception issue, the HCX might be a good choice. Since you are using it exclusively for geocaching you might also want to check out the Garmin Oregon series, the Garmin Colorado and the DeLorme PN40. They have the added benefit of giving you all the cache info on the unit. Edited October 22, 2009 by briansnat Quote
kingsalmon Posted October 22, 2009 Posted October 22, 2009 How about the Garmin Ledgend HCX with bundle for geochaching? Stong enough in the woods? Can I load info into it before heading out to find caches? Quote
+briansnat Posted October 22, 2009 Posted October 22, 2009 How about the Garmin Ledgend HCX with bundle for geochaching? Stong enough in the woods? Can I load info into it before heading out to find caches? It is a fine uint for geocaching. It will get great reception in the woods and you can load cache waypoints directly to it. You won't get the entire cache paqe though, just the basics. Quote
+Tatooed Lady Posted October 22, 2009 Posted October 22, 2009 I've got the Legend HCx, it's a fine unit, gets good reception (even in the woods). I want to be able to do paperless, though, and this unit isn't capable of that, so time to upgrade. Most likely I'll be posting the Legend on here as soon as I get a replacement unit (hopefully VERY soon!)... Quote
rat31465 Posted October 23, 2009 Posted October 23, 2009 I have ben using a Garmin Nuvi 200 for Geocaching over the last three months. Tonight I ordered a Garmin 60CSx and am anxiously awaiting the Big Brown Truck. Quote
Greysquirrel34 Posted October 26, 2009 Posted October 26, 2009 Take a look at this package. It may me what you want. The price is right and it's a good unit. http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/template...rset=ISO-8859-1 Quote
+michiganman3 Posted October 26, 2009 Posted October 26, 2009 I started geocaching this past Winter, I use a Garmin etres Venture HC.. No extra maps and it works fine for me and geocaching. Also for when traveling around the state. Shop around online I got mine for $125.00 Quote
+Pasha88 Posted October 27, 2009 Posted October 27, 2009 I use the good old Magellan eXplorist system, as does my sister (I have the 600, she has the 500) and we have found it to be incredibly accurate. We both love Magellan so much we convinced my parents thats what they should buy, so they have a RoadMate 1550(??) and they love theirs too. Quote
+briansnat Posted October 27, 2009 Posted October 27, 2009 Take a look at this package. It may me what you want. The price is right and it's a good unit. http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/template...rset=ISO-8859-1 I don't see that as a very good deal. If you shop around you could easily buy all the components separately and save money over what they are charging - and wind up with a 2 gig SD card instead of a measly 128 meg card. Quote
Greysquirrel34 Posted October 27, 2009 Posted October 27, 2009 Take a look at this package. It may me what you want. The price is right and it's a good unit. http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/template...rset=ISO-8859-1 I don't see that as a very good deal. If you shop around you could easily buy all the components separately and save money over what they are charging - and wind up with a 2 gig SD card instead of a measly 128 meg card. I got a 256MB card, maybe they changed it. When I was looking the best price I saw for a Vista HCx was $219 add the card, case and the topo 100 DVD and it didn't seem like such a bad deal, but prices change often so maybe now someone can do better by buying separately. Quote
+eflyguy Posted October 27, 2009 Posted October 27, 2009 Whatever you do, make sure you get the H version (Garmin).. I was lucky enough to be able to sell my old Cx for close to what I paid for a used HCx - the sensitivity is MASSIVELY improved, and around here, you can't swing a GPSr without hitting a nice, dense tree.. ..a Quote
MLAY715 Posted October 31, 2009 Posted October 31, 2009 I have ben using a Garmin Nuvi 200 for Geocaching over the last three months. Tonight I ordered a Garmin 60CSx and am anxiously awaiting the Big Brown Truck. I have the same Nuvi 200 I am having trouble getting coordinates loaded into unit ,can you give me any help here .I am new to geocaching but am getting a little bit frustrated.Help Please. MLAY715@comcast.net Quote
MLAY715 Posted October 31, 2009 Posted October 31, 2009 I have ben using a Garmin Nuvi 200 for Geocaching over the last three months. Tonight I ordered a Garmin 60CSx and am anxiously awaiting the Big Brown Truck. I have the same Nuvi 200 I am having trouble getting coordinates loaded into unit ,can you give me any help here .I am new to geocaching but am getting a little bit frustrated.Help Please. MLAY715@comcast.net Quote
gitarmac Posted November 1, 2009 Posted November 1, 2009 Consider getting a factory refurbished model and save yourself some money. They come with the same warrenty, in a shiney new box, just like new. Make sure you get one with a high sensitivty reciever. Then learn how to use the features. A lot of folks get a gps but don't practice with it till they need it. Quote
+Team Cotati Posted November 1, 2009 Posted November 1, 2009 I use the good old Magellan eXplorist system, as does my sister (I have the 600, she has the 500) and we have found it to be incredibly accurate. We both love Magellan so much we convinced my parents thats what they should buy, so they have a RoadMate 1550(??) and they love theirs too. And they geocache with that 1550? Quote
+Tatooed Lady Posted November 1, 2009 Posted November 1, 2009 Then learn how to use the features. A lot of folks get a gps but don't practice with it till they need it. Agreed...I'd hate to think how difficult it would be to figure out a new (to me) unit "on the fly" while trying to cache...I've taken it with me on the road, out to breakfast, etc. I always seem to think of new things that confuse me or that I want to change a setting on to make it more "friendly". Quote
cachtastic! Posted November 3, 2009 Posted November 3, 2009 I just started geocaching two days ago and bought the Garmin eTrex H. It was on sale at Sports Authority for $99 but is on Walmart.com for $75. I didn't want to wait. Anyway, we found 4 of 5 Saturday and had no problems in cover - which we were in most of the day. So far, I am very happy with the device, easy to use and accurate. Good luck!! Quote
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