How does one hold a handheld GPS?

[Guest Khao Mun Gai]

Do you hold it flat - like its laying on a table - and look down at the screen?

 

Or do you hold it upright - with the antenna pointing to the sky - and look straight into it?

[Guest Harv]

Well, the built-in antenna usually wants to be held upright. The manual for my GPSMAP 76 says that it should be held pointing up or nearly up.

 

But in reality, most people will hold it semi-flat with an upward tilt, I think.

[Guest gstrong1]

The MAP76 should be held upright or near upright for best results.It makes a vast difference from holding horizontally, as the whole eTrex line should be held.I found this out the hard way.All in the antenna design.

[Guest cache_ninja]

usually you hold it upright, however, after doing so for awhile and not picking up many satellites, you might wan to try pointing it in different directions and at different angles from the horizon, you might pick up more birds. or, if you are, uh, standing under a bridge, you can point outward and may pick more up etc..

[Guest peter]

Depends on which GPS you have. The following GPSRs should be held nearly vertical:

Magellan 310/315/330

Garmin 76/Map76

 

These should be held horizontally or with the top end up just slightly:

Garmin eTrex/Summit/Venture/Legend/Vista

Garmin 12/12XL/12CX/12Map

Garmin eMap

Garmin 38/40

 

And the Garmin II/II+/III/III+/V/45/48 should have the antenna pointed up.