+Team GPSaxophone Posted December 22, 2003 Share Posted December 22, 2003 Oshman's is selling the Magellan 310 GPS for only 49.99 Is that a good deal? How does the 310 compare to say, a yellow Etrex? I'm thinking they would both have nearly the same functionality (no maps or anything). My Etrex Venture is close to dying, so I need to replace it and don't want to pay too much (although, those color ones look mightly nice...) Quote Link to comment
+PLCDoctor Posted December 22, 2003 Share Posted December 22, 2003 I believe the 310 only has coordinates to the tenths and that will not get you close enough to a lot of caches. Quote Link to comment
+Team GPSaxophone Posted December 22, 2003 Author Share Posted December 22, 2003 That's what I wanted to know. Thanks for the info, I'll pass on buying one. Quote Link to comment
bnolan Posted December 22, 2003 Share Posted December 22, 2003 You can enter coordinates into the 310 using UTM. That has 1 meter resolution. So don't give up on the 310 just because of the 2 digit decimal minutes. Quote Link to comment
Bobthearch Posted December 22, 2003 Share Posted December 22, 2003 I browsed over at the Oshman's website and didn't see that model. Perhaps it's on a special sale in some hard-to-find location. If it's still available, you won't find any other brand-new units retail for so little. And I'm sure that that GPS would be just fine for simple Geocaching. Be careful buying from them though. Some of their prices were fair, other units were priced ~way~ too high. For instance the GPSMAP76S is $399 as Oshman's, but only $309 at GPSNow. Happy shopping, Bob Quote Link to comment
+Team GPSaxophone Posted December 22, 2003 Author Share Posted December 22, 2003 I'm in Albuquerque. I wonder if it's a local or regional sale. Quote Link to comment
Bobthearch Posted December 22, 2003 Share Posted December 22, 2003 It may have been overstocks at that particular store location. I only looked at the website. Like I said, you won't find any other brand-new units for that price anywhere - you should go for it. If you've been using a yellow eTrex all this time, I'm sure that the 310 will be just fine. One thing to keep in mind: If you've invested in Garmin software, it won't work with a Magellan unit. But the yellow eTrex can't use the Garmin maps either... Also consider what your friends have, and will the files/maps created on their units be compatible with yours? Something else: a friend of mine in Alb. got a great deal on a GPS at the REI scratch-and-dent sale. You have to be a member to get that mailing though, and I have no idea when that sale is. Happy shopping down the road, Bob, in Raton Quote Link to comment
+Team GPSaxophone Posted December 22, 2003 Author Share Posted December 22, 2003 It may have been overstocks at that particular store location. I only looked at the website. Like I said, you won't find any other brand-new units for that price anywhere - you should go for it. If you've been using a yellow eTrex all this time, I'm sure that the 310 will be just fine. I use the Etrex Venture now, it's a step up from the yellow. I use it so much, however, the the screen is having problems and the rubber moulding is coming off. Quote Link to comment
Bobthearch Posted December 22, 2003 Share Posted December 22, 2003 Venture or Yellow, it doesn't have the features of the more expensive units and the 310 is in the same range. Even if you find the features lacking, for $50 it'd be a good back-up unit, or a temp until you want to upgrade. Most of the eTrexes I've used have been the basic yellow or the Legend; the Venture is in-between. I'm curious, how long have you had the Venture before the trouble started? Was it on the receiving end of any abuse, such as being forgotten in the New Mexico sun for an hour? What sort of screen problems? You might consider an upgrade to a MAP76S. I ~love~ it and have had no problems at all. A lot of folks are looking forward to the new '60' Garmin units. The 310 would at least get you by until you decided. Heck, if I saw a unit at that price, I'd buy it for a backup. Best Wishes, Bob Quote Link to comment
+Team GPSaxophone Posted December 22, 2003 Author Share Posted December 22, 2003 I use my Venture in the sun quite a bit. From what I've read, many others have had problems with the cheap glue they used on the rubber gasket. The screen on mine gets all garbled, I have to hit it (sometimes several times) to get it to display anything useful. I've owned it just over a year and started noticing problems several months ago. Quote Link to comment
mikeh420 Posted December 22, 2003 Share Posted December 22, 2003 My first GPS was a Mag 310, and I found 55 caches with it. It's a bit less precise than my eTrex Yellow, it only has two decimal places for minutes which gives you 50' accuracy, but using UTM you can get down to a meter. It's a great affordable starter unit. Quote Link to comment
Bobthearch Posted December 22, 2003 Share Posted December 22, 2003 That sucks. Have you tried to return it, or was the warrantee expired? No one at work has had trouble with their eTrexes, but the nature of work isn't as hard on the units. They get stashed in a backpack, taken out for a few minutes, and returned to the packpack. I haven't had my 76S long enough yet to see what'll happen in the summer sun - this summer I was in the mountains. Now I'm in the desert, but the conditions are mild. Best Luck, Bob Quote Link to comment
+Team GPSaxophone Posted December 22, 2003 Author Share Posted December 22, 2003 That sucks. Have you tried to return it, or was the warrantee expired? I called them before the warranty expired and got an RMA#, but I found 50 caches in September and several more in October including an event out-of-state. I never had the time to send it in! Quote Link to comment
peter Posted December 22, 2003 Share Posted December 22, 2003 If it's still available I'd suggest getting the 310 and then calling Garmin to see if you can send in your Venture. Both of your problems (rubber band and display connector) are known eTrex issues so Garmin has frequently been generous with the warranty period. That way you might be able to send in your Venture and use the 310 in the meantime. Quote Link to comment
+Team GPSaxophone Posted December 23, 2003 Author Share Posted December 23, 2003 I went to Oshman's today. They told me they never received their shipment, so I'm out of luck. Hope they get some in after Christmas! Quote Link to comment
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