GPS... which one?

[+blmalley]

I became a member last year but never logged in. For some reason decided I wanted to do something different this weekend and actually opened up the app. My only regret, not doing it sooner!!!

 

I logged in 18 caches this weekend and a ton of giggles and memories. This is truly something that gets me on so many levels. I look at everyday as a possibility to get out, see my world in a whole new way and discover new places.

 

But my question is this.... which GPS should I look into? I am tech savvy so I know I am going to want something to keep me interested, not seem so entry level and leaving me with buyers remorse within a matter of days/weeks? I know this has been asked so sorry!

 

Thanks!

Brigette

[mjr15197]

This is just my opinion of course, but it's hard to beat the Garmin GPSMAP 62s for bang for your buck. If you want to spend more money for a few more features, I like the Garmin GPSMAP 64 series and Garmin Oregon 600 series as well. I'm currently using the Oregon 600t and I'm very happy with it.

[+Panther&Pine]

It really depends on your needs. A phone with the app and a PM might be all you need (10$ for the app and 30$ per year for the PM), or you might spend $800 on a GPS, PM, maps, GSAK and Project-GC.

 

I have yet to regret any of my GPS upgrades (I've done one every 2 years on average with a 200$ price upgrade, I had one of those amazing clearish blue ones for a while and now have an Oregon 650t that I plan to keep with until a stand alone device can work without a desktop).

 

Keep using your phone for a few months, save up and decide later.

[+GrayHawk613]

I became a member last year but never logged in. For some reason decided I wanted to do something different this weekend and actually opened up the app. My only regret, not doing it sooner!!!

 

I logged in 18 caches this weekend and a ton of giggles and memories. This is truly something that gets me on so many levels. I look at everyday as a possibility to get out, see my world in a whole new way and discover new places.

 

But my question is this.... which GPS should I look into? I am tech savvy so I know I am going to want something to keep me interested, not seem so entry level and leaving me with buyers remorse within a matter of days/weeks? I know this has been asked so sorry!

 

Reply:If you have some dough I would get the Garmin Montana 650.

Edited December 2, 2014 by GrayHawk613

[+Chrysalides]

...that I plan to keep with until a stand alone device can work without a desktop).

Don't have one, but since the Monterra is Android based and has wi-fi built in, maybe that's the one? If it didn't cost quite so much, I'd have bought one and let you know For $650, I can buy an Oregon 600 (when it was on sale a couple of weeks back) as well as a cheap laptop, and maybe still come out ahead.

[+Chrysalides]

But my question is this.... which GPS should I look into? I am tech savvy so I know I am going to want something to keep me interested, not seem so entry level and leaving me with buyers remorse within a matter of days/weeks? I know this has been asked so sorry!

First, decide if you want a touch screen model, or one with buttons. Both have their pros and cons, and different people prefer different models.

 

If you want a touch screen model, it's essentially Garmin. Buttons, choose between Garmin, Magellan, DeLorme. There are other manufacturers, but I'd suggest sticking with these, since you're more likely to find people with similar units if you have a question. Of the 3, Garmin is the most popular, in terms of number of users.

 

Narrow down your choices a little. If it's Garmin, I can share my views on some of their units.

[+blmalley]

Thanks for the replies!

 

I went out to find some more yesterday and my phone (Android - Note 2) kept jumping. One minute I was 2 feet. Next I was 150. In the opposite direction. It may be the phone. It may have been the dark gloomy and rainy day we had here yesterday. Or a combination of the two. But I have done some researching and will continue to watch the prices on some and rely on the ol' Note 2 for now.

 

I will say, that it seems I am leaning towards a Garmin.

[+Lineman101]

Thanks for the replies!

 

I went out to find some more yesterday and my phone (Android - Note 2) kept jumping. One minute I was 2 feet. Next I was 150. In the opposite direction. It may be the phone. It may have been the dark gloomy and rainy day we had here yesterday. Or a combination of the two. But I have done some researching and will continue to watch the prices on some and rely on the ol' Note 2 for now.

 

I will say, that it seems I am leaning towards a Garmin.

[/quote

 

I agree with sussamb. My E-trex 20 is by far the best GPS I've owned and I've been through several.

[+Gitchee-Gummee]

I went out to find some more yesterday and my phone (Android - Note 2) kept jumping. One minute I was 2 feet. Next I was 150. In the opposite direction. It may be the phone. It may have been the dark gloomy and rainy day we had here yesterday. Or a combination of the two. But I have done some researching and will continue to watch the prices on some and rely on the ol' Note 2 for now.

It wasn't the phone, nor the dark, gloomy and rainy day.

 

If you were within +/- 2ft., you should've already put the phone away and been looking for the cache, instead -- you really ought to have done that at 10-20 ft.

 

ANY device is going to jump like that... well, maybe not 150 ft.... but you were already within the range that the device was designed to do. It won't/can't do better.

Switching to a dedicated unit isn't going to improve that aspect of the beast. If you are still looking at it when that close to the coordinates, you are gonna see the same action.

 

Nope, not the phone's fault....

[+BAMBOOZLE]

This is just my opinion of course, but it's hard to beat the Garmin GPSMAP 62s for bang for your buck. If you want to spend more money for a few more features, I like the Garmin GPSMAP 64 series and Garmin Oregon 600 series as well. I'm currently using the Oregon 600t and I'm very happy with it.

 

Agree.......grab a 62S if you still can....best unit ever for the money.

[+blmalley]

I went out to find some more yesterday and my phone (Android - Note 2) kept jumping. One minute I was 2 feet. Next I was 150. In the opposite direction. It may be the phone. It may have been the dark gloomy and rainy day we had here yesterday. Or a combination of the two. But I have done some researching and will continue to watch the prices on some and rely on the ol' Note 2 for now.

It wasn't the phone, nor the dark, gloomy and rainy day.

 

If you were within +/- 2ft., you should've already put the phone away and been looking for the cache, instead -- you really ought to have done that at 10-20 ft.

 

ANY device is going to jump like that... well, maybe not 150 ft.... but you were already within the range that the device was designed to do. It won't/can't do better.

Switching to a dedicated unit isn't going to improve that aspect of the beast. If you are still looking at it when that close to the coordinates, you are gonna see the same action.

 

Nope, not the phone's fault....

 

The reason I kept looking at the phone even tho I was supposedly at +/- 2 feet was because it was jumping and has done so since I started. If I put the phone away every time it said I was close (yesterday was another perfect example), I may not necessarily be right where I should be. But I appreciate the input.

[+Chrysalides]

The reason I kept looking at the phone even tho I was supposedly at +/- 2 feet was because it was jumping and has done so since I started. If I put the phone away every time it said I was close (yesterday was another perfect example), I may not necessarily be right where I should be. But I appreciate the input.

If you're in an urban setting and aerial photos are fairly accurate, I find that much more useful than the compass when I'm close to the cache, when using a smartphone.

 

With a standalone unit, jumping 10 - 15 ft is not uncommon even with decent reception. I've not seen it jump 100 ft, though. If you're in an urban canyon among tall buildings, you may be wildly off. In San Francisco once, my Oregon told me I was 0.1 miles away when I was standing in front of the cache.

 

It does take standalone units more time to get a lock compared to smartphones, especially if you travel long distances between power up, or if you have not turned on the unit for a week or more. Not discouraging you from getting one, just want to set the right expectations

[+Chrysalides]

But really, just so expectations are correct my smart phone often takes longer to get a lock than either my Montana or Etrex 20

Even when you have good cellphone reception? The cellphone location may not be accurate, but it will often place me in the neighborhood of where I am.

 

Another thing I noticed (but have not used enough to conclude decisively - I've only had my first GLONASS capable devices for a couple of weeks) is that with GLONASS enabled, the standalone seems to get a lock faster than without. Have you noticed this?