GPS

I've never had a need for a GPS, I guess I'm just a map & compass
luddite, but I can foresee occasions where one might come in handy.

I don't want or need a lot of bells and whistles, I do want a USB
port that can connect to my Mac, waterproof and long battery life,
but basically I just need something to tell me I'm in the general
vicinity of where the floatplane is going to land to pick me up.

Anybody on roff have suggestions in the under $300 range ?

--
Ken Fortenberry

On Feb 22, 7:27*pm, Ken Fortenberry
wrote:
I've never had a need for a GPS, I guess I'm just a map & compass
luddite, but I can foresee occasions where one might come in handy.

I don't want or need a lot of bells and whistles, I do want a USB
port that can connect to my Mac, waterproof and long battery life,
but basically I just need something to tell me I'm in the general
vicinity of where the floatplane is going to land to pick me up.

Anybody on roff have suggestions in the under $300 range ?

I like the Garmin GPS Map 60CX but it's over $300 but this is the same
unit without the color:

http://www.thegpsstore.com/Garmin-GP...PS-P608C2.aspx

Only problem with Garmin is the MAC operating system, but Garmin now
has Mac interface you can download for free so it communicates with
the system but IIRC you still need the Windows shell (I use Parallels)
to run their map software but that may have changed in the past year.

On Feb 22, 7:49*pm, wrote:


Only problem with Garmin is the MAC operating system, but Garmin now
has Mac interface you can download for free so it communicates with
the system but IIRC you still need the Windows shell (I use Parallels)
to run their map software but that may have changed in the past year.

And change it did, I just saw where they now have a topo for mac
software package.

On Feb 22, 4:49*pm, wrote:

Only problem with Garmin is the MAC operating system, but Garmin now
has Mac interface you can download for free so it communicates with
the system but IIRC you still need the Windows shell (I use Parallels)
to run their map software but that may have changed in the past year.

All GPS vendors I'm aware of, and particularly Garmin, are notoriously
poor
with their Mac support (if they have any at all). Just because Garmin
advertises a Mac interface, that doesn't mean it works. (You'll
probably have to buy another cable, as well).

There are two solutions:

You can run Windows in a virtual mode with Parallels or VMware. Yuck.
It's cool that virtualization works, allowing Mac users to run Windows
or
Linux or whatever with little overhead, but it's like the dog that
sings.
It's not that he sings well, but that he sings at all.

You can use third-party softwa http://www.gpsy.com/. I haven't used
GPSy (pronounced "gypsy"), but it's been well reviewed. I'd like to
know
how it works if you decide to try it. You'll still need another cable
which
you can buy at the GPSy website.

On Feb 23, 10:00*am, wrote:
On Feb 22, 4:49*pm, wrote:

There are two solutions:

Or, you could boot in Windows with Boot Camp. Probably more reliable
and faster than virtualization, but again, yuck.

This assumes you have an Intel-based Mac.

On Feb 23, 1:00*pm, wrote:

Just because Garmin
advertises a Mac interface, that doesn't mean it works. (You'll
probably have to buy another cable, as well).

I have three Garmin GPS' in my household, the GPS 60CX, the Nuvi 255W,
and my daughter has an Etrex model (actually a fourth one-my old
garmin resides somewhere in the basement).

The new Mac interface works with all three as advertised for
downloading from the Garmin site without the need for another cable.
The bigger problem I had before this interface software became
available was getting the windows shell to recognize the usb interface
for the GPS 6OCX and the Etrex, both of which are no longer an issue
since Garmin updated their software.

On Feb 23, 12:00*pm, wrote:
On Feb 23, 1:00*pm, wrote:

Just because Garmin
advertises a Mac interface, that doesn't mean it works. (You'll
probably have to buy another cable, as well).

I have three Garmin GPS' in my household, the GPS 60CX, the Nuvi 255W,
and my daughter has an Etrex model (actually a fourth one-my old
garmin resides somewhere in the basement).

The new Mac interface works with all three as advertised for
downloading from the Garmin site without the need for another cable.
The bigger problem I had before this interface software became
available was getting the windows shell to recognize the usb interface
for the GPS 6OCX and the Etrex, both of which are no longer an issue
since Garmin updated their software.

That's good news for Mac users. Thanks for the update.

On Feb 22, 7:27*pm, Ken Fortenberry
wrote:

Anybody on roff have suggestions in the under $300 range ?

I don't have one, but #1 Son has a Garmin Nuvi 255W. I tried it out a
few trios, & it's pretty cool.

Joe F.

On Feb 23, 10:11*am, rb608 wrote:
On Feb 22, 7:27*pm, Ken Fortenberry

wrote:

Anybody on roff have suggestions in the under $300 range ?

I don't have one, but #1 Son has a Garmin Nuvi 255W. *I tried it out a
few trios, & it's pretty cool.

Joe F.

I am a map and compass virtuoso (not a luddite) from many years
leading canoe trips into the backwaters of Northern Canada. I still
navigate through towns by the sun, moon and stars...SWMBO (total city
girl) gets a kick out of how I can glance at the shadows or the phase
of the moon, and tell instantly what direction east is, or what
direction we are headed in the car.

However, because she cannot navigate in HK easily (its a real maze), I
bought her a Garmin Nuvi 255W last summer for about $200, and its a
real toy. Definitely lots of fun gadgets, and you can see when your
ETA is, save locations, see a map from 'windshield view', etc. Lots
there to love for gizmo-heads.

However, last summer I was using it to drive from Maine to the Windsor
Locks, then down to Indiana, and back to Maine (visiting some roffians
along the way). SWMBO called me on my cell phone from South Africa
while I was driving through the wilds of northern Vermont (that alone
was a little mind-boggling) and asked how the GPS was serving me.

I replied: "Oh my god, its excellent!! I know with 100% certainty when
I drive through these little towns which way to go, and I can tell
with absolute confidence that I am on the correct road to get there in
the least amount of time. Its incredible!"

She asked: "So where are you now?"

"I have absolutely no idea" I replied.

And that's the crux of the bisquit. You lose all sense of place when
you use them; instead you rely on the GPS to keep track of your
journey instead of constantly checking landmarks, keeping mental tabs
on surroundings, mapping the 'big picture' in your mind and knowing
where you are on it, etc.

Personally, I can see the allure for those who don;t want to think so
much, but I'd rather not have it with me for most adventures.

--riverman

riverman wrote:
rb608 wrote:
Ken Fortenberry wrote:
Anybody on roff have suggestions in the under $300 range ?
I don't have one, but #1 Son has a Garmin Nuvi 255W. I tried it out a
few trios, & it's pretty cool.

I am a map and compass virtuoso (not a luddite) from many years
leading canoe trips into the backwaters of Northern Canada. ...

I do fine with map & compass too, my Silva Ranger is a great tool,
but I have only one thing to say about Canadian topos and Her Royal
Majesty's cartographers. They suck. Big time SUCK.

snip
Personally, I can see the allure for those who don;t want to think so
much, but I'd rather not have it with me for most adventures.

Yeah, I can certainly understand that sentiment, that's exactly why
I don't have one already. I accompanied a Yellowstone field biologist
into the backcountry to service some hair traps she had set up in a
search for lynx. She was totally dependent on her GPS, without it she
was toast. We returned to the vicinity of our campsite one day and the
GPS said we were standing in the middle of it. But we weren't, the look
of panic on her face was scary. We were about 30 yards away but she'd
have never found it in the gloaming without me. I decided then to never
depend totally on the things in the backcountry.

But having said that, I'm going to get one anyway for that northern
Ontario trip we were talking about. I'll have to meet a floatplane at
a spot on the map where I've never been and I want to make damn sure
I don't miss my ride.

--
Ken Fortenberry