+harrisale Posted February 25, 2005 Share Posted February 25, 2005 (edited) Hi, I am just starting out in GeoCaching and am planning to buy a GPS Unit. Are there any good models out there for beginners with a low budget? And what are some good brand names? Thanx for the help. ====Alex==== Edited February 25, 2005 by Harris_Alex Quote Link to comment
+Seay me Posted February 25, 2005 Share Posted February 25, 2005 The one I and many many others started out with is the Garmin etrex yellow. They start right at 100 bucks and is a great little unit. Garmin has the 'geko' line out now too which are very simple and compact, but I have not personal expierence with the geko. I'm sure others will chime in. Quote Link to comment
+JohnnyVegas Posted February 25, 2005 Share Posted February 25, 2005 What would you consider a low budget? Quote Link to comment
peter Posted February 25, 2005 Share Posted February 25, 2005 And what are some good brand names? Garmin, Lowrance, and Magellan are all good reliable brands. The only units I'd avoid are those that lack any kind of computer interface - that includes the Garmin Geko101, the Lowrance Go & Go2, and the Magellan eXplorist 100/200/300. Even those will all work ok for geocaching but I expect you'll find it much more enjoyable to be able to download waypoints and there are many other GPS applications that require connection to a computer. Specific models are the basic eTrex and older Magellan 330s or basic Meridians at under $100, and at a little higher price, the eTrex Legend, Magellan SporTrackMap, and Lowrance iFinder - all around $130-150. Quote Link to comment
+JohnnyVegas Posted February 25, 2005 Share Posted February 25, 2005 The Magellan 330 in no longer made, check tigerGPS.com, they have good prices and they have had the Magellan Sport track map on clearance for $169.99 and Magellan has a rebate for and extrs $30.00, at $139.99 tis is a very good price for a mapping GPS, they also have the garmin e-trex legand for about $142.00. Even If you don't think you will ever want to load a detailed map into your GPS both of these will include the Data cable for loading waypoints into your GPS. Quote Link to comment
Neo_Geo Posted February 25, 2005 Share Posted February 25, 2005 (edited) And what are some good brand names? STAY AWAY FROM COBRA! The term "Mickey Mouse" implies that there is some level of functionality to a device. Cobras are not even "Mickey Mouse". Edited February 25, 2005 by Neo_Geo Quote Link to comment
+JohnnyVegas Posted February 26, 2005 Share Posted February 26, 2005 And what are some good brand names? STAY AWAY FROM COBRA! The term "Mickey Mouse" implies that there is some level of functionality to a device. Cobras are not even "Mickey Mouse". A few years ago Cobra tried to by the Lowrance GPS division. What a disaster that would have been. Quote Link to comment
+KiAyker Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 STAY AWAY FROM COBRA! The term "Mickey Mouse" implies that there is some level of functionality to a device. Cobras are not even "Mickey Mouse". About a year ago I was given a Cobra 500 as a gift. While figuring out how to use it I discovered Geocaching! As of today I have found 177 caches with a half dozen or so FTF's. Not bad for a casual cacher who only does a few in the early mornings of the weekends before I start my day. So what's the moral of this story? Well, either; #1. The Cobras are not really as bad as people like to make them out to be, or; #2. Virtually any gps will work just fine for this game. Take your pick Quote Link to comment
+Learned Gerbil Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 Magellan 315, 320 and 330 seem to be almost indestructable and can be picked up cheap with cables etc second hand or remaindered. They are all good units that have al lthe features you need for caching. The 310 can be used for caching but is less accurate. Quote Link to comment
+Mudinyeri Posted March 1, 2005 Share Posted March 1, 2005 Garmin eTrex Yellow - $81 at Wally World. Quote Link to comment
+Sputnik 57 Posted March 1, 2005 Share Posted March 1, 2005 (edited) Garmin Yellow Etrex is a good unit, but doesn't come with a data cable. For a tiny bit more, I would suggest a Garmin Legend. It has mapping capability, comes with a data cable, and is only a few dollars more than the cost of the Yellow plus a cable. Edit: Good GPS reviews and "what should I buy?" can be found at gpsinformation.net Edited March 1, 2005 by Sputnik 57 Quote Link to comment
+Rubberhead Posted March 1, 2005 Share Posted March 1, 2005 Garmin Yellow Etrex is a good unit, but doesn't come with a data cable. For a tiny bit more, I would suggest a Garmin Legend. It has mapping capability, comes with a data cable, and is only a few dollars more than the cost of the Yellow plus a cable. Edit: Good GPS reviews and "what should I buy?" can be found at gpsinformation.net I was thinking the same thing. The Legend is a much better unit for only a little bit more money. Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted March 1, 2005 Share Posted March 1, 2005 If you're on a very tight budget, the Garmin Geko 101 is under $50. As someone here mentioned, it can't hook up to your computer so is only suitable for the most casual geocachers. If you get semi into the sport, you will outgrow it quickly. The Garmin Legend is a good choice. At $130 is a mapping GPS that is compact, lightweight and easy to use. Quote Link to comment
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