What GPS Unit are you using?

[jleecollins]

Time for a new topic on GPS Units.

My GPS's are as follows

1. My first GPS purchased in Nov 2003 was a Magellan Meridian Gold - My son is now using it since he lost his Gold GPS.

2. My second unit was a Magellan Meridian Colour, purchased off e-Bay in 2005 I think - This unit has not been reliable - Lost all memory at one point - managed to get it reprogrammed ($80) 2 years ago - It again has grabbed out (during SCC2009) event - lost its brains again.

3.  My this unit is the one I am using currently  Magellan eXplorist XL - great unit - large screen - bought in Spring 2007 off e-bay - After about 2 months, I managed to drop it - broke the screen, so it had to be repaired - covered under my Gold Visa card warranty. 

4. I just purchased a Magellan Triton 2000 off e-bay - it should arrive in the map this week.


I have kept with Magellan since I have all the Topo maps programs for Canada, US and Europe for Magellan.

I just realized that I seems to buy a new GPS unit every two years - upgrading each time


Jim

[csooley]

Jim - are your maps compatible with each new unit you've bought?  We started with ColorTrak and bought the maps to go with it.  Last year I bought a new Magellan Triton but we can't load the original maps.  Did you have to do anything "special" to install them in the subsequent units?
cathy

[Get_Off_The_Paved]

   Well still be using the Magellan eXplorist 500 that I got for Christmas 3 years ago and wouldn't buy another Magellan.  The frist one made it about 8 months until one time out in the field the unit turned off and that was the end of unit #1... never turned on again.
     Well the second unit made it for a few more months without any problems until one day, once again out in the field the unit lost all memory, all waypoints gone.  It was shortly after that, that the battery meter quit working (ethier full or empty, and bouncing all over) , along with the alarm that its "lost external power at _:__", which comes on every few minutes when it fells like it.  
      All in all I wouldn't buy another Magellan piece of ---- again.  

[hunter-killer]

First gps was a barebones etrex, then we both owned Magellan explorist 500's and like get off the paved said, lots of different problems, the worst being after 1 year you could not read anything on the controls, wore the menu, mark, in out and goto wording right off the thing. We now both own  garmin GPSmap 60cx and what a big difference in loading caches, minutes for hundreds instead of hours with the maggie.  Accuracy wise it gets us closer we believe, than the Magellan due to the super sensitive SiRFStarIII chipset, we usually get close, then put it in our pockets and start looking. Lots of flavours out there and any new gps is better than one you may already own. New stuff is fun.

[Mechman]

Similar to H-K, our first was a etrex legend, black and white screen...worked OK as long as you were not under much cover. 
We didn't like the blue shade , so now we have the duller grey etrex legend HCx.  The colour screen, miniSD card and USB connectivity were great upgrades.  But the best is the higher sensitivity.  We now get a signal in the bushes...what a novel concept!! :-)  One thing I don't like about it is that it quite often takes a long time for the arrow to change directions when I am trying to go back and forth near a cache.  Makes it hard to approach caches when the distance is going down, but you are walking away from the direction of the arrow.  Sometimes I even pass the "0" mark, and then end up 4 or 5 meters once the arrow finally "flips".

For software, I purchased the Geocaching Swiss Army Knife (GSAK for short).  It works great for downloading the gpx files, sorting them out, viewing locations in google maps and transfering them to your GPS.  I've even figured out how to get the waypoints to export to my TOMTOM car unit (for coarse navigation only), and import them as HTML docs into my Palm.  Once I upgrade to a itouch - I'll be talking to some of you about a cache management app.

Mech.

[jleecollins]

Reply to csooley's question:

I haven't got the new Triton GPS so I sure hope that the maps are compatible.  The original Canadian Topo Maps program I got was for the Magellan Meridian Gold.  I have been able to use it for the Magellan Meridian Colour and for the eXplorists XL with no problems.  I will let you know what happens when it come in sometime this week

I usually load the maps directly onto the SD card and do not load directly to the GPS.  Works well that way and I can load a number of maps up to the capacity of the SD card which I can call up to use on the GPS

Jim

[jleecollins]

Note to H-K

STATSMAN595 had similar problems with his Magellan explorist 500.  Quit after several months,  He now has a Triton 400 I believe.

[ChrisDom]

I started out 8 years ago with Garmin GPS map76 and updated to Garmin GPS map 60Cx before I started geocaching.  I just noticed that Hunter Killer are using the same unit.  Maybe that's why they always find my caches first .

[shroomAzoom]

I first started caching with my both my dad's ancient Garmin and my father-in-law's equally ancient Magellan. Both were similarly ancient, but I found my first several dozen and hid my first several caches with them.

Then a week before the first Spring Cache Challenge, I had been out with Gimpstick a few times and was really liking his GPSMap60CSx. He had first got a CS (Cx?) and then got the CSx. So, I got to use the lesser of the two. I really liked it and thought I might get one. I looked into the Magellans and the Lowrances (I don't know if the people at D&R really put me off the cheapo Lowrance, or if their attitude of "you don't know what you want, I'm the expert, you want a this" turned me off.) Anyway, I ended up going with the Garmin GPSMap60CSx and love, Love, LOVE it!

We've got Canada and US topos for it, which (at least in Canada) are great for navigation. I get tonnes of battery life out of my Duracell rechargeables (I did the whole SCC on 2AA's which were on for over 16 hours.) I used to use the Mapsource software on the PC, but now am using RoadTrip for the Mac (which isn't as polished as it could be.) I have GSAK as well, but use it just for stat generation.

I chose Garmin GPSMap76CSx's for both my dad and father-in-law and got them both at KBM here in town. I don't mind putting in a plug for KBM, either. Those guys have been sooo good to me. They love geocachers, have given me a good break on everything I buy from them (well, it's like I buy a new GPS from them every year, plus accessories, so I'm sure they're happy to have me as a customer too.) When I needed to put together a custom mount for my dad, they cannibalized two packs of accessories to build the one that was just right for them (but didn't charge me for two mounts.) I could go on, but they're just great there. (I get no commission.)

So, for me, it's Garmin and KBM all the way.

[B.A.S.K.]

I started out with a Magellan 2000.  I honestly cant remember how long ago I bought it, but it is OLD!  Never did use it much, ate batteries like crazy.  Ended up selling it to my unsuspecting cousin years ago.  And wouldnt you know it, I just got it back a few weeks ago.  Guess no body has a use for it.  After that one I bought a used garmin GPS 12XL.  Back when I was fighting fire with the MNR those were the units we were using in the field, and I really like it.  Very simple unit, didnt do alot, but a very reliable tool.  I dont see myself getting rid of it anytime soon.  My wife and I cut our geocaching teeth with this unit.  Last christmas my wife bought me a Garmin Colorado 300.  I know these things have gotten a really bad rap, but except for some compass issues, mine has been great.  I love the paperless features and the maps,.........sooooo many more features than my old 12XL.     

[phillipie99]

I started out also with a Magellan but it died on me in the first month. I then had an etrex legend hcx it too died but i think it was faulty to begin with. Luckely it was under warranty and i had it replaced. My new etrex works much better but i do occasionally get the same problem as mech man with the arrow not changing direction. All in all my etrex legend hcx has been great.

[denisetdoris]

Thought I'd revive this old post..... tech has advanced in a big way lately. 

I started with an Explorist 210, no maps.  After 6 months I bought the Mapsend Topo Canada CD at CT for $100.  Now it became useful.  Started geocaching a year or so later when doing a Firmware update the GC software popped up, so I tried the sport and loved it.  Got the wife involved too.  Not long after I found a Explorist 400 (rechargeable battery pack & sd card slot) on clearance at Wallyworld for $10, yes, 10 dollars !  I'd have bought ten of them if they only had more !  Put the same map on that unit too.  Last year I grabbed up a Triton 500 Outdoors pack (carry case & Topo Canada SD Card with GPS) for 200 bucks from the same wally world.  Again, the same maps work on it as well. 

I've been making my own custom maps with Google Earth, Google Maps, Terrain, etc. for it, and the world has changed for me.  Now any unit I'll ever consider buying MUST be custom-map compatible.  You haven't geocached until looking at a hi-res Google Earth image on the gps, and travelling through the bush, watching your movements in real time, and seeing in which tree the cache is to be found !  Pretty fun, and got to use those maps at Jim's 10 Years ! event last spring (Hi Jim !).  Done many more since then (maps).


Next unit I get will be the Explorist 610 or 710, new units  from the new Magellan.  MiTac bought out the old company and has rebuilt it with new unit and a trade-in program.  You send them an old unit, they'll sell you a new generation touch-screen for 40 % off the retail price.  The 610 has 1:24 000 topo, and the 710 has the topo AND road navigation software, with turn-by-turn.    Tax return time is coming ....

[GlfWid0]

I have an etrex H but my hubby just offered to take me shopping!!!! What should I get?

[jleecollins]

Garmin Oregon 450

GPS City and GPS Central out of Alberta has a sale on their periodically. 

There is fair amount of people in NWOG using them, e.g. Hunter-Jiller

[gheiny]

Hi Sarada,

I guess I would say it depends on your budget and what you want.  I have the Oregon 450 and really like it.  I find it has a bit of lag when you first go into the bush ... takes a few minutes to clear some cobwebs, and then will give good readings.

That said, GPScity has the Dakota 20 on sale right now for a pretty good price -- $209.95.  It has most of the features of the Oregon 450, but has a slightly smaller screen with slightly lower resolution.  I played with a friend's and thought it was a great unit.  It is a bit smaller, lighter, and uses less battery power than the 450. The only features it is missing are those I really don't use.  I guess one of the main features that it doesn't have is WhereIGo, but if you are willing to go without that (and considering there is only 1 in Thunder Bay, it's not that big a hardship) ... it looks like the best value if you want to buy today. 

http://www.gpscity.ca/compare/dakota20&oreg450&62map

Another option, if you want to wait a little bit, is the etrex 10/20/30's are coming out in a few weeks.  I wouldn't pay retail for them, since the 20 is $199 and the 30 is $299.  However, they may go on sale sometime after they come out.  I guess that would be an option if you don't want the touch screen.

Have fun with your new toy, whatever you get!