bacquito
Super Nomad
Posts: 1615
Registered: 3-6-2007
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Mood: jubilado
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GPS
My Magellin SporTrak finally quit-sat. receiver not receiving!.
It seems most Nomads use Garmin. I am reviewing their units in REI. What are your opinions regarding reliabiality, easy to use, accuracy for the
following Garmin GPS units?
Garmin Montana 650
eTrex20
eTrex30
GPS map 62sta
Others GPS units.
Thanks for opinions.
bacquito
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BajaAnthro
Junior Nomad
Posts: 29
Registered: 2-20-2012
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One of my good friends who works in GIS and archaeology recommended the Garmin eTrex 20 for mapping, so I picked on up a few months ago. It is
really, really easy to use. Taking points is really easy with this thing--and another good thing about it is that it's about the size of a cell phone
(a little thicker than most cell phones though). So far I have not had a single problem with it. As for accuracy, I think the general rule with
handheld GPS units is that you get what you pay for. If you are looking for accuracy to the centimeter then you will have to pay the big bucks. But
the eTrex20 is pretty solid so far--I have checked points, roads, and trails I have recorded on Google Earth and it's pretty close. A few feet off,
but really not bad at all. I have worked with a lot of handheld GPS units in the past (mostly Trimbles) while doing archaeological survey work. So
far I am pretty impressed with this little eTrex, and it's so small that it's no problem taking it out for hikes, mapping, etc. I'd definitely
recommend this for a good all around GPS--and the price is pretty reasonable too.
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bacquito
Super Nomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaAnthro
One of my good friends who works in GIS and archaeology recommended the Garmin eTrex 20 for mapping, so I picked on up a few months ago. It is
really, really easy to use. Taking points is really easy with this thing--and another good thing about it is that it's about the size of a cell phone
(a little thicker than most cell phones though). So far I have not had a single problem with it. As for accuracy, I think the general rule with
handheld GPS units is that you get what you pay for. If you are looking for accuracy to the centimeter then you will have to pay the big bucks. But
the eTrex20 is pretty solid so far--I have checked points, roads, and trails I have recorded on Google Earth and it's pretty close. A few feet off,
but really not bad at all. I have worked with a lot of handheld GPS units in the past (mostly Trimbles) while doing archaeological survey work. So
far I am pretty impressed with this little eTrex, and it's so small that it's no problem taking it out for hikes, mapping, etc. I'd definitely
recommend this for a good all around GPS--and the price is pretty reasonable too. |
Thanks
bacquito
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
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Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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I like my Garmin 60 series, screen is big enough, has altimiter, but small enough to carry. Also have the LB Mexico/Baja chip
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mrfatboy
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Hand held gps nav units will be extinct in less than 5 years or less. Everything will be on a smart phone. All the big gps companies know this and are
moving their software over to the smart phones. Another benefit to them is they get out of the low margin hardware biz.
Invest in a smart phone with good gps software. You will be ahead of the curve.
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ncampion
Super Nomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by mrfatboy
Hand held gps nav units will be extinct in less than 5 years or less. Everything will be on a smart phone. All the big gps companies know this and are
moving their software over to the smart phones. Another benefit to them is they get out of the low margin hardware biz.
Invest in a smart phone with good gps software. You will be ahead of the curve. |
Just be sure it doesn't depend on a cell signal to operate the GPS functions. Too many places in Baja with no cell service.
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BajaAnthro
Junior Nomad
Posts: 29
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ncampion wrote:
"Just be sure it doesn't depend on a cell signal to operate the GPS functions. Too many places in Baja with no cell service."
Ya, that's why I ended up getting the eTrex. Otherwise I was actually thinking about using an iPhone, since the GPS is pretty good.
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mrfatboy
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The navigon and garmin apps do not require a data or cell connection.
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Taco de Baja
Super Nomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by mrfatboy
Hand held gps nav units will be extinct in less than 5 years or less. Everything will be on a smart phone. All the big gps companies know this and are
moving their software over to the smart phones. Another benefit to them is they get out of the low margin hardware biz.
Invest in a smart phone with good gps software. You will be ahead of the curve. |
I'm not sure I really believe this.
Stand alone GPS units are not going anywhere, as the interface for uploading and downloading waypoints, tracks, routes, maps on a dedicated GPS is
better on the standalone GPS unit than on a "phone". Sure the GPS option in the phone is handy to get you directions from point A to B in an
unfamiliar local, using Google Maps, but the actual mapping features are not there yet.
Stand alone GPS units also have much longer battery lives. A GPS phone might get a few hours before needing a recharge while a stand alone GPS can go
for 15-24 hours. Good luck recharging you phone in the boonies; while a couple of AA batteries will be all you need for your stand alone GPS unit to
be back in business.
I do have several "GPS" like Apps on my smart phone like "Gaia GPS", and "Trimble Outdoors Navigator", and "esri ArcGIS"...But they generally require
a cell signal to obtain the maps, or you have to pre-cache the tiles for the area you will be going, and hope you correctly guess what background
images you want (The ArcGIS is really only for professionals as you have to upload map images to a server that the phone then accesses, and really
only works well in areas with 4G coverage). In addition the accuracy in the Smart phone is still below what a handheld GPS can do, not to mention the
multi-thousand dollar Trimble or Magellan units with sub-meter accuracy that I occasionally use for mapping archaeology sites for work.
I, still like my Garmin 76CSX, for basic GPS tasks that only need several meters of accuracy. I have the LB topo maps for Baja downloaded into it as
well as the Garmin topo maps for the areas of California I travel to. The maps are detailed enough that many of the off highway roads are included.
The 76CSX also has tide charts, albeit with limited Baja coverage.
The Garmin Montana units look really cool, and I like that you can input your own custom background aerials, detailed topo maps and the like, but I'm
not really interested in forking over $600+ for one. 
The eTrex units are cheap and will likely do whatever most Baja travelers ask of them...Record that secret camping spot, a road or trail, or the
location of a "lost" gold mine you just discovered.
Truth generally lies in the coordination of antagonistic opinions
-Herbert Spencer
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 19375
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Taco de Baja
| Quote: | Originally posted by mrfatboy
Hand held gps nav units will be extinct in less than 5 years or less. Everything will be on a smart phone. All the big gps companies know this and are
moving their software over to the smart phones. Another benefit to them is they get out of the low margin hardware biz.
Invest in a smart phone with good gps software. You will be ahead of the curve. |
I'm not sure I really believe this.
Stand alone GPS units are not going anywhere, as the interface for uploading and downloading waypoints, tracks, routes, maps on a dedicated GPS is
better on the standalone GPS unit than on a "phone". |
gps units sold well before smart phones. gps sales have crashed now that many have smart phones. 99% of gps customers just want a road map and
directions for road driving.
i have a garmin hand-held, have not used it in years. the iphone and ipad replaced the garmin and do it better, and have way better/bigger screens.
i only use gps in car, don't carry gps when hiking (just carry map/compass, weighs less, requires no batteries, graphically superior, intellectually
more rewarding)
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estebanis
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I like this Garmin it floats and is waterproof
Garmin 72H GPS
[Edited on 8-7-2012 by estebanis]
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WideAngleWandering
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| Quote: | Originally posted by mrfatboy
Hand held gps nav units will be extinct in less than 5 years or less. Everything will be on a smart phone. All the big gps companies know this and are
moving their software over to the smart phones. Another benefit to them is they get out of the low margin hardware biz.
Invest in a smart phone with good gps software. You will be ahead of the curve. |
Smart phones will not be used for anything critical. People who need their nav to work will not be relying on an iPhone for this.
Specialized devices will continue to reign for a long long time to come.
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David K
Honored Nomad
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The battery life on a smart phone is so short, too... and it doesn't take AA batteries, like my Garmins do!
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Neal Johns
Super Nomad
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I'm with the 'get a real GPS' bunch if you are a four wheeler.
By the way, the Garmin Montana is only $500 street price. I still putter along with the ubiquitous 60/62 series which is much cheaper.
Another way to get a bigger screen is to use a laptop with a map program such as Garmin Baseline or Delorme Topo USA with a USB 'hockypuck'
antenna/receiver such as the $46 Globalstar BU353-S4 (with the new uber sensitive SiRFstar IV chip) at:
http://www.semsons.com/glbusistivus.html
Pic below:
[Edited on 8-7-2012 by Neal Johns]
![semsons-inc_2218_8542258 [640x480].gif - 44kB](https://forums.bajanomad.com/files.php?pid=746315&aid=30070 "semsons-inc_2218_8542258 [640x480].gif - 44kB")
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Location: San Diego County
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Bump
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Alm
Ultra Nomad
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Having both standalone GPS (Garmin Map60) and Smartphone (Android HTC), here is my take on it:
Handheld GPS over Smartphone:
1) Needs no cell signal (yes, some smartphones with GPS chip don't work without cell signal).
2) Waterproof (submersible, not just rain-proof), and generally sturdy, good casing, real outdoor item, especially those with no touch screen.
3) Hiker-friendly, with waypoints.
4) Easy to recharge with 2AA (less sure about battery hours, though it's usually longer than in Smartphone).
Smartphone over GPS:
1) Google Maps and Google Earth are perfect, but ... this needs WiFi or cell signal or expensive satellite internet.
2) Offline maps for smartphone are usually cheaper than for handheld GPS.
3 - possibly - Voice guidance for when you're driving? Latest handheld Garmins have this too. On Mex 1 I wouldn't need voice guidance, and on
off-road I would rather rely on my eyes.
The bottom line - I would take a smartphone over handheld GPS only for online use in a comfortable urban scenario when I'm in or very close to my car
(= many details and related POI searches might be needed, and ruggedness or battery life are not an issue). In other words - when I don't really need
that map feature because can drive up to the nearest gas station and ask for directions. In other words, in a non-critical situation.
Btw, did you know that printed topo map album like Baja Almanac has 13" screen and doesn't require a battery  ?
[Edited on 11-27-2012 by Alm]
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