GPS?
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Im still learning to use an Etrex...the Vista model. Its one that has been used in places like Afghanistan and Iraq, so as far as being tested...well, its lasted there so thats good enough for me. Its waterproof also, my buddy put his in the sink overnight just to make and it worked fine the next day. Its also less than 300 bucks, which is competetive with others on the market without costing an arm and a leg. I should be pretty good with this thing, but im a slow learner...im more of a map and compass type guy. Its an excellent tool though.
http://www.garmin.com/products/etrexVista/
http://www.garmin.com/products/etrexVista/
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i use an e trex also, but i just got the cheap one(the yellow one) and it works great and is by far the simplest one to use. i had a magellan before and i never figured that thing out(maybe the newer ones are easier)e trex only has 3 or 4 buttons to remember. which you will appreciate if you are like me and only break it out every winter and have to remember how to use it again.
I'm a big fan of Garmin GPS's. Currently I'm on my fourth GPS (in about 8 years). I started with the GPS 12, then went to the eTrex Legend, then GPSMap 76S, and now the GPSMap 76CS. Here's some pearls of wisdom I've learned from this...
When buying a GPS, don't forget to budget for the maps which are usually an extra $100-150. There are several non-mapping GPS's still on the market, don't bother with them (or I can sell you my old GPS 12). Spend the money and get a mapping GPS with the maps.
I haven't use Magellan GPS's so I can't say how good they are, but... Garmin has roughly 80% of the handheld GPS market. Magellan has maybe 18%.
Having a barometric altimeter and magnetic compass isn't as useful as you might think. Oddly enough, the only time I use the magnetic compass is when I'm in my inflatable pontoon boat.
The more memory you have for maps the better. The 8 meg that was in my eTrex Legend is simply not enough today. The GPSMap 76S has 24 meg and that's just barely enough for short trips. The 76CS has 115 meg and that's great! I believe that the newer Garmin units all have 56 meg or more.
Magellan can use flash cards to expand their storage, which is great, but their map management is terrible so you get some bad with good.
Well, I could go on and on about GPS's so I think I should stop here. If anyone has specific questions about them I'll chime in again...
When buying a GPS, don't forget to budget for the maps which are usually an extra $100-150. There are several non-mapping GPS's still on the market, don't bother with them (or I can sell you my old GPS 12). Spend the money and get a mapping GPS with the maps.
I haven't use Magellan GPS's so I can't say how good they are, but... Garmin has roughly 80% of the handheld GPS market. Magellan has maybe 18%.
Having a barometric altimeter and magnetic compass isn't as useful as you might think. Oddly enough, the only time I use the magnetic compass is when I'm in my inflatable pontoon boat.
The more memory you have for maps the better. The 8 meg that was in my eTrex Legend is simply not enough today. The GPSMap 76S has 24 meg and that's just barely enough for short trips. The 76CS has 115 meg and that's great! I believe that the newer Garmin units all have 56 meg or more.
Magellan can use flash cards to expand their storage, which is great, but their map management is terrible so you get some bad with good.
Well, I could go on and on about GPS's so I think I should stop here. If anyone has specific questions about them I'll chime in again...
G
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·I have the Lowrance iFinderH20 and I love it!FISHNBEER said:
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I have a Magellan Meridian Gold. Its functional and can down load lots of waypoints. It generally gets me within feet of a mark.
I like the mapping models. It give me a better reference when I am going to a mark. Also having something that will let you put in routes is good too especially if you are trolling and want to run a specific path.
But as always buy the best that you can afford for your needs.
Dan
I like the mapping models. It give me a better reference when I am going to a mark. Also having something that will let you put in routes is good too especially if you are trolling and want to run a specific path.
But as always buy the best that you can afford for your needs.
Dan
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My staff got me a significant gift certificate to Gander for my birthday recently (love them). I went there a couple nights ago to get a kayak for fishing small to midsize lakes (like Quincy and Chatfield). I somehow ran into the same salesman who talked me into a couple of rifles that I didn't need in the past. I looked at some GPS units and wound up walking out with ....an eTrex Vista! Thanks for reinforcing my confidence in my purchase, cause I didn't know a whole lot about them. I just like the fact that it didn't have very many buttons. I subscribed to a topographic online service. I'm going to look to see if there are any high mountain streams and lakes in Afghanistan. I wonder how the fishing is in the Hindu Kush-I'll bet it's great. Of course, I'm sure Osama and his boys fish with a grenade.
Now, I have to figure out a way to have another birthday without adding a year to my age so I can get another gift certificate. I'd like to get a kayak. I got an inflatable kayak at REI that's bright yellow. It seats a couple of people and my little girls loved it, so I gave in--it was fairly cheap. Now I have buyers remorse because I think it looks like a toy. It's not because it is really high quality and has a picture of a couple of kids in whitewater on the box (and smiling!). Maybe I'll just try to get over the fact that it looks like a Donald Duck blow-up boat and give it a try. It is super light and I'm sure I appreciate it when I have to carry it some distance to the water at 11,000 feet.
Now, I have to figure out a way to have another birthday without adding a year to my age so I can get another gift certificate. I'd like to get a kayak. I got an inflatable kayak at REI that's bright yellow. It seats a couple of people and my little girls loved it, so I gave in--it was fairly cheap. Now I have buyers remorse because I think it looks like a toy. It's not because it is really high quality and has a picture of a couple of kids in whitewater on the box (and smiling!). Maybe I'll just try to get over the fact that it looks like a Donald Duck blow-up boat and give it a try. It is super light and I'm sure I appreciate it when I have to carry it some distance to the water at 11,000 feet.
hey davidk is your old gps 12 just a 12 or is it the 12+ i been looking for a 12+ and would be interested
just about any thing from garmin magelan or trimble will be good as they are GPS manufacturers and have been around from the begining the others like lorance are just packagers they dont build the GPS them selves kinda like craftsmantools the units get built for them buy someone else.
although if i was going to get a high end combo fish finder/gps i would look at the top end lorance color units but for a dedicated portable GPS my dream machine is a trimble RECON ( http://www.trimble.com/recon_mgis_handheld.shtml ) or a trimble GeoXT ( http://www.trimble.com/geoxt.shtml ) i wish i could get a custom blend of the 2 but until i can afford one of these gems ill make due with my gamin 12 or maybe a 12+ if the gps gods are smiling on me
just about any thing from garmin magelan or trimble will be good as they are GPS manufacturers and have been around from the begining the others like lorance are just packagers they dont build the GPS them selves kinda like craftsmantools the units get built for them buy someone else.
although if i was going to get a high end combo fish finder/gps i would look at the top end lorance color units but for a dedicated portable GPS my dream machine is a trimble RECON ( http://www.trimble.com/recon_mgis_handheld.shtml ) or a trimble GeoXT ( http://www.trimble.com/geoxt.shtml ) i wish i could get a custom blend of the 2 but until i can afford one of these gems ill make due with my gamin 12 or maybe a 12+ if the gps gods are smiling on me
It's a GPS 12, not the 12+. I bought it a long time ago for about $150. Although you can still buy referbished units for $75-ish I can't believe people are getting that kind of money for one. It's value is probably so low these days that it isn't worth trying to sell it... That being said, it is in good condition. :
I also have an "extra" Garmin GPSMap 76S that I might consider parting with.
I also have an "extra" Garmin GPSMap 76S that I might consider parting with.
I use to have a Magellan SportTrak Pro, it was easy to use, very accurate (I use to do alot of geocaching), had topo and street maps, small and portable, waterproof and floated. I loved it, but when I was in New Mexico my car was broke into and it was stolen havent been able to replace it yet.
I have seen alot of different GPSs and spent alot of time looking at them before I bought one, so for me this one was the best way to go.
I have seen alot of different GPSs and spent alot of time looking at them before I bought one, so for me this one was the best way to go.
I have a Garmin Etrex Venture which is OK. It's light and has enough features. I use it mostly for running as I have this photographic memory for anywhere that I caught a fish (and what I was using, and who I was with, etc). A lot of you guys have that type of memory too I'm sure! ;D
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