handheld gps's

[vagabrown]

forgive me if there are other threads in which this topic would be included.

 

i am looking for a handheld gps that has better proximity alarms, than all of the garmins.

 

with garmins, if i understand correctly, there is only one alarm when you get near the cache.

 

i want to know if there are other brands that have multiple proximity alarms, which can help to direct you to the cache, in a more accurate method?

[Keystone]

I am moving this thread from the Geocaching Topics forum to the GPS forum.

[+coachstahly]

So you're looking for a GPS unit that has more than one sound to indicate you're near a type of cache - different alarm goes off for different type of cache - or a unit that has the same sound (or more than one) and goes off multiple times as you get closer to the cache - alarm goes off at .25, then at .10, then at 100 ft., etc...? I'm assuming it's the second scenario you have in mind. I know when I'm navigating to a set of coordinates my GPS goes off when I'm close (maybe 100 feet or so), but otherwise I have my proximity alarms turned off (as I'm driving by a cache I know I haven't found) and I use a Garmin Montana. It usually only goes off for a hand entered set of coordinates and not for a geocache (although I wouldn't be surprised if I could get it to do that for a cache).

Edited March 23, 2015 by coachstahly

[+Gitchee-Gummee]

I think that is a map (programming) feature rather than a GPSr feature.

Perhaps your solution is map programming dependent, rather than GPSr unit dependent.

 

A goodly number of automotive units do (verbally)... and apparently some phone geocaching apps do (or did).

 

 

Way back when... I had a Garmin GPS12 ('brick') that had a proximity alarm as you neared a waypoint.

[+Viajero Perdido]

I know of an app that beeps at an ever-increasing frequency as you get closer. (Haven't tried it personally, but that's what I gather from the setup screens.)

 

Is that the kind of thing you're looking for?

[+Red90]

I think you need to provide a lot more detail on what you want. You can set multiple proximity alarms with a Garmin, if you want. You use custom POIs for this. You create multipe POIs at the same location with different proximity alerts. This can be done with individual points or with complete files.

 

But if you want a continuous beeping that changes to aid a blind person or such, then no.

Edited March 23, 2015 by Red90

[vagabrown]

So you're looking for a GPS unit that has more than one sound to indicate you're near a type of cache - different alarm goes off for different type of cache - or a unit that has the same sound (or more than one) and goes off multiple times as you get closer to the cache - alarm goes off at .25, then at .10, then at 100 ft., etc...? I'm assuming it's the second scenario you have in mind. I know when I'm navigating to a set of coordinates my GPS goes off when I'm close (maybe 100 feet or so), but otherwise I have my proximity alarms turned off (as I'm driving by a cache I know I haven't found) and I use a Garmin Montana. It usually only goes off for a hand entered set of coordinates and not for a geocache (although I wouldn't be surprised if I could get it to do that for a cache).

 

thanks for responding, quickly!

 

the 2nd scenario is the one in which i i'm interested.

 

ideally, if a gps made multiple sounds, as it got closer & closer to the cache. even better, would be beeps that would increase, or distinguish itself to how close one is.

 

one beep just isn't enough.

 

thanks

[vagabrown]

I know of an app that beeps at an ever-increasing frequency as you get closer. (Haven't tried it personally, but that's what I gather from the setup screens.)

 

Is that the kind of thing you're looking for?

[vagabrown]

that is exactly what i'm looking for. do you know the name of the possible app that will do this?

[vagabrown]

So you're looking for a GPS unit that has more than one sound to indicate you're near a type of cache - different alarm goes off for different type of cache - or a unit that has the same sound (or more than one) and goes off multiple times as you get closer to the cache - alarm goes off at .25, then at .10, then at 100 ft., etc...? I'm assuming it's the second scenario you have in mind. I know when I'm navigating to a set of coordinates my GPS goes off when I'm close (maybe 100 feet or so), but otherwise I have my proximity alarms turned off (as I'm driving by a cache I know I haven't found) and I use a Garmin Montana. It usually only goes off for a hand entered set of coordinates and not for a geocache (although I wouldn't be surprised if I could get it to do that for a cache).

 

thanks for responding, quickly!

 

the 2nd scenario is the one in which i i'm interested.

 

ideally, if a gps made multiple sounds, as it got closer & closer to the cache. even better, would be beeps that would increase, or distinguish itself to how close one is.

 

one beep just isn't enough.

 

thanks

[vagabrown]

I am moving this thread from the Geocaching Topics forum to the GPS forum.

[vagabrown]

thanks

[vagabrown]

I think you need to provide a lot more detail on what you want. You can set multiple proximity alarms with a Garmin, if you want. You use custom POIs for this. You create multipe POIs at the same location with different proximity alerts. This can be done with individual points or with complete files.

 

But if you want a continuous beeping that changes to aid a blind person or such, then no.

[vagabrown]

yes, i think that that is exactly what i'm trying to verbalize.

 

if you are able to give me some specific steps in creating multiple proximity alarms, while using custom poi's, i would surely appreciate it!

 

i am using a garmin -60 csx

 

thanks

[+Viajero Perdido]

that is exactly what i'm looking for. do you know the name of the possible app that will do this?

Locus Map Pro, on Android. (It's a well-featured caching app, not just maps.)

 

After I wrote that last post, I turned on that feature and had it take me to the end of the block. As you get close, it beeps slowly, then faster, then really fast when you're quite close. Same pitch of beeps, but faster pacing.

 

I don't think you could cache stealthily if your phone is beeping like crazy, but you could probably home in on a cache without glancing at the unit. Could be handy at times.

 

PS, I see you're currently using the same model of Garmin I used to use. I was fond of joking they'd have to pry the 60CSx out of my cold, dead hands some day. That was until I discovered the phone/app combo...

 

PPS, setting up multiple POIs on the 60CSx as Red90 suggested sounds like a lot of work.

Edited March 24, 2015 by Viajero Perdido

[+JohnCNA]

CacheSense on Android has audio alerts as well. You can select any sound file of your choice. The default was a sonar ping sound. Same sound each time, but increasing in frequency as you get closer. I thought it was cool for perhaps 30 minutes and never used it since. The constant pinging when I got close was a distraction, not a help. Trying to look inconspicuous while my phone was pinging away like Red October was pretty funny.

[vagabrown]

that is exactly what i'm looking for. do you know the name of the possible app that will do this?

Locus Map Pro, on Android. (It's a well-featured caching app, not just maps.)

 

After I wrote that last post, I turned on that feature and had it take me to the end of the block. As you get close, it beeps slowly, then faster, then really fast when you're quite close. Same pitch of beeps, but faster pacing.

 

I don't think you could cache stealthily if your phone is beeping like crazy, but you could probably home in on a cache without glancing at the unit. Could be handy at times.

 

PS, I see you're currently using the same model of Garmin I used to use. I was fond of joking they'd have to pry the 60CSx out of my cold, dead hands some day. That was until I discovered the phone/app combo...

 

PPS, setting up multiple POIs on the 60CSx as Red90 suggested sounds like a lot of work.

[vagabrown]

problem being is that i have an iphone. any good apps with good proximity alarm capabilities, in which you're aware?

[vagabrown]

CacheSense on Android has audio alerts as well. You can select any sound file of your choice. The default was a sonar ping sound. Same sound each time, but increasing in frequency as you get closer. I thought it was cool for perhaps 30 minutes and never used it since. The constant pinging when I got close was a distraction, not a help. Trying to look inconspicuous while my phone was pinging away like Red October was pretty funny.

[vagabrown]

problem being is that i have an iphone. any good apps with good proximity alarm capabilities, in which you're aware?