+WoodGlue Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 Hello, I'm new here and new to geocaching. I'd like to spend around $200.00 for a new GPS and I'm having trouble deciding which model to buy. As far as I can tell, it will be a tossup between the Garmin eTrex 20 and the Garmin Dakota 20. The problem I always have when buying a new gadget (of any kind) is "underbuying" or trying to "cheap out" LOL and I don't want to make this mistake with a new GPS. My price limit isn't $200.00, however I'm not looking to buy a Mercedes Benz when a Honda will get me there safely. If you had around $200.00 to spend and had to buy one or the other, which model would you choose and why? If you can make a case for a more expensive GPS, I'm willing to be swayed. Thanks for your help and advice. Happy New Year too! WoodGlue Quote Link to comment
+Chief301 Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 Kinda depends on your interface preference, touch screen or tiny little joystick. I started with one of the old Etrex units (pre-paperless) and worked with it for about a year before I decided I wanted to upgrade to the Oregon 550. I prefer the touchscreen on the Oregon but there were numerous other advantages, like paperless caching. I've read some good comments about the new generation of Etrex, which of course do paperless now. The Dakota is a tried and proven unit as well. I don't think you'd go wrong with either. Quote Link to comment
+FalseFruit Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 Hi there, I bought the eTrex 20 for about 160 USD back in October. Pros Paperless geocaching Many Waypoints Good Battery Life Small and Lightweight Good for 200 dollar price range Has GPS+GLONASS (more accuracy) Calculator+Stopwatch+Calendar+Hunt/Fish functions Cons Crappy Basemap Small screen Not Touchscreen Bad instruction manual I was quite impressed with this as a first GPS, and the money was quite worth it. Hope this helps, Maxwell Quote Link to comment
+Chief301 Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 Crappy BasemapSmall screen Not Touchscreen Bad instruction manual Can't do anything about #1 & #2, but free maps can be downl Quote Link to comment
+Chief301 Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 Crappy BasemapSmall screen Not Touchscreen Bad instruction manual Can't do anything about #2 and #3, but free maps can be downloaded from gpsfiledepot.com (or talkytoaster in the UK), and a full manual can be downloaded from Garmin's website (why they don't include the full manual in the box I don't know) Quote Link to comment
+WoodGlue Posted January 2, 2014 Author Share Posted January 2, 2014 I ended up buying the Garmin Dakota 20 with City Navigator SD card for $206.00 which I think was a pretty good deal. I don't think I've either under-bought or over-bought. The idea that I can trade info with other Gamin units also appealed to me. Thanks for all your help, WoodGlue Quote Link to comment
^up Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 Can't go wrong with a Garmin Quote Link to comment
+WoodGlue Posted January 7, 2014 Author Share Posted January 7, 2014 Another question. Did any of you download GPSGate software? I updated my new Garmin using GarminExpress, but am really uncertain about downloading GPSGate. Thanks, WoodGlue Quote Link to comment
+andyakashrek Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 GPS Gateway seems to be a vehicle tracking system, I think you'd be ok without it. Quote Link to comment
+WoodGlue Posted January 7, 2014 Author Share Posted January 7, 2014 Thank you! Quote Link to comment
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