[poosa]

Hi all,

I am relatively new to geocaching, but my husband is pretty into it. His birthday is coming up and I'd like to get him set up so he can start hiding some caches.

From what I have read it would be helpful to have a GPS that does average waypoints? Currently we just find caches using the iphone app, but I believe the iphone isn't accurate enough to use for hiding caches and it would be best to have an actual GPS.

The other features I am looking for would be electronic compass and maps. Does such a beast exist without being hideously expensive? I'm thinking $300 and under. I guess my real issue is that looking at all the products on garmin and magellan sites I just can't see where it says they have an average waypoint function.

Hope someone can help.

Thanks

[Gitchee-Gummee]

Averaging is easy, really. There isn't any great need to spend time worrying about a unit that will do the averaging for you.

Obtain a number of readings (best gathered over a few days), toss out any obvious anomalies, then add and average the others.

Think three-axis compass, rather than just electronic compass.


Garmin eTrex 20/30 series; Oregon; Montana may jump out of your price range. They need maps, either from Garmin, or free from a couple of sites.

Delorme PN-60... comes with Topo 9 mapping. You can subscribe to anytime map updates right from Delorme. PN-40 is also good but the PN-60 is much better on batteries.

Prices: Despite what you see in the GPS reviews, most all units can be had cheaper. Occasionally online sales will have blow-out prices, too. Shop hard, you will end up happier with a higher-end unit than you thought you could afford.

[Lieblweb]

Oregon 450 also does averaging (easily)

[briansnat]

The DeLorme PN40 does all of that and is well under $300. Battery life isn't the greatest, but if you get a charger and some rechargeable batteries and it's not that much of an issue. I think even the PN60 is now under $300 and is a lot easier on the batteries than the PN40

This post has been edited by briansnat: 25 April 2012 - 08:00 AM

[St.Matthew]

 briansnat, on 25 April 2012 - 03:31 AM, said:

The DeLorme PN40 does all of that and is well under $300. Battery life isn't the greatest, but if you get a charger and some rechargeable batteries and it's not that much of an issue. I think even the PM60 is now under $300 and is a lot easier on the batteries than the PN40

+1. I love my PN-40. I will keep it until it dies off. The waypoint averaging function is easy to use, and it has great paperless caching functions as well. It also gets good cover under trees for those hiking in the woods caches.

[junglehair]

I wouldn't worry so much about the averaging feature on a GPS. You are right that a hand-held GPS is necessary if you want to start hiding caches - the iPhone just isn't accurate enough. However, being able to do averaging is not a necessity.

You can do this manually by taking several readings. I don't normally bother with marking them over several days, but that will help to ensure your numbers are good.

Typically I will make sure I am standing at the spot for a few minutes first to let my GPS settle down on the location. Then I will look at the satellite screen to see what it says my accuracy is. If it shows a high degree of accuracy (10 feet or so), you're probably going to get good coords right away. Mark a waypoint, then walk a couple hundred feet away and navigate back to your waypoint. See how close it brings you. I'd suggest letting the GPS settle for a few minutes then marking the waypoint again. If the numbers agree or are only 1 digit off, then you can just use those coordinates. If the numbers are off by more than that, I would repeat the exercise a few times until you start seeing some consistent numbers.

Pretty much any recreation-grade GPS will give you the accuracy you need to hide caches whether it does averaging or not. I'd look at other features you want for your price range and not worry about the averaging feature.

[briansnat]

Quote

Pretty much any recreation-grade GPS will give you the accuracy you need to hide caches whether it does averaging or not. I'd look at other features you want for your price range and not worry about the averaging feature.

I agree. Automatic averaging, or averaging in general, doesn't really matter much. In fact Garmin at one point a few years ago decided to eliminate waypoint averaging from their units because they didn't think it was necessary. They quickly added it back when there was a minor uproar among GPS enthusiasts.

[geocat_]

Echo everything said about the Garmin Oregon. Will add that the Garmin Dakota is basically the same unit as the Oregon but just a bit smaller. I used one and loved it! It might be an option if you need to keep the price down.

[KyleYankan]

I have a Magellen Explorist 310. Has maps, paperless caching, electronic compass, and coordinate averaging. On amazon for $150. Buy him that and 10 ammo containers, and you'll have a lasting marriage :-)

[Glenn]

I didn't realize that you could buy a new GPSr that didn't do waypoint averaging. I have a eXplorist GC. It is considered a low end model and it automatically averages.

[Gitchee-Gummee]

 Glenn, on 25 April 2012 - 07:55 PM, said:

I didn't realize that you could buy a new GPSr that didn't do waypoint averaging. I have a eXplorist GC. It is considered a low end model and it automatically averages.

Not so much that it is/isn't available -- just that it isn't a feature one should base a purchase upon.
Handy -- yes; necessary to have -- no.

[Kryten]

Averaging for a few minutes is a waste of time and doesn't improve accuracy. Averaging is only beneficial if you do it over several days and at different times of day.

[Mr.Yuck]

 Glenn, on 25 April 2012 - 07:55 PM, said:

I didn't realize that you could buy a new GPSr that didn't do waypoint averaging. I have a eXplorist GC. It is considered a low end model and it automatically averages.

I was going to bring that up when I first saw the thread too. Except I had to show a one-year user of the GC where the well-hidden averaging feature was at an event last weekend. If the Explorist 110, which just came out in January, and the Garmin Etrex10 do averaging (both of which are basically $100 units), that would probabaly mean every current handheld model on the market can do it. Although I suppose you could go out and buy a 4 year old, but never opened Garmin Gecko on Ebay.

[Sol seaker]

 Kryten, on 26 April 2012 - 08:07 AM, said:

Averaging for a few minutes is a waste of time and doesn't improve accuracy. Averaging is only beneficial if you do it over several days and at different times of day.

Agreed.
To do it manually you at very least need to wait and hour and come back. Then another hour. The idea is to give the satellites a chance to move around.

You are very correct about needing a real GPS and not hiding caches with a phone. I've seen caches hidden with a phone be 100 feet off.

[z0mbieCache]

My little yellow etrex does averaging, an i only paid $99 for it... I usually just go back a couplej days in a row and check my coords before posting