HawkesNest Posted July 24, 2004 Share Posted July 24, 2004 I have been wondering how I could carry my eTrex legend, other that in my hand, yet still have it positioned to get good reception. I would like to have a way to carry it on my shoulder face up and be convent to take off and put back. I though I would see what others have tried by asking here. I have tried buttoning my shirt so that the lanyard is looped down around several buttons and then letting the eTrex hang just over my shoulder on my back. That works ok, but tends to slide off the side of my shoulder once in a while. Quote Link to comment
+Desert_Warrior Posted July 24, 2004 Share Posted July 24, 2004 I use a pager pouch clipped to the left shoulder-strap of my camelbak. The GPSr rides high and keeps great satellite lock there. And it keeps my right side free for other things. Quote Link to comment
+AuntieWeasel Posted July 24, 2004 Share Posted July 24, 2004 Velcro on my shoulder (why do I want to set that to music?). Once you've talked yourself into putting velcro on the back of your GPSr, you'd be amazed how many things you'll want to stick it to Quote Link to comment
Tahosa and Sons Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 I'll usually put my Vista under the left packstrap and let it sit and track trails all day long. Quote Link to comment
Black Mage Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 (edited) I use a Garmin GPS Carrying Case. It has a belt clip on the back which comes in very handy. It also prevents scratches to the screen. I also use a cell phone carrier that came with a backpack as a storage case, it clips to most back packs as well. Edited July 25, 2004 by Black Mage Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 (edited) I use a Garmin GPS Carrying Case. It has a belt clip on the back which comes in very handy. It also prevents scratches to the screen. I also use a cell phone carrier that came with a backpack as a storage case, it clips to most back packs as well. Ditto on the Garmin eTrex carrying case. Because the eTrex units need to be held level for good reception it is an issue on long hikes. After rigging up numerous ways to do this with varying degrees of success, I finally spent the $14 on the case and I clip it to the shoulder of my pack, where it sits nice and level. Using the laynard is not an option. The eTrex will not get good reception hanging from your neck. It might be the best few bucks I ever spent on geocaching... next to Cachemate. Edited July 25, 2004 by briansnat Quote Link to comment
+CYBret Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 This came up a few weeks ago in the Geocaching Topics forum. Here's the thread. My method is down a few...and is still working great. Bret Quote Link to comment
HawkesNest Posted July 25, 2004 Author Share Posted July 25, 2004 Thanks for everyones help and the link to the other thread. I have some good ideas to work with now. HawkesNest Quote Link to comment
+AuntieWeasel Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 Okay, will you guys with the eTrex cases 'splain it to me, please? In the pictures I've seen, it looks like there's fairly heavy padding right over the antenna. Is that special black ops conducty stuff, or what? If I stuck my thumb there, I'd lose signal for sure... Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 Okay, will you guys with the eTrex cases 'splain it to me, please? In the pictures I've seen, it looks like there's fairly heavy padding right over the antenna. Is that special black ops conducty stuff, or what? If I stuck my thumb there, I'd lose signal for sure... It seems to be plain old neoprene. It doesn't seem to effect reception. I have removed it in the past if reception was poor, but it doesn't seem to make much of a difference. Granted I haven't tried any scientific studies, but the GPS seems to work just fine with the cover over the antenna. Quote Link to comment
team_tar Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 Okay, will you guys with the eTrex cases 'splain it to me, please? In the pictures I've seen, it looks like there's fairly heavy padding right over the antenna. Is that special black ops conducty stuff, or what? If I stuck my thumb there, I'd lose signal for sure... As Briansnat said. No noticeable effect. Consider that your thumb is at least ten times thicker and rich in water. Acaro of Team TAR Quote Link to comment
+Robespierre Posted July 26, 2004 Share Posted July 26, 2004 Velcro on my shoulder (why do I want to set that to music?) Velcro on my shoulder makes me happy, Velcro on my shoulder makes me smile. (see John Denver) Quote Link to comment
+CompuCash Posted July 26, 2004 Share Posted July 26, 2004 Velcro on my shoulder (why do I want to set that to music?) Velcro on my shoulder makes me happy, Velcro on my shoulder makes me smile. (see John Denver) with appologies to John Denver Quote Link to comment
+Prime Suspect Posted July 26, 2004 Share Posted July 26, 2004 If I'm wearing my back-pack (rather than just having a strap slung over one shoulder) I clip it to the strap that goes across my chest. The antenna area gets a good look at the sky, and it's easy to retrieve and replace. Quote Link to comment
4x4van Posted July 28, 2004 Share Posted July 28, 2004 (edited) I have a black carry pouch/bag made by Outdoor Products that I've added a couple of snaps to the belt strap on the back of the pouch. I added matching snaps to the left shoulder strap of my hydropack (also made by Outdoor Products). Works perfectly. The belt strap itself is still there/functional, so on shorter hikes, when I just use a fanny pack, I can still use the pouch on the fanny pack's waist belt, and it also has a clip at the top of the belt strap, that can be attached to my pants when using no pack at all. Edited July 28, 2004 by 4x4van Quote Link to comment
+dasein Posted July 29, 2004 Share Posted July 29, 2004 I was talking with a cacher the other day who had 2 big strips of velcro on top of the baseball cap he was wearing. When I asked what they were for, he said that he velcros a GPS antenna to it. I guess that way you could pretty much hold the GPS any way you wanted to without losing reception? I don't have any more details. Quote Link to comment
+NightPilot Posted July 29, 2004 Share Posted July 29, 2004 I don't use Velcro, I use a washer. I have an active reradiating antenna from PC-Mobile, and it has magnets in it. I put it on top of my car while driving, so I don't have to put my GPS in the windshield, and get much better reception. When I start walking, I have a large washer, about 1.5" in diameter, that I bought at Home Depot for about $0.12 that I put inside my hat, and the antenna attaches to that. With an external antenna, I get a much stronger signal, both in the open and especially under trees. I can carry my Legend any way and any place I like. Quote Link to comment
+Jeeters Posted July 29, 2004 Share Posted July 29, 2004 I have a large washer, about 1.5" in diameter, ... that I put inside my hat, and the antenna attaches to that. With an external antenna, I get a much stronger signal, both in the open and especially under trees. I can carry my Legend any way and any place I like. I would think a tin foil hat would work even better! Just kidding. Quote Link to comment
+Milbank Posted July 29, 2004 Share Posted July 29, 2004 I have an active reradiating antenna from PC-Mobile, Sounds great, could you post a link to were I could get one? Thanks Quote Link to comment
+Muck Posted July 30, 2004 Share Posted July 30, 2004 You could try one of these GPS Walkabout I don't own one myself, but did see a guy with one. Quote Link to comment
+wifireman Posted July 30, 2004 Share Posted July 30, 2004 WOW... I'd love to get one of those walkabouts, but they're pretty expensive! Anyone got one of these to talk about it?? Quote Link to comment
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