Re: Which GPS for ..
From: Alan Adrian (ara___at_SPAMNOT.wanadoo.nl)
Date: 06/15/04
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Date: Tue, 15 Jun 2004 22:57:57 +0200
"GSV Three Minds in a Can" <GSV@quik.clara.co.uk> wrote in message
news:VuMC5jBpA1zAFACE@from.is.invalid...
> Field boundaries, footpaths, ditches .. that would be useful (and is all
> recorded on the Ordnance Survey 1:25000 maps), but I see no way of
> putting it in a GPS receiver (short of dragging a PDA or Laptop along
> with me, plus the 10lbs of batteries to run it for a reasonable time).
> Is that a correct assessment? Remember I said UK (and not even National
> Parks in the UK) .. for some reason GPS makers don't seem to give random
> bits of the UK the same level of priority as Yellowstone Park.
>
> So if I can't have (useful) maps, then I guess I might as well just get
> the best 'basic' unit, ideally one that is waterproof, doesn't lose its
> mind every time I wander under a tree, and can at least interface to my
> PC to tell me where I've been when I get back to civilization (using the
> term loosely).
>
> Recommendations please. I have no particular axes to grind about
> manufacturers, although I notice Garmin want to stiff me £25.95 for a PC
> data cable (that's about $45 guys!), which puts their sanity into
> question.
> (I mean we =are= talking 4 copper wires, 9-pin serial connector, yes? At
> that price I'd expect MilSpec, Gold-plated, and Gigabit Ethernet, at
> least).
> 8>.
Maps are still very useful. When you are looking at your GPS trying to work
out where you are.. the landmarks are often on the GPS map. Perhaps not the
path you are standing on, but other things that may be useful, depending on
how far off the beaten track you are.
Making a route that locates exactly your chosen trip is always a good
pre-trip preparation for going far away, and then you have the important
turning points in the GPS, and that's really all you need. If the smallish
GPS screens had that much detail on them, you would likely find it hard to
see which line was your trail through all the detail anyways... But since
Garmin seems to be slowly putting out a TOPO product for lots of places,
perhaps one day there'll be one for the UK, with all the public footpaths on
it.. yum.
I may be out of date, but I don't think a wrist mounted GPS would be all
that great. (expensive batteries need to be changed often, its antenna is
not oriented the best way for most of the walk, display is small) But maybe
the new Garmin Foretrex is worth while?
Someone has already mentioned Pfranc for cheap connectors/cables....
If you really want small, and still don't want to spend for maps... The
littlest Garmin Geko would be my choice (although it takes AAAs....)
But I'm really happy with my Garmin 60C. I own a Vista (smaller than the
60C) but don't think I could recommend a "click stick" Garmin to anyone, the
stick fails after a while, although the size is better than the 60C, the
battery life in it is much better.
Don't know much about other manufactures, but wouldn't discount them.
Al...
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