GPS device with Glonass and GPS

[+lottiwurm]

Hi there

 

I was caching with my andoid phone (htc one) in the past. yesterday I tried out a garmin gpsmap 60 (the realy old one, monochrome, without card slot). I found out that it is exact with coordinates, BUT is is very uncomfortable compared with the handling on my android app...

 

Now I like to know which device would be the best for me. here is the list of things I like to have:

1. GPS and Glonass

2. easy handling, touchscreen would be no problem

3. big, high resolution screen (probably touch?)

4. rechargeable batteries

5. easy and intuitive geocaching integration interface

 

If I would buy a GPS device, it has to have same or better handling then my andoid phone, otherwise I will buy an external gps antenna for my phone... ;-)

 

thank you in advance for your help!

 

Daniel

[insig]

Check out the Oregon 600 series.

[+BAMBOOZLE]

Check out the Oregon 600 series.

 

That's what it sounds like to me.

[+splashy]

+1 for the Or 6XX

BUT remember the so called dedicated Gps is always behind the modern looks and comfort of an (Android) app.

 

Btw you might consider an external BTooth gps. f

It's always a bit clumsy with a mobile phone whatever you do and how much is it really off, because it shouldn't be far off if it's a newer model.

[yogazoo]

BUT remember the so called dedicated Gps is always behind the modern looks and comfort of an (Android) app.

 

BUT remember the android app is always behind the "dedicated Gps" when I have no cell signal, need to view in bright sunlight, go fishing and need water-proof, or need my batteries to last more than a few hours.

 

Yes you can bring a special water case or spare charger packs for your phone but it's an exercise in fumbling around and clumsiness. My Oregon is a carabiner clip to my pack strap and I'm off.

[+northernpenguin]

BUT remember the so called dedicated Gps is always behind the modern looks and comfort of an (Android) app.

 

BUT remember the android app is always behind the "dedicated Gps" when I have no cell signal, need to view in bright sunlight, go fishing and need water-proof, or need my batteries to last more than a few hours.

 

Yes you can bring a special water case or spare charger packs for your phone but it's an exercise in fumbling around and clumsiness. My Oregon is a carabiner clip to my pack strap and I'm off.

 

BUT remember the android app doesn't need to have a computer download pocket queries to GSAK and then exported out to the GPS if you change your plans mid day.

 

There are a million difference use cases. Downtown Toronto? Meh just use the smartphone (Muggles react less to people on phones in the city too). Middle of Temagami? Hope you have your Oregon/eTrex/62.

[+geodarts]

BUT remember the android app doesn't need to have a computer download pocket queries to GSAK and then exported out to the GPS if you change your plans mid day.

 

Of course "need" may not be the right word. I can't remember the last time I used GSAK to export a pocket query, and have not used a computer to export caches to my gpsr in almost as long of a time. The phone or tablet works fine for that.

 

On the other hand, I agree that there are a million different uses. I'll take the gpsr kayaking. I'll take the phone hiking. I'll take the gpsr biking. Its nice to have options. I like the Oregon 600. But I also like the phone. They work well together.

Edited September 17, 2014 by geodarts

[+lottiwurm]

whats about garmin monterra? its with hires display, gps and glonass and android os! sounds realy cool for me?

[insig]

The Monterra has a 4" diagonal display with a 272 x 480 pixel resolution which is nowhere near what a typical smartphone has. Before you discount it though, the reason for this is that it is a transflective display which means that sunlight can reflect off of the back of the screen and illuminate it in addition to having a backlight illuminate it. Basically, it's easy to read in the sun even with no backlight unlike a lot of high resolution smartphone displays. The downside is that most apps you download for android expect a high resolution display, so they don't look as good as they do on a smartphone.

 

The Oregon 600 has a 3" diagonal display with a 240 x 400 pixel resolution. Once again, it's a transflective display and not the high resolution smartphone display you might be used to seeing. However, I almost never have to use the backlight to see it in the sun. Now it doesn't run android, but the graphics and user interface is designed with the exact hardware of the Oregon 600 in mind. The screen resolution might seem low, but the graphics on it look really good because they were designed specifically for the Oregon and not designed for a smartphone and then displayed on a lower resolution screen like what might happen if you grab an app from Google Play and use it on a Monterra. Not that you should discount the Monterra, but you should keep that in mind if you do go with a Monterra.

 

Monterra: heavier, bigger screen, UV sensor, wifi, android, internal speaker, better camera specs, worse battery life

Oregon: lighter, smaller screen, an okay camera (if 650 model), better battery life

[insig]

Alternatively, if you don't mind a button product, look at the GPSMAP 64. You seem like a touchscreen guy though (I am too).

[+splashy]

BUT remember the so called dedicated Gps is always behind the modern looks and comfort of an (Android) app.

 

BUT remember the android app is always behind the "dedicated Gps" when I have no cell signal, need to view in bright sunlight, go fishing and need water-proof, or need my batteries to last more than a few hours.

 

Yes you can bring a special water case or spare charger packs for your phone but it's an exercise in fumbling around and clumsiness. My Oregon is a carabiner clip to my pack strap and I'm off.

 

The need for a cell signal seems quite stubborn on the forum, if you loaded the needed data at home via Usb, over the wifi or cell network, once out off reach of the networks you don't need the networks to let the Gps part of the cell work in order to navigate or find a geocache.