GPS Overseas

[+Reef Monster]

I'm a noobie to geocaching and have just completed my first week of hunting.

 

I'm using my iPhone with the geocaching app and it's great.

 

I have just started looking into a GPS receiver a la Garmin, Magellan, et al.

 

My question / situation: I'm traveling to Thailand in a month and would like to go geocaching over there.

 

From what I gather, when you buy a GPS, it is localized to your region; if I buy one here, it's for North America and does not have the maps for southeast Asia in the unit.

 

What should I look for in a unit that will enable international operation? Maker and model recommendations? Something about downloading maps and installing them into the unit. I looked briefly at the Garmin site I believe, and you can buy an area map, but was surprised that it was $100. Ouch!

 

Any input anybody has on the subject of an American geocaching with a GPS in far off lands would be greatly appreciated.

 

Cordially, dougbromac

[+splashy]

Yes it works, any gps will work all over the world.

Get a free map @

http://garmin.na1400.info/routable.php

but it might not be as accurate as a garmin map.

[savant9]

Take a look through this thread, a similar question was asked and answered there.

[+sv_ted]

I was in Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos just a month ago and was able to go geocaching everywhere I went with my Oregon. I used the free maps mentioned above and they were great.

[+Reef Monster]

Wowie, Kazowie! What a bunch of GREAT stuff!

 

I didn't know where to start and you veterans pointed immediately me in the right direction I needed to go to get educated.

 

With all the superb and useful feedback from you guys I was able to come to a decision.

 

The links to the free maps are just the best. Certainly these will do over the $100 a pop for maps off Garmin retail.

 

At the top of my price range I was looking at the GPSMAP 60CSx; that looks to be the one I'll go with. So many great reviews. I briefly looked at the 62, but was immediately scared off by the price.

 

Mahalo nui loa 'oukou! (Great Big Thanks to all of you)

 

dougbromac

[+VAPolice]

Wowie, Kazowie! What a bunch of GREAT stuff!

 

I didn't know where to start and you veterans pointed immediately me in the right direction I needed to go to get educated.

 

With all the superb and useful feedback from you guys I was able to come to a decision.

 

The links to the free maps are just the best. Certainly these will do over the $100 a pop for maps off Garmin retail.

 

At the top of my price range I was looking at the GPSMAP 60CSx; that looks to be the one I'll go with. So many great reviews. I briefly looked at the 62, but was immediately scared off by the price.

 

Mahalo nui loa 'oukou! (Great Big Thanks to all of you)

 

dougbromac

 

Check in the garage sale forum there is a pretty new GPSMAP 60CSx going for $180 which includes S&H, this is a SCREAMING deal. If you want a new one, you can find them for about $200 at places like gpscity (online).

I just got the same unit and it's GREAT!!

[+Reef Monster]

I found the unit on amazon.com for $200 with Free Super Saver Shipping. The problem out here in Hawai'i is shopping online. They say free shipping and then they say, "Oh! Hawaii! That's an exception. That'll be $35." On small items, sometimes the shipping costs more than the item. They're very crafty and one must be very careful.

[+VAPolice]

I found the unit on amazon.com for $200 with Free Super Saver Shipping. The problem out here in Hawai'i is shopping online. They say free shipping and then they say, "Oh! Hawaii! That's an exception. That'll be $35." On small items, sometimes the shipping costs more than the item. They're very crafty and one must be very careful.

 

Yea Brother I hear you, I have frineds from Hawaii here in Vegas and they tell me stories about the S&H nightmares. I think if you get the unit you will be very happy. I just used mine today for a couple of quick caches and it was spot on every time. BTW, battery life on the unit is great.

[+Viajero Perdido]

For Thailand or anywhere else, be sure your unit is set to WGS84 datum. All caches worldwide should be using WGS84 for their coordinates.

 

I recently DNF'd a cache in Argentina, and I'm pretty darn sure the hider left his GPS unit at the default South American '69 datum when he recorded the coordinates. This would be wrong, but it happens. (After DNFing at the official coords, I had a hunch and applied a WGS84-to-SA69 correction, and found a much more likely hiding area - also empty.)

[+Reef Monster]

For Thailand or anywhere else, be sure your unit is set to WGS84 datum. All caches worldwide should be using WGS84 for their coordinates.

 

I recently DNF'd a cache in Argentina, and I'm pretty darn sure the hider left his GPS unit at the default South American '69 datum when he recorded the coordinates. This would be wrong, but it happens. (After DNFing at the official coords, I had a hunch and applied a WGS84-to-SA69 correction, and found a much more likely hiding area - also empty.)

 

This is something mysterious and inscrutable for me right now. I'll be sure to take note of this "gotcha" and study up about it so I'll know how to set the GPSr. I leave for Thailand in a month. amazon says it just shipped, so I can learn what I can and get some maps loaded and take it for a spin around the block before leaving home.

 

Thanks everybody! Everyone sure seems enthusiastic about geocaching. It's my first week and I have't had this much fun in a long time. I feel like a kid again, like playing during summer vacation from school.

[+Viajero Perdido]

Glad to help, and welcome to this weird wacky wonderful game!

 

Aaaah Thailand... I want to go back. The food ... heaven.

 

Oh, and... To cross a busy street, just walk slowly into traffic, no sudden moves, and everything will just flow around you. It's freaky at first, but it's the only way you'll get across, because nobody will stop. But traffic is happy to flow around you, like a river flows around an island.

Edited December 6, 2010 by Viajero Perdido

[+kwcahart]

I just geocached in England, Ireland, and Scotland. My Texas GPS worked just fine. You don't need maps to find geocaches.