Recommendations for simple low-cost GPS?

I'm hoping to fish some more out-of-the-way places this year. I have a
compass and fairly good, though somewhat rusty, skills with it, but I'm
thinking about adding the higher tech (i.e., simpler, lazier g) option
as well... you know, something from which, when it fails, I can fall
back on the compass.....

Just looking for basic functions: coordinates for where the hell am I,
plus simple directions to get from wherever the hell I am to a given
coordinate (preferably somewhere cozy with cold beer).

In addition to low cost, because I expect I'll be hiking in to most of
these places, compact size and light weight are important.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

JR

I just got the Magellan Meridian Platinum for Christmas. It probably is more
than you want but it does have many of the bells and whistles and I like it.
While trying to decide what I wanted so that my girlfriend could give it to
me, I looked at a lot of different models. The Garmin eTrex's are definitely
lighter and more compact. I just didn't like the controls on the side. I
also got a response that they didn't do too well under the forest canopy in
finding the required 3 satellites.

Usenet has the alt.satellite.gps group plus one each for Garmin and
Magellan. Check out those to see what recommendations you can get.

-John
"JR" wrote in message
...
I'm hoping to fish some more out-of-the-way places this year. I have a
compass and fairly good, though somewhat rusty, skills with it, but I'm
thinking about adding the higher tech (i.e., simpler, lazier g) option
as well... you know, something from which, when it fails, I can fall
back on the compass.....

Just looking for basic functions: coordinates for where the hell am I,
plus simple directions to get from wherever the hell I am to a given
coordinate (preferably somewhere cozy with cold beer).

In addition to low cost, because I expect I'll be hiking in to most of
these places, compact size and light weight are important.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

JR

JohnR wrote:

I just got the Magellan Meridian Platinum for Christmas. It probably
is more than you want but it does have many of the bells and whistles
and I like it. While trying to decide what I wanted so that my
girlfriend could give it to me, I looked at a lot of different
models. The Garmin eTrex's are definitely lighter and more compact. I
just didn't like the controls on the side. I also got a response that
they didn't do too well under the forest canopy in finding the
required 3 satellites.

Usenet has the alt.satellite.gps group plus one each for Garmin and
Magellan. Check out those to see what recommendations you can get.

-John
"JR" wrote in message
...
I'm hoping to fish some more out-of-the-way places this year. I
have a compass and fairly good, though somewhat rusty, skills with
it, but I'm thinking about adding the higher tech (i.e., simpler,
lazier g) option as well... you know, something from which, when
it fails, I can fall back on the compass.....

Just looking for basic functions: coordinates for where the hell am
I, plus simple directions to get from wherever the hell I am to a
given coordinate (preferably somewhere cozy with cold beer).

In addition to low cost, because I expect I'll be hiking in to most
of these places, compact size and light weight are important.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

JR

Hi,

I have been using Garmin "e-Trexes" of various sorts for a couple of
years now and they work fine. The schools here have pretty well
standardised on the e-Trex Legend - it is perfect for kids because:
a. It is relatively cheap - the lowest end with a map we could find -
and yes, the map is worth it!
b. is small - think 30 kids with 10 or 15 of these things - but can be
worked easily
c. is waterproof and relatively damage resistant (no problem with
water, we broke one when a student dropped it on the road and it got
run over before retrieval...)
d. can be programmed into our GIS computer system (not something you're
likely to do, but then again, if you want to really get into this down
the road...)

The Garmins did used to be not as good in the heavy woods, we had a
couple of Summits that were a bit touchy under a canopy, but the Legend
seems to work just fine, even in the rather thick stuff here in Nova
Scotia. I would recommend them, and we tested many other makes and
models...

Hint- NEVER go just with the GPS - take your compass and know how to
use it - GPS have batteries, they die (also take extra batteries, but
they will still die sometime!)

Bill

School Board URL so you can see some of the kids "doings":
http://tricounty.ednet.ns.ca



--
reverse domain to reply

On Wed, 5 Jan 2005, JR wrote:

thinking about adding the higher tech (i.e., simpler, lazier g) option

If you are hiking in won't there be a trail? If you have to bushwhack
quite a ways to the water then doesn't that defeat the purpose of looking
to simplify/ease the hassle of going to the fishing hole? I can't really
think of places where I would put a GPS to work unless I was backpacking.
Maybe you know of some places where a GPS would be useful.

Mu

Mu Young Lee wrote:

On Wed, 5 Jan 2005, JR wrote:


thinking about adding the higher tech (i.e., simpler, lazier g) option


If you are hiking in won't there be a trail? If you have to bushwhack
quite a ways to the water then doesn't that defeat the purpose of looking
to simplify/ease the hassle of going to the fishing hole? I can't really
think of places where I would put a GPS to work unless I was backpacking.
Maybe you know of some places where a GPS woul

We have many high lakes around where I live, and some of them are quite
hard to find. The best fishing ones don't have trails to them and
typically require miles of bushwhacking. It's often worth it, though,
because the fishing can be fantastic, and the challenge of finding a
lake that no one may have visited in years is a joy in itself. People
jealously guard the locations of their favorite lakes. The only reliable
way I've found to get them to tell me is the old gambit, "If you show me
yours I'll show you mine."

I've used a GPS at times, but a good topographic map and a compass is
all I've really needed. On the other hand, the shock and horror of
realizing you're lost, while you're cold and tired and hungry and the
sun is going down, could make a GPS a comfort for serious bushwhacking.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

In article . net, rw
writes
I've used a GPS at times, but a good topographic map and a compass is
all I've really needed. On the other hand, the shock and horror of
realizing you're lost, while you're cold and tired and hungry and the
sun is going down, could make a GPS a comfort for serious bushwhacking.

Recently when hillwalking (hiking) in visibility of less than 100m the
GPS was VERY handy to locate my position on the map to help navigate to
my destination.

A lot of die hards decry the use of GPS, and seem to be totally opposed
to the newfangled technology which will make life easier for them.

Of course Map, compass and GPS make the almost perfect combination.

BTW I have a Garmin GPS 12 - a bit old but a nice bit of kit.
--
Bill Grey
http://www.billboy.co.uk

W. D. Grey wrote:
Recently when hillwalking (hiking) in visibility of less than 100m the
GPS was VERY handy to locate my position on the map to help navigate to
my destination.

A lot of die hards decry the use of GPS, and seem to be totally opposed
to the newfangled technology which will make life easier for them.

That's exactly what I'm thinking. I would continue to carry my compass
and a good topo map, and can always use them if necessary. The GPS is
entirely for convenience.

Have pretty much decided on a cheap ($94) Garmin eTrex. Early
versions are said to have had problems under tree canopies and heavy
cloud cover, but this appears to have been more or less remedied in the
current version.

JR

In article , JR
writes
That's exactly what I'm thinking. I would continue to carry my compass
and a good topo map, and can always use them if necessary. The GPS is
entirely for convenience.

Don't make the mistake of thinking the GPS is a convenience. It is an
integral part of navigation kit - and damned good it is.

The GPS will "lead you by the nose" to a Grid reference very accurately.
Also if you are out walking and things turn bad weather/visibility wise,
all you need do is return on your outward track following the
"breadcrumb" track on the GPS.
--
Bill Grey
http://www.billboy.co.uk

JR wrote in :

W. D. Grey wrote:
Recently when hillwalking (hiking) in visibility of less than 100m the
GPS was VERY handy to locate my position on the map to help navigate to
my destination.

A lot of die hards decry the use of GPS, and seem to be totally opposed
to the newfangled technology which will make life easier for them.

That's exactly what I'm thinking. I would continue to carry my compass
and a good topo map, and can always use them if necessary. The GPS is
entirely for convenience.

Have pretty much decided on a cheap ($94) Garmin eTrex. Early
versions are said to have had problems under tree canopies and heavy
cloud cover, but this appears to have been more or less remedied in the
current version.

JR

I like the eTrex line, but I'd recommend shelling out the couple of extra
bucks for the Legend. The extra mapping and computer interface
capabilities are really worth it.

Scott

"JR" wrote in message
...
I'm hoping to fish some more out-of-the-way places this year. I have a
compass and fairly good, though somewhat rusty, skills with it, but I'm
thinking about adding the higher tech (i.e., simpler, lazier g) option
as well... you know, something from which, when it fails, I can fall back
on the compass.....

//snip//

I've had a Magellan hand-held GPS unit for three or four years. It's fine
out in the open, but it needs a clear view of the satellites, and in the
woods or in steep canyons it has lots of trouble finding enough of them to
triangulate a position. I never take it backpacking any more because it's a
waste of time and weight. It would be great out on the plains or in a boat
or airplane.

When it works it's kind of neat. If I lay it on the dash of my car it will
calculate the speed and location (in three dimensions) quite accurately, and
it will tell me that from my house to a particular spot on Snowbird creek
is, say, 485 miles.

Maybe new ones are sensitive enough to reduce the reception problem, but I'd
suggest before buying one that you see if the store will let you try one out
in the place where you expect to use it.

Bob