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Ok, how helpful is a GPS unit? Does it work really well with the topo maps you can upload?

And, does it keep track of your miles hiked? How accurately? Does it monitor switchbacks and such?

I am looking at the meridian platinum because of the altimiter and I dont know wether it is worth it...

Share your experiences please ;]

GPS will do everything you ask and more, and all GPS units have an altimeter. The nice thing about the GPS is, if you know how to use it you will never get lost (provided you don't run out of batteries). If you keep it on during your hike, it will provide an exact (within about 15 feet) trace of where you've been, making it easy to backtrack, or get back to the trailhead.
I personally just mark a waypoint at the trailhead, and turn it off. If something were to happen, I can always get back to the trailhead, even in the dark.

The biggest difference I've seen in the GPS units is mapping capability. For navigating on the road this is very handy (i've used it to navigate in downtown chicago, road trips...), on the trail you can easily get by without it since the topo maps on a GPS screen aren't real good anyway (try reading a 1" x 2" topo map sometime). I have a full up mapping GPS, but I'm asking santa for a simple non mapping one that's weatherproof and shockproof to use on the trail. The bottom of the line eTrex is great and I highly reccomend it (wife has one), but I want the Garmen RINO with the GMRS radio built in. Did you hear that santa?

GPS units are great! That being said, there are some drawbacks. First, in canyons the unit can get confused with signal bounce. I was hiking once in a canyon, and my gps said i was somewhere in British Colombia Canada. Second, they need to be in an open area to get signals from the satalites. Most work in thin forest areas, but in real thick forests, watch out. Third, if you cannot read a topo map and navagate with a compas (as a back-up method) carry a lot of batteries.

I use the Garmin Etrex Venture. It is a good unit, but does not upload topo maps. I also take a topo map and a compas on all hikes. (I was a boyscout, I will be prepared). It keeps very accurate track of switchbacks, distance, hiking time, stopped time, waypoints, etc.

My brother bought the Magallen Sport Pro kit - Sam's club had it with software at a great price. That unit will upload topo maps, kind of a nice feature but not worth the money for me.

I have a Garmin Vista - works great on mountains and moreor less flat terrain. In canyons its not of much help except to locate yorself when you get a good signal strength. It seems to be quite rugged and battery life is quite good - especially if you turn it off when you realize signal strength is an issue.

I would not replace your map & compass with a GPS but if you are willing to lug the extra weight, it is good supplementary tool. I find the altimeter to be quite useful.

Agreed, a map and compass, and knowing how to use them is a must. But, in an emergency you can always find a way to make your GPS work (climb a tree, get out of the canyon...).

By the way, with a little patience, you can get your GPS to work almost anywhere. I've put mine next to the window on an airplane once just for fun. It took awhile, but I got a signal and was able to see where we were, altitude, speed (680 miles per hour!)... If you can get it to work from an airplane window, you can get it to work just about anywhere.

I use a Garmin Etrex - excellent, small/light.
I use it in conjunction with topo map and compass - mark a waypoint, then navigate to it using my compass to head on the bearing given by the GPS.
The bearing to a waypoint can be set on the GPS to be given in either magnetic, or true north. It will depend on how you have your hand compass declination set (if it has that feature) as to which one you should use - it's important, make sure you get it right!
Even if the GPS was loaded with topo maps, I wouldn't go bush without a, "hard copy" map - electronics go wrong, they can malfunction, get flat batteries etc., consider them an aid to navigation.
I have found that altimeter readings can be a bit less than desired regarding accuracy, but I believe this is a problem with most GPS, and always having a topo map, I don't consider it a necessary function anyway.
As mentioned, heavy canopy will block satellite signals. Also, if in a narrow deep canyon or ravine, if the satellites happen to be at a low angle in the sky, then you may not get a signal, or you won't get the required three satellites for an accurate fix.
These are all minor hassles though, when considering the overall security that a GPS gives you.
I do a fair bit of, "off-track" camping, and the ability to relocate a bush concealed campsite is a big weight off the mind - New Zealand bush can be quite dense and restrict 360 visibilty to a few feet at times!
Bottom line - I wouldn't go walkabout in the bush without hand compass, topo map, GPS AND spare batteries.
Cheers, George.

A GPS can also get you into some sticky situations because it can't see the type of terrain it's telling you to go through. If you stay on trails this isn't a problem, but staying on trails you probably don't really need a GPS.

One of the things a GPSR loaded with your waypoints/route will allow you to do is see how far you've gone (including switch-backs) and more importantly, how far you've got to go and when sunset is. We have turned around early on hikes because we could see the sun was going to set before we'd get back if we went all the way.

Any of the major mapping programs can upload/download waypoints/routes/tracks to and from the major-name GPSRs (GPS Receivers). I have two Garmins (GPS V and a Legend) and use National Geographic's TOPO! for all my pre-trip planning and post-trip analysis. I can recommend it without hesitation and I'm very satisfied with my Garmin GPSRs. If something happened to one I'd go buy another the next day.

I bought Garmin's MapSource Topo just to load the Topo *maps* into my GPSRs You need a mapping GPSR like the Legend or GPS V to do this but there are many others. Only Garmin *maps* can be download to Garmin GPSRs. Only Magellan *maps* can be downloaded to Magellan GPSRs. The Garmin Topo software contains the same level of detail as a 1:100000 scale map. You can zoom in and out on the map using the zoom key on the GPSR but the level of detail is still the same as the 1:100000 scale map. The NG TOPO! software contains actual scanned 1:24000 scale topo maps (7.5 ' quads). NG TOPO allows you to print out custom 1:24000 topos with your route and it's elevation profile. I carry my custom topo and a compass on all trips.


More info at:
http://www.gpsnow.com/topomaps.htm
http://www.gpsnow.com/maptable.htm
http://www.gpsnow.com/wftstates.htm
http://maps.nationalgeographic.com/topo/

Garmin has an on-line map viewer at http://www.garmin.com/cartography/

Good prices on GPSRs can be found at GPSNow.com , tvnav.com/ and amazon.com. I've purchased from all three. You can buy a Garmin Legend (a mapping GPSR) right now for $149.99 after rebate from Amazon.

Bill

Mr Cake:

That's not uncommon among motorcyclists that have GPSRs mounted on their bikes. The vibration from the bike causes poor/intermittent contact between the batteries and the contacts. I believe Garmin has a fix for the bikers: stronger springs for the battery contacts.

I'd suggest cleaning the ends of the batteries with very fine grit sandpaper. You might look at the condition of the contacts in the GPSR too. I'm assuming the batteries had plenty of life left in them... correct?

Bill