What GPS do you own? - DPChallenge Forums

05/08/2007 08:39:16 AM · #26

I want one that will do me good running around geocaching...and would be nice if it could also be used on the road for trips and such. I know those won't give me turn by turn directions but it will help when I miss the exit. That's why I was looking at the Magellan Explorist 500. I haven't had it in my hands but it looks like it does all the above. I'd like to load maps also and have that find nearest whatever program too...but don't know if that is possible with this model.

05/08/2007 09:06:08 AM · #27

I haven't read the entire thread, but I thought I'd pass along some info from someone who uses a GPS for everything, including peeing.

I have three units (um, GPS units, that is)... I started with a simple yellow Garmin eTrex, which served its purpose. I moved up to a Garmin Legend, which has maps but not a lot of memory. And now I have a Garmin 60CSx, which is absolutely fantastic.

The 60CSx will hold a signal in heavy tree cover where my other units will ALWAYS fail. In fact, it held a strong signal in the middle of my daughter's school auditorium!

The difference with some of the newer unit is the Sirf III chip. If you really want a unit that's going to consistently hold a signal, whether you're Geocaching, driving, hiking, whatever, be sure to look for one that has this chip. It's a night and day difference from the old ones.

I also highly recommend Garmins, not just because the units themselves are great, but because their customer service gets rave reviews. I've heard countless stories about how impressive their service is if something goes wrong. Thankfully I haven't had a service issue myself, but they're really known for their service.

A couple other pluses about the 60CSx... it has expandable memory, so I was able to add a 2GB MicroSD card which holds detailed maps of the entire US & Canada... plus I can add as many "custom points of interest" as I could ever dream up (the maps take up 1.6GB, so I have hundreds of megs left for tracks and custom points).

And yes, it does do autorouting, has every McDonalds and a couple other million points of interest loaded with the maps, too (I use City Navigator 8).

I just read that you are interested in caching... and I would HIGHLY recommend this for caching, too. It has a Geocaching mode which is great for keeping track of your finds (I've found over 1,050 to date). And the Sirf chip will definitely remove some of the frustration you'll have of losing a signal under the tree cover.

Message edited by author 2007-05-08 09:11:18.

05/08/2007 09:10:26 AM · #28

Thanks alot Alan...that's what I was looking for. Some insight from someone who has been around the GPS block a few times. Is Garmin the only manufacture to make that chip? I definitely want one that will not lose a signal when I'm out!

Peleng 8mm f/3.5 Fisheye MC In M42 Mount

05/08/2007 09:13:31 AM · #29

Originally posted by TomFoolery:

There are a couple others, but from what I'm looking at on Wikipedia, it looks like most of the others are being used in the non-handheld models, like boat units, or car ones. I would imagine that more manufacturers are or will be using this chip though, if they're not already.

Matthew

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

05/08/2007 09:19:52 AM · #30

I have GPS built into my mobile phone (an o2 XDA Oxygen). It takes about 8 seconds to get a lock and does a reasonable job in the city and on the road. If you were in the market for a new phone, it is quite handy to combine devices in this way and it means that you always have it with you.

05/08/2007 09:31:49 AM · #31

I just looked at the Garmin 60CSx...looks really cool but a bit out of my price range right now. I can't spend over about $180-190. Am I kidding myself. I know I can find the Magellan Explorist 500 for around that much...is it worth it. Does it lose signal?

Carl Zeiss Planar T 50mm f/1.7

05/08/2007 09:41:15 AM · #32

I really don't know much about Magellan units. You might look at some of the smaller Garmins (honest, I don't work for Garmin :), like the Venture CX (any of the Garmin units with an "X" at the end of the name have the Sirf chip, I believe).

Honestly, without the Sirf chip you certainly *can* Geocache, but you'll definitely go through the experience of standing at a spot where the unit says you're 10 feet from the cache, then it'll bounce to 150 feet from the cache... to 50 feet, and so forth. I found that to be really frustrating this time of the year, when the leaves come out.

I doubt you'll find one with the Sirf chip AND autorouting capabilities in that price range, though.

EDIT: Now I'm not so sure that the "X" means that it has the Sirf chip. I'd research that more, but I have to get ready for a presentation tonight :)

Message edited by author 2007-05-08 09:46:59.

tryals15

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

05/08/2007 09:53:31 AM · #33

I have the simple Yellow Garmin eTrex, and while I enjoy using it, I think I'm about ready to move up to something more substantial. The eTrex is useful for keeping track of where you went, and marking geographic spots, but there is no mapping or routing. I've used it some for geocaching, with moderate success, but I've also given up on several due to the poor reception with wooded cover...

theSaj

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

05/08/2007 10:13:49 AM · #34

I have an iPharos 500 GPS unit w/bluetooth dock. I then can use it with both my Windows PDA Phone and laptop.

I got some decent affordable GPS nav software from Infogation //www.infogation.com/ as I was able to upgrade for like $60.

The iPharos 500 has a Sirf III chip.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

05/08/2007 10:32:23 AM · #35

Thanks Saj...but if I dropped that on the rocks I think it might be done...or in the water.

Message edited by author 2007-05-08 10:32:34.

BeeCee

Nikon D40

05/08/2007 10:49:22 AM · #36

We also bought ours for geocaching. Bought a Magellan first, tried it once, and exchanged it for a Garmin E-trex.

Our first cache was in an area where the road cuts deeply between two high rock faces and the Magellan had a lot of echo issues. Whichever rock we were on, it told us we should be on the other side of the road.
Garmin led us within 2 feet of it on our first try.

It's a basic unit, but performs well for what we want and is about $100.

Btw, did you see the section on the Garmin site about geocaching?

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

05/08/2007 12:29:12 PM · #37

Originally posted by BeeCee:

Btw, did you see the section on the Garmin site about geocaching?

Yes I did...thank you. I'm now looking at the Garmin eTrex Legend CX...does that have the chip in question...can't seem to find out.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

05/08/2007 01:35:32 PM · #38

Originally posted by TomFoolery:

Originally posted by BeeCee:
Btw, did you see the section on the Garmin site about geocaching?

Yes I did...thank you. I'm now looking at the Garmin eTrex Legend CX...does that have the chip in question...can't seem to find out.

I believe that chip is only on the 60 and 76 series Garmins that say they have a "high sensitivity" receiver.

05/08/2007 01:36:56 PM · #39

Originally posted by TomFoolery:

I'm now looking at the Garmin eTrex Legend CX...does that have the chip in question...can't seem to find out.

Actually, apparently it doesn't. I was under the impression that any of the "X" models had the new chip, but that doesn't seem to be the case after all. You can compare models here... the ones that have the Sirf chip would be the ones that say they have the "High-sensitivity receiver":

Garmin Units

You can choose "mapping" vs. non-mapping versions of units from there.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

05/08/2007 02:27:47 PM · #40

Yea...those look real cool but out of my price range. I just bought the Garmin eTrexÂ® Legend Cx. That should do me good for a while. Thanks for everyones help...now we need to start a DPC Geocache.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

05/08/2007 02:55:50 PM · #41

Originally posted by TomFoolery:

Yea...those look real cool but out of my price range. I just bought the Garmin eTrexÂ® Legend Cx. That should do me good for a while. Thanks for everyones help...now we need to start a DPC Geocache.

Maybe a DPC travelbug would be an interesting item.

One of my travelbugs is on it way back to the US after going around the world.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

05/08/2007 03:00:35 PM · #42

Are there enough people that would play to make it work?

Spork99

OM System OM-1

05/08/2007 03:06:10 PM · #43

Originally posted by TomFoolery:

Are there enough people that would play to make it work?

Well, I suppose that whoever "owned" the bug could change it's destination to head towards another DPC'er who would have to go get it so that intermediate steps could be from non-DPC'ers. I dunno.

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

05/08/2007 03:08:56 PM · #44

Yea non-DPCers might be needed. The geocache community is huge...maybe will get more in here to play along.

dacrazyrn

Nikon D300

05/08/2007 04:29:50 PM · #45

Originally posted by TomFoolery:

I just looked at the Garmin 60CSx...looks really cool but a bit out of my price range right now. I can't spend over about $180-190.

Here is the one I got. Does not have expandable memory, in your price range (Garmin GPSMap 60C)

Gabriel

Pentax K7

Tomioka 55mm f/1.4 in M42 Mount

05/08/2007 04:43:45 PM · #46

Originally posted by TomFoolery:

I'm now looking at the Garmin eTrex Legend CX...does that have the chip in question...can't seem to find out.

CX is for Color and eXpendable (color screen, microSD memory card)