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View Full Version : What type of GPS do you have?



Sombeech
07-29-2005, 12:52 PM
I've been looking at getting one. What kind of GPS do you guys have, or prefer?

What kind of software?

Udink
07-29-2005, 01:00 PM
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
07-29-2005, 01:08 PM
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
07-29-2005, 01:59 PM
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
07-29-2005, 03:17 PM
I too have the standard issue Garmin eTrex Legend (http://www.garmin.com/products/etrexLegend/). 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 (http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsmap60cs/). That unit actually has geocaching features built-in, though it does cost about $530.

fourtycal
07-29-2005, 07:43 PM
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
08-01-2005, 09:53 AM
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
08-01-2005, 05:58 PM
I have a Garmin GPSmap 60CS. It is an excellant unit designed especially for GeoCachers. You can get them for around $350.

derstuka
08-01-2005, 07:15 PM
dang...I guess we all have e-trex legend! Even my two brothers and dad have one

Sombeech
08-05-2005, 02:59 PM
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
10-09-2005, 02:11 PM
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
02-11-2006, 07:47 PM
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
02-11-2006, 08:06 PM
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
02-11-2006, 10:55 PM
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
02-12-2006, 08:58 AM
I have an eTrex Venrure which is not basemap-capable. I've never used basemaps so I don't miss them.

FlyfishermanMike
02-21-2006, 04:20 AM
Garmin 60C. It's awesome and highly recommend it.

^^ike

paraAdams
08-01-2006, 12:38 PM
I had the Garmin GPS V for a while and loved it. It was great. Now I use the Etrex Vista, and like it too. But it doesn't have as many functions as the GPS V.

I know the GPS 60 is an awesome way to go. In fact that's what I would rather own.

If you use your GPS a lot, backpacking, geocaching or just using in the car, get the bigger more expensive models...believe me, they're worth it.

accadacca
08-01-2006, 03:40 PM
I also have the Garmin GPS V. Great for on the trail or on the road. :cool2:

Iceaxe
08-01-2006, 03:56 PM
I have a Garmin eTrex. The cheap yellow one. I use Topo! States as my mapping software.

Let me tell you a true story..... I dropped my eTrex in some deep water while canyoneering the Black Hole in 2001.

Black Hole
http://climb-utah.com/CM/blackhole.htm

I dove down trying to find it but the water was real muddy and over 20' deep. I couldn't find it. So anyhow I posted the story in a forum and about a year later anther canyoneer found my eTrex and sent it back to me. I opened it up and dumped the sand out and cleaned it up the best I could. Put in some new batteries and if fired right up. I was even able to download my tracks and waypoints that were over a year old.

The eTrex had washed down canyon about 2 miles from where I lost it and it was pretty beat up, but it still works and is the GPS I still use.

The Garmin eTrex is tough. :2thumbs:

greyhair biker
08-01-2006, 04:50 PM
My wife picked up an Etrex - yellow cheap one - for $20...closeout at Wallyworld...anyway, it's pretty accurate as we;ve used it a bunch geocaching. We use both the Magellan and the garmin & we can't miss a cache! I picked up the MapSend Topo 3D for the Magellan and put maps on a card which have -sofar- been pretty accurate. I keep the Magellan in the car mount to track down the area & then both to track down a cache.

Sombeech
08-01-2006, 09:12 PM
If you use your GPS a lot, backpacking, geocaching or just using in the car, get the bigger more expensive models...believe me, they're worth it.

Welcome to the site, man. :cool2:

greyhair biker
08-01-2006, 10:14 PM
Man, I feel like I've been out on sabbatical or something...it's just not right :ne_nau: glad to be back - or try to be back anyway! :haha:

accadacca
08-02-2006, 07:58 AM
Man, I feel like I've been out on sabbatical or something...it's just not right :ne_nau: glad to be back - or try to be back anyway! :haha:
Yeah, WTF dude! :ne_nau:

Alex
08-02-2006, 08:25 AM
Ice that's a cool story man, you should write to Garmin see if they could use your story for some freebies :naughty:

I use Garmin eTrex Vista C

Need to find City Navigator program now....

Iceaxe
08-02-2006, 04:41 PM
Ice that's a cool story man, you should write to Garmin see if they could use your story for some freebies

I just sent the story off to Gamin :2thumbs:

I have been going to send this story to them for a couple of years and just never got around to it. I'll let ya'll know if anything good shakes out :five:

Of course I never did mention that the OLD yellow eTrex works about 10 times better then the NEW yellow eTrex I bought to use while the first one was lost. Not exactly sure why, but the old one, which was one of the first ones ever built. is a much better GPS. It can get locks easier and is more accurate.

Anyone else have two GPS that are supposed to be identical and find they are not? I could understand if the old beat up GPS was the weak sister, but it's the shiny new one that is the weaker of the two.

.

Mtnman1830
08-02-2006, 04:54 PM
Garmin eTrex Vista

snatch
08-17-2006, 08:23 PM
etrex legend c for me. price1869 has a forerunner and his locks better than mine does when used side by side. :moses: wish i would have opted for a device w/ internal compass and removable memory instead of color.

coach steve
08-31-2006, 10:39 PM
I am on my third GPS unit, and won't buy another until this one completely gives out. I currently have a Garmin 60CSx, and it is the easiest to use and carry out there. I have kept signal in slot canyons and deep timber where my other two units would completely lose it. It lights up right out of the box and has you on your way. Currently $375 to $399.
It usually boils down to which brand you start out with and learn how to use. I have owned both Magellen and Garmin and I will never go back to the "M".

greyhair biker
10-05-2006, 03:27 PM
After using both Magellan and Garmin for a while now I have to admit I like the accuracy of the garmin - & the data entry key on the magellan. Garmin wins...gotta get a new unit now...maybe for Xmas :2thumbs:

DiscGo
11-07-2006, 04:30 PM
Okay, I've missed most of this post too but for the record I have a Garmin Rino 530 and I love it! The 530 has a radio which broadcasts your signal/location to anybody on your same frequency (usually on another Rino unit), and it receives the national weather broadcast.

coach steve
02-01-2007, 11:24 PM
I have owned 3 GPS units--one Magellen and 2 Garmins, but I have sold or traded them all for a Garmin 60CSx. It will hold signal when everything else fails. It will lock up satellites in my basement and hold signal in slot canyons and deep tree cover. I just bought my son a unit for $325 with a $50 rebate. If you are going to get into geocaching in a big way, the Geocaching features are hard to beat. One of the best features is the "Find Next" that will give you the next closest cache with just one click. Until something else comes along that will do it better, this is the unit I would recommend.

In the great discussion between Garmin and Magellen, it all boils down to which unit you start with and which makes you the most comfortable. As the Romans used to say, "De gustabus non est disputnadum" or in other words, "There's no arguing abuot taste".

DiscGo
02-02-2007, 06:38 AM
I keep hearing great things about the 60csx. RedMan knows a lot about GPS units and he couldn't' recommend it enough. I love my Rino 530, but I really am curious about the 60csx.

LibertyN8
02-07-2007, 07:53 PM
I am using a Garmin Vista CSx, It has the same Geocaching features as the 60CSx, I have it loaded up with Topo's and I import 300+ Caches to it at a time! It may not hold a signal as well as the 60, not sure. I used to use Magellan but I had trouble with the exploist 600 and ended up taking it back to the store. The Vista CS is A good unit If you do not want to spend the money for the 60cs....N8

Mtnman1830
02-08-2007, 05:51 AM
Time for me to upgrade from my Garmin eTrex Vista to the Garmin 60CSx. I am excited to go and get it

DiscGo
02-08-2007, 08:06 AM
Is it true that the 60csx has a different antenna then the 60cs? I heard the csx gets reception in slot canyons and is just all around better. I thought the only difference was the external memory?

imfrog2002
02-11-2007, 08:08 PM
I have a Garmin eTrex Legend. Pretty simple GPS, but it does great for hiking and geocaching, so I'm happy. :)

RugerShooter
02-12-2007, 07:54 AM
I just bought an Etrex Vista CX this seams to be a nice unit I really Like it so far

DiscGo
02-12-2007, 08:14 AM
I have the Rino 530. It has the "find next" feature and I love the national weather broadcast, and the radio location feature, but I keep hearing all these great things about the 60csx.

I can sell my Rino right now and trade it straight across for a new 60csx but I just can't decide what to do.

LibertyN8
03-01-2007, 04:52 PM
I have the Rino 530. It has the "find next" feature and I love the national weather broadcast, and the radio location feature, but I keep hearing all these great things about the 60csx.

I can sell my Rino right now and trade it straight across for a new 60csx but I just can't decide what to do.

I had some trouble with my Etrex Vista Cx over the weekend....:( when I plugged in the cig adapter it locked up! I could not even turn it off without pulling the batterys, so I bought a ne adapter, it did the same thing. I deleted all my stuff off and plugged it into the PC to update and....damn locked up again. Garmin tech support sent me a email telling me how to reset the GPS and it didn't help so I said the hell with it, Took it back to Cabelas. I had the unit over 6 months, no box, no receipt....no problem they gave me in-store credit and I laid down a couple hundred more and walked out with a 60CSX!!!!

It got a satellite lock instantly when i turned it on in my HOUSE!!! Garmin has this new technology called "SiRF", It's a high sensitive receiver that is available in 2 of there units only. The GPSMAP 60CSx and the GPS 76CSx. With Garmin units the letters stand for C=Color, S=SiRF, X=expandable memory. I am pretty excited to get out and put this baby to work and I would recommend buying from Cabelas because they will take items back. Kinda nice when the GPS cost $450 and you want to take it up a mountain! Later N8

DiscGo
03-01-2007, 09:38 PM
Let me know right away what you think of the 60csx. My brother has the 76cs and I know that I don't want that (he does not have csx but cs). His antenna is so bad that he has to have an external antenna added to get a signal. The nice thing about the 76cs is that it floats but I would much rather have the 60csx. I'm so dang jealous of you!

AD0OR
03-16-2007, 08:20 AM
I started with the Etrex, then had the Etrex Ledgend, and for the past 4 years ish I've had the etrex Vista, its been awesome for me.

sportsman
05-01-2008, 08:28 AM
i have a garmin gps III I got back in 2001 when i started...I am old school, lol

BruteForce
05-01-2008, 08:32 AM
I'm still using my eTrex Legend. Takes a massive beating and keeps working.

I lost it at a cache hide in the 5Mile area for 2 days.. Got snowed on, wind-blown. When found, it was still powered on and functional! :hail2thechief:

Considering its usually attached to my quad, it continues to function just as I need it to.

theking648
05-01-2008, 09:38 AM
i've had my magellan Triton 400 for a few weeks now. and works perfectly. i haven't had one problem dispite all the horror stories.

it's color, water resistaint, and has SD card.

got it from newegg for $185 with shipping.

i've taken it on two road trips and a few geocaches and worked perfectly. like it should.

Mooseman70
05-01-2008, 10:53 AM
I have a Garmin eTrex Legend C. :2thumbs:

My only gripe with it has been the rubber gasket around the exterior edges coming lose after about 18 months of use. Heat seems to make the problem worse.

Other than that, it's an excellent GPS and I've been quite pleased with its performance.

Udink
05-01-2008, 12:01 PM
My only gripe with it has been the rubber gasket around the exterior edges coming lose after about 18 months of use. Heat seems to make the problem worse.
That happened on my eTrex Legend, and eventually the gasket tore at the flap that covers the USB port, which basically rendered the whole unit useless (because the buttons are integrated into the gasket). I replaced it with a GPS 60 and have been loving it!

Axpence
06-03-2008, 09:48 AM
had a garmin rino 530, regretted selling it the day i did :(

coinslab
05-17-2009, 09:50 PM
Originally a Magellan but it was broken out of the package (returned it)
now a garmin Etrex Legend LOVE IT :2thumbs:

Udink
05-17-2009, 11:09 PM
I just got a Garmin GPSmap 60CSx. My old GPS 60 was having intermittent issues where it would turn off whenever it got jostled around too much--even sometimes when simply clipping it into the belt clip or windshield mount. I love the 60CSx so far, though I have yet to add any street or topo maps, and it should be much better after that. I'm still planning on using the GPS 60 as a backup, and my wife now uses it on ATV rides so that she and I both have the same waypoints and she can now take the lead without having to ask me which way to go.

Kent K25
05-18-2009, 07:56 AM
Garmin Edge 705 with Heart Rate etc....and LOVE it for biking. Also use it successfully for biking and finding places while driving.

The only real extensive use I'd had with it is the biking though, which is what it is built for.

constancemarie
08-30-2010, 08:34 AM
Probably someone said this already, but I'm in love with my Garmin eTrex Legend. I've been geo-caching for a few years, and this one rules!

constancemarie
09-13-2010, 09:13 AM
Has anyone tried using an iphone ap for geocaching? I just tried it this weekend - have loved my above mentioned cTrex Legend-and was positive the ap would be faulty. I was wrong. I'm still loyal to my Garmin, but the ap did just fine!

Pathfinder
01-16-2011, 06:42 PM
I use an old Garmin eTrex. Once I figured out how to manually get coords into it, it works well for geocaching. The drawback is the old hardware that can lose satellites when under trees - plus it's pretty slow to grab the satellites. Still, it's durable and accurate.
Cheers,
Pathfinder

Dr. Nebz
01-16-2011, 07:17 PM
I have a Magellan SporTrak. I have had it for a few years. I have used it to navigate in Escalante, and in Oregon backpacking as well. It even helped us route find in Denali. It is not the fanciest GPS out there, but it has got me to the spot every time I have used it. I would like to get a better one, but I still live by being able to read a map out there, electronics do fail. So upgrading has really not been on the top of my priority list.

mr. incognito
04-07-2011, 01:05 PM
I am on my third GPS unit, and won't buy another until this one completely gives out. I currently have a Garmin 60CSx, and it is the easiest to use and carry out there. I have kept signal in slot canyons and deep timber where my other two units would completely lose it. It lights up right out of the box and has you on your way. Currently $375 to $399.
It usually boils down to which brand you start out with and learn how to use. I have owned both Magellen and Garmin and I will never go back to the "M".

I am not a Geocacher but am an avid wilderness explorer. I started with a magellan 15 years ago and finally it stopped recieving signal altogether. It seemed to work fine just never locked on to a location just kept searching for signal so I called their customer support. I was told that it was a "legend" model and they turned off the signal(?!:eek2:) that it would no longer pick up their newest signals and was informed I could trade in its "value" towards a newer model because of customer loyalty. I told them you just lost my customer loyalty permantently and I switched to Garmin. I didn't expect an expensive product like this to become obsolete and require replacement without any info whatsoever from the company before hand. I was irrate.:angryfire:
I bought a Garmin 60csx. I was completely in the dark on how crappy the magellan product was until I switched. Garmin is light years farther along in building a great product. I bought a NAt Geo topo chip for Utah and have loved Garmin ever since. I sorta wish I had investigated the Garmin Rhino because of its radio/walkitalkies type features but it was slightly out of budget at the time. I am well pleased with my 60csx and would never replace it until it completely dies or something really surpasses it in every concievable way comes out to render the 60 as a back up as a backup.
Side note: the company I work for has several road type GPS navigations in their vehicles including TOM TOM,Magellan, and Garmin and just like the backcountry gear the Garmins whips the competion hard on the surface streets too.:2thumbs:

Pathfinder
04-20-2011, 09:50 PM
I've been using an old Garmin eTrex for years. Still works fine although manually entering coordinates is a chore (see this page (http://explore.globalcreations.com/ideas/geocaching-with-the-etrex-personal-navigator/) for all the details on that). As others have noted, it does sometimes lose its signal in canyons and indoors.

I recently got an iPhone 4 that seems to have much better reception. The software is outstanding. I have GroundSpeak's Geocaching app that links right into all the caches on their website so, for example, you can see all the caches near where you are and navigate directly to them - with maps (satellite hybrid). I also have an app called MotionXGPS for general use. It has lots of features. I use Google Earth to determine locations then enter them into the iPhone as waypoints. The waypoints can have real names and be organized in folders. These apps have free versions, but the paid versions are only $9.99 for GroundSpeak and $0.99 for MotionXGPS. I can't yet say how well it will do in the field, but it sure looks promising.

jbdavies
05-07-2011, 01:50 PM
I have the Garmin GPSmap 60CSx. Love it. I've had it for a few years now. It's super rugged. I've dropped it off a 15 foot cliff... still works like a charm. Accurate too. And I just use the Garmin software/Maps. I have the CitySelect MicroSD card, and the US TOPO maps on another MicroSD card.