Which GPS??

On Thu, 13 Oct 2005 20:42:49 +0100, Peewiglet <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Sorry, but this technology stuff seems to move quickly so I'd rather
ask again.

I've got a Garmin Geko 201, but I'm thinking of getting something just
a wee bit more sophisticated. I'd like an audible warning upon
reaching a waymark: I'd like to be able to follow a route on the
screen (not sure the Geko does this). I'd also like better battery
life: if I leave my Geko on all the time then it doesn't seem to last
more than about 6 hours or so.

Can anyone suggest something just a little more sophisticated than the
Geko 201, please?

I forgot to say that I'd like to be able to read off the GR without
having to 'mark' the spot. A friend had a GPS that seemed to show and
update it all the time, as we moved.

Ta!

Wet fishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \ pee AT [guessthisbit].co.uk

"Will the highways on the internet become more few?."
g.w.AT [guessthisbit].com

In article <[email hidden]>, Peewiglet
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

On Thu, 13 Oct 2005 20:42:49 +0100, Peewiglet <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Sorry, but this technology stuff seems to move quickly so I'd rather
ask again.

I've got a Garmin Geko 201,

Me too! Can't help you with the sophistication cos the 201 is my tool of
choice for on the hill, running and MTBing.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

but I'm thinking of getting something just
a wee bit more sophisticated. I'd like an audible warning upon
reaching a waymark: I'd like to be able to follow a route on the
screen (not sure the Geko does this).

It can, however I prefer to follow saved tracks rather than routes
because they can have more points and hence follow the path you want to
take more accurately.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I'd also like better battery
life: if I leave my Geko on all the time then it doesn't seem to last
more than about 6 hours or so.

What batteries are you using? I use 800 or 900mAh NiMh in mine and
always have a spare set handy (mostly because I don't freshly charge
them before setting out).

I don't think you will find a unit with better battery life without
going to AAs. They last considerably longer but the whole package gets a
lot bigger and the spares you might want to carry are also bigger &
heavier.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Can anyone suggest something just a little more sophisticated than the
Geko 201, please?

I forgot to say that I'd like to be able to read off the GR without
having to 'mark' the spot. A friend had a GPS that seemed to show and
update it all the time, as we moved.

Go to the heading page of your Geko (the one that displays a compass
rose and points the way) and hit the up arrow twice - et voila your
current grid ref is displayed in the data field at the bottom! You might
notice that one push of the up arrow gave you the elevation. There are
lots of other things that can be shown there too.

Hope I haven't talked you out of some retail therapy ;-)

--

Dominic Sexton

Bitstring <[email hidden]>, from the
wonderful person Peewiglet <[email hidden]> said

Quoted message said:

On Thu, 13 Oct 2005 20:42:49 +0100, Peewiglet <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Sorry, but this technology stuff seems to move quickly so I'd rather
ask again.

I've got a Garmin Geko 201, but I'm thinking of getting something just
a wee bit more sophisticated. I'd like an audible warning upon
reaching a waymark: I'd like to be able to follow a route on the
screen (not sure the Geko does this). I'd also like better battery
life: if I leave my Geko on all the time then it doesn't seem to last
more than about 6 hours or so.

Can anyone suggest something just a little more sophisticated than the
Geko 201, please?

I forgot to say that I'd like to be able to read off the GR without
having to 'mark' the spot. A friend had a GPS that seemed to show and
update it all the time, as we moved.

With my 60C (and I thought it was pretty standard) you can 'change data
field' on any display page, and one of the options you can change any
data field to is 'location' (either lat/lon, or whatever you've selected
as the local standard .. i.e. OSGB).

I am well pleased with the 60C, but it might be a wee bit pricey (over
£300 last time I looked). Battery life is ~24 hours on 2500 mAHr
rechargeables .. rather less (12-16) if you plug in an external antenna,
which does do wonders for the reception. And USB (as well as serial)
upload/download to a PC, which makes moving tracks, routes, waypoints
and even maps, really, really quick.

Oh, and the colour display .. scores 11/10 at least.

Failing that the ETrex-C (colour) models are rumoured to be good, but
lack the external antenna and serial connection. Then there's the B&W
Etrex models, of various flavours, which you may find cheap (but those
lack USB and are serial only, and the display is really poor after
you've seen a colour one).

How rich are you feeling? How long you figure to keep it?? Does the fact
that the 60c weighs in at 4 or 5x the weight of the Geko bother you??

--
GSV Three Minds in a Can
Contact recommends the use of Firefox; SC recommends it at gunpoint.

Peewiglet said:

On Thu, 13 Oct 2005 20:42:49 +0100, Peewiglet <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Sorry, but this technology stuff seems to move quickly so I'd rather
ask again.

I've got a Garmin Geko 201, but I'm thinking of getting something just
a wee bit more sophisticated. I'd like an audible warning upon
reaching a waymark: I'd like to be able to follow a route on the
screen (not sure the Geko does this).

It does

I'd also like better battery

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

life: if I leave my Geko on all the time then it doesn't seem to last
more than about 6 hours or so.

I run NIMH AAA's and get 9-10 hours on my 301.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Can anyone suggest something just a little more sophisticated than the
Geko 201, please?

I forgot to say that I'd like to be able to read off the GR without
having to 'mark' the spot. A friend had a GPS that seemed to show and
update it all the time, as we moved.

Your 201 will do this too.

Quoted message said:

Ta!

Wet fishes,

Good try, but you can't justify another GPS on those poor excuses!

druidh

On Thu, 13 Oct 2005 20:20:21 GMT, druidh <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Good try, but you can't justify another GPS on those poor excuses!

<blush>

Thanks for your help, all :-)

I realised after posting - well, after someone on OM pointed me to the
User Manual (ok, I'd lost mine...) - that the Geko does everything I
wanted, except for audible warnings but I can live w/o those.

I love the idea of the one with teh colour display, but I think I'll
have to defer that for a year or two. Druidh is quite right - it seems
I don't have a good enough excuse 🙂

Thanks again for the speedy assistance, y'all - it's much appreciated
:-)

Wet fishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \ pee AT [guessthisbit].co.uk

"Will the highways on the internet become more few?."
g.w.AT [guessthisbit].com

On Thu, 13 Oct 2005 21:05:54 +0100, Dominic Sexton
<[email hidden]> wrote:

[...]

Quoted message said:

Hope I haven't talked you out of some retail therapy ;-)

I'm sure it's a simple matter of re-direction! :-))

Wet fishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \ pee AT [guessthisbit].co.uk

"Will the highways on the internet become more few?."
g.w.AT [guessthisbit].com

I use a Garmin GPS 12. Its old fashioned now but has all the features
you seem to be looking for in a handheld GPS.

If I was planning to buy a GPS now I might get this one:

http://www.lowrance.com/Outdoor/Products/iFINDERGO.asp

Retails for about £80 or so in the UK.

Has anyone experienced the iFinder Go at first hand?

Neil

Neil said:

http://www.lowrance.com/Outdoor/Products/iFINDERGO.asp

Quoted message said:

Has anyone experienced the iFinder Go at first hand?

I was put off previous iFinders because they had a comedy waterproof
rating, but now they seem to have bumped it up to IPX7 which means up to
1m submersion for 30 minutes, for all intents and purposes waterproof
for walking use.

But do make sure anything you get is a current model with that degree of
waterproofing... You can use the older ones in a caddy but I imagine it
would be a bit of a faff and IMHO not really worth saving a few quid for.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

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

Quoted message said:

On Thu, 13 Oct 2005 20:20:21 GMT, druidh <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Good try, but you can't justify another GPS on those poor excuses!

<blush>

Thanks for your help, all :-)

I realised after posting - well, after someone on OM pointed me to the
User Manual (ok, I'd lost mine...) - that the Geko does everything I
wanted, except for audible warnings but I can live w/o those.

I love the idea of the one with teh colour display, but I think I'll
have to defer that for a year or two. Druidh is quite right - it seems
I don't have a good enough excuse 🙂

Thanks again for the speedy assistance, y'all - it's much appreciated
:-)

Oh, if you just want an excuse then sell your Geko to me... :-)

Graham

Graham Dean said:

Oh, if you just want an excuse then sell your Geko to me... :-)

You beat me to it!
Geko 201 is a quality bit of kit.....if you don't want it Peewiglet I
can suggest a good home!!!!!

David.

Peewiglet said:

On Thu, 13 Oct 2005 20:20:21 GMT, druidh <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Good try, but you can't justify another GPS on those poor excuses!

<blush>

Thanks for your help, all :-)

I realised after posting - well, after someone on OM pointed me to the
User Manual (ok, I'd lost mine...) - that the Geko does everything I
wanted, except for audible warnings but I can live w/o those.

You might be able to strap some external batteries to it as well to boost
the life.

Or just accept that you should carry a couple of spare sets, AAA's are very
light.

If you have determination to spend more cash, the Etrex Vista-C is very
good; 2500mAh rechargable batteries do a couple of days of hill walking with
life left in them (I really should find out how long they go), and I think
it does everything on your list of requirements. But, not cheap, and the
available official mapping for the UK is expensive, designed for car
driving, and useless for walking. There is usefulunofficial stuff around,
but it does involve a tinsy bit of doing things not in the manual.

- Nigel

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

Quoted message said:

I forgot to say that I'd like to be able to read off the GR without
having to 'mark' the spot. A friend had a GPS that seemed to show and
update it all the time, as we moved.

The gecko 101 yellow one, the cheaper one, does that.

You can page thru to get, speed,avg spd, max spd, grid ref, dist to go
est time to go etc.

Nick

Graham Dean said:

Quoted message said:

I love the idea of the one with teh colour display, but I think I'll
have to defer that for a year or two. Druidh is quite right - it seems
I don't have a good enough excuse 🙂

Thanks again for the speedy assistance, y'all - it's much appreciated
:-)

Oh, if you just want an excuse then sell your Geko to me... :-)

Lol!

Wet fishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \ pee AT [guessthisbit].co.uk

"Will the highways on the internet become more few?."
g.w.AT [guessthisbit].com

Garmins MAP76S as new for £200 - interested ?
BrRian (Edinburgh)

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

Quoted message said:

Graham Dean said:

Oh, if you just want an excuse then sell your Geko to me... :-)

You beat me to it!
Geko 201 is a quality bit of kit.....if you don't want it Peewiglet I
can suggest a good home!!!!!

David.

Hi Peewiglet,

Re the bearings, you can show this on the Geko 201 all the time on, I think,
the screen that shows your current bearing, bit like a moving compass. At
ths bottom of this screen you can use the up/down buttons to scroll through
grid ref (they call it location), elevation, speed, final distance, arrival
time, time to go, bearing, heading, trip odometer, time/date

<fx: switches off Geko 201>

I notice that you're pretty busy on uk.rec.cycling too...you can get a
handlebar mount for the Geko 201 for about £12 if you're interested.

Happy to help,
Simon Mc.

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

Quoted message said:

On Thu, 13 Oct 2005 20:42:49 +0100, Peewiglet <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Sorry, but this technology stuff seems to move quickly so I'd rather
ask again.

I've got a Garmin Geko 201, but I'm thinking of getting something just
a wee bit more sophisticated. I'd like an audible warning upon
reaching a waymark: I'd like to be able to follow a route on the
screen (not sure the Geko does this). I'd also like better battery
life: if I leave my Geko on all the time then it doesn't seem to last
more than about 6 hours or so.

Can anyone suggest something just a little more sophisticated than the
Geko 201, please?

I forgot to say that I'd like to be able to read off the GR without
having to 'mark' the spot. A friend had a GPS that seemed to show and
update it all the time, as we moved.

Ta!

Wet fishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \ pee AT [guessthisbit].co.uk

"Will the highways on the internet become more few?."
g.w.AT [guessthisbit].com

Peewiglet said:

I realised after posting - well, after someone on OM pointed me to the
User Manual (ok, I'd lost mine...) - that the Geko does everything I
wanted, except for audible warnings but I can live w/o those.

I've not come across them before, or indeed beeps from any units (but
I've only ever seen/used low end Garmins), is it standard on anything?

Thinking about it, I can't see it would be that helpful most of the
time... if you're moving to a point anyway you'll need the unit out and
looked at to tell you which way to go, so if you're looking at the
screen and seeing it's 0m to go then an extra beep isn't exactly new
information... If you're moving along a feature (like walking along a
river bank) with a waypoint on it you could easily walk into a point
without needing the unit to guide you there, but in a lot of these cases
it'll be obvious you've got to your waypoint anyway.

Electronic altimeters tend to have an alarm, so as long as your point
isn't on a flat plane and a linear feature then one of those will cover
a lot of your bases, /and/ give you something new to spend your money on!

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Peter Clinch said:

Peewiglet said:

I realised after posting - well, after someone on OM pointed me to the
User Manual (ok, I'd lost mine...) - that the Geko does everything I
wanted, except for audible warnings but I can live w/o those.

I've not come across them before, or indeed beeps from any units (but
I've only ever seen/used low end Garmins), is it standard on anything?

I don't know: I just noticed the feature the week before last when a
friend was carrying one.

Quoted message said:

Thinking about it, I can't see it would be that helpful most of the
time... if you're moving to a point anyway you'll need the unit out and
looked at to tell you which way to go, so if you're looking at the
screen and seeing it's 0m to go then an extra beep isn't exactly new
information... If you're moving along a feature (like walking along a
river bank) with a waypoint on it you could easily walk into a point
without needing the unit to guide you there, but in a lot of these cases
it'll be obvious you've got to your waypoint anyway.

I understand that the main purpose is to highlight potentially
dangerous points on the route.

Quoted message said:

Electronic altimeters tend to have an alarm, so as long as your point
isn't on a flat plane and a linear feature then one of those will cover
a lot of your bases, /and/ give you something new to spend your money on!

Ah, well, then! Maybe I need one of those 🙂

Wet fishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \ pee AT [guessthisbit].co.uk

"The future will be better tomorrow."
g.w.AT [guessthisbit].com

Simon Mc said:

Hi Peewiglet,

Re the bearings, you can show this on the Geko 201 all the time on, I think,
the screen that shows your current bearing, bit like a moving compass. At
ths bottom of this screen you can use the up/down buttons to scroll through
grid ref (they call it location), elevation, speed, final distance, arrival
time, time to go, bearing, heading, trip odometer, time/date

<fx: switches off Geko 201>

Ahaa! Many thanks, Simon :-)

Quoted message said:

I notice that you're pretty busy on uk.rec.cycling too...you can get a
handlebar mount for the Geko 201 for about £12 if you're interested.

I didn't know that! I'll go and look it out! Thanks very much 🙂

Wet fishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \ pee AT [guessthisbit].co.uk

"We cannot let terrorists or rogue nations hold this nation hostile, or
hold our allies hostile."
g.w.AT [guessthisbit].com
This signature was made by SigChanger.
You can find SigChanger at: http://www.phranc.nl/

The message <[email hidden]>
from Peter Clinch <[email hidden]> contains these words:

Quoted message said:

Peewiglet wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I realised after posting - well, after someone on OM pointed me to the
User Manual (ok, I'd lost mine...) - that the Geko does everything I
wanted, except for audible warnings but I can live w/o those.

Quoted message said:

I've not come across them before, or indeed beeps from any units (but
I've only ever seen/used low end Garmins), is it standard on anything?

My Vista C beeps.

--
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