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GPS
- Thread starter crabby
- Start date
jpatter123
Well-known member
The biggest thing for me in a handheld when driving the boat is the screen is too small. I use a permenanant mount small color GPS on a goose neck mount. Also you gotta figure out if mapping is something you really need. Down here in the glades it doesn't do you much good so a cheaper GPS might serve you well. In reality almost all GPS's out there on the market now use WAAS so accuracy should be within 3 meters. So figure out what you need (mapping, color, how many waypoints(memory size) routes available, screen size, durability, water resistance or proof, resolution). That should effectively narrow you down. As far as handhelds go they are all pretty easy to use Garmin generally being my top choice. If your going to use it for hunting be aware there are many complaints on the internet on camo units being set down or dropped and never being found again so opting for a bright unit thats easy to see if you drop it over board or drop it in the woods.
Lastly sit on your drivers seat of your boat and think about how you'd use the GPS are you going to hold it? If your going to mount it where? Then think about how big the unit is and the screen size and see if you can see it from there. Try to borrow someones handheld and take it out for a spin.
Lastly sit on your drivers seat of your boat and think about how you'd use the GPS are you going to hold it? If your going to mount it where? Then think about how big the unit is and the screen size and see if you can see it from there. Try to borrow someones handheld and take it out for a spin.
SwampMatt
Well-known member
We love our Garmin GPS Map76
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=169
Suggested Retail = $199 but I know you can get these for much less on Ebay. A lot of folks buy them and never figure them out - so they end up selling nearly new units for dirt cheap. Just be sure you get the instruction book! We kept referring back to ours as we learned how to use the unit - ended up reading it cover to cover many many times.
Connecting it to the computer for downloading tracks and waypoints was tricky, but we got it done. We had to buy a third-party cable adapter. (Keyspan brand Serial-to-USB adapter cable) I suppose ( I hope) the newer models are easier to connect.
Great little unit - you can use just basic features - or it has some pretty advanced features you can use if you want to.
matt.
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=169
Suggested Retail = $199 but I know you can get these for much less on Ebay. A lot of folks buy them and never figure them out - so they end up selling nearly new units for dirt cheap. Just be sure you get the instruction book! We kept referring back to ours as we learned how to use the unit - ended up reading it cover to cover many many times.
Connecting it to the computer for downloading tracks and waypoints was tricky, but we got it done. We had to buy a third-party cable adapter. (Keyspan brand Serial-to-USB adapter cable) I suppose ( I hope) the newer models are easier to connect.
Great little unit - you can use just basic features - or it has some pretty advanced features you can use if you want to.
matt.
FlyingFrog
Member
GPS Map76 that is a fantastic unit i have used that model for 3 years never had a problem used it several times climing hicking argentina to chile sever climate droped it a few times no problem 
good luck
good luck
jpatter123
Well-known member
I can attest the gpsmap 76 is a nice unit I had it for my jet ski until it was stolen. I'd be interested to know if the 76c is easier to see (its the color version) or if the grey scale is better. Again if you don't need the mapping the 100 dollar I believe its the etrex in yellow is a good unit.
EDIT- speaking of that I think I still have the RAM cradle mount for that unit if anyone needs one. Its just sittin in the garage.
EDIT- speaking of that I think I still have the RAM cradle mount for that unit if anyone needs one. Its just sittin in the garage.
SwampMatt
Well-known member
Yeah Crabby - We just got a house at the corner of Lake Jesup and the St. Johns. I've been mashing a new trail up to our back yard from Lake Jesup. We usually stop at Mullet Lake park because they have good restrooms! LOL
I've learned that knowing where the restrooms are is a KEY to taking ladies out on the boat! Come to think of it.... One feature on the gpsmap76 that I use is the restroom icon to mark a waypoint.
I'll send you a PM and we'll have to trade phone #'s. If you drop by I'd be happy to let you use our gps to see if you like it. I don't have internet at the new place yet though.
But you gotta know that with technology always improving - that GPSmap76 unit has been out for years.... they has gotta be some better units now available!
Jpatter - I also would like to peek at the 76c - c chardt & Dakota have one of the color one. I've never seen it when it was turned on - But I've seen it mounted in Chris' boat.
matt.
I've learned that knowing where the restrooms are is a KEY to taking ladies out on the boat! Come to think of it.... One feature on the gpsmap76 that I use is the restroom icon to mark a waypoint.
I'll send you a PM and we'll have to trade phone #'s. If you drop by I'd be happy to let you use our gps to see if you like it. I don't have internet at the new place yet though.
But you gotta know that with technology always improving - that GPSmap76 unit has been out for years.... they has gotta be some better units now available!
Jpatter - I also would like to peek at the 76c - c chardt & Dakota have one of the color one. I've never seen it when it was turned on - But I've seen it mounted in Chris' boat.
matt.
Daddy Dave
Well-known member
My .02.....
I use a simple Lowrance...it is mounted to the front of my switch panel and is easily read from the operator's seat....best features are a built in map, no coupler required, WAAS accuracy, AND a bright purple crumb trail that can be read in the rain, fog or alchofog. Mine has been mounted to the boat for almost three years and has never failed to acquire and show a map of where I am and where I've been and.....How To Get Home...
I use a simple Lowrance...it is mounted to the front of my switch panel and is easily read from the operator's seat....best features are a built in map, no coupler required, WAAS accuracy, AND a bright purple crumb trail that can be read in the rain, fog or alchofog. Mine has been mounted to the boat for almost three years and has never failed to acquire and show a map of where I am and where I've been and.....How To Get Home...
SwampMatt
Well-known member
We did not buy any map software to put INTO the GPS. (some is available) The stock maps in there (came pre-loaded on the map76) are good enough for our use.
We did purchase some software that uses the track and gpx data to overlay a little yellow line over an aerial photo. Very accurate and VERY interesting! The mapping software needs an internet connection to get the aerial photos. Also purchased some software to make it compatible with my mac computer or the wife's windows PC. But all that software was for the computer - not the GPS unit. It works like a champ right out of the box. All the software was cheap - nothing more than $40 As I recall.
Bid D's Lorance GPS is the bomb!!! I like the 6 inch or so color screen. It was way out of our price range - But worth every penny I'm sure! I think that unit and the map76 are two totally different price classes.
We did purchase some software that uses the track and gpx data to overlay a little yellow line over an aerial photo. Very accurate and VERY interesting! The mapping software needs an internet connection to get the aerial photos. Also purchased some software to make it compatible with my mac computer or the wife's windows PC. But all that software was for the computer - not the GPS unit. It works like a champ right out of the box. All the software was cheap - nothing more than $40 As I recall.
Bid D's Lorance GPS is the bomb!!! I like the 6 inch or so color screen. It was way out of our price range - But worth every penny I'm sure! I think that unit and the map76 are two totally different price classes.
I have the Magellan MAP 330M (Marine) version. Its waterproof and WAAS enabeled. After using it for 3-4 years all over the world and comparing with other GPSs, I'd say it is as good as any of them.
However, after a lot of GPS use I have developed the opinion that GPS is ok as long as ya have an idea where you are going, if your looking for some specific thing like a stake or marker its darn near useless. In general GPS (as we are allowed to have it) is inaccurate and at times even gives intentionally false readings.
GPS can be made dead accurate but it requires a separate transmitter in the local area. The GPS we use today is not as accurate as the last developements of the old Loran-C, but Loran is gone now, I think all of the transmit stations have long since been turned off.
SO were left with GPS, a system that can be toyed with at will by big brother.
Most of the handhelds like mine arent much different, some have extra features and that is mostly what ya pay for, the core of the GPS is about the same in all of them. Were I buying again, I might just go with the "Cheep is best" philosophy. The Magellan 330M is a decent unit though.
Scotty
However, after a lot of GPS use I have developed the opinion that GPS is ok as long as ya have an idea where you are going, if your looking for some specific thing like a stake or marker its darn near useless. In general GPS (as we are allowed to have it) is inaccurate and at times even gives intentionally false readings.
GPS can be made dead accurate but it requires a separate transmitter in the local area. The GPS we use today is not as accurate as the last developements of the old Loran-C, but Loran is gone now, I think all of the transmit stations have long since been turned off.
SO were left with GPS, a system that can be toyed with at will by big brother.
Most of the handhelds like mine arent much different, some have extra features and that is mostly what ya pay for, the core of the GPS is about the same in all of them. Were I buying again, I might just go with the "Cheep is best" philosophy. The Magellan 330M is a decent unit though.
Scotty
jpatter123
Well-known member
on the gpsmap 76 and most mapping units you can buy software for more detailed maps with things like depth contour curves. Most mapping gps's come with inland waterways however so you should be allright without buying software. I bought the blue chart cd for my 76 and remember thinking I really could have saved the money.
On the big brother toying with GPS accuracy. That issue is no longer a point in buying a GPS from my understanding. The goverment stopped the random thing they were doing where it would cause a GPS reading to be innaccurate up to 300' or whatever it was. Sorry for the inspecific unscientific sound to that
And you can have loran for those guys that knew how to use it. For me I had 2 units on two boats that never did anything for me but look like a box. The 5 or 6 GPS units i have had have always been accurate to within 20 feet and most of the time even better. I use to run some ditch lines on a grass flat in the 10,000 islands that were only 20' wide and nothing but a few inch deep shoals on high tide to the sides. I could run them in the dark at 20 miles an hour running only by GPS and never get grounded.
I think some of you were also talking about the trackback feature found on a lot of modern GPS's. Its a feature that I absolutely love in the everglades. I have 100's of track back lines which make 3a appear like its mapped with a road way system. Not sure how I would ever get along without it. I don't even use routes or waypoints anymore just follow my track lines. :thumbup: Downside is most units are limited to how many miles of track back they can store before they have to start erasing. :?
EDIT- I ment to also note an internal antenna is generally not as effectient as an external one. If your having problem with accuracy on your handheld it maybe the antenna isn't having a perfect angle or view to the sky.
On the big brother toying with GPS accuracy. That issue is no longer a point in buying a GPS from my understanding. The goverment stopped the random thing they were doing where it would cause a GPS reading to be innaccurate up to 300' or whatever it was. Sorry for the inspecific unscientific sound to that
And you can have loran for those guys that knew how to use it. For me I had 2 units on two boats that never did anything for me but look like a box. The 5 or 6 GPS units i have had have always been accurate to within 20 feet and most of the time even better. I use to run some ditch lines on a grass flat in the 10,000 islands that were only 20' wide and nothing but a few inch deep shoals on high tide to the sides. I could run them in the dark at 20 miles an hour running only by GPS and never get grounded.
I think some of you were also talking about the trackback feature found on a lot of modern GPS's. Its a feature that I absolutely love in the everglades. I have 100's of track back lines which make 3a appear like its mapped with a road way system. Not sure how I would ever get along without it. I don't even use routes or waypoints anymore just follow my track lines. :thumbup: Downside is most units are limited to how many miles of track back they can store before they have to start erasing. :?
EDIT- I ment to also note an internal antenna is generally not as effectient as an external one. If your having problem with accuracy on your handheld it maybe the antenna isn't having a perfect angle or view to the sky.
Wont be long and the Britts will have a GPS (type) system up and they claim they will be more accurate than our GPS. Not sure if it wll be GPS compatable with our units or not. They may not allow any personal units for sale but then again Its worth keeping in the back of your mind.
Most of the things I have tried to use GPS for if Im off by 5-10 feet I might as well be off by a mile. 3-4 inches would be acceptable if your trying to locate any kind of marker, and that accracy can be had but it requires extra equipment.
I hear a lot of anecdotal info about how good and accurate GPS is, and if anyone is getting that kind of accuracy then Im really happy for them, I have never seen it even in the $1,000+ units. (standalone units I mean)
The back track feature is one worth its weigh in gold, so is the ability to just store a LOT of way-points.
There are other ways to get better accuracy from a handheld GPS and they are on the internet but I THINK I remember that ya have to have a laptop or maybe a palm computer.
If ya really wanna check the GPS accuracy, and IF you have a lot of confidence in it, try running a dense fog on full plane and follow your NAV feature to the hill. Im scared to try it, I just don't have the confidence in it.
In my mind GOP is an ok reference and I take nothing away from that. I guess in the last analysis if ya cant get back with any of the handheld GPS units, then ya really shouldnt be out there yet. I do think all of them are good enough for that.
Scotty
Most of the things I have tried to use GPS for if Im off by 5-10 feet I might as well be off by a mile. 3-4 inches would be acceptable if your trying to locate any kind of marker, and that accracy can be had but it requires extra equipment.
I hear a lot of anecdotal info about how good and accurate GPS is, and if anyone is getting that kind of accuracy then Im really happy for them, I have never seen it even in the $1,000+ units. (standalone units I mean)
The back track feature is one worth its weigh in gold, so is the ability to just store a LOT of way-points.
There are other ways to get better accuracy from a handheld GPS and they are on the internet but I THINK I remember that ya have to have a laptop or maybe a palm computer.
If ya really wanna check the GPS accuracy, and IF you have a lot of confidence in it, try running a dense fog on full plane and follow your NAV feature to the hill. Im scared to try it, I just don't have the confidence in it.
In my mind GOP is an ok reference and I take nothing away from that. I guess in the last analysis if ya cant get back with any of the handheld GPS units, then ya really shouldnt be out there yet. I do think all of them are good enough for that.
Scotty
jpatter123
Well-known member
they do have correctional systems whitebear for accuracy +- 1" but they are used for surveyers and are very expensive.
There is a GPS system in place for europe I believe because TOMTOM sells maps you can buy for traveling in Europe with your GPS bought stateside. How far the system extends I don't know.
There is a GPS system in place for europe I believe because TOMTOM sells maps you can buy for traveling in Europe with your GPS bought stateside. How far the system extends I don't know.
KR23
Well-known member
I have used my 76c for many years. Its got me home many of times. when your 11,000-12,000 feet in the hindo cush and your map is $hit its nice to know you have a reliable piece of equipment to get you home. So I guess you could say I have put my life in the hands of this devise and I am here to talk about it.