Thread: GPS units ... help needed

Cant go wrong with a 60CSX , i mark a few places, can pin point myself, back track or get out in the dark, load it down on to google earth,dropped it, bashed it got wet etc keeps on going. 2 LSD rechargable batterys last mulitple day hunts for me

Well i ended up buying the Garmin 62S. afew hundy more than i wanted to spend but ill just hide the bill from the wife ... hahahaha

Good on ya. Enjoy but ensure you don't lose the map and compass skills.

Originally Posted by Rushy

Good on ya. Enjoy but ensure you don't lose the map and compass skills.

ye old map and compass still hold their rightful place in the pack. When batteries die there is nothing more reliable than a paper map, pencil and a compass

(im just lazy and like gadgets - thus the new toy hahaha)

To get full use from a GPS you need to get the computer side set up well and be systematic with naming waypoints and tracks. Always save then clear the track when you get back to your car so you don't have a big spider web zig zagging across New Zealand ! The computer program you need is Garmin mapsource, which is good now. It's possible to edit, join and generally work with tracks, select just useful info to load onto your handheld and clear out the junk. Things have improved over the last 2 or 3 years so although you can search forums direct advice is easiest. I hope you do like gadgets because loading maps can be confusing (was to me). Tony Savage may help out even if you didn't buy the unit from him. If you have problems, post on here or elsewhere.

Tussock is correct, the 550 occasionally loses reception or gives an offset location for a while but just use common sense and you'll be right. The touch screen is poor and the camera is not as useful as you'd think. However, scrolling round and adding and editing waypoints is good and I think general useability of this model is good.

iphones and android phones seem to be pretty good and a dedicated $800 gps unit has to really earn its keep:
rugged
replaceable batteries
easy to use mapping software
local NZ topo maps
Once smartphones catch these, our GPS will be obsolete.

Is the Garmin 60 CX model as good or not worth bothering with ?

Originally Posted by Bagheera

To get full use from a GPS you need to get the computer side set up well and be systematic with naming waypoints and tracks. Always save then clear the track when you get back to your car so you don't have a big spider web zig zagging across New Zealand ! The computer program you need is Garmin BASECAMP, which is good now. It's possible to edit, join and generally work with tracks, select just useful info to load onto your handheld and clear out the junk. Things have improved over the last 2 or 3 years so although you can search forums direct advice is easiest. I hope you do like gadgets because loading maps can be confusing (was to me). Tony Savage may help out even if you didn't buy the unit from him. If you have problems, post on here or elsewhere.

Tussock is correct, the 550 occasionally loses reception or gives an offset location for a while but just use common sense and you'll be right. The touch screen is poor and the camera is not as useful as you'd think. However, scrolling round and adding and editing waypoints is good and I think general useability of this model is good.

iphones and android phones seem to be pretty good and a dedicated $800 gps unit has to really earn its keep:
rugged
replaceable batteries
easy to use mapping software
local NZ topo maps
Once smartphones catch these, our GPS will be obsolete.

correction: the program is Basecamp. Mapsource was previous and didn't work with the Oregon.

Originally Posted by Bagheera

iphones and android phones seem to be pretty good and a dedicated $800 gps unit has to really earn its keep:
rugged
replaceable batteries
easy to use mapping software
local NZ topo maps
Once smartphones catch these, our GPS will be obsolete.

I reckon smartphones have caught these already mate. I'm yet to see a proper test comparing smartphones against dedicated GPS units sensitivity wise. I'd hope the Garmins would be better for all the extra moola you need to shell out.

Rugged: Motorola Defy+ (water, dust proof. Just bung it in a case and shes rugged as)
Replaceable batteries: Yip with Defy+ (cheap as chips off ebay and light as so a couple of spares are a no brainer)
Easy to use mapping software: Locus or Back Country Nav
Local NZ topo maps: yes, and free. (Topo50 series and all stored offline on the phone)

+ you've got a phone & camera in the same unit, you can even use them for a gamecaller if you use an external speaker oh the weight savings! ..and all for ~$320