Another GPS question

On Fri, 30 Sep 2005 12:56:05 +0100, "JR" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I have decided to buy one of these after seeing one in oporation in thick
mist on Ben Macdui the other day. We was not lost but boy did it speed up
the wayfinding no end also added a layer of security on our map reading.

I have a budget of around £150.00 - £175.00 and looking for a 1/2 decent GPS
system.

I started to search the net for an idea what to buy - wish I had not
bothered I am now more confused than I was before but could use answers to
the following.

Things I want :-

1) Waterproof - I live in the highlands where it rains occasionally -
perhaps should be midge proof as well.

2) Good number of waypoints

3) I own a copy of Memory-map software so ideally it should work with is
software.

4) Tracking system - fancy the idea of tracking me route when I get home
could be fun to see where I got lost.

5) Need to take abroad so ability to put more maps into it would be very
useful

6) USB compatible ideally USB 2

7) Alimeter would be nice

8) Compass

Any ideas what make or model I should be looking for??

Not sure can get the above with my budget but might be able to squeeze a few
more pounds out of the piggy bank.

I've always been a fan of Garmin units, over Magellan or Silva. My
first was a GPS45, now I have a GPS12 - no point upgrading to newer
models until they support the forthcoming European system.

The Garmin units are fully compatible with memory-map (which I also
use).

USB or USB2 would be fine. The data transmission volumes will be tiny,
so both USB and USB2 would be virtually instantaneous.

Jim

Something like a Garmin Geko 301 will do all that you want *except* the
"put more maps into it" bit. If you Gooogle around a bit you'll find
that decent "walking" maps are not available for GPS devices, unless
you want to use a PDA. You're then into a whole new ballpark in terms
of cost, waterproofedness and genrally luggability.

You'll find that retaining a paper map, and pre-loading a route from
Memory Map will do 99.99999% of all known requirements.

the etrex vista will do all you want except it is serial rather than usb
the vista color is usb but it is over your budjet
bear in mind that the electronic compass on the garmin units will use the
batts up at a faster rate but it is easily turned on an off
check out ebay there are a couple of guys selling the vista and legend c
from the usa at a good price but you pays your money and takes your chance
if you know anyone in the states you can get the vista c from wallmart for
$278 which is dirt cheap compared to rip off britain

"druidh" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Something like a Garmin Geko 301 will do all that you want *except* the
"put more maps into it" bit. If you Gooogle around a bit you'll find
that decent "walking" maps are not available for GPS devices, unless
you want to use a PDA. You're then into a whole new ballpark in terms
of cost, waterproofedness and genrally luggability.

You'll find that retaining a paper map, and pre-loading a route from
Memory Map will do 99.99999% of all known requirements.

JR said:

I have decided to buy one of these after seeing one in oporation in thick
mist on Ben Macdui the other day. We was not lost but boy did it speed up
the wayfinding no end also added a layer of security on our map reading.

I have a budget of around ?150.00 - ?175.00 and looking for a 1/2 decent GPS
system.

The Garmin GPS12 and 12XL don't really meet your stated requirements, but
they're solid, reliable units if somewhat large and oldfashioned. And
Maplin have them on sale at under 80 quid, which might interest other
readers of this thread.

-adrian

"rob" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

the etrex vista will do all you want except it is serial rather than usb
the vista color is usb but it is over your budjet

You can cheaply buy a serial to USB convertor if needed.

JR said:

I have a budget of around £150.00 - £175.00 and looking for a 1/2
decent GPS system.

Many devices around in the budget from Garmin and Magellan (and others)
which do most of the things on your list.
Your budget won't stretch to a decent mapping display, but also, unless you
get into DIY mapping or public domain hacks(*), there aren't maps to load
into hand-held GPS units which are useful for walking in Europe (except one
software product for Magellan which seemed inadequate when I looked at it).
Beware cheap imports of mapping GPS units, the basemap might not be the
European one and that might be a limitation for your use (so do some
research before chasing an Ebay bargain to decide if it really is a bargain
! I think the differences in non-mapping units is considerably less.)

Cheapest option would probably be a Garmin Geko 201 (the 101 doesn't connect
to a computer) or Etrex (the yellow model). If going for the base Etrex
check that its software version is 3.0 or higher, this means it has the
improved internals which give more waypoints, tracks, and better battery
life.

Altimeter & compass requirement reduces your options a bit; the Etrex Geko
301 is probably the best price option; its battery consumption is
considerably better than the old Etrex Vista, and the newer Etrex
Vista-Color (excellent device with superb screen, mapping and good battery
life) is double your budget. The Garmin altimeter is very good,
particularly its ability to self-correct against GPS data. Electronic
magnetic compass on Garmin units eats batteries, though can be turned on and
off fairly quickly. Leave it off most of the time and rely on the GPS
compass.

Include in your budget the lead to connect to computer, battery charger and
a few sets of rechargable NiMH batteries. This can easily be £50.
If purchasing a mapping unit, work out where your maps will come from in
advance; commercial hand-held GPS mapping is roads-only for Europe and quite
expensive.

USB isn't necessary for waypoint, route and track history access, serial
would be adequate.
However, USB makes a huge difference if you go up the price to a mapping
units; my Vista-C (USB) takes no more than 90seconds to load its entire
memory with a new set of maps, whereas a friends old Vista model takes 20-30
minutes over a serial lead.

(* whereas if you do get into DIY maps, you can get contour data for all of
Europe which is fairly accurate and does make a mapping unit quite useful).

- Nigel

--
Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/

Garmin Etrex venture - in the right price bracket.

Comes with PC connections, works with Memory Map, waterproof, good number of
waypoints, track back system, doesnt take maps, (but I think you are missing
the point, GPS best used in conjunction with a real map, and with PC
software to upload a route, and some key landmarks)

Jobs a good un

"JR" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have decided to buy one of these after seeing one in oporation in thick
mist on Ben Macdui the other day. We was not lost but boy did it speed up
the wayfinding no end also added a layer of security on our map reading.

I have a budget of around £150.00 - £175.00 and looking for a 1/2 decent

GPS

Quoted message said:

system.

I started to search the net for an idea what to buy - wish I had not
bothered I am now more confused than I was before but could use answers to
the following.

Things I want :-

1) Waterproof - I live in the highlands where it rains occasionally -
perhaps should be midge proof as well.

2) Good number of waypoints

3) I own a copy of Memory-map software so ideally it should work with is
software.

4) Tracking system - fancy the idea of tracking me route when I get home
could be fun to see where I got lost.

5) Need to take abroad so ability to put more maps into it would be very
useful

6) USB compatible ideally USB 2

7) Alimeter would be nice

8) Compass

Any ideas what make or model I should be looking for??

Not sure can get the above with my budget but might be able to squeeze a

few

Quoted message said:

more pounds out of the piggy bank.