Bogley

Sombeech · Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 12124 Location: The Rubbish Bin

I've been looking at getting one. What kind of GPS do you guys have, or prefer?

What kind of software?

Udink · Joined: 21 Jul 2005 Posts: 821 Location: Price, Utah

I've got a Garmin eTrex Legend, and I love it. I don't really need maps on my GPS (the built-in basemap has been sufficient for the past two years), so I haven't really considered upgrading. The one downside has been that signal loss appears to be more common with this unit than some of the Magellans I've seen. My sister and I went caching together once in a narrow canyon, and while I had no signal, she was tracking a few satellites just fine with her Meridian Gold.

For software, I just use ExpertGPS, and lately Google Earth. I do a lot of pre-planning before any caching trip, and ExpertGPS has been great for planning routes and deciding which caches to go after. It just uses TerraServer topo maps and satellite images, but the interface is what makes it great to use.

Sombeech · Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 12124 Location: The Rubbish Bin

Udink wrote: For software, I just use ExpertGPS, and lately Google Earth. I do a lot of pre-planning before any caching trip, and ExpertGPS has been great for planning routes and deciding which caches to go after. It just uses TerraServer topo maps and satellite images, but the interface is what makes it great to use.

So, does Google Earth work with these GPS'?

That's pretty cool.

When your sister was getting better "reception", don't they all use the same satellites? Maybe different companies have "rights" to more satellites?

Udink · Joined: 21 Jul 2005 Posts: 821 Location: Price, Utah

Sombeech wrote: So, does Google Earth work with these GPS'?

That's pretty cool.

When your sister was getting better "reception", don't they all use the same satellites? Maybe different companies have "rights" to more satellites?

You have to subscribe to Google Earth Plus in order to get it to work with your GPS, but the plain version will at least open GPX files so you can display waypoints and tracks on the Google maps.

As for the reception, all GPS units have access to the same satellites. I think it's just a matter of how the unit's built and how well the antenna works (both the Legend and the Meridian Gold have internal antennas).

Black Mage · Joined: 21 Jul 2005 Posts: 71 Location: Sunset, Utah

I too have the standard issue Garmin eTrex Legend. Personally I think it provides the most functions and capabilities for the lowest price (usually in the $160 - $180 range). Though I wouldn't mind getting a Garmin GPSMAP 60cs. That unit actually has geocaching features built-in, though it does cost about $530.

fourtycal · Joined: 13 May 2005 Posts: 926 Location: Midvale

Garmin eTrex Vista, for three years now. Though if I had to do it over again I would have bought a Legend and saved a hundred bucks. I turn off most of the fancy features cause they eat batteries. I have topo but never use it.

KillEmAll · Joined: 10 Dec 2004 Posts: 475 Location: Layton, UT

I have the etrex legend. I love it. It has 8mb for downloads. I actually use that quite a bit. Personally I would spend the few extra bucks and get it. It's a nice feature. I've seen them for $140, so it's really not that much more than one that you can't download to.

DeViDe · Joined: 21 Jul 2005 Posts: 16 Location: South Jordan

I have a Garmin GPSmap 60CS. It is an excellant unit designed especially for GeoCachers. You can get them for around $350.

derstuka · Joined: 16 Jul 2005 Posts: 1275 Location: San Diego, CA

dang...I guess we all have e-trex legend! Even my two brothers and dad have one

Sombeech · Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 12124 Location: The Rubbish Bin

derstuka wrote: dang...I guess we all have e-trex legend! Even my two brothers and dad have one

Looks like the one to get. How much are they going for? You say about 140?

greyhair biker · Joined: 04 Oct 2005 Posts: 3346 Location: GreenRiver, Wy

I'm the oddball I guess...I have a Magellan Meridian gold & it's worked great for me. All the magellans basically work the same despite the upgrades every so many years. I don't know enough about garmins to be able to work them yet.

psl53 · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 9:47 pm Post subject:

Have Magellans 330 map, Meridian Gold and a Platinum they all have served me well. I down load routes from National Geo Topo and have topo maps down loaded into the Meridians. The nice thing about the Meridian is they use SD cards so you can load a lot of maps depending on how big a card you have in.

Udink · Joined: 21 Jul 2005 Posts: 821 Location: Price, Utah

I recently sold my eTrex Legend and bought a Garmin GPS 60 to replace it. So far, it's wonderful. It gets much better satellite reception, and it's a lot more user-friendly. I don't think I'd recommend anything in the eTrex series again, not after seeing the difference in reception between them and the 60 series.

basilone0331 · Joined: 14 Dec 2005 Posts: 394 Location: Sandy

I have the etrex Summit and Venture, and used to have the rino 130. I think the rino was the best of these three, but it eats batteries and costs 375+ but if you have a buddy with one on a trip it can be very useful.

dbessee · Joined: 15 Dec 2005 Posts: 98 Location: Longmont, CO

I have an eTrex Venrure which is not basemap-capable. I've never used basemaps so I don't miss them.