Need help choosing GPS.

Ozark John · 03-12-2004, 08:28 AM

I am interested in getting a GPS unit primarily for driving back-country roads. I prefer a handheld unit in the $300 to $500 range.
In trying to learn which one would suit my needs by online shopping, I find myself more confused. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks,
oj

2003 Wrangler X

**Whybu1** · 03-12-2004, 08:41 AM

GARMIN V Its a good unit, has all the fetures you need and is both vehicle mountable and handheld. I've had mine for a year and it works great.

**AgentZed** · 03-12-2004, 08:49 AM

The road databases often are less reliable for back roads and obscure areas. So don't get your hopes up too much that you'll always get suitable road navigation in such areas. Garmin allows you to test drive their maps online from their website, so you can check out areas that you might be going to see what coverage they have before you buy.

The handheld units are usually NOT optimized for road driving. There are a few that do have street navigation on a handheld, but usually sacrifice lots of advanced features relative to the car-based units. Do you *really* need handheld and battery-operation? Or are you merely wanting something easy to take along in whatever car you are going in?

I ended up getting the Garmin StreetPilot 2610. While it is over the top of your price range, it is a sensational unit. Must plug into a cigarette lighter plug, but otherwise is very portable. Even has a bean-bag mount, so all you need to do is set it on the dash, plug it in and go.

04JeepTJ · 03-12-2004, 08:51 AM

I second the Garmin V and that form factor.

I have the eTrex Vista which is smaller and not as good but GREAT for hiking and geocaching. The GPS V has a quad helix antenna (better, bigger) than the eTrex series which has a "Patch" antenna. The GPS V also has better routing.

I got mine from GPSDiscount.com - they have pretty good prices and are an authorized dealer (important if you want to buy one that has a MFR rebate!).

So if size matters a lot (it does with me, even though the GPS V form factor isn't THAT much bigger) then get the eTrex, if functionalty matter more (esp routing) then get the V.

Garmin has other models that are coming out but I've noticed that their screen isn't as impressive. They may be color but if you've got a bigger screen you need a higher resolution to show more data on it. I don't care if my interstates are shown blue and my dirt roads ares shown brown... but if you've got the money to spend.....

**igofshn** · 03-12-2004, 09:19 AM

I have the Garmin V with all topo maps. It is great. $300. The topo detail is awesome.

GringoPerdido · 03-12-2004, 09:33 AM

Magellan Meridian series. Better reception than most due to quad helix antenna, basically unlimited memory expansion for maps and waypoint files on SD cards. With portable mount works OK for vehicle driving, excellent for hand held use. I use three magellans extensively for geocaching, and hooked up to a laptop running Nat Geo TOPO! in the Jeep for a killer moving map when wheelin'.

New Garmin 60C and 60CS are suppposed to be great units as well.

All brands of mapping GPS use proprietary software for maps. Don't expect actual topo detail. Have had GPS since inception in everything from Learjets to Jeeps. Stick with Garmin or Magellan.

Handheld units offer greater versatility than automobile designed units including the manual input of lat long or UTM coordinates. Many of the newer versions offer direct routing software as well.

Good luck with your choice.

Stormtrooper · 03-12-2004, 11:45 AM

I have a Garmin GPS 76S. It was recommended to me by a buddy of mine who is a Force Recon Marine. He said all the guys in his unit use them. Its accurate, has a ton of nifty features, lots of memory, waterproof, and it floats. I had it on the dash the otherday when i went around a corner. damn thing flew off the dash, out the window and onto the street. Besides a couple scratches on the corner it was fine. The waterproof feature may not seem practical, but i figure if it keeps out water, then it also keeps out dust. Another cool feature on the thing is that it has an electronic compass and a barometric altimeter (which i guess makes the altitude measurements very accurate). I bought it for 400 bux.

**Level_1** · 03-12-2004, 12:13 PM

I have a Magellan Meridian Gold and like it. It has all the features the others have spoken of. Garmin makes excellant receivers as well. Pick one and learn to use it. If you get one with the electronic compass buy a cheap liquid filled map compass and keep it with your GPS. Sometimes the electronic ones loose their calibration. It's always good to know how to read a map and use a compass anyway. The GPS is the cream on top. Good luck and enjoy.

**LoneJeeper** · 03-12-2004, 12:13 PM

I'd recommend the Garmin V myself. The Garmin software is pretty good as far as roads go, but the really cool thing is the PC Interface cable. I run a 110 inverter in one cigarette jack and run the laptop on that and get a full color screen navigation. That matched up with a cellular modem and it's a hell of a tool.

i get my GPS stuff from GPSGeek store on E-Bay.

Another good company to look into is Delorme for software, they've got a 3d engine that translates the topographic information into a 3d picture. it's flat out awesome.
they've got a palmpilot accessory that's supposed to be pretty good, i use the USB module as a matter of preference, it's quicker to access the satellites and seems to be a tad more accurate.

http://www.delorme.com/earthmate/

But no matter what, you're gonna need a paper map, i recommend the http://www.delorme.com/atlasgaz/ as a good supplement to the GPS.

HTH
LJ

**LoneJeeper** · 03-12-2004, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smunwin

Another cool feature on the thing is that it has an electronic compass and a barometric altimeter (which i guess makes the altitude measurements very accurate). I bought it for 400 bux.

electronic compass is a cool feature, as you don't need to move for it to know which direction you're going. regular GPS units require you to move so that it can figure out your direction from the vector. I tend to not trust either, liquid compasses are cheap.

The altimiter (which has limited use for me, so i tend to not use it) on a regular GPS has to figure out altitude from triangulation on signals from the satelittes, which can vary on accuracy as much as your location does. A Barometric altimiter would be a lot more accurate, which is great if you'd like to see how much further you have to the top i guess.

HTH
LJ

**Jerry Bransford** · 03-12-2004, 01:36 PM

Be sure to check out the brand-new Garmin GPSMAP 60CS at http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsmap60cs/# . It looks like THE handheld GPS for the moment. I'll be ordering mine asap, I've been waiting for it for a few months now and it just started shipping early this week.

**Whybu1** · 03-12-2004, 03:09 PM

The Garmin maps don't aways have the backroads but it does track your movement so you can always backtrack to get home. I use it that way to drive powerlines. Its road data base is pretty good and the computer interface is a good feature.

TJ Willy · 03-12-2004, 04:17 PM

For those of you in the gps circles - this is the old joe.mehaffy.com(sp?) site.

These guys know everything when it comes to gps. I have been using gps on a recreational basis for about 4 years. What I mean is using gps for primary navigation on hunts for items. http://www.geocaching.com. Not sticking it up on the dash and watching the breadcrumb grow as I make distance. Or using it get to the closest Hard Rock Cafe. I have dropped it, fell on it, drowned it, sweat on it for hours, and it still rocks. I got three satellite locks last night from office in my house. Closest window was about 4-5 feet away.

I have to say that I have heard more talk between gps owners than I care to. It is like round vs square...

IMHO - I like Magellan Meridian Platinum. THE PRIMARY reason for this is the antenna as mentioned in another post. You will not get a better reception under heavy canopy than in the Meridian series. It is kinda big, but it still floats and is water proof... well I don't know about proof, but I have had mine submerged and it came out just fine. The memory is great. I chose my digital camera b/c I share SD cards b/t the two devices. The maps are as good as any. I also connect to my laptop with it (for a bigger view of the map) and it works awesome on trips. My MeriPlat gets me to within 1-10 feet of an ammo can burried in a dead stump in the middle of Atchefalaya Swamp in the middle of no where. I know it works.

It is a refined GPS made for rugged encounters... much like the TJ --

Whatever you buy, go to the manufacturer site immediately and check for firmware upgrades. I recommend a pc connector cable as your first gps purchase.

http://www.gpsinformation.net will teach more than you want to know.

I have friends that swear by Garmin and it is a good unit. It is always fun though to see the Garminites walking circles around a geocache while the Magellen owners are sitting back watching b/c they already found it. (I am talking about group geocache hunts)

Sorry for the long winded post and any typos... I am in a big hurry...

HTH's
Phil

edit: fixed the link... it is .net and not .com Ooops

DouginTN · 03-12-2004, 05:49 PM

I just went through this exercise last month. I had ordered a Garmin Vista from Amazon.com, and lucky for me they screwed up the order.
When I found out they screwed up the order, I did a search online for Garmin, and to my surprise, I found numerous websites that stated the Garmin Vista was no good in mountains or in dense tree coverage. Some sites compared the Garmin with a Megallan, and in all those sites, the Magellan didn't lose a signal, while the Garmin constantly lost the signal.
I then called two of my friends who have GPS units, and one wanted to sell me a Garmin that he just replaced with a Magellan. The other said he didn't use his Garmin anymore due to problems while in the Canyons.
I did some research at Magellan and on other sites, and had determined for my use, the Magellan Sportrak was the way to go. Then, I discovered the Magellan Sportrak TOPO.
Like I said, I had decided on the Magellan Sportrak Pro, and I was going to purchase a CD Rom with US topo information. Well, lo and behold, the Magellan Sportrak TOPO comes with 100 meg of loaded topo information for all the US, Hawaii, and part of Alaska. It also has 8 meg of roads loaded. It has 16 meg of free memory for loading more customized information. It also includes the complete TOPO CD ROM, that normally costs between $99-130.00. The price of the TOPO was $80.00 more than the PRO, so it more than paid for itself immediately. (I do plan on getting the road CD.)
I received the unit about three weeks ago, and it captured satellites while sitting on the first floor of a two-story house, and I mean it captured at least five or six satellites. The "friend" who tried to sell me his Garmin came over and we compared units. He had to go outside to go into 3-D mode since he could only capture two satellites at the most, while in the living room.
It is extremely easy to use, although the owner's manual is quite insufficient. However, it is very intuitive, so I just played with it, and referenced the manual when I required an answer.
I have since purchased a window mount, and a DC power adapter, that allows you to connect the DC power adapter to the mount, and just slide in the GPS unit. It then works off the car, versus the batteries.
I had some questions for Megallan, so I wrote their customer technical support, and the next day received a reply, requesting my phone number. I sent back my phone number, and within an hour, I was contacted by a Megallan rep. I was amazed at their customer service.
As for the detail of their CD ROM material. I was in Utah last year and traveled the Potash/White Rim trail inside Canyonlands National Park. The Potash road is primarily a road that goes through a Potash site, is privately owned, and technically, it disappear for a few miles, and the track eventually connects to the White Rim Trail.
Both of these roads were displayed on the CD ROM. The White Rim Trail was not named, but it was displayed. These roads are quite remote, and I was surprised they would be displayed.
Can I say that Garmin does not make some good units? No; however, from what I read, mostly in regard to the Vista model, and from what I heard from two people who have had these units for some time, I had to go with Magellan. (The Garmin units my friends had were a few years old, and many advances have been made.)
The Sportrak TOPO, as well as the PRO are both WAAS enabled for better accuracy under the right conditions.
I ended up purchasing the TOPO from Cabelas. Amazon had them, I believe, but my experience with the Garmin turned me to another store with the same price.
Good luck...

I should also add, the unit came with a PC cord for connection to a serial port, which works great for me. The unit is dust and water proof, and they offer some great accessories such as the window mount, DC adapter, and a decent selection of neoprene cases.

**Jerry Bransford** · 03-12-2004, 10:49 PM

I've owned Magellan, it was my first GPS, and then I switched to Garmin... and having owned both brands, I'll never own another Magellan. I use my Garmin for flying (and driving) and its user interface is about 9,000 times easier, to me anyway, to use and figure out than the Magellan was. Maybe Magellan's user interface is better now than when I owned one but among pilots who crave simplicity for those unexpected gotta-land-NOW situations, probably 99.99999999% own Garmin and the biggest reason is the easier user interface.

Accuracy-wise, there's not a lick of difference between them if both are receiving good satellite coverage and both have equal features like WAAS, etc..