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Want New GPS--Better Than Magellan eXplorist GC


ford-willy

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I have had a Magellan eXplorist GC for several years now. I bought it because it was designed to be easily compatible with Geocaching.com. It never seemed to be real accurate. Unless you keep moving forward it does not work well at all. When close to a location it jumps around a lot. One second it says your 5 feet from the spot and going in the right direction, the next second it says the location is 20 feet in the opposite direction. --- What new GPS will be good for Geocaching.com and be more accurate and will not stop when you stop? I am still a novice but the wife and I have more time now to get out, but want a more precise and easy to use model.

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I have had a Magellan eXplorist GC for several years now. I bought it because it was designed to be easily compatible with Geocaching.com. It never seemed to be real accurate. Unless you keep moving forward it does not work well at all. When close to a location it jumps around a lot. One second it says your 5 feet from the spot and going in the right direction, the next second it says the location is 20 feet in the opposite direction. --- What new GPS will be good for Geocaching.com and be more accurate and will not stop when you stop? I am still a novice but the wife and I have more time now to get out, but want a more precise and easy to use model.

You may be sorely disappointed if you believe that any device will consistently put you atop the targeted coordinates.

It is the nature of the beasties (consumer-grade GPSr devices).

 

This problem stems partly because of two reasons:

1] the "inertia" compass in the GC... and in other units that use the same type compass.

Typically, when you close in on the location you slow your pace. As your pace slows dramatically, the compass doesn't know which way is which.

It is movement + satellite signal that shows it which way to point. Stop or slow dramatically and it gets "lost".

 

Even the devices with a 3-axis compass will do that, in part because

2] it cannot guarantee precise delivery to the target coordinates... it can only get you close -- close enough usually to spot your target.

A 3-axis compass will however, continue pointing in the proper direction when you are stopped... as long as you aren't too close to the targeted coordinates.

 

When you get to with 20 feet or so, you should stop looking at the device and start looking for the cache, or its hiding spot. Many of us will have already put the device away, as it has already done what it can do. Now, you gotta use your senses and on-board computer -- your eyes, fingers and brain -- to find the cache. If you keep looking at the device, you are wasting your eyesight, you should be looking for the cache, instead.

 

When you see it "jumping" around like that, put it away. It has done its job.

 

These forums are loaded with that same or similar question -- as well as the same response. I will admit though, I hadn't seen it posed for a month or so.

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I have had a Magellan eXplorist GC for several years now. I bought it because it was designed to be easily compatible with Geocaching.com. It never seemed to be real accurate. Unless you keep moving forward it does not work well at all. When close to a location it jumps around a lot. One second it says your 5 feet from the spot and going in the right direction, the next second it says the location is 20 feet in the opposite direction. --- What new GPS will be good for Geocaching.com and be more accurate and will not stop when you stop? I am still a novice but the wife and I have more time now to get out, but want a more precise and easy to use model.

You may be sorely disappointed if you believe that any device will consistently put you atop the targeted coordinates.

It is the nature of the beasties (consumer-grade GPSr devices).

 

This problem stems partly because of two reasons:

1] the "inertia" compass in the GC... and in other units that use the same type compass.

Typically, when you close in on the location you slow your pace. As your pace slows dramatically, the compass doesn't know which way is which.

It is movement + satellite signal that shows it which way to point. Stop or slow dramatically and it gets "lost".

 

Even the devices with a 3-axis compass will do that, in part because

2] it cannot guarantee precise delivery to the target coordinates... it can only get you close -- close enough usually to spot your target.

A 3-axis compass will however, continue pointing in the proper direction when you are stopped... as long as you aren't too close to the targeted coordinates.

 

When you get to with 20 feet or so, you should stop looking at the device and start looking for the cache, or its hiding spot. Many of us will have already put the device away, as it has already done what it can do. Now, you gotta use your senses and on-board computer -- your eyes, fingers and brain -- to find the cache. If you keep looking at the device, you are wasting your eyesight, you should be looking for the cache, instead.

 

When you see it "jumping" around like that, put it away. It has done its job.

 

These forums are loaded with that same or similar question -- as well as the same response. I will admit though, I hadn't seen it posed for a month or so.

 

Thanks for the info. Just after I posted my question yesterday, I went to the Magellan website. My software version was the original 1.0. There were two newer versions, a 1.7 & a 2.15. Instructions said to load the 1.7 first then the 2.15. I did that and it seems like a totally different/new gps. Totally new home screen and loads of more features and options. I am excited to get out and try it and see it work in the field. Like getting your old car back after it has been fully restored lol

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