Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Best current GPS

I'm sure there are some good posts on different brands of GPS's. I was hoping to get the latest info and newest models that are recommended.

Thanks!
MC

Let me add another question. Which GPS model has buttons best suited for use with heavy gloves?

Good question!

You may want to narrow the field somewhat, as different models will be better/worse for particular applications. Muddeer's note about usability with heavy gloves is a good question.

Other things you might want to specify:

1. Primary intended use? In-car? In the field?

2. Mapping capability or just bearing/distance to waypoints?

3. Color or B&W? (Color screens typically eat batteries faster)

4. Battery type? (internal or replaceable)

I have one ancient and one middle-aged GPS units, radically different. The antique is a Garmin GPS II+ that runs for days on lithium AA batteries, is just B&W and has no map download capability. However, for the field and with a topo map and compass handy, it is a great tool. My other GPS is a Garmin iQue 3600 PDA/GPS. Great road navigator but internal batteries make it worthless in the field since it will only run for an hour or so on batteries and needs to be recharged every 3 days or so even if I'm not using the GPS. However, in the car charger/cradle, it works fine.

The Garmin ETrex series seems to be very popular around here. Uses AA batteries and has reasonable battery life. My experience has been that Garmin is the best brand in general but again, you have to buy the model with capabilities that best meet your intended use.

I use a 6 year old Garmin 12XL. It's not new, not fancy, not in color, has no maps, no voice response, and few bells and whistles. But, with a clear view of the sky, I can determine my position more accurately than can be plotted on the 7.5' USGS maps. The newer units are no more accurate. They just have more features which you may or may not be interested in.

as complained by some of us middle aged folks - the number coordinates of models including e-trex series(which I use anyway) can be hard to read - make sure you are ok with that.

I have owned a Magellan and now own a Garmin eTrex Vista cx. A buddy of mine owned a Garmin 76 and now the latest Delorme.

Each has good and bad features. Each has a different way of displaying maps on the GPSr and the PC, different screens, batteries, interfaces, and so on.

The one issue that has recently (in the past year) come up is that the industry is improving the signal to noise processing. So the newer receivers have the ability to lock onto and keep a signal far better than the previous generation GPSr’s under all sorts of noise environments. A guy in my office once worked in the industry and has told me that the receivers are yes getting more sensitive, but the chips they are currently making far improve the signal to noise processing. The draw back on these newer systems is that the extra s/n processing uses more power.

I have used my Garmin since January and have been very happy with the unit. Battery life in hot and cold, I’ve rarely lost signal while in the Whitney zone or Yosemite along many hikes. Though this is not the high sensitivity receiver they now offer, it is great. I do not appreciate the software and maps as they continue not to be affordably updateable, nor do they have details of trails everywhere. It is possible to create your own maps as well, but is a little beyond my motivation.

My buddy’s Delorme has the higher sensitivity and he had acquisition issues, but the mapping software, I feel is better. It can also store and display satellite image,s which is pretty cool.

About use, as always I use it to view the trail I actually walked, like a recorder. I use it for altitude marks and how far am I from a landmark or POI? But I still carry my map and compass in case.

Regarding gloves, hmm. I would find issues with all four GPSr’s I’ve held in my hands. Each has something I didn’t like about it, though my Vista’s main controls on the top and side worked fine with light gloves on. I used it only once last winter and don’t recall how the heavier gloves affect the use because I think I had it attached to my pack without handling it. I was shoe-ing in snow with some light blowing flurries without losing sight of landmarks, trail or direction.

When I plan and am paying attention, most times it’s just not that easy to get lost.

I've been using a Garmin GPSMAP 60csx for about a year now and think it's the greatest. Stepped up from the E-Trex series and really like it. The 60csx series recieves a good signal in canyons or under trees. The new E-Trex series now have the same reciever and are supposed to be just as good.

Battery life on the 60csx is around 18 hours depending on type and temp.

Heavy gloves......good luck with any of them.

Do any of the hand held GPS units work with heavy clouds and stormy weather?

I own three Garmins and use two of them on a daily basis. (The third one is an old Garmin 12. It works fine, but lacks all the bells and whistles on the new models.) I've never noticed any problems in cloudy or stormy weather, as long as nothing solid, like a mountain or steel or concrete building is blocking the sky; or when I fly in commercial aircraft and fewer than four satellites are on my side of the plane. The metal aircraft otherwise blocks the satellite signals, except what I can pick up through my view-window.

Thanks for all the responses!!! I'll read each one in detail later tonight. I will quickly add that I am purchasing a GPS for mountaineering purposes only. Currently, I don't know much about all the capabilities of a good GPS. Also,I do wear reading glasses for small print and would prefer not to have to pull out glasses on a mountain.

Thanks again!!!!!
MC

I have a Garmin eTrex Vista Cx (purchased in early 2006) and a Forerunner 305 (purchased early this year). I am happy with them both.

I took the eTrex on the JMT last year and batteries typically lasted for 2 10-11 hour days (all I did was run it for recording purposes, so there was minimal switching of screens, etc.). The watch's battery life is not as good -- 8-10 hours on a charge. I use it on runs and day hikes but would nt even take it along on an overnight unless I got a solar charger. I had an eTrex summit which I dropped from a very high place and never saw again. Compared to the newer Vista, its battery life really sucked -- I was lucky to get a good 12 hour hike in on one set.

The watch is a lot better with respect to signal. If it loses signal at all, it is for a very short time. The eTrex has more trouble, although that has nt been a big issue. I suspect that a one year newer eTrex would also be better. Basically, my experience is consistent with Joe's comments on signal to noise, etc.

I'd recommend waiting for the new Magellan Triton series. It is touted as the first series of GPSs that can download the National Geographic Topo maps. The top-of-the-line Triton 2000 will have a 2.7-inch touch screen, camera, voice recorder, barometer, electronic compass, and so on.

Info at http://www.magellangps.com/products/gps_units.asp

I would only get a GPS with the new SiRF Star III or Teseo chip sets. I haven't tried the Teseo yet, but the SiRF Star gets reception even indoors and locks on to satellites faster than any GPS I've ever seen. Garmin uses both of those GPS chipsets, don't know about others.

Excellent tips! While reading this, I was reflecting on the cigarbox size GPS units the troops were using in Desert Storm (1991). I commented to my friend, I would like to get my hands on one of them. His response: The US gov't spent billions on GPS sats, it's for military use only. Oh, how times have changed.

I've used a Garmin eTrex Vista for many years, and would recommend that model again. The current version is Vista HCx (H meaning High Gain, and C being Color) and am thinking about upgrading to it. Currently is available on Amazon for under $240. The other model I'd recommend is the 76CSx, but it's about $200 more. While there used to be a large gap in features between that model and the Vista, they've narrowed over the years, and frankly ... I can't see spending the extra $$.

Have never had a problem with reception except in a very narrow canyon or under exceptionally thick foliage (stuff found occasionally on the East Coast) so no complaints. The HCx gets reviews that says it locks on even in people's homes/apartments, so it has improved even more. The 76CSX has the SiRFstar III™ chipset, but in real life I don't think this would be a much of an improvement over the HCx.

Keep in mind that the features which make a good hiking GPSR are different than the one you may want in your car to find Aunt Millie's new place.

Finally - you'll need to buy mapping software for optimal performance. Garmin has their own, Topo 2008 (currently $58 on Amazon with a $30 rebate thru the end of the month) which you'll want to invest in. While other maps, like National Geographic, are better, they don't interface directly with the Garmin GPSR products. In addition to Topo 2008, Garmin has specialized maps for city driving, NP's, etc. I have the older version, and have never felt the need to supplement it.

With all due respect for kkeating, I wouldn't wait for new Magellan Triton series. Magellen isn't a competitor in this market (hiking) - I know dozens of people who use GPSR's, and none of them are Magellen - they're all Garmin of one flavor or another. The Triton may turn out to be a great product, but even after it comes out it will take time for adequate feedback, etc. If you need/want to buy one now, get a Garmin.

Hope this helps.

Kevin

Edit: In the interests of accuracy, the rebate mentioned above applies only to upgrades from the old Topo version to Topo 2008.

Again, big time thank you to all those who responded. I'm sold on Garmin; now it is just a matter of which model. I've been checking out Garmin's web-site under "on the trail"...so many choices (and prices)!!


Thanks, Kevin. I'm strictly looking at purchasing a GPSR for hiking/mountaineering. I'll be fine in my car; I don't have an Aunt Millie!!!

MC

My son recently moved to Michigan, and before moving, while on a job search there, he rented a car that had an on-board GPS. He liked it so much that he went out and bought one before they drove cross-country.

I'm not sure what they hold in memory, but it is pretty amazing. He related one instance when they were in Colorado, late evening, and wanted to find a campground to stay overnight. He typed in "campground", and the thing led them directly to the local ex-KOA that was off the beaten track.

I don't think he would go anywhere new without it.

I have been buying my GPS equipment and accessories from GPS City - they have good pricing and good service - most items ship right out of their Vegas store.

www.gpscity.com
or phone 1-800-gps-city

I've gotten good pricing and service from gpsdiscount.com. I bought my Garmin iQue3600 and accessories from them.

(The iQue is purely an in-vehicle and on-desk unit. It combines a road-mapping GPS with a Palm PDA. Great toy but its internal Li-ion batteries will only run the GPS an hour or so on their own. However, for navigating to the trailhead or around an unfamiliar city, it's a great tool.)