GPS - DPChallenge Forums

Tamron SP AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

10/14/2004 05:31:49 PM · #4

i know if you want a color display, it is usually cheaper to get the pda with the gps attachment. It would run around $400-600. Most color display gps are $1000 or more.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

10/14/2004 05:33:32 PM · #5

A friend of mine has the Garmin iQue and loves it. I got to try it out as well while on a road rally and it's really fast. Here's a link to Garmin's site: //www.garmin.com/products/iQue3200/

Ooops, I didn't see your limit of $350. The iQue is way over that (around $530). But you'd still end up paying a lot for both the PDA and a separate GPS unit.

Message edited by author 2004-10-14 17:35:36.

Dr.Confuser

Nikon D800

10/14/2004 05:47:35 PM · #6

I like Magellan's Meridian Color Unit and use it often.

EddyG

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

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

10/14/2004 06:22:40 PM · #7

I have a Garmin eTrex Vista and highly recommend it. It is very small physically, has a hi-res screen, WAAS support, a barometric altimeter and electronic compass (which works even when your not moving or do not have GPS lock). It has downloadable street-level maps (24MB of non-volatile memory for map data).

You can save money if you don't need some of those features; a comparison of the various eTrex models is here.

Also look into the new Geko series, which are even smaller...

Message edited by author 2004-10-14 18:34:35.

dacrazyrn

Nikon D300

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

10/14/2004 06:28:25 PM · #8

I second Magellan

SDW

Canon EOS-60D

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

10/14/2004 06:33:05 PM · #9

RS.com
Not my favorite store but they do have good warranties.

Chiqui

Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II

Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro

10/14/2004 09:46:02 PM · #10

So, I said I wanted a color GPS, but for those of you who have GPS units, how important is color, really?

June

skylen

Nikon D200

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

10/27/2004 06:55:39 PM · #11

Originally posted by chiqui74:

So, I said I wanted a color GPS, but for those of you who have GPS units, how important is color, really?

June

I have a Garmin eTrex, B&W screen, 2 AA batteries, nice and small. It works great for me. It comes with some really basic maps (only major streets etc.) and I hook it up to my laptop sometimes to use the more sophisticated mapping/Wi-Fi mapping software I have on the laptop, to do wardriving.

It's really useful to be able to mark your friend's house or a spot in the wilderness and record the route to it so you can retrace your steps etc.

EDIT: oh yeah, I'm really happy with B&W. Color isn't worth the extra cost and waaaay reduced battery life that comes with it.

Message edited by author 2004-10-27 18:56:31.

eggv

Canon EOS-1D Mark IIn

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

10/27/2004 07:34:08 PM · #12

We own a Megellan 315 and a Magellan Meridan Gold, neither are color but both are very cool. I hear color requires backlighting to be as good as it can be, thus short battery life. Hiking, boating, driving... very usefull color or not. Next to a Digital Camera and a Glock It's the coolest Tech a working person can own. (imho) Geocaching is fun too. www.geocaching.com Get one!

Gauti

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

10/27/2004 07:39:47 PM · #13

Originally posted by EddyG:

I have a Garmin eTrex Vista and highly recommend it.

I also have the Vista and I love it. It's heavy consumer of batteries though. My main gibe about it now is that I can't connect it to my PC after I updated my MB and don't have a RS323 port anymore and haven't been able to hook the Vista up through USB.
Monochrome works form me, I don't know how important the colour is.

EddyG

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

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

10/27/2004 07:50:57 PM · #14

Originally posted by Gauti:

My laptop didn't have a serial port either, and I wanted to be able to use it on the road with something like Street Atlas USA. I bought a USB-to-serial adapter (it looks just like this one) and it works great. Might be worth looking in to.

Also, if you buy MetroGuide from Garmin, you can download very detailed maps (i.e., that contain every street) into the eTrex. The built-in 24MB of memory in the Vista is plenty to cover a decent local driving area.

Message edited by author 2004-10-27 19:51:40.

Gauti

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

10/27/2004 07:55:36 PM · #15

Originally posted by EddyG:

Ok. I bought one (can't remember brand) but it did NOT work, so I gave up. Garmin offers a adapter they claim works, but is quite expensive.
I obviously have to look more into this. Thanks.

ablessg

Nikon D80

Olympus 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko Digital ED

10/27/2004 11:21:38 PM · #16

I have a Magellan Sportrak Map that is monochrome. My personal opinion is that color isn't terribly important. My unit comes in both a color and a monochrome model and I looked at both before I purchased it. The first problem is that the backlight has to be on for the color to stand out. If it is off the screen looks murky or unclear. This EATS batteries. The second problem is that on the less expensive color displays, the information is not as well defined and looks terrible in bright sunlight. Just my opinion :)

Message edited by author 2004-10-27 23:23:59.

Prof_Fate

10/28/2004 01:17:53 AM · #17

What do you plan on using it for?

The Garmin eTrex Legend C (C for color) is about $375
I have the b&w version (no C) and it goes for $169. It includes a general basemap of the US and you can get teh MapSource CDs from Garmin for about $117 that will give you either topo or streets (and restuarurants, hotels, etc). You can DL the maps into either Legend or most other garmin GPSr.

check out:
//www.gpsgames.com
//www.geocaching.com/
//forums.groundspeak.com/gc/
//www.todayscacher.com/

edit to fix links

Message edited by author 2004-10-28 01:19:14.

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

11/01/2004 04:00:52 PM · #18

I knew there was a thread about GPS and I found it, yay! I am looking to replace my aging Sony Clie with a new Palm T3 or T5 and would like to add GPS to that. Does anyone know of a GPS system that has the ability to add maps for both the USA and Europe? I travel to Germany once a year and other EU countries and would like a map for the areas. Thanks!

EddyG

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

11/01/2004 04:23:06 PM · #19

If you want a Palm device with GPS capability, you should really consider the something like the Garmin iQue 3200. (I've been lusting after one ever since they came out!)

David Ey

Nikon D80

Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f2.8D

11/01/2004 04:35:21 PM · #20

Wallmart...$100us...Garmin, if you just want to track yourself or input coords.

Gauti

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

11/01/2004 04:40:41 PM · #21

Originally posted by EddyG:

If you want a Palm device with GPS capability, you should really consider the something like the Garmin iQue 3200. (I've been lusting after one ever since they came out!)

ditto here
lust lust
:)

jonr

Olympus OM-D E-M5

Olympus 9-18mm f/4.0-5.6 M.Zuiko Digital ED

11/01/2004 04:48:54 PM · #22

I don't know if colour is that important. (But in the end every gadget will have one) I have the Garmin eTrex Venture, which has the hi-res screen, but no maps. The maps are usually too coarse to be of any use anyway. You are much better off with a decent 1:50.000 or even 1:100.000 map. And word of warning: If you have to depend on the GPS, get a compass and learn to use it!
And I am lusting for a Palm Treo 650 with a Garmin module, that would satisfy my hand-held gadget lust for a long time! :)

Lensbaby 1.0 (The Original)

11/01/2004 05:02:58 PM · #23

A friend of mine has the iQue and really likes it. I've tried it out and it's quite speedy but the downside is the CD of EU maps: $349! Are there other options?

PS: one more thing I forgot to mention, I use a Mac and another feature the PDA must have is Bluetooth so I can sync with my Mac wirelessly since I need to sync with multiple Macs. I don't think the iQue has BT but I could be wrong.

Message edited by author 2004-11-01 17:06:21.

alanbataar

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

11/01/2004 05:50:54 PM · #24

My brother bought a pretty darn cool thing about 2 years ago: it was (I believe) made by Magellan (definitely not Garmin). It was a powered antenna for GPS that plugs into a laptop compter via USB. The device is only an antenna, and the included software handles all the tracking. Upside: powered antennae work much better, and are valuable options for any GPS. Downside: it doesn't have a magnetic compass nor barometric altitude sensing, and obviously you need a notebook, so it's not for hiking.

I have an older Garmin eTrex Vista and have never been very satisfied with it for one reason: Garmin is highly PC-centric and refuses to support Mac platform applications. I'd buy a Magellan in a heartbeat if they supported Mac and USB. My wife and I bought a Dell PC because they have one model with a serial port, which I wanted specifically for GPS use.