GPS Compact Flash Cards

[+lockdoc]

Does anyone use a GPS Compact flash card with their PDA to geocache? I have been shopping for one on ebay. Haven't seen a good deal yet. Can anyone recommend a brand?

[+7Triple7]

Sure! I purchased the Ambicom GPS-CF unit and have had very good luck with it. I use GPS Tuner 1.3 as the supporting software. It comes with a 30 day trial of PocketMap Navigator.

 

Cost for the card is about $159.00 at Circuit City. Hey, if you don't like it, you got 30-days!

 

Ambicom Web Site

 

7Triple7

Compaq iPaq 3975 w/ Ambicom GPS-CF

Garmin etrex Vista

[+lockdoc]

I've been looking at some. I see that they only use a wgs84 datum. Does the mapping software convert this to other datums?

[+Texplorer]

I ended up purchasing a Fortuna Pocket XTrac dual-mode GPS from Semsons.com. You can find reviews for this highly recommended (by me anyways unit and other CF GPS cards at www.gpspassion.com. You'll find that they recommend the two popular versions currently sold on eBay, the GlobalSat BC-307 and the Holux GM-270. Since they seem to go around $100 on eBay, my advice would be to purchase from someone like Semsons with a decent return policy in the event there's a problem with the unit or you simply decide that the GPS CF option is not for you.

 

I should state that the SiRF/XTrac chipset as found in the Pocket XTrac is probably overkill for most geocaching needs, but a number of caches I've been intersted in are in thick woods and canyons, and I felt the extra $50-60 for more sensitivity was worth it.

[+Searching_ut]

As mentioned by Texplorer, gpspassion.com has a lot of great information on the sort of set up you're looking into, as well as some good mapping software solutions.

 

I picked up the GlobalSat BC-307 about a little over half a year ago from Semsons, and absolutely love it. I use it on a Dell axim with mapopolis street navigation software to get me to where I'm going. I don't really feel the Pocket PC is rugged enough guide me through the woods though, so I use a stand alone GPS unit when I get out of the truck

[EnglishBob]

i too use the Ambicom GPS CF card and have found it great for motoring use, and it's working pretty good for geocahing.. in my 4 attempts so far! LOL.

 

It did suffer from signal loss a little in Yosemite valley under trees... but it was:

 

In a very deep gorge

 

Mounted in a car.

 

Under trees.

 

So I can forgive that.

[Growley]

I also bought a Globalsat BC-307 CF GPS to use with my Dell Axim. I got mine off of Ebay for $80.00. I find it to be a surprisingly accurate unit (based on my Garmin 76S.) I also got GPS Tuner 2.0 (which I think is an awesome little program) and Range & Bearing Calculator 1.2(6) which also comes in handy. All these coupled with National Geographics Pocket Topo (for North Carolina) makes this a handy GPS however, one slip and fall in the woods, brush, grass, yard, etc. and I think something would be broken so it does not see much use off the hard surface.