GPS - Recommendations?

C

Chris Phelps

New member
I will be needing a new GPS for hunting this year. I had a Magellan Explorist 200, and it was nothing but problems right from the get-go. It only worked 10% of the time... the Topo 3D software that came with it never worked at all, and when I contacted Magellan about the issue, it took them 6 weeks to respond, and their response was that there was nothing they could do to help. Needless to say, I really don't want another Magellan.


Topographic maps are a must. If they exist at all, 3D maps would be awesome.
Road maps are not needed at all.
Reliability is another big issue.
The ability to map out routes or save POIs via computer would be very nice.
Compatibility with Google earth would be cool, but isn't a determining factor.


What do you guys have for recommendations?
 
Garmin

I have a Garmin Vista cx. It is very easy to use once you familiarize yourself with the functions. Has the full mapping capabilities, and is fairly compact. The research I did before my purchase led me to believe the best choice to be Garmin.
 
GPS are nice but most of the time I don't use them. The only time I was really happy that I had one was in AK. We were a little lost in the dark on an Ocean channel and there wasn't a whole lot of terrain we could make out on shore, so I whipped out the Garmin E-Trex and that got us pointed in the right direction. We could have pulled into shore and built a fire and waited for daylight and then we wouldn't have had any problem either. Most of the time though I hunt with just a compass and a topo map in my pocket. I'm more comfortable using stuff that doesn't require batteries to make it work when I'm afield.
 
While I have only owned one GPS unit I have had to operate dozens. As an offshore troller (not that kind of troll) I have fished off many boats. We find our self 60 to 70 miles off shore. The captains know i am capable of running us over "spots" and trust me to run all night running their boats on their gear. I am not a friend of Magellan. Every model i ran had a completely different battery of commands. I have run many models of various manufacture... Many you wont see as they ain't made in hand held versions. Garmin is HANDS DOWN the most user friendly of all! Once you run any Garmin you can run EVERY garmin. Plus they work dern good and are as durable as any GPS made!
Brent
 
i have a Garmin 72,,, i like it a little better than the e-trex series because the screen is bigger,,, i think they still make the sister to it in the 76...

i would definitely go with one of the color screens,,,,

i also have a lowrance in my boat but it is a little on the big side,,,,, but it is a dandy!!!!!!!!! my .02

ocharry
 
I've used a variety of Garmins both for work and personal use - 12XL, Etrex, GPS Map 76, Legend Cx and a GPSMap 60Cx (the last two are color models). All have worked great and have been very reliable.

Any color Garmin that you can load maps on would do the trick.

As for the utility of GPS's, they have saved my hinny twice. Once out on an open lake in a snow storm (I couldn't see shore) and once moose hunting. They don't replace a compass, but they are their weight in gold when you get lost or turned around!

You can get topo maps from Garmin or you can make your own custom maps. Making your own maps is a little complicated (and techinically a violation of Garmin's copyright), but it can be done.
 
It definitely sounds like Garmin will be my next purchase! It's not every day you see a unanimous vote for one item. That, in itself, is quite impressive!

Thanks guys!
 
Another vote for Garmin. I have used several different models myself and you cant go wrong with a Garmin 76, Etrex Vista, Rhino 120/130, etc. IMO. All very user friendly and work just about damn anywhere. Nice downloadable topo maps are available for them as well. If you are using this alot for hunting and you like to do drives I would highly recommend a Garmin Rhino. They have 2 way radios built into them and whenever you talk to another person that is also using a Rhino series GPS/radio it will automatically update their location on your GPS screen. You will be able to see exactly where your hunting buddies are, making it a great tool for organizing drives or simply locating each other after you go your seperate ways in the woods. The 130 version also has emergency weather stations programmed into it for weather updates you can receive just about anywhere. Hope this helps.
 
I use the Magellan Meridian series, have used the Color and Platinum and like the Platinum. I use them for work as a Forester, to determine property corners or navigate. The Meridian's have worked wonderfully for me, are water-proof unless you go swimming (important for me) and they are the right size to slip in an upper pocket for navigating hands-free. For professional use, I chose the Magellan. But then, I prefer black-and-white screens (my color got stolen and I went to the Platinum) and don't have a use for 3d software. All I need or want is topography and accurate roads. The Meridian's accuracy includes private roads and long driveways which is really handy for accessing remote pieces of land.

Davis
 
I own a Garmin 60CSx. Its advertised as having superior reception, and I can easily pick up sattelites indoors or in odd places. It also has a built in compass in case the GPS fails out. There's also a built in altimeter, but I'm not sure what the practical use of that may be. But hey, whatever.
 
I also have the Garmin 60CSx. Nice unit. One thing I don't see from them is 1:24K topos, other than for National Parks. Topos available for elswhere are ~1:100K; not that great a resolution. Wish they'd fix that. IIRC Magellen's software wasn't any better, when I looked a couple years ago.
 
Huge factor in picking a GPS-Battery Life

I currently own the Garmin Legend CX in color. It can load maps and has a memory slot. It is an amazing unit because of all the programs it contains(games, day and night info so you know when it's getting dark, auto night colors, alarm, stopwatch, etc. etc.). The thing is kinda like a Palm unit for the woods. The screen and color is awesome with a nice backlight to adjust it perfect for your conditions. The number one reason I chose it was because it goes around 32 or so hours on AA batteries. You won't find that in other units and some others need recharging. How are you going to recharge in the woods while on foot? Most other units get 12-16hrs. I just carry an extra set of AA and I've got double the use of other GPS units out there. I also think Garmin has the bast ability to track. I do also have a Magellan Explorist that I let my kid play with and the Garmin is much better. They do have a new unit that reads in depressions better at a price, but mine has been perfect in the woods. I got mine for $150 new on Ebay.
 
I have a Garmin GPS V for all-around use. I used to use it in the car, and it worked perfectly well for navigating to addresses, but my wife bought me a Garmin Nuvi 200, which I use exclusively for the car now.

That said, I have mounts for my GPS V on my mountain bike, my motorcycle, my fishing boat, and my kayak. I've used it on all of the above, and it works fabulously.

Some of the things I really like about it:

It will "autoroute" to an address or business with prompting for turns, it will navigate offroad/water with a compass needle, the display can be switched to vertical mode (like most handheld gps units) or used horizontally on your handlebar or dash mount, it is very accurate and gets a great signal, and takes (4) AA Batteries, so you can go extended times in the wilderness, without having to find a power source to recharge it..

The bottom-line for me, is that if I was going on a trip/adventure via car, boat, plane, on foot, or a combination of the above the GPS V would work for all of these and work well.

I still believe it is the best all-around gps on the market. It is a little long in the tooth now, and I'm not sure it's even being manufactured anymore, but it is still viable.

I really wish Garmin would bring out a new very-similar model.

1896.jpeg
 
Here’s the 60CSx mounted on the war pony with the RamMount u-bolt/ball setup. I’m going to add a ball to the handlebars of my dual sport also. I might even add a 12V outlet for powering off the bike; quad already has that. Now I need to look for a good solution for mounting in the truck.

GPS 60CSx
 

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I will be needing a new GPS for hunting this year. I had a Magellan Explorist 200, and it was nothing but problems right from the get-go. It only worked 10% of the time... the Topo 3D software that came with it never worked at all, and when I contacted Magellan about the issue, it took them 6 weeks to respond, and their response was that there was nothing they could do to help. Needless to say, I really don't want another Magellan.
Click to expand...

Man that's too bad. My Magellan Explorist 200 works like a champ. Just bought the Topo 3D is its excellent. Have you updated your firmware on the Explorist? I haven't had to with mine but in issues where the software doesn't work, that is the suggested route.
 
Honestly, a $90 Garmin eTrex and a cheap compass backup served me well for a while. This Christmas I just got a Magellan Crossover, it mounts in the card and then is designed for outdoor use. It's apparently already got maps for state parks and things onboard, but I haven't had it in the field yet. I have driven it halfway across the country with good results, including getting back to my parents' cabin that Google Maps wasn't able to find until very recently. It also could get a signal indoors, which I'd say is analogous to a thick tree canopy (I did have that problem with the eTrex). Haven't tested topos, but they're in there. Marks waypoints and pulls coordinates intuitively. Supposed to be waterproof too, although I haven't tested that either. In any case, you'll probably have it figured out before I have a better review from the field, but it seems good so far.
 
Funny but I had trouble with my Garmen back about a decade ago. It threw me off GPS for a long time. But a couple of years ago I got a Magellen Topo and it works just fine.
 
I have the Megellan platinum and have been really happy with it. The first few years I had it, I used it a lot more than I do now. It rides around in my pack still, and I use it to mark certain spots. Then I download it to my computer.

One area we hunt has a lot of ATV trails and there is no map, so we would turn the GPS on track and over time have built a pretty good map of all the trails.
 
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