What kind of GPS to buy?

Fishstix · 02-24-2005, 09:39 AM

I am sure that this topic has been covered before. But I am looking for a handheld GPS for hunting. I only have $100 to $150 to spend. I have looked at the Garmin eTrex GA00190, Garmin eTrex Venture GA00225, and the Magellan eXplorist 200 as well. Are any of these any good? Does anyone have any other suggestions?

Crayfin · 02-24-2005, 10:56 AM

I have heard that they get back fewer Garmin products than Magellens. I have an ETrex and it works fine for what I use it for. I think you can pick up one of those for about $100. I have had mine for about 3 years and it has been all over the western states with me and has been flawless.

Todd

RoscoeP · 02-24-2005, 11:47 AM

I would also give a vote for the etrex. Bought mine for $99.99 from Cabela's. Flawless and very accurate so far. Gets me back to the rig or camp everytime.

ehunter · 02-24-2005, 12:14 PM

I have the Garmine 120 Rhino gps it has a radio. First I like the garmen, I have sent it back for repair after one of my pups decided the antena was good chewing and the customer service was great. I also have the Garmin software and I use it a lot. I can for example look at a area on the map and put in GPS way points ahead of time or after hunting or hiking a area save way points to the map soft ware it is very useful information. It is great if you do as much walking and hiking as we do during elk season. Closest roads creek names ect even on some private property. Also it can used on the national Geographic software. Note you can only down load way points not the map. I will use it on section hike of the pct trail this summer. (my elk hunting conditioning hike). With that being said I am not pleased with the way it can lose satalites, trees are bad even fog. I had a older magellen and it seemed to hang in there better. But I love the map features and the software for the garmin. Etrex has the similar features as a Rhino without the radio.

Ezrider · 02-24-2005, 12:49 PM

I bought one of the early Garmins and it was a ***. Terrible reception, burned up the batteries and hard to read.

soupsamich · 02-24-2005, 01:05 PM

I have the Magellan 315. It has worked fine for the past couple of years, but is starting to flake out on me. While a couple of miles from where I started off the road last hunting season, it glitched and lost all my waypoints and pretty much rebooted itself. that sucked. A couple of weeks ago when I really needed it to work the most (snow,dark,a long way from any road) it acted like I was in the burmuda triangle and kept giving me different readings that were miles apart every time I tried a landmark. Its now in the garbage!!

I'll be buying the Garmin soon

BuKuBass · 02-24-2005, 03:00 PM

Search/ask here.

Mtn Man · 02-24-2005, 04:17 PM

I got a yellow Etrex for christmas and it works very well. There are some out there now with new software, it is WAAS enabled and has more routes.

I do quite a bit of geocaching and from everything I have read I don't think you could go wrong with any of the ones you are looking at. It is just a matter of personal preferance.

Alan

GO-FASTER · 02-24-2005, 07:29 PM

Garmin eTrex LEGEND. THE BLUE ONE,EASY TO USE LOTS OF COOL STUFF,I REALLY LIKE MINE,WALMART $160

Big TULE · 02-25-2005, 07:37 PM

I have the magellan explorist 200, i baught it from brigade quartermasters for 135 shipped around thanks giving. I love it. Very easy to use and it is a mapper not just a plotter like the etrex.

baltz526 · 02-25-2005, 09:05 PM

i have been using a magellan blazer 12 for several years, and it has been great, batteries last a long time, they way i use it. just checked my elk hunting way points from oct cascade elk and sitting in the house it locked on to the sats and gave correct mileage to the way points.

TheTexan · 02-26-2005, 06:52 AM

Kind of like buying a car, you need to go somewhere and test drive the units you are thinking about buying. Mess with the features and look at the different screens. I have a Magellan Meridian series and really like the features/ease of use.

Good Luck!

cutt plug · 02-26-2005, 08:05 AM

I have a Magellen 315, never had a problem and have never been lost with it yet.

Good luck and let us know what you get.

StickFish · 02-26-2005, 08:12 AM

Best source of info on GPS devices is the news group dedicated to them sci.navigation.gps I think - any way use your news group reader and search on GPS you'll find it.

THe Magellan Sport Trak series is being phased out, that device is one of the best ever made because it featured an active antenna and not a patch antenna. Uses have reported amazing results with Sport Traks.

GPS devices depend on how you will use it, open water, mountains, steep terrain, forests. If you are in open country all the time any unit will work for you. If you are in forests - stay away from Gramin eTrex - those who know have reported poor receiver performance. Steep terrain and forests the best box going has been the sport trak series.

A GPS is 12 radios in a little box, you need the best antenna and receiver design to make GPS signal receiption work the best for you. Newer units do come with faster processors and the ability to add memory - which can mean more detailed maps and faster computation of your location. Being a radio nut my money lays with the best receiver and the best antenna combination.

Never depend on a GPS as you soul method of navigation - you need a map, you need a compass and you must know how to use all three.

Good luck and hope that helps

Washington Hunter · 02-26-2005, 09:05 AM

I have the Garmin Etrex Venture and I would recommend it. I had the basic yellow Etrex in the past, and it is a good unit, but the Venture is better for only $30 or $40 more. I got mine off ebay for $140 a couple of years ago.

D4570 · 02-28-2005, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Ifisher: Washington Hunter
Subject: Re: What kind of GPS to buy?

I have the Gamin Etrex Venture and I would recommend it. I had the basic yellow Etrex in the past, and it is a good unit, but the Venture is better for only $30 or $40 more. I got mine off ebay for $140 a couple of years ago.

I agree I have this one too. Nice and easy!!

chummer · 02-28-2005, 03:52 PM

So where might a person look in the Portland area to test drive some of these different models and recieve some good background info on each, more specifically, the Garmin Map76 model. I currently own the magellan meridian marine which I like just fine. I don't use it to it's full potential but it keeps me out of trouble in the fog while fishing and i have downloaded topo features onto the memory card which gives more road detail than the standard memory. But I would like to do a comparison between the 2, and there seem to be alotta guys who like their garmins.

Washington Hunter · 02-28-2005, 09:28 PM

You might try this one: http://www.gps4fun.com/

sunshinefisherman · 03-01-2005, 05:27 AM

Look for:
small size
good battery life
PC functional software

I found all these things in the Garmin Vista