GPSr suggestions

[+gerkmax]

Can anyone suggest a decent GPSr for under $100?

 

I don't care if it has a color display. But I'd would like one that gives good coordinates, casts waypoints and has a compass. I'd like to be able to store some coordinates. Maybe the paperless caching feature I've read about.

 

Thanks.

[+storm180]

No such thing exists for under $100 bucks if you want the paperless caching.

 

The only one I can suggest is the Garmin Etrex H. Very simple and under $100.00.

[+Y2KOTA]

I'm in need of a one also. My Garmin GPS III died on me.

[+Miragee]

The least expensive Garmin 'H' connects to a computer with the Serial Port, so if you get that one, make sure your computer has a Serial Port.

 

Check out Garmin's "Comparison Page" to see which models connect with USB so you have fewer problems connecting and transfering data.

 

If you don't want the "High Sensitivity" receiver, you could see what the prices are on eBay for the discontinued Legend C or Vista C. Those might be cheap now.

[MtnHermit]

The least expensive "handheld" that will do paperless caching is the Garmin Nuvi. You should be able to pick up a Nuvi 200 close to your $100 price in a few week. Its being discontinued in favor of the Nuvi 205.

 

Doubt it'll have a compass. There's a Nuvi thread on paperless caching on this forum.

[+gpsjager]

The least expensive "handheld" that will do paperless caching is the Garmin Nuvi....Doubt it'll have a compass. There's a Nuvi thread on paperless caching on this forum.

Be aware the 2xx non-widescreen models do not have a satellite screen, and will not show your coordinates changing as you move around trying to locate the cache. All the 2xxW widescreen models have the satellite screen, with real-time coordinates shown making cache locating much easier (very much worth the extra $40 imho and you get the wider screen too). As mentioned, the nuvi paperless cache thread has the details.

[+storm180]

The nuvi is a car navigation unit. Even though I have read all stuff about caching with your nuvi. I don't think its the best for geocaching, they really lack functionality for geocaching.

 

As for the serial cable, you can get a USB to serial cable which should work fine.

[+gpsjager]

The nuvi is a car navigation unit...I don't think its the best for geocaching, they really lack functionality for geocaching.

Wide paintbrush. For fair weather urban geocaching, I can't think of a better low cost and highly functional solution (sub $200 price point, thousands of paperless caching points in memory, and full voice-prompted road navigation to boot). Now if you are going deep country and or bad weather caching, no topo maps and lack of weather protection are true "real" functional negatives.

[+storm180]

The nuvi is a car navigation unit...I don't think its the best for geocaching, they really lack functionality for geocaching.

Wide paintbrush. For fair weather urban geocaching, I can't think of a better low cost and highly functional solution (sub $200 price point, thousands of paperless caching points in memory, and full voice-prompted road navigation to boot). Now if you are going deep country and or bad weather caching, no topo maps and lack of weather protection are true "real" functional negatives.

 

I guess, I couldn't do it. I have a Roadmate 6000T in my vehicle loadaed with my cache information and I use voice navigation to get me a close as possible to the cache then break out the colorado or the 60CSx to find the cache.

 

All I am saying it seems like a bit of extra work with some of the nuvis to actually find the cache if its way off the road or in the woods. One issue is the battery on those unit from what I hear don't last too long.

[MtnHermit]

The nuvi is a car navigation unit...I don't think its the best for geocaching, they really lack functionality for geocaching.

Wide paintbrush. For fair weather urban geocaching, I can't think of a better low cost and highly functional solution (sub $200 price point, thousands of paperless caching points in memory, and full voice-prompted road navigation to boot). Now if you are going deep country and or bad weather caching, no topo maps and lack of weather protection are true "real" functional negatives.

One of the beauties of the Garmin mapping language is that it seamless bridges all models. Hence the Nuvi's will use and display the same Topo maps as the handhelds.

 

For precisely that reason, I'm seriously considering a Nuvi 205W to supplement and backup my Venture Cx. Just as cachers want to go paperless, so to us backpackers. Heck, the 2x5 series will even do DEM shading like the Colorado, at half the price.

[MtnHermit]

Be aware the 2xx non-widescreen models do not have a satellite screen, and will not show your coordinates changing as you move around trying to locate the cache.

That's no longer true, here's the new Nuvi 255 4:3 screen:

 

 

I assume this will also appear on the Nuvi 205. The 205 should be selling for $99 by Black Friday.

[+storm180]

Too each their own I suppose.

Edited June 12, 2008 by storm180

[+gerkmax]

Thanks for the input everyone. I am currently using a Magellan Maestro 3225, but it's not really geared towards geocaching.

 

Also, I'd like to start doing some of my own caches, so I'd need to be able to mark them.

[+gpsjager]

Be aware the 2xx non-widescreen models do not have a satellite screen, and will not show your coordinates changing as you move around trying to locate the cache.

That's no longer true, here's the new Nuvi 255 4:3 screen:

 

 

I assume this will also appear on the Nuvi 205. The 205 should be selling for $99 by Black Friday.

That's great! My post was about current models, 2x5's were only pre-orderable on the date I posted.