John & Gill Posted January 14, 2003 Share Posted January 14, 2003 Hi - Just heard about GeoCache on the Television last night - I want to give it a go - looks a lot of fun. Has anyone in UK got a cheap GPS for sale which would be ideal for first timer. John Quote Link to comment
Seifer Posted January 14, 2003 Share Posted January 14, 2003 Hi, welcome to the crowd. try here Mike Michael aka 1/2 of Team Blitz It's not a matter of win or lose...until you lose Quote Link to comment
+jeremyp Posted January 14, 2003 Share Posted January 14, 2003 I don't have a cheap GPS to sell you, but you can by a new one that'll do the job for only about 100 quid (perhaps a little more). Features you'll need are: ability to input waypoints (i.e. coordinates of somewhere you want to visit)a feature that will guide you to the waypoint, usually something like an arrow that points in the direction you need to go + a readout that tells you how far away it is Desirable features (but not essential) are: ability to define routes i.e. string several waypoints together in a sequence - useful for navigating to the cache site from a distancemagnetic compass built in - a basic GPS can only tell you which way to go when it it moving. However, built in compasses are expensiveability to download waypoints from the web site i.e. some sort of data cable to connect the GPS to your computer. The required software can be obtained free from geocaching.com Other nice to have features would be mapping ability - also expensive, you'll need specialist software from the GPS manufacturer Most geocachers seem to use something from the Garmin range such as an etrex or one of it's more expensive siblings. Don't know why that is. I think they are possibly a little expensive compared to the competition and have rubbish antennas (giving poor reception under cover such as trees). Having said that, I've only ever had an etrex summit and vista, so I don't really know much about the opposition. ------- jeremyp The second ten million caches were the worst too. http://www.jeremyp.net/geocaching Quote Link to comment
+stu_and_sarah Posted January 14, 2003 Share Posted January 14, 2003 you'll enjoy it! we got our GPS from www.globalpositioningsystems.co.uk we got the most basic Garmin (the yellow eTrex) and have had no real problems. we didn't think we'd need the car power adapter/pc cable so didn't buy it at first. then got it about a fortnight later! have fun. Stu Quote Link to comment
+jeremyp Posted January 14, 2003 Share Posted January 14, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Stu & Sarah:you'll enjoy it! we got our GPS from http://www.globalpositioningsystems.co.uk We didn't think we'd need the car power adapter/pc cable so didn't buy it at first. then got it about a fortnight later! have fun. Stu Oh yeah, forgot about that, if you get a cigarette lighter power adaptor, you'll save a shed load on batteries. ------- jeremyp The second ten million caches were the worst too. http://www.jeremyp.net/geocaching Quote Link to comment
+Kouros Posted January 14, 2003 Share Posted January 14, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Stu & Sarah:We didn't think we'd need the car power adapter/pc cable so didn't buy it at first. then got it about a fortnight later! quote:Originally posted by jeremyp:Oh yeah, forgot about that, if you get a cigarette lighter power adaptor, you'll save a shed load on batteries. Indeed... they're a fantastic idea. I found the "Silva" solar powered battery charger to be equally useful... even in the climate at this time of year, although it does seem to take longer than recommended to charge the batteries - Still, longer charging doesn't cost anything except time... pity you can't charge batteries by solar power overnight. ------ An it harm none, do what ye will Quote Link to comment
+paul.blitz Posted January 14, 2003 Share Posted January 14, 2003 quote:Oh yeah, forgot about that, if you get a cigarette lighter power adaptor, you'll save a shed load on batteries. Even more useful is to buy some high-powered NiMH rechargable batteries and a charger. Most GPSes need 2 x AA's, so buy at least 4, if not 6 or 8, batteries! Dixons do some nice "own brand" ones, 1700mAH I think, at about 13 quid for EIGHT! I have a load, and they seem to be working fine. But would also agree 100% about external car power cable, and PC-link cable (or combined cable). Another nice thing to have is a simple (fiver down the market) mobile phone bracket for the car: most are just right to take a GPSr! Paul Team Blitz White gravel? What white gravel? I can't see any.... heck, who cares! Quote Link to comment
+Chris n Maria Posted January 15, 2003 Share Posted January 15, 2003 GPS Unit - £110 PC Interface Cable - £20 External Power Cable - £15 Rechargeable Batteries and Adaptor - £18 Being able to find Tupperware in a Forest - Priceless For some things in life there is Mastercard for everything else there is Geocaching Chris Bear rescues a speciality! London & UK Geocaching Resources: http://www.sheps.clara.net Quote Link to comment
+Lost in Space Posted January 15, 2003 Share Posted January 15, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Chris n Maria:GPS Unit - £110 PC Interface Cable - £20 External Power Cable - £15 Rechargeable Batteries and Adaptor - £18 ...... .... Torn clothing..? Emergency Medical aid....? Numerous car washes....? Extra laundry........? Ammo Boxes, (Hornet's Drinks fund)....? . . . Relate Counselling....?? It's alll good fun, (so they tell me) Quote Link to comment
+Tim & June Posted January 15, 2003 Share Posted January 15, 2003 We have made several purchases from Ebay and have not been dissapointed. I have seen yellow Etrex's (an adequate device for caching) go for as little as £65 including pc & power cables. Before you bid, ensure the seller is not sending it to the UK from abroad (import duties) and check the feedback from other purchasers is good. Tim & June (Winchester) See June, I told you that sign which said 'Unsuitable for Motor Vehicles' was wrong ! Quote Link to comment
+jeremyp Posted January 15, 2003 Share Posted January 15, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Team Blitz: Even more useful is to buy some high-powered NiMH rechargable batteries and a charger. Most GPSes need 2 x AA's, so buy at least 4, if not 6 or 8, batteries! i used to use rechargeables before I got my power cable, but I found they were more hassle than they were worth. I invariably found that I had forgotten to recharge them before going caching and would have to buy some normal alkalines anyway. With the in-car power cable, I don't have to change the batteries all that often. The other plus point in favour of buying a power cable (to go with either normal or rechargeable batteries) is that you can have the GPS backlight on all the time, which is good for driving in low light conditions. A lot of GPS receivers need four batteries, which is a plus point for etrexes which need only two. ------- jeremyp The second ten million caches were the worst too. http://www.jeremyp.net/geocaching Quote Link to comment
+Huga Posted January 15, 2003 Share Posted January 15, 2003 I bought both my eTrex yellow and eTrex Venture from eBay, and am very happy with both. Both were new, boxed, and cheaper than buying in this country, even after shipping and import duties. I got stiffed by Customs £30 for the eTrex yellow but only £24 for the venture, making the yellow cost a total of £105 and the venture £125. Bearing in mind that the Venture comes with a PC cable, that's not a bad price. eBay is the way forward, but do be careful with US sellers. Customs will charge you VAT on the import price (written as $180 on the package the seller sent me) plus about £7 handling. -- **Mother is the name of God on the lips of all children** Quote Link to comment
bosham2002 Posted January 15, 2003 Share Posted January 15, 2003 I use the Garmin GPS12, it was good for my first cache hunt yesterday, it was very good when I navigated a yacht across the English Channel last year in big seas and wind Quote Link to comment
+The Merman Posted January 15, 2003 Share Posted January 15, 2003 quote:Originally posted by stephen in bosham:I use the Garmin GPS12, it was good for my first cache hunt yesterday, it was very good when I navigated a yacht across the English Channel last year in big seas and wind I have a GPS 12 and an Emap and use the 12 on my boat. I have to say that the 12 seems more acurate than the Emap(only a matter of a few feet) but now I have used a Map GPSr I could not go back. Cost is a huge factor for people who are only using the device for caching, and if that were all I were using it for then I would probably be walking through the woods with an Etrex.(Which still sounds to me like something you would use to mix cakes with) I woke this morning and my boat was not rocking...for one horrid moment I thought I lived in a house! Quote Link to comment
+jeremyp Posted January 15, 2003 Share Posted January 15, 2003 If you purchase a mapping GPS (e.g. the eTrex Vista) from say eBay or anywhere else abroad and others, make sure it has a European base map. For the uninitiated, the base map is the (usually) low detail map that the GPS uses when you haven't downloaded the proper map (from Mapsource or other GPS software) for the area you are in. ------- jeremyp The second ten million caches were the worst too. http://www.jeremyp.net/geocaching Quote Link to comment
+Pharisee Posted January 15, 2003 Share Posted January 15, 2003 quote:Originally posted by The Merman: ......then I would probably be walking through the woods with an Etrex.(Which still sounds to me like something you would use to mix cakes with) You might have been walking through the woods with an Etrex but it's highly unlikely that you'd have any idea where you were heading I use an Etrex Legend and as far as tree cover goes it's almost useless. Even at this time of year, with no leaves on the trees, it looses satellite lock at the mearest hint of tree cover. I just know I'm going to be in real trouble when Summer comes. Maybe I've just got a 'Friday' machine but it is disappointing John Quote Link to comment
+The Wombles Posted January 15, 2003 Share Posted January 15, 2003 quote:Originally posted by John123:Hi - Just heard about GeoCache on the Television last night - I want to give it a go - looks a lot of fun. Has anyone in UK got a cheap GPS for sale which would be ideal for first timer. John Bet you thought that was a nice, simple question deserving a nice, simple answer. And we haven't even started on the other equipment. Most importantly, you'll need an anorak (high-tech, of course) Dave Quote Link to comment
+Slytherin Posted January 15, 2003 Share Posted January 15, 2003 quote:Originally posted by The Wombles:Most importantly, you'll need an anorak (high-tech, of course) Well, that's true. Mine cost more than the GPS. Wouldn't be without it though. I was out in howling winds today and was still snug as a bug. Alex. Quote Link to comment
+Omally Posted January 15, 2003 Share Posted January 15, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Pharisee.I use an Etrex Legend and as far as tree cover goes it's almost useless. Even at this time of year, with no leaves on the trees, it looses satellite lock at the mearest hint of tree cover. I'd recommend contacting Garmin about that: a mate had a Vista for a while and had similar problems. Turned out to be faulty and the replacement she got worked fine. Of course, it can depend on wether all the satellites are round the horizon and the woods are in the way... It's a tradition, or an old charter or something... Quote Link to comment
+jeremyp Posted January 15, 2003 Share Posted January 15, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Omally: I'd recommend contacting Garmin about that: a mate had a Vista for a while and had similar problems. Turned out to be faulty and the replacement she got worked fine. Of course, it can depend on wether all the satellites are round the horizon and the woods are in the way... It's a tradition, or an old charter or something... I've got to say that reception is variable under trees with my Vista, but it's always good enough so that I can find the cache using the clue if necessary. ------- jeremyp The second ten million caches were the worst too. http://www.jeremyp.net/geocaching Quote Link to comment
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