Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

  • 0

hand held gps


Gadgetman

Question

I'm considering buying a new handheld and am wondering about what people have and are happy with. What is the most user friendly/most functional. I have been using a Garmin 38 and have liked it but the old technology in it is sooo sloow that I cant take it any more. Am consideriing a Garmin 12 but want to know what you folks have to say.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

22 answers to this question

Recommended Posts

  • 0

Bought a Garmin RINO 120 last night, been playing with it at work and really like it. Same size display as a Etrex (small). Full features and 8MB ram. I'll take it on the ice tomorrow.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

I recently purchased a "Magellan Meridian Platinum". I love it!!!!!
I did some tests to see how accurate it was over the weekend, I was very impressed I was brought back to with in 5-8 feet each time. I mainly purchased it to use for Ice Fishing to keep track of the hot spots.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Gadgetman: Lots of guys who post here have them. Check out previous pages of posts, there was one in particular leading up to Christmas where Fishnphyl was looking to get the Mr. a handheld, and asked for advice. Lots of good stuff here. Hope that post hasn't dropped off the board, there are so many posts that it could've happened.

Good luck.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

For you handheld GPS users... Do any of the units have latitude/longitude readouts? Just curious.

[This message has been edited by fishingfrenzy (edited 12-31-2002).]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

fishingfrenzy, most modern GPS have Lat and Long read outs.In fact for the first three years I owned mine I only used them as I was used to the old Loran-C units.I still find it easier to use that screen than the mapping screens if I have drifted over the same spot several times.
Benny

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

I was thinking of getting one too for pheasant hunting.
How much does a guy need to spend for a semi decent one?
thanks

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Buy any of the Magellan Sportrak models they are great. They offer a lot of standard features for under 200 dollars plus they are easy to use. Also you don't need to worry about getting them wet or dropping them in the lake because they are waterproof and they float.
Another major difference is they use WASS technology which means that stardard gps sytems use 3 satelites to get you position when you enable wass you get a 4th for a more accurate triangulation. WASS will be the standard in a couple of years.

Just my 2 cents...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

The Etrex and all the other garmin units come with Latitude and Longitude, DD MM.MMM(decimal minutes) as the default position format. Unless you have changed it, that is probably what you are in. You can change it to DD MM SS (degrees, minutes, and seconds) if you prefer. I prefer the former.

If your's is not in L&L you must be in UTM's or one of other dozen or more worldwide grid formats.

To change it got to the menu page, setup, units, and select lat & long in whatever cinfiguration suits you.

Read you owners manual. It really pays, especially when it comes to track and trackback features. If you are ever lost in a blizzard on URL you will love it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

if money is no object, get the magellan meridian, I have the gold, it has 16mb of basemaps, but to do it right, get another memory chip, and download the topo cd into it. your looking at around 450 bucks, but set up this way, this thing is amazing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Knoppers;
I have a "Meridian Platinum" I love it!!!!
I also have the Topo CD Program and an additional 32MB chip. I am just currious on how "YOU" use the topo program and what does it really give you over the standard map???

S.D.

[This message has been edited by S.D. Ice Angular (edited 01-02-2003).]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

I'm in the market for a new handheld unit and was wondering what the advantage of having larger internal MB ?
I'm leaning towards the Garmin GPS 76.
I'm not looking for one that will show me the way to China or road map stuff but one that I could hook up to my PC to take advantage of lake map programs like Hot Spots etc.
Also , is there any advantage to having a WAAS enabled unit ? From what I've heard the WAAS seems to be more hype ( due to lack of availabitlity ) than anything.
I'm by no means an expert on this stuff so this may sound rather dumb to those in the know.

Thanks in advance.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Geeman...by no mean is WASS a hype. That is like calling the DVD player hype when compared to the VCR wink.gif

WASS is available almost

I can tell you that WASS was not the deciding factor which made me buy the Magellan Sportrak rather I liked that the GPS unti was waterproof and it floats. That way when I am in the boat and it starts to rain I don't have to operate the gps unit in a ziplock bag.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

WAAS (EGNOS) was developed by Raytheon and the FAA for aircraft use prior to the deactivation of selective availability. It utilizes five satalites and ground becon stations to give a correction factor to GPS units. It is different than DGPS in that the signals go from satalite to ground becon back to satalite then to GPS. All GPS units require signals from thee satalites to give ground position and a fourth for elevation, there are 23 active satalites and one spare in orbit. Depending on your current location and time of day you could recieve five to nine signals. Where the satalites are in the sky from your position has definite factor in how accurate your GPS will be at that given time, due to length of triangulation. Just because a GPS is WAAS capapable does not mean it will constantly be in contact with a WAAS signal. With one WAAS satalite over the Atlantic and one over the Pacific, Minnesota is right on the edge of its coverage area.
A GPS recieving WAAS signals has a average accuracy of 3 meters (9') one with out is averaging 7-9 meters (21'-27'). So if the lenght of a boat difference in accuracy is crucial to you great, buy for everyone else it is just hype.

Rob

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

I broke down and bought a Garmin GPSMap 76 last year and love it. Easy to read while mounted on the dash of my truck or ATV, plus the buttons are right on front(and backlit) instead of on side of unit.

If you're gonna mount on a machine, definitely grab a RAM mount for whatever you go with...easiest and most available accessories.

Check out http://joe.mehaffey.com/ for many different tests of most of the major GPS receivers.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

I think the vexilar boys are in camp with the Garmin....

Great Link Prudence...
Sharing information is a great thing...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Swill- Is it that obvious that I am a Vex and Garmin guy!? lol

Research, research, research...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Thanks for the great links guys, now I can stay up for many nights learning more about gps than anyone should ever have to know...which will further befuddle me, but at least i can make an informed decision confused.gif Well I guess nobody said it would be easy parting with ones hard earned $

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Anyone have thoughts on the need for an external antennae? I am debating between the Magellan Sportrak Map and the Garmin Map 76 series. They both float which is an absolute requirement. I am leaning towards Magellan due to reviews saying they are the most accurate and its the least cost mapping unit. Any thoughts on durability?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.


  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
    • monstermoose78
      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
    • monstermoose78
      How is everyone doing? Holy moly it’s chilly this morning I stayed in bed and will hunt later today when it warms up.
    • monstermoose78
      Guys slim creek on burntside is the place to load up on smelt
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.