huntermick
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Looking for gps to buy that is easy to use,but works well in the back country.
looking for gps to buy
- Thread starter huntermick
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robinsg61le
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LAST EDITED ON Mar-14-10 AT 07:23PM (MST)[p]None of them are "easy". I'm pretty tech savy and have experimented with several different units. I settled on the Garmin Rhino 530. It's as easy to use as anything I have found, but if you're counting on it to save your butt in the back country, plan to spend a good 8 hours or so messing with it first. Take it to work, on a hike, fishing, or whatever and plot some points and try to find them again by only using the GPS.
Good luck. They can be very rewarding... but I would definately not describe any units I found as "easy".
Good luck. They can be very rewarding... but I would definately not describe any units I found as "easy".
LAST EDITED ON Mar-14-10 AT 07:32PM (MST)[p]Lots of options out there Huntermick. There are gps units that offer more basic features/functions and there are units that offer more advanced features.
Some things to consider...batterylife, waterproof, ability to install maps and with that how much internal memory the unit has and if you can add a memory card for additional memory. This is a good feature if you are planning to upload a lot of maps to your gps.
So it kind of boils down to what you need out if it. You might check out the Garmin E-trex series. They are small, lightweight, and may offer what you need. The baseline model starts around $75
BowHuntr
Some things to consider...batterylife, waterproof, ability to install maps and with that how much internal memory the unit has and if you can add a memory card for additional memory. This is a good feature if you are planning to upload a lot of maps to your gps.
So it kind of boils down to what you need out if it. You might check out the Garmin E-trex series. They are small, lightweight, and may offer what you need. The baseline model starts around $75
BowHuntr
eelgrass
Long Time Member
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Check out the Bushnell Backtrack. It has limited features but looks like you'll be able to keep from getting lost. Plus it's very simple to use. About $50.
http://www.bushnell.com/products/gp...a421864d1-BEC80044-A6CF-173E-6C085C8B507E5B80
http://www.bushnell.com/products/gp...a421864d1-BEC80044-A6CF-173E-6C085C8B507E5B80
I've used a Garmin etrex Vista for years, and it works great. But a couple of my friends who keep up with the latest & greatest gadgets are recommending the DeLorme Earthmate PN-40.
http://www.amazon.com/DeLorme-Earth...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1268627192&sr=8-1
On the DeLorme, you can subscribe to their map library and get all the map downloads, satellite imagery and aerial photos you want for $30 a year. I think Garmin charges $100 for one or two states, but I don't know for sure since I've never bought any additional maps. I use my Garmin mainly for storing and finding waypoints, and for seeing how far it is back to camp, and for the electronic compass (very handy) . . . oh, and for seeing when sunset & sunrise are and what time it is (for determining legal shooting time). It still amazes me that I can stash my backpack or coat in the bushes, mark a waypoint, and be able to walk right back to it in the dark on the way back to camp. I never leave home without my gps. You will probably use more than you think.
-- Bob
http://www.amazon.com/DeLorme-Earth...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1268627192&sr=8-1
On the DeLorme, you can subscribe to their map library and get all the map downloads, satellite imagery and aerial photos you want for $30 a year. I think Garmin charges $100 for one or two states, but I don't know for sure since I've never bought any additional maps. I use my Garmin mainly for storing and finding waypoints, and for seeing how far it is back to camp, and for the electronic compass (very handy) . . . oh, and for seeing when sunset & sunrise are and what time it is (for determining legal shooting time). It still amazes me that I can stash my backpack or coat in the bushes, mark a waypoint, and be able to walk right back to it in the dark on the way back to camp. I never leave home without my gps. You will probably use more than you think.
-- Bob
huntermick
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Thanks for all your help.I was looking at the Garmin e-trex HCX can buy new for about 200.00 dollarss--Found a Garmin Rino 520 that comes with a 2 way radio so you can communicate with your partner its on e-bay for 225 buy now but it is a refurbished iam not sure about that.Iam lost when it come to gps systems,I hunt Idaho alot and trying to hunt Wyoming I guess i have to download maps of the state if i get a gps systems is that the way these thing work .Thanks again for all your help and information.
The Rino's by Garmin are nice if your hunting partner/party has them as well because you can see where everyone is at.
Like Bob mentioned some companies offer a service you can subscribe to that will allow you to get specific maps, or your other option is to purchase map software. Just be aware of how much memory or memory capability the gps has, as this will determine the amount and size of the maps you can upload to it.
If you are just looking for something that you can use to navigate with while out in the woods, and occasionally mark waypoints (wallows, springs, landmarks, etc...) an inexpensive baseline model will work. If you want something that doubles as a 2-way radio the Rino's are awesome. My wife bought me one last Christmas. They are great units.
BowHuntr
Like Bob mentioned some companies offer a service you can subscribe to that will allow you to get specific maps, or your other option is to purchase map software. Just be aware of how much memory or memory capability the gps has, as this will determine the amount and size of the maps you can upload to it.
If you are just looking for something that you can use to navigate with while out in the woods, and occasionally mark waypoints (wallows, springs, landmarks, etc...) an inexpensive baseline model will work. If you want something that doubles as a 2-way radio the Rino's are awesome. My wife bought me one last Christmas. They are great units.
BowHuntr
huntermick
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What series of rino did your wife get you does the gps work will in the woods also what about the 2 way radio did it work well also thanks.
W
Willy_P
Guest
Garmin units period. I have an ancient 76S that is the old monochrome type screen. I have a buddy with a newer model of it and another with an E trex. What I now want is a small unit that just reads out the UTM coords to me and lets me plot that on my USGS 7.5 minute map.
Pat C.
Pat C.
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