Recommend me a handheld GPS

[Slickone]

A friend is looking for one to use for Geocaching. Hopes to get one for less than $100, but $150 is the max. Any good deals on one right now?

 

[imported_griffis]

NO good GPS will run in that range, but if he wants to up it a little go with a Garmin

 

[Slickone]

What's wrong with those around $100?

What's the cheapest Garmin you're talking about?

 

[Monkey muppet]

Lend your PDA with **cough** :software: **cough** loaded, then a GPS receiver for less than £30 ($50-ish)

 

[imported_Condor]

Etrex - 285 or so.

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: Slickone
What's wrong with those around $100?

What's the cheapest Garmin you're talking about?

That cheap you won't get a PC connection, and a crappy patch antenna.

 

[JoPh]

Originally posted by: Condor
Etrex - 285 or so.

garmins are the way to go.

that or....garmin gps-60 series.

not cheap. you want something good. trust me.

 

[Mrfrog840]

find a PDA and use GPS software on it.

 

[imported_griffis]

Originally posted by: Slickone
What's wrong with those around $100?

What's the cheapest Garmin you're talking about?

The ones around $100 are probably crap man. If your friend is going to invest in something with this kind of technology he needs to save up and get a good unit. Here is a link to help in his search. Hope it helps

Garmin

 

[TwoMix]

The etrex legend is ~130.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: griffis
NO good GPS will run in that range, but if he wants to up it a little go with a Garmin

Wrong.

Garmin eTrex Legend.

 

[sygyzy]

Etrex Legend, monochrome version.

 

[Slickone]

Well he went out and bought the $100 yellow eTrex 010-00190-00, like so, before even waiting for my answer. Hasn't opened it yet.

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: griffis
NO good GPS will run in that range, but if he wants to up it a little go with a Garmin

Wrong.

Garmin eTrex Legend.

Wonder why the eTrex aren't listed on the Garmin product page? You have to search for them.

 

[sygyzy]

Originally posted by: Slickone
Well he went out and bought the $100 yellow eTrex 010-00190-00, like so, before even waiting for my answer. Hasn't opened it yet.

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: griffis
NO good GPS will run in that range, but if he wants to up it a little go with a Garmin

Wrong.

Garmin eTrex Legend.

Wonder why the eTrex aren't listed on the Garmin product page? You have to search for them.

Find that VERY hard to believe considering it's their main line. Not most expensive or advanced but most popular by far.

And don't listen to the other poster. You can connect even the Yellow eTrex via serial cable.

 

[JoPh]

this is what garmin says for geocaching with their units. tells you which ones are good for it.
http://www.garmin.com/outdoor/geocaching/units.html

 

[Bootprint]

Originally posted by: Slickone
Well he went out and bought the $100 yellow eTrex 010-00190-00, like so, before even waiting for my answer. Hasn't opened it yet.

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: griffis
NO good GPS will run in that range, but if he wants to up it a little go with a Garmin

Wrong.

Garmin eTrex Legend.

Wonder why the eTrex aren't listed on the Garmin product page? You have to search for them.

The Etrex is fine as long as your friend isn't looking for uploadable road maps, nothing wrong with using it for Geocaching.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: JoPh
this is what garmin says for geocaching with their units. tells you which ones are good for it.
http://www.garmin.com/outdoor/geocaching/units.html

And if you go to the geocaching.com forums, they'll tell you someone who uses a $500 GPS for geocaching is a geocaching noob.

 

[JoPh]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: JoPh
this is what garmin says for geocaching with their units. tells you which ones are good for it.
http://www.garmin.com/outdoor/geocaching/units.html

And if you go to the geocaching.com forums, they'll tell you someone who uses a $500 GPS for geocaching is a geocaching noob.

hell yeah! who the hell needs a gps device. i got a good old map and pencile.

eff electronics. ill use the stars!

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: sygyzy

Originally posted by: Slickone
Well he went out and bought the $100 yellow eTrex 010-00190-00, like so, before even waiting for my answer. Hasn't opened it yet.

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: griffis
NO good GPS will run in that range, but if he wants to up it a little go with a Garmin

Wrong.

Garmin eTrex Legend.

Wonder why the eTrex aren't listed on the Garmin product page? You have to search for them.

Find that VERY hard to believe considering it's their main line. Not most expensive or advanced but most popular by far.

And don't listen to the other poster. You can connect even the Yellow eTrex via serial cable.

But you can't upload maps to it.

 

I use an eTrex Legend (see sig) and it's great for Geocaching. I got it for $119 on clearance at OfficeMax.

The above posters who don't think that a ~$100 GPS device will work well are full of crap.

Check out http://forums.groundspeak.com for more information.

 

[BrokenVisage]

Dell Axim + Belkin Bluetooth GPS receiver = I never get lost going on work related trips.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: JoPh

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: JoPh
this is what garmin says for geocaching with their units. tells you which ones are good for it.
http://www.garmin.com/outdoor/geocaching/units.html

And if you go to the geocaching.com forums, they'll tell you someone who uses a $500 GPS for geocaching is a geocaching noob.

hell yeah! who the hell needs a gps device. i got a good old map and pencile.

eff electronics. ill use the stars!

No, my point is that of course Garmin wants to sell you their most expensive GPSes, but if you're mostly using it for Geocaching you can get by with a $140 GPS (Legend) rather than the $500 GPSes they recommend. The $99 yellow eTrex is actually very popular among Geocachers. You don't need complicated features for Geocaching. You need a device that will tell you where you are, where the cache is, and the direction from point A to point B.

 

[HyTekJosh]

I get all of my GPS stuff at: http://store.yahoo.com/semsons-inc/index.html

My GPS setups are typically Dell Axim PPCs with Bluetooth GPS and Prymenav/inav.

 

[sygyzy]

Personally I have never been a fan of the PDA + Bluetooth GPS route but it seems to work for some people. All the rage nowadays.

I did fine with my Legend before I sold it with the intention of getting an upgraded model. The funds ended up going elsewhere.

Uploading maps is unecessary for geocaching. I have never used a map that was uploaded. I only used a map when I tried to navigate ROADS. If you want a GPS for street driving, don't look for a geocaching one. Besides, my car has navigation now so trying to nagivate with a tiny screen is unecessary.

 

[IronWing]

My $0.02:

Get a unit that allows you to upload/download maps. Very handy to have the contour maps w/ you.

I like the Garmin Rinos for the radio feature and the ability to send locations back and forth between users. Very useful during field inventoty projects. The Rinos do cost more and if you're not going to buy at least two of them, there isn't much point in geting one, though you can talk to folks using regular FRS radios.