Don't really need all the fancy. Just want accuracy.. <100$?

[spider87]

I'm looking for a GPS. I don't need all the fancy mapping and stuff I'm happy with something of a compass just pointing me in the right direction (like I currently get on my phone). The problem is, my phone is horribly inaccurate. Within the same 3ft circle I went from 3m from my target to 19m to .8m... I need something that will work under tree cover and will work accurately. Here is my wishlist:

 

1) Accurate, works well under tree cover without much bouncing.

2) Can load coordinates on, other "paperless" type features aren't important or really desired

3) Compass that points you in the right direction

4) Cheap

5) Fast acquiring satellite(not a necessity)

 

Anyone? I've been looking on craigslist but it's hard to find GPSs without finding car navigation systems, cars and everybody's cheap, no extra accuracy, gps.

 

My main focus is accuracy. I want to make sure that I'm not walking in circles because my GPS keeps going between 6m and 19m every step I take (like my phone likes to do to me..)

 

I've read around on the forums but everyone seems to want their fancy mapping and paperless stuff. I have a phone that can handle that stuff I just want to be able to pinpoint accurately.

 

Anyone?

 

Thanks!

[jan huang]

I think this is not, I should not

:rolleyes:

Edited July 21, 2011 by jan huang

[+splashy]

Etrex or similar on craigslist.

[+Bear and Ragged]

Etrex or similar on craigslist.

Agreed.

Check it's a newer H model.

(Better/improved reception)

[spider87]

I heard there was something weird about the Etrex's. That they have some strange cable that you have to buy extra to load data on to it from your computer or something? All I want is the coordinates but it would kind of suck to have to type them all in manually (unless that's pretty typical of non-paperless? then it's not that big of a deal)

 

Or does that only pertain to the old ones?

Edited July 21, 2011 by spider87

[+coggins]

I heard there was something weird about the Etrex's. That they have some strange cable that you have to buy extra to load data on to it from your computer or something? All I want is the coordinates but it would kind of suck to have to type them all in manually (unless that's pretty typical of non-paperless? then it's not that big of a deal)

 

Or does that only pertain to the old ones?

The paperless eTrex units are USB

 

http://www.basspro.com/Garmin-eTrex-10-Handheld-GPS-Unit/product/10228738/-1804017

[+Chief301]

I heard there was something weird about the Etrex's. That they have some strange cable that you have to buy extra to load data on to it from your computer or something? All I want is the coordinates but it would kind of suck to have to type them all in manually (unless that's pretty typical of non-paperless? then it's not that big of a deal)

 

Or does that only pertain to the old ones?

 

That only applies to the Etrex H, which I believe is the one that you can get for under $100. Everything else in the Etrex line comes with a USB cable included and they start in the mid-$100 range, generally.

 

I chose the Legend HCX, mainly because I wanted to be able to load maps and it has an expansion slot for a micro SD card. If that's not a requirement for you then you can probably get a cheaper one than that.

[spider87]

I'm planning on trying to grab a Etrex H Legend on ebay. I'm seeing auctions going out for like 50-70$ for them.

 

Also, I apologize, I had a slight misunderstanding of "paperless" I thought it was the difference between just getting coordinates or getting coordinates with EVERYTHING else included as well.

Edited July 21, 2011 by spider87

[spider87]

One thing I don't understand, with the Etrex Legend H, it says on garmin's website that it doesn't have an electric compass.. How does it show you where to go then if you don't have a map of the area you're in?

 

Or does that mean that it doesn't have a device that "always points north" (I can't think of a better way to differentiate...)

Edited July 21, 2011 by spider87

[+Chief301]

One thing I don't understand, with the Etrex Legend H, it says on garmin's website that it doesn't have an electric compass.. How does it show you where to go then if you don't have a map of the area you're in?

 

Or does that mean that it doesn't have a device that "always points north" (I can't think of a better way to differentiate...)

.

 

It's a little confusing at first. The Legend HCX does have a compass function of sorts...while you are driving or walking or moving in any way it is constantly tracking your position relative to the coordinates you are navigating to (the cache location). So the compass needle is pointing to the cache and you just follow it.

 

So the GPS is only calculating your bearing to the cache based upon your movements. When you are standing still it doesn't update. If you stand in one spot and just turn around the pointer won't act right, which is why some people get confused once they reach Ground Zero and start doing the drunken bee dance.

 

The units with the electronic compass WILL always orient themselves properly, like a real magnetic compass, even if you're standing still. So will the compass on an iPhone.

 

The electronic compass is not necessary at all to successfully navigate to the cache coordinates. Some folks like having this additional feature, however.

 

I hope I explained it well enough, I was a little confused about it myself at first.

[spider87]

One thing I don't understand, with the Etrex Legend H, it says on garmin's website that it doesn't have an electric compass.. How does it show you where to go then if you don't have a map of the area you're in?

 

Or does that mean that it doesn't have a device that "always points north" (I can't think of a better way to differentiate...)

.

 

It's a little confusing at first. The Legend HCX does have a compass function of sorts...while you are driving or walking or moving in any way it is constantly tracking your position relative to the coordinates you are navigating to (the cache location). So the compass needle is pointing to the cache and you just follow it.

 

So the GPS is only calculating your bearing to the cache based upon your movements. When you are standing still it doesn't update. If you stand in one spot and just turn around the pointer won't act right, which is why some people get confused once they reach Ground Zero and start doing the drunken bee dance.

 

The units with the electronic compass WILL always orient themselves properly, like a real magnetic compass, even if you're standing still. So will the compass on an iPhone.

 

The electronic compass is not necessary at all to successfully navigate to the cache coordinates. Some folks like having this additional feature, however.

 

I hope I explained it well enough, I was a little confused about it myself at first.

 

That was a perfect response. Thank you. :-)

[+CacheFreakTim]

Any of the eTrex models with an H in their name would be the most inexpensive way to go and still keep accuracy. The basic yellow etrex H is the most inexpensive, but I dont like it because it is not as user friendly, and it also does not come with an update cable. The Legend H and Venture HC usually are around $110-$120 and do a great job and also come with a USB cable.

[+Woodstramp]

I heard there was something weird about the Etrex's. That they have some strange cable that you have to buy extra to load data on to it from your computer or something? All I want is the coordinates but it would kind of suck to have to type them all in manually (unless that's pretty typical of non-paperless? then it's not that big of a deal)

 

Or does that only pertain to the old ones?

 

Etrex units with an "H" means they are high sensitivity. Extrex H, Etrex HXC, etc.

 

Be aware the "Etrex H" model is a high sensitivity, but it has the older style serial port communication with computers. This will allow you transfer data back and forth if you have a computer with a serial port or if you only have a USB ported computer you'll need a serial to USB adaptor.

 

Also, the Etrex H is not a paperless unit. You can mass load some geocache info (coords, name) but a "paperless" unit will be able to hold full cache descriptions from a cache page (coords, name, hints, description, finder logs) Most folks would shoot basic cache info to a non-paperless unit and then print cache pages out (on paper) for the rest of the info in the field.

[John E Cache]

Been there done that. A long time ago I had a nearby cache I could not find because tree cover caused the GPS to jump around. I upgraded to a 60csx and thought maybe I could find it. No dice. The 60csx had an antenna input so I bought an antenna. Nada. This is when I gave up on finding the perfect accurate GPS. I wonder how many people have multiple GPSs looking for an accurate one.