Hand held GPS recommendation

[cactusrose63]

Looking for a hand held, lightweight, easy to use GPS Tracking system for day or overnight hiking. Less expensive if possible since I am not sure how often I will use it. Any ideas of brands or specific features it really needs to have to be user friendly? I am not a computer geek after all... Thanks.

[mttgilbert]

I would reccomend any of the Garmin Etrex units. There are several reasonably priced ones and the etrex are very intuitive and easy to use. The Delorme units are usually priced very well, but were not as easy to use. Ultimately all the units do the same basic stuff, it's just a matter of how easy they make it to use them.

[azdesertfather]

I would agree...an etrex is really good on a budget...Garmin and Magellan's websites if I remember right allows you to do comparisons of features of their own brand's products, so you can decide what features you can and can't live without in a GPS device

[nonot]

I have a garmin etrex and I like everything except that it is easy to scratch the front screen.

I'd recommend getting one that does mapping and has expandable memory, because I find that more useful than anything else.

[cactusrose63]

Thanks for the advice, garmin etrex it is then. Do you know if these track your actual mileage or just mileage "as the crow flies"? And when you say "does mapping", what do you mean? New to this technology, excuse my ignorance...

[joebartels]

It's actual mileage. I "think" nonot means the units with an "X" in the model number meaning they accept a memory card to load external data. He has all of Arizona mapped out and available for download via an on-site link on his signature line.

[mttgilbert]

Joe's right, "mapping" just means that you can upload maps to the unit. Units without the "X" don't have enough internal memory to load many (if any) maps. Expandable memory is just that; you can buy as large or as small a card (like the one in a digital camera) as you like and then put whatever information you like into it.

[nonot]

Units with an x in the name...IE GPSModel Hx, the x means expandable memory, the H is high-accuracy, a C means color.

Expandable memory is useful for if you want to load free (or store-bought) maps onto your GPS, you can buy a larger memory card that can fit more maps.
If you are not into canyons or hiking where there's lots of trees, a H unit may not be necessary.
Color units are useful especially when you have a mapping unit that can have a bunch of stuff on the screen at once.

Mapping units have a screen with a map and graphical capabilities. Non mapping units generally have a text display that tells you where you are based on a coordinate system.

Almost all GPS's track how far you go by milage and can tell you distances as the crow flies back to certain points, like where you started.

[cactusrose63]

Thanks to everyone for all your help...now onward for my quest for the perfect GPS!

[Sredfield]

I recently joined the GPS world with a Garmin 76CSx. I'm pleased with it, and the reviews rank it pretty high. There is a learning curve tho.

[djui5]

I have a garmin etrex and I like everything except that it is easy to scratch the front screen.

I'd recommend getting one that does mapping and has expandable memory, because I find that more useful than anything else.

+1 I love my E-Trex legend, but can't upgrade the memory. I'll have to buy a different one someday as I have maps that are too big for it.

[Hoffmaster]

I've decided that I hate my Magellan. I can't get it to work with my computers (yes, a Mac and a PC). So now I can't upload maps to it, which makes it completely useless in my opinion. I'm switching to Garmin.

nonot, do you know anything about Magellan? I have to save maps to the computer hard drive to transfer them to the GPS unit. The program that handles the transfer (called Conversion Manager) is not finding the saved maps on my computer hard drive anymore and there is no other way to transfer. The computers recognize that the GPS is plugged into them, up until I try to upload a map directly into the GPS unit. Very frustrating. Especially since I have actually wanted to use my GPS a few times recently.

[mttgilbert]

Matt, I've been doing some testing for Magellan on thier new Tritan series.

I've had similar difficulties using thier new "re-developed, easier to use" models. One thing you can try before going and buying a Garmin (wink, nudge) is to try completely uninstalling and reinstalling the software on the computer. Magellan has some crazy idea that when you load their software it should only work for the unit you currently have, so the software records the serial number and will only ever work for that serial number. Apparently they believe (perhaps rightfully so) that once you buy a Magellan you will never buy another one. This has been especially frustrating for me since I've been through five different units in the last couple months. Sometimes the serial number can become corupt and then the software refuses to recognize the device. Give the reinstall a try and if that doesn't work let me know, I might have another trick or two up my sleeve.

Good luck!

[big_load]

Wow, I guess I've been spoiled as a Garmin owner. My GPSMap60CS worked great right out of the box, and each of the nine software updates released over the last four years have loaded without incident and functioned flawlessly (except when the unit is too hot). Over that time I uploaded new maps and data every couple months, and downloaded tracks even more often. I want to upgrade to the 60CSx, but this one still works too well for me to do it with a clean conscience.

[nonot]

Sorry, I only have experience with my Garmin. Joe has had his Magellan for quite awhile and might be able to help???

[cactusrose63]

For all you Garmin lovers out there...does anyone have any experience with Garmin GPS units and Windows Vista? Seems like almost every program I download causes my Vista to melt down. Okay, not really THAT bad, but not recognizing software gets to be more than a little irritating. Actually, like wishing I never got a Vista operating system....

[Hoffmaster]

try completely uninstalling and reinstalling the software on the computer.

Hmm. I don't know if this would work. I have the software installed on my girlfriend's PC, which I did recently, and very recently, I installed Windows XP on my Mac so that I could run this software and my National Geographic Topo from my Mac. Anyway, after both installs, I had to enter the serial # and this didn't help anything. I'm having the same issue on both computers.

[mttgilbert]

In that case, your probably right and it won't help. The next problem might be conflicting software running. Have you tried closing everything but the map transfer software before transfering maps? Magellan has several known problems with conflicting software. Also, make sure that the card isn't corupt. I would say that after you've exhausted those options you can feel guilt free in picking up your new Garmin.

[Davis2001r6]

I just bought a Garmin 76CSx ($245 on e-bay), only had it a week, but have had no softbware problems yet. I got the Mapsourse Topo 2008 DVD for it as well. It comes with a 128mb memory card which holds a surprising about of date. I put in a 2gb just to be safe though. Headed to Colorado this week to use it for the first time.

-TIM-

[Hoffmaster]

Have you tried closing everything but the map transfer software before transfering maps? Magellan has several known problems with conflicting software. Also, make sure that the card isn't corupt.

I have not tried it with all other programs closed. I try that. When you say "make sure that the card isn't corrupt", are you referring to a SD card in unit? I have an Explorist 210 and it does not have expandable memory. See, that's a reason right there to get a new unit.