BuffaloNickel Posted February 24, 2003 Share Posted February 24, 2003 Hi. This looks like a great hobby. I metal detect and was wondering if any of you do too. Any recommendations on a good inexpensive GPS? Thanks! Quote Link to comment
+PI Joe Posted February 24, 2003 Share Posted February 24, 2003 I use a basic, no-frills Garmin eTrex Yellow GPSr. It does not have the memory to allow you to download or display maps on the GPSr screen but batteries last much longer in it so there is your tradeoff. A metal detector will come in handy if you get interested in benchmark hunting. Many of these benchmarks are 4" round brass disks mounted in various places around the country. Quite a few in my area seem to be lost in weeds and tall grass along side old train tracks. Lou Catozzi AKA TxHiPowr Quote Link to comment
+Renegade Knight Posted February 24, 2003 Share Posted February 24, 2003 Cheap and good? I hate magellans but their Sport Track Pro is priced in a sweet spot for what it does. Metal Decectors...those cost money but they will help you find those stubborn micro caches hidden rock piles. Wherever you go there you are. Quote Link to comment
Cracker. Posted February 24, 2003 Share Posted February 24, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Renegade Knight:Cheap and good? I hate magellans but their Well, I hate Garmins, so there... If ya go Magellan, I would suggest the Meridian Green/Yellow, or the Gold. Basically do what the SporTraks do, but with expandable memory, and are priced lower, too. BuffaloNickel, I've been thinkin I'd like to get a metal detector to help with the benchmarking, and to see what else I could dig up. Any suggestions on what brand of decent, basic detector to get? And how much I would expect to pay? Nothing fancy, low to middle-end I would expect..... Thanx! Once you find your 1st cache, you'll be hooked.... Art www.yankeetoys.org www.BudBuilt.com http://www.ttora-ne.mainpage.net/ Quote Link to comment
Dave Lucas Posted February 24, 2003 Share Posted February 24, 2003 In Canada, you can get a Magellan 315 for about $125.00 at Canadian Tire... in U$, this is about a coffee and two trinkets. It does not have colour, it does not have free floating tri-axis compass, and it does not have expandable memory, but I've been using mine for more than 4 years, and I would not change for anything. Quote Link to comment
BuffaloNickel Posted February 24, 2003 Author Share Posted February 24, 2003 Thanks for your reply! I'll check into the Garmin eTrex. I thought about those along with the Magellen's... who knows what I'll end up with. Ease of use is going to be a big factor! As far as metal detectors... I use a Fisher CZ7a... it's one of the more expensive ones (around $900 when I got it as a gift) but they have lower end machines, and I've never heard negative feedback on them. Fishers are dependable, easy to learn, and their depth is greater than most. Some people say they really like iron, but I've found if you discriminate iron out, you certainly can eliminate false "finds" and a lot of trash. Whites are good too, but much harder to use in my opinion. happy hunting! D Quote Link to comment
BuffaloNickel Posted February 24, 2003 Author Share Posted February 24, 2003 Do you mind telling me why you hate Magellan's? Just wondering. I have heard a lot of good stuff about them and am curious as to why you don't like them. Of course, I don't have a GPS and never have so, i'm definitely a newbie! You can get a good metal detector for $200-$300. It sure is a fun hobby! I've heard that a lot of MDers hunt around benchmarks as there could be old homesteads or old traffic areas near them. Thanks for your comments! Happy Hunting! D Quote Link to comment
BuffaloNickel Posted February 24, 2003 Author Share Posted February 24, 2003 I'm looking at the Magellan Meridian... the yellow one. That and the Garmin Etrex. Don't know yet which one I'll get. I'm leaning towards the Magellan though. Metal detectors..... I use a Fisher CZ7a which runs around $900.00. It's an awsome machine! I've enjoyed every minute metal detecting with it, and it was a "turn on and go"..... very easy to use and a deep seeker and all that. But if you don't want to spend that much, you should look at the 1200 series...the Fisher 1225X runs around $200-$250 and is a good machine. No LCB display like mine, but you learn what the tones sound like for different objects. White's also makes a good machine, but in my opinion (and everyone has an opinion, sorta like... well, nevermind) they are harder to learn than Fisher. Maybe you'll have a few rebuttals to my comment, which is fine. You can never have too much info! But if I ever get another metal detector, it'll be another Fisher. Thanks for your comments! Happy hunting! D Quote Link to comment
BuffaloNickel Posted February 24, 2003 Author Share Posted February 24, 2003 I meant "LCD" display.... not LCB..... Quote Link to comment
BuffaloNickel Posted February 24, 2003 Author Share Posted February 24, 2003 I'll look up that one too! I'm wanting to spend $150 or less if possible. That one sounds like a possibility! How's the weather up there? We might get 2-3 inches of snow here in Elvis' hometown..... that is quite an event here.. hee hee. happy hunting, D Quote Link to comment
+DustyJacket Posted February 24, 2003 Share Posted February 24, 2003 I got a GPS with a map, because I use it for driving (just moved here recently, and I don't know my way around), and intend to use it with a boat. If all I wanted was something to cache with, I would choose a non-map GPS, but with a good antenna. DustyJacket ...If life was fair, a banana split would cure cancer. Quote Link to comment
+Possum Posse Posted February 24, 2003 Share Posted February 24, 2003 I have the SporTrak Pro. It has performed well and has been very accurate so far. There have been alot of overcast and foggy mornings lately and I have not had one problem with the unit - Yet! "Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us" - Thomas Paine Quote Link to comment
BuffaloNickel Posted February 24, 2003 Author Share Posted February 24, 2003 That sounds good, but I think once I get used to using it, I will find it nice to have the mapping features.... I don't want one that's too "basic" but something near the middle of the road. Thanks for your comment! BTW, what kind do you use? (cute dachsund and love your quote!) D Quote Link to comment
hostetter Posted February 24, 2003 Share Posted February 24, 2003 I recently got started doing this too. I got an etrex for a little over $100. It works great and on the 3 caches I have found, led me to within 30 feet or so each time. However, it loses signal lock frequently both in the car and in the woods, but only for short periods. And when you stand still it can't point toward the cache because it only measures direction via movement. From what I understand, the Magellens rarely lose signal lock, and many models have built in compasses in your price range (Garmin models with compass cost $$ although you may find one in your price range via a sale). BUT the etrex is only slightly larger than my cell phone, has a good battery life, and works well enough that I have had no problems finding caches (or home, or work, or the grocery store, or anywhere else I have 'marked'). I notice the shortcomings of the etrex, but like the small size and one handed operation a lot. One thing I found disconcerting though - not only is there a fairly decent amount of location error with low priced GPSr's, the error fluctuates. I mark my parking spot in front of my house, go to the store, and return. Sitting in the same parking spot the GPSr sometimes tells me my spot is 80' further. The error when I originally marked, compounded by the current position error, no doubt. If I were ever to place a cache, I would worry about getting accurate coordinates based on my experiences with the etrex so far. [This message was edited by hostetter on February 24, 2003 at 07:12 PM.] Quote Link to comment
+3cacheteers Posted February 24, 2003 Share Posted February 24, 2003 used to be my favorite pastime until I discovered geocaching! Got a Garmin Vista for Christmas and haven't even looked at the metal detector since. Course it is winter here in Colorado and not much chance of detecting in the snow and frozrn ground. Know you will love geocaching. Good luck deciding what to get!! Quote Link to comment
BuffaloNickel Posted February 24, 2003 Author Share Posted February 24, 2003 someone emailed me without posting on the board and told me pretty much the same thing about the etrex. Now that I have 2 people commenting thus, it makes me wonder.... I'm still trying to decide, but the Magellan Meridan is in the lead! Thanks very much for your comments, and once I get my GPS, I can't wait to start! Thanks for your comments! Happy Hunting, D "Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but she did it backwards and in high heels!" Quote Link to comment
BuffaloNickel Posted February 24, 2003 Author Share Posted February 24, 2003 You don't metal detect anymore? Maybe you should take your MDer with ya when you geocache! I haven't been too much myself lately.... I've run out of places to go! But with a GPS and benchmarks, I think that opens up a whole new avenue! When I go geocaching, I will be toting my metal detecter too! Hey... you can't beat it... two great hobbies that can work in conjunction with each other! I'll let ya know how it goes! H.H.! D "Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but she did it backwards and in high heels!" Quote Link to comment
Cracker. Posted February 24, 2003 Share Posted February 24, 2003 I've only found about a dozen caches, a dozen benchmarks, and placed a 5-part multicache, and my Magellan continually gets me under 20' of anything I have found so far. Buffalo, is Silky Sullivan's still in business? Boy, the memories I have of Memphis!... Art www.yankeetoys.org www.BudBuilt.com http://www.ttora-ne.mainpage.net/ Quote Link to comment
BuffaloNickel Posted February 24, 2003 Author Share Posted February 24, 2003 Yes Art, Silkys is still there! and still fun, fun, fun! Just be sure you get a cab home! hee hee..... D. "Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but she did it backwards and in high heels!" Quote Link to comment
+DustyJacket Posted February 24, 2003 Share Posted February 24, 2003 Buffalo - use a Magellan Meridian Color. Kind of wish I could have afforded 2 GPS: One color Street Pilot and another more basic one for caching. I get worried banging that expensive thing around some cache locations. DustyJacket ...If life was fair, a banana split would cure cancer. Quote Link to comment
+altree Posted February 25, 2003 Share Posted February 25, 2003 Hi BuffaloNickle, i too am a metal detector nut that got into Geocaching. I have a Minelab Excalibur 800. I have paid for it three or four times over with gold i have found at the beaches in the water. I geocache with a Magellan gold and love it. I just placed my second cache, it was under heavy trees and the good ol magellan did not have a problem keeping 6 sats in lock. Keep up the good work Altree (you will not starve with a p38 and a can of food) Quote Link to comment
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