Help 4 GPS Unit for Off Roading

[MickeyMouse]

We had alittle off road adventure during my vacation this week and ended up lost in the forest. I did watch real carefull for back markers as we continued past Y's in the road so I could find our way back. We ran into on place after dark on the way home where we were not real sure of which Y to take, so I took a guess and it was correct. It was hard to make out my back marker in the dark.

I "will not" go again with kids in the car without a GPS unit. I'm looking for a basic unit that I can either hand carry or one that will go in my HP iPaq. I'm loojing for ideas or recommendations.

I really don't care to spend a bunch of monies, I don't one to tell me how to get to a restraunt in town, just one that will track where I've been so I can watch as we back where to turn and how much further we have to go.

I saw one called "Auto GPS kit for iPAQ" for about $170. I liked that it used power from the vehicle to run it and keep it up, so you don't have to worry about your battery going dead.

Thoughts?

 

[MickeyMouse]

Opps, I also saw the "Garmin Geko 201 GPS Unit" at Walmart.com for $118 and I thought it was a good deal.

 

[RL Lemke]

At a minimum you should look for a mapping GPS unit which will allow you to see where you are in relation to roads and landmarks. The least expensive of these will be an eMap by Garmin. You can still get them if you look.

Within a few months of using a GPS you will want to upgrade to a larger screen though.

The ability to upload and download "tracks" and maps from your computer.

 

[Colemanfu]

I have a Garmen Etrax Vista - got it from "thegpsstore.com". Have yet to get lost with this addition. I use it in the rig and on the KTM. Used it last week in Ocala and it was a life saver. Has all the goodies. Tracks where you went so you can get home, altitude, way points, base map (you can add more specific maps from a Topo disk), average speed/moving speed/time travled/distance, too much to list. A very cool toy! I don't think you can go wrong with any Garmen. Now they have some with a color screen.

 

[dcampen]

I have been using a basic Garmin Etrex:
http://www.rei.com/online/store/Pro...ent_category_rn=4500600&vcat=REI_SSHP_GPS_TOC
No ability to display maps, just Waypoints, Tracklogs and a single Route and this has worked fine for me. Before I go out into the backcountry I will use the Garmin Topo map/software to produce some Waypoints for the route I plan on traveling ( Forest Road intersections and such) and download these to the Garmin. Even without any preloaded waypoints just having the tracklog that shows where you have been is a great help for finding your way home. I have the Etrex mounting bracket on the dash of the 4Runner and use the Etrex from there with the cigarette lighter adapter while I am in the truck and then dismount it and carry it in my pack when I leave my truck and start hiking.

The Etrex models have been out for probably several years now and are perhaps a bit dated. When I get a new one it will have the ability to display maps, larger screen, more memory etc. I am hoping that prices will come down.

Again, having even a basic GPS unit is really great. I have had to drive for hours at night, in fog along remote FS roads to get to a location and having my GPS with its tracklog and waypoints really makes the difference between feeling confident that I am on the correct track versus that nagging feeling that maybe I am lost.

 

[mjfrank]

I have a Garmin Etrex Legend. 8meg memory, waypoints, routes, maps, etc. I love that thing, and I use it in my cars, my bike, on my boats, while out hunting or hiking, and even took it on a commercial flight once. (It's cool seeing that you are travelling at 450+mph at an altitude of 29,000 feet, and following your ground track on the map. : )

I have the cigarette lighter adapter to power it, but it lasts around 8 to 10 hours just on two AA alkalines. I also have a RAM mount, which I highly recommend. I put the permanent ball mount in my bass boat, and swap the bracket to the suction cup mount for the other boat and the cars. You can buy separate bases and move the bracket around where you need it.

We once used it on the boat to find a friend's house on Lake of the Ozarks, which was about 30 miles from our dock by water. I didn't know where he lived, and had never been to that section of the lake, I only knew which road he lived off of, and a description of the house. We used the GPS to see where the road came close to the lake shore, and then followed the on screen map all the way there. He was shocked when we pulled up to his dock.

Definintely get something that can display a map. I am now hoping to upgrade to something with a larger, color screen and more memory. If I were to buy the Etrex again, I'd pop for the Vista with it's 24meg of memory, I often have trouble downloading all the maps to the legend for longer trips. The Etrex's size is great to just throw in your pocket and go though, so I'll probably keep that for hiking and hunting. It's very durable, and basically waterproof.

Mike