stormhunter1985 Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Just curious (as I'm sure lots of us noobies are) as to what kind of gps we're all using. I'll try and keep track of the popularity, and repost to this thread with a toll count by brand name, and maybe model. I have a TomTom XL myself, don't know about my success yet. Pretty much a total novice at this. But I'm VERY excited about it!! Thanks for any input. Quote Link to comment
+StarBrand Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Just for the record - I don't think the model/brand of GPS unit correlates very well to "success" rate..... Having said that - I use a wide variety of units while out caching - 14 different ones over the years but my rate of DNFs is about 1 for every 6.1 finds. Quote Link to comment
NordicMan Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Hi & welcome to Geocaching Here, I'll help get your "poll" to a flying start... I hope you're sitting comfortably ==> GPS POLL <== ... and, you're welcome Quote Link to comment
+Chi-Town Cacher Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Well, I've been caching for about 14 months and started out with a Magellan eXplorist, then a Garmin eTrex Vista HCx and my last upgrade was to a Delorme PN-40. I have to agree with Starbrand that generally it's not the GPSr that determines whether I log a Found It or a DNF log. A GPSr can get me right to ground zero, but that won't guarantee that this half blind old man can make the find. As far as my DNF rate goes it really fluctuates from day to day, but on average I'd guess I DNF about 1 out of every 5 or 6 caches. It's a good thing this is a very informal game or compared to lots I'd be not doing so good. Even though my DNF rate is probably higher than most experienced cachers I still have a blast caching and don't plan on stopping anytime soon! Welcome to the game!!! Quote Link to comment
+SkellyCA Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 I use a Triton 400 Quote Link to comment
stormhunter1985 Posted December 1, 2009 Author Share Posted December 1, 2009 Hi & welcome to Geocaching Here, I'll help get your "poll" to a flying start... I hope you're sitting comfortably ==> GPS POLL <== ... and, you're welcome LOL, thanks, Nordicman Quote Link to comment
stormhunter1985 Posted December 1, 2009 Author Share Posted December 1, 2009 Wow, didn't see that thread before I posted mine...... briefly looking through that, looks like most of us have either Garmin, or Magellan, very few TomToms, I think I'm beginning to see why, had it for about a year for my job, it's been great planning my daily routes, but I'm not liking it so much for caching, once I get out of my truck, it doesn't follow my location very well as I'm walking. Now I'm thinking bout getting a Garmin or Magellan handheld. Quote Link to comment
stormhunter1985 Posted December 1, 2009 Author Share Posted December 1, 2009 Oh, and thanks for all the welcomes, guys! Quote Link to comment
+Cowboy Camper Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 I could be wrong, but Tom Tom doesn't make a Hand held GPSr, do they? I thought they only made the Car Type GPSr's that work wonderfully for Road Directions. I have two Magellan GPSr's. The eXplorist 210 for caching and the Roadmate 1200 for the car. Two totally different units, each serving well for their intended purposes. I found that the eXplorist 210 was useless for the car travels so I bought the Roadmate 1200 some time later. I've never bothered to try the Roadmate for geocaching. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This post looks like it could come off as being a smartass, but I assure you that is not my intention. I'm just trying to clarify that indeed there are TWO different types of GPS units for their own different uses. Quote Link to comment
+Opalblade Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 (edited) For geocaching I use Groundspeak's $10 application for my iPhone It's the latest iPhone and has been getting me to GZ very nicely. I do lose signal in rural areas but I have only been caching for about a month so have tons of caches I haven't found yet in great signal areas It's a bit sluggish under thick tree cover but eventually gets with the program I'm a BIG gadget girl so have been eyeballing the various hand held Garmins but can't justify it at this point. Especially with all the neat benefits of the iPhone app - ability to push "nearest caches" button no matter where I am (restaurant, shopping, errands, out of town, etc), logging finds and searching travel bugs/coins right on the app, surfing on geocaching.com if I need to. I've just bought myself a very protective case and holster for the iPhone for leaping over creeks with peace of mind For my car I have a NUVI. Am currently using a medieval two year old version but just ordered myself a new NUVI on Black Friday - online Amazon special. I'm assuming it's going to be as unhelpful for geocaching as my old NUVI was Edited December 1, 2009 by Opalblade Quote Link to comment
+kunarion Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 (edited) Just for the record - I don't think the model/brand of GPS unit correlates very well to "success" rate True. The GPSr is just a small part of the equation. I was unable to find a medium-sized ammo can hidden in a 2-foot radius of GZ. The model of GPS had nothing to do with it. My team-mate stretched out his arms for effect, saying “it’s got to be right in this area”. Shortly thereafter, he announced “you found it a few seconds ago”. Regardless of fancy gadgets, once you’re within 20 feet, it’s mostly up to you. I’ve team-cached with a guy who has a Garmin60Csx, I have an Oregon 550. Mine seems slightly less accurate among large trees, but its “paperless caching” feature has saved the day several times (having logs and hints on hand). A good team is useful. My teammate is analytical and can do the math puzzles in his head. But I’m imaginative, and can find clues he wouldn’t see (Coords written on a wall? That’s not “proper”, so he doesn’t look there). Edited December 1, 2009 by kunarion Quote Link to comment
ThomasFamily102 Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 For geocaching I use Groundspeak's $10 application for my iPhone It's the latest iPhone and has been getting me to GZ very nicely. I do lose signal in rural areas but I have only been caching for about a month so have tons of caches I haven't found yet in great signal areas It's a bit sluggish under thick tree cover but eventually gets with the program I'm a BIG gadget girl so have been eyeballing the various hand held Garmins but can't justify it at this point. Especially with all the neat benefits of the iPhone app - ability to push "nearest caches" button no matter where I am (restaurant, shopping, errands, out of town, etc), logging finds and searching travel bugs/coins right on the app, surfing on geocaching.com if I need to. I've just bought myself a very protective case and holster for the iPhone for leaping over creeks with peace of mind For my car I have a NUVI. Am currently using a medieval two year old version but just ordered myself a new NUVI on Black Friday - online Amazon special. I'm assuming it's going to be as unhelpful for geocaching as my old NUVI was You may want to buy a regular handheld so that you don't lose reception in the woods during the spring/summer/fall days. You will hit alot of trees and poor gps signal which your phone may lose coverage in. Quote Link to comment
ThomasFamily102 Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 We use a garmin 12CX. it is very good to us!! get us to ground zero and the cache is right there. Quote Link to comment
+choclabnut Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 I started out trying to cache with the Tom Tom Go series and quickly became discouraged! You will realize as I did that this style Gps unit is not suited for caching because it doesn't refresh often enough. You could actually be +/- 100 feet (or more) off from GZ at any time! I followed the same path as many do, they get on the forums and read, and ask the questions! The Gps that I'm using is the Garmin GPSMaps 60Csx. This model definitely has extra features, (most of which I'm not familiar with). I've been at this for almost two years and have yet to be dissatisfied with this unit. It is a little bit pricey, but I felt that I wanted to get something that I could grow into. Enjoy! Quote Link to comment
+TinmanJones Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 I also have the Garmin 60CSx... I've only owned mine for 5 days now & have found alot of caches in the last 4 days... It's fairly easy to use for a newb... This is my first unit to own, so I don't have anything to compare it to, but if I had to buy another, it'd be ANOTHER Garmin of some sort, possibly the 60CSx again... I purchased mine from Bass Pro for 299.00... My main purpose for buying a GPS, was for fishing... This unit just gives me another option when I'm not on the water... Now, I just need to find caches that are water/marine driven... Quote Link to comment
mud4x4 Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 (edited) I use a Magellan Triton 400. I am still pretty new and have been geocaching casually. So my finds are not huge by any means. This is my first gps ever, so I have nothing to compare it to. I haven't had any problems with it. But any GPSr will get you to GZ...the rest is left up to you. Edited December 10, 2009 by mud4x4 Quote Link to comment
oakenwood Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 Garmin eTrex Venture HC Motorola i290 The second is a cell phone. I've used it for caching so it counts. However, I definitely prefer the Garmin. The high-sensitivity chipset and WAAS lead me right to GZ, and its PC connectivity makes adding cache locations easy. Quote Link to comment
+Shelle518 Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 Our first finds were with the TomTom. It can be done but it makes it a great deal harder to find the caches. It's like ocean fishing with a zebco 202.lol Sometimes you get lucky. Soon after starting this obscession,err game /sport ,we upgraded to a garmin vista hcx and then the oregon. Quote Link to comment
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