BajaNomad

Question for gps owners

jimgrms - 6-26-2006 at 06:16 AM

I want to buy a gps hand held gps does any one own a garmin ? any other recommendations also what about downloads for baja ? thanks jim

bajalou - 6-26-2006 at 06:42 AM

I have a new Garmin Map76CSx. Great GPS You can load maps from LBMaps for Baja as well as the Mapquest from Garmin - Good battery life - great color. Color makes them much more readable. I have had several B&W and the color is worth the difference in price. The unit is waterproof (to 30 ft or so) and good solid construction. Takes a MicroSD card which you can store map and track data on. Having several cards means you can have maps of different areas on each and just change the card instead of reloading. On one card I have both Topo and strreet maps (MapQuest) of about 8 western states. They hold a lot. This is the 5th Garmin I've had over the years. Know nothing about other brands.

Bruce R Leech - 6-26-2006 at 06:57 AM

I like also have Garmin Map76CSx. It is my 3ed Garmin unit in 15 years.the best maps are made for Garmin.

gps

mulege marv - 6-26-2006 at 07:08 AM

garmin 76cs here also, hands down one of the best

David K - 6-26-2006 at 07:14 AM

I have two Garmin eTrex (the basic and an eTrex Legend)... Very easy to learn with and use. Best way to learn is to play the geocaching game (GPS treasure hunting) at http://www.geocaching.com

Bruce R Leech - 6-26-2006 at 07:22 AM

one thing that we never seem to talk about is the lower priced GPS units. I have some Garmin etrex units that I keep to lone to Friends. they are so easy to use and do a good job. I have seen them sell as low as $65 in the discount stores.
they are indestructible. they don't have any fancy frills or Map capability but it will get you there and back.

bajalou - 6-26-2006 at 07:43 AM

I still have a Garmin 12XL for back-up or loan or in the other rail if my wife's driving it. Always good to have a spare. Also a 38 but Garmin no longer supports it and the display is going.

Marinero - 6-26-2006 at 09:02 AM

I, too, have a Garmin. Not color, but still a good unit. (I agree color is better, just not available when I bought mine) the LB maps seem accurate, although I have not been off road with it in Baja. Does anyone have any comments on the LB off-road accuracy?

gps

pacificobob - 6-26-2006 at 09:14 AM

i have had about 6 garmin machines over the years and have had good luck with them. ive also had good customer service with out of waranty situations. as an airline pilot ive used about every type nav equipment , id say a garmin gps is as good and any you will find for recreational use.

Neal Johns - 6-26-2006 at 09:28 AM

I am an old Garmin guy (currently a 176c and a couple of Rinos) getting ready to buy a 60CSx. The Garmin is the only brand that will load the Expeditioner Baja map (which is very good - and accurate). Search the forums for more on GPS and Expedioner).

Bruce R Leech - 6-26-2006 at 11:26 AM

How about some words from wornout that guy knows what he is talking about when it comes to GPS.

Bruce R Leech - 6-26-2006 at 11:29 AM

also jimgrms check out David Ks website for a wealth of info on GPS in Baja Ca.

jimgrms - 6-26-2006 at 02:10 PM

I want to thank all you uys for all the info appreciate it , now i can find pilars commune lol jim

bajamigo - 6-26-2006 at 02:32 PM

I have a Garmin iQ3600. Great little unit, that combines GPS (including Baja Expeditioner compatibility) with all the functions of a PDA, including mp3 player. Great color, great sound, but battery life leaves a lot to be desired. You can get a cradle which suctions to the windshield, plugs into the cigarette lighter, and has a built-in speaker so you can hear it if your silenciador ain't workin.'

wornout - 6-26-2006 at 03:55 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bruce R Leech
How about some words from wornout that guy knows what he is talking about when it comes to GPS.


Hey Bruce, how ya doing? I heard someone spotted you in Catavina? Here is the first post in the thread....

""""Character in Catavina"""" I ran into one of the oddest characters I have even encountered on my last trip to Baja. He was a semi-toothless longhair in tattered clothing who, in the space of 10 minutes, claimed.......and on and on.....

OK, just kidding.......Here is my 2 cents worth on the GPSr, thanks for asking....wornout

I am on my 4th Garmin since 1998. I still have the GPS III, had an etrek, eckreck, etreck, etek (a yellow one), a GPS V, and a 60cs. Here are a couple of things I would recommend:

1. Wait till the unit has been on the market a month or so before buying, unless you want to be the one on the forums getting answers to first day issue problems. They have fixes for those problems real fast.

2. Ge one that maps.

3. Spend the money for color.

4. Get LBMaps Expeditioner if you are going to do anything in Baja.

5. Contact Bajalou on this forum on how to do some great things with a Garmin and OZIExplorer

6. Get a geocaching account (they are free) and go geocaching now that you have a GPSr.

jimgrms - 6-26-2006 at 06:25 PM

Again thanks guess i will get a etrex legend cx color mapping and fits my budget, , just have to price them at the stores, ,,

Bruce R Leech - 6-26-2006 at 06:47 PM

buy it on line and save a bunch.

bajajudy - 6-26-2006 at 07:16 PM

My only complaint with our Garmin is that it eats AA batteries. You had better have a good supply if you are truly going off road and wont have a power supply.

wornout - 6-26-2006 at 07:25 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajajudy
My only complaint with our Garmin is that it eats AA batteries. You had better have a good supply if you are truly going off road and wont have a power supply.


My GPS III and V take 4 batteries and runs them down fast. My 60cs takes two and lasts for days.

Bruce R Leech - 6-26-2006 at 08:39 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajajudy
My only complaint with our Garmin is that it eats AA batteries. You had better have a good supply if you are truly going off road and wont have a power supply.


the new ones are much better. 2 batteries about 20 hours of on time:bounce:

bajalou - 6-26-2006 at 10:33 PM

My 76CSx uses 2 and they last several days. My 12XL takes 4 and lasts 1-1 1/2 days. Important to me to have power cords so can power from my vehicle - that allows the backlight to always be on - can see it better - and only uses the batteries when I take it out to walk somewhere. Power cord well worth the cost.

bajajudy - 6-27-2006 at 06:30 AM

Oh we have a power cord. But on the boat, we wanted the gps in the cabin with us so we could hear the anchor alarm and the batteries lasted about 2 nights.

David K - 6-27-2006 at 07:28 AM

Hmmm, my Garmin eTrex batteries last a long time! Also, while in the car you can use an adapter to run off cig. lighter...

Bruce R Leech - 6-27-2006 at 07:45 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajajudy
Oh we have a power cord. But on the boat, we wanted the gps in the cabin with us so we could hear the anchor alarm and the batteries lasted about 2 nights.


2 10 hour nights would be about right. what you might do is try to install a 12 v outlet in the cabin so you can use the cord.

also you could use rechargeable batterers and charge them in the day time.

[Edited on 6-27-2006 by Bruce R Leech]