Which GPS?

[WMonroe]

I want to buy a GPS unit in the next couple of months and no really nothing about which ones are any good. I am looking to keep the price under $400.



Let the suggestions fly. Oo.



Will

 

[GSpeed]

I'm a surveyor and I use mine pretty well every day. I have the Garmin 76 and it's got a pretty big display on it . I believe the next model up (Map76 ?) you can upload maps and such. I can get about 3. 0m accuracy when I get the waas satellites. One program that's useful is G7towin. It's an upload/ download program for most handhelds . PM me if you have any questions.

 

[REC]

As long as its a Garmin. Check out their selection:

http://www.garmin.com/outdoor/products.html#mapping

 

[Jay]

Garmin

I've been very happy with the Garmin eTrex Vista for all around use. However will probably be upgrading to the new StreetPilot 2610 for in vehicle use.



Try \\www.gpsnow.com

 

[WMonroe]

First of all thanks for all the great replies.



What is the performance difference between the etrex Legend and the etrex Vista. The Vista is $100 more expensive.



Will

 

[ThomasCook]

I have an eTrex Vista. The difference between the 2 is the Vista has a altimeter/barometer and other altitude calculations. The Legend does not.



Published battery life is 18 hrs for the Legend, and 12 hrs for the Vista.



I bought the dash mounting bracket and the remote power/serial cable. I can hook it to my laptop and with MS Streets and Trips I can see me drive around on the map and it will track me.

 

[FFL8N]

Do you just want one for driving around or for off-roading hiking also. I have a Magellion Platinum. I can put up to a gig of memory in it and down load all the maps I want. You can also get the color version. I comes with 16 megs of ram to start and like I said you can install a sd chip with as much as you want. I love mine.

 

[KLockliear]

Might want to look into the Garmin GPS V. Running at $325 right now from http://www.gpscity.com and comes with their mapping software so you can load detailed maps of your area.



A great unit featuring 19mb of memory, plus autorouting like the larger Street Pilot series.

 

[Bodybomber]

I have owned a Garmin 195 and 295 avaition gps's for the last 5 years or so and have had absolutly NO problems. Great products and easy to use. The 295 will interface with a laptop easly as well.

 

[guava]

Another vote for Garmin. I've got two. No problems.

 

[Clinton]

As FF1607 asked, what do you want to do with it? Some units are better for the vehicle and some are better for the field. I've been happy with my Magellan Sport Trak Pro, but the display is small for viewing while behind the wheel... perfect for the backpack.

 

[Jeremiah]

A vote for Garmin, unless ...

My vote is for Garmin if it's going to be in a vehicle. I have the StreetPilot III w/voice and think it's fantastic. I have Honda's factory unit in an SUV and think it sucks by comparison. Can't say about trail units 'cause I haven't used them.



But I'd like to learn 'cause I have an ATV that's dying to have one mounted on it!



The StreetPilot III has been superceded by another model number, but I'm confident it's equally superior. I'm also impressed with Garmin's tech support. First rate. Live people! No charge!



What I'm not impressed with are the map upgrades. Last one was $150, which I thought was pricey! But ... it's cheaper than a new model!

 

[DanDee]

Jeremiah, don't they give one or two free upgrades when you buy the unit? I can't remember the details, but on the Garmin web site it was explaining that you should have the latest CD on hand when you first use your activation code... that way you can save your upgrade coupon for a later mapping update.



(I filled out a form on their web site & they shipped me their latest mapping CD program... FREE! and this was before I had even purchased one of their GPS units!)



Real happy with my Street Pilot 2610 (replaced the III) but I think they are releasing an even newer unit next month.



They have a pretty good web site www.garmin.com



Dan

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

good thread

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=96144

 

[Jeremiah]

Upgrades

Originally posted by DanDee

Jeremiah, don't they give one or two free upgrades when you buy the unit? I can't remember the details, but on the Garmin web site it was explaining that you should have the latest CD on hand when you first use your activation code... that way you can save your upgrade coupon for a later mapping update.



(I filled out a form on their web site & they shipped me their latest mapping CD program... FREE! and this was before I had even purchased one of their GPS units!)



Real happy with my Street Pilot 2610 (replaced the III) but I think they are releasing an even newer unit next month.



They have a pretty good web site www.garmin.com



Dan

Upgrades are free if ordered within 90 days or so of purchase. I'd had my unit for longer than that and the upgrade was $150!



Another important fact to remember is that all GPS manufacturers utilize city, county, state and federal data. If the receiver shows you arriving at an address and it's still a half-mile away, it's GIGO and not the unit's fault.

 

[tandersen]

I have used a Garmin GPSIII+ since 1999 with no problems. Probably the best buy I have ever made on an electronic gadget. Very useful and a lot of fun.

 

[DCornelius]

I know it's more than you want to spend, but the Streetpilot 2610 is just an incredible unit. I would have paid $1,000 for it, knowing what it does and how well it works. I have used it countless times to find street addresses, and it's dead on almost all the time. I used it two weekends ago to find an address in Nags Head, NC for a newer beach house and just as I was approaching the driveway, it said "Arriving at destination on Right" -- Perfect!



I've used it in unfamiliar cities to help me find gas stations, places to eat, electronic stores, even pet stores. No matter how far away it takes you, you can always route back to where you are staying, sometimes even via a shorter route. The database you can download to it includes so many categories or "points of interest", you can find almost anything you're looking for.



If you could hold off a little longer, until a new model is released, you may be able to find a 2610 a little cheaper.



Good luck!

David

 

[Jeremiah]

Precision GPS

Originally posted by DCornelius

I know it's more than you want to spend, but the Streetpilot 2610 is just an incredible unit. ..... I used it two weekends ago to find an address in Nags Head, NC for a newer beach house and just as I was approaching the driveway, it said "Arriving at destination on Right" -- Perfect! ... ... .....

I did the same thing with tiny one-lane streets no larger than alleys on Chincoteague Island off the Virginia coast!



Incidentally, I named the Garmin woman who gives me directions Louise. She never gets tired, even on long trips. The woman who gives directions in my Honda Pilot is Louise's retarded sister. She doesn't have a name I can provide publicly.

 

[DHayden]

Depends what your doing with it. I got a pair of Garmin Rino 130's that are handhelds and 2 way radio's up to 5 miles. When you transmit to the other unit it provides your location on the map with coordinates and you can select "track" for it to lead you there. Thought it was pretty nifty for taking the kids hiking and camping, anything happens all they have to do is transmit and I know exactly where they are. Monitors weather channels and has Baro and altimeter also. Though it does all the rest I think I am leaning towards getting a street type GPS to keep in the truck, one that talks so I can be lazy

 

[WMonroe]

Thanks for all the great replys. I will be using for driving and also out in the woods when hiking or hunting. So it has to be portable. There was lots of good suggestions, now I just have to start searching which one is right for me.

Will