Best hand-held?

[igould]

Thinking of getting a hand-held GPS for hunting and bushwalking.
As much as I like my Ranga GPS, it's not practical to take out of the car, as the battery doesn't last very long.
I thought Deal Extreme might have something reasonably priced, but can't find anything there.

Any recommendations?

Ian

[bussy1963]

Hello

I have a Garmin Etrex hand held i use solely when im out of the car. what i do is use the incar one until i get to the area then put a waypoint in to the handheld (so i know where i left the car0.

The Etrex is the entry level model priced at $135 almost anywhere. It cant up or download data to p.c. But its a good unit i get excellent battery life out of mine. I bought a cig charger unit for it as will to top up the batteries while traveling.

Hope this helps you.

[MacMan]

I have two - a Garmin GPS72 and a GPS60Cx. Very different beasts but both excellent to use. The 72 is an older model which has no base map but has been very useful hunting to get everyone together for the carry out. The 60Cx has a base map and will navigate on roads with additional goodies installed.

Both are waterproof, the 72 more so I think - and it floats.

[theresanothersteve]

... The 60Cx has a base map and will navigate on roads with additional goodies installed...
There's the first question, do you want a base map?
Something simple that accepts waypoints, routes (by linking waypoints) and bread crumbing so you can backtrack would be the cheaper alternative.

If, however, you want to be able to see contours and (other) topographical features, you will need a unit that has (or can be loaded with) a base map.

Once you start adding a base map power consumption can be an issue, particularly if you want a clolour screen.

That being said, I am a Garmin fan, have been since I bought an eMap years ago.

[pormpaul]

Ive just picked up an etrex HCX its colour extremly sensitive antena, long battery life, base map. Its small and light weight I use it in the car, motorbike, push bike, cannoe and all places in between. have a look at Johnny Appleseed they are doing deals with Unit and Australia Topo Map.

[igould]

Ive just picked up an etrex HCX....
have a look at Johnny Appleseed they are doing deals with Unit and Australia Topo Map.

It seems there is a Vista HCX and a Legend HCX. Which one is yours?

Also, I can't find them on Johnny Appleseed. Was that in a promotional email or something?

Ian

[Ranga]

I spotted a GPS/UHF combo in the latest Shooting magazine. I've since thrown it out, but found these in a Google search Garmin Rino 650 GPS UHF Radio 2 for 1 (http://www.ja-gps.com.au/garmin/rino-650-gps-uhf-radio/)

I thought the model in the magazine looked a bit better though :confused:

Maybe it was the 655 https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=146&pID=82799

[igould]

I spotted a GPS/UHF combo...

It seems there are a few businesses doing the Garmin 2-for-1 deal. Anaconda have it for $599, but don't seem to specify anywhere what model. Dick Smith are doing the Rino 650 for $599, and I think one of the sponsors on Aust Hunting is doing them for $580. Excellent deal for what sounds like a good unit.

Trouble is, I only need one, not two. Although I must admit, I'm trying to think of ways to justify having two!

Ian

[pormpaul]

It seems there is a Vista HCX and a Legend HCX. Which one is yours?

Also, I can't find them on Johnny Appleseed. Was that in a promotional email or something?

Ian

I just had a look and cant find it either. maybe it has been discontiued. Sorry! My next pic would be an etrex 30.

[austastar]

Hello
The Etrex is the entry level model priced at $135 almost anywhere. It cant up or download data to p.c.


Hi,
if you get the data cable it will talk to OziExplorer very nicely.

You can send waypoints and tracks to and from the e-trex GPS easily.

It has no base map, and that is not really a drama if you set up a series of waypoints before you go.

e.g. if I was going for a day walk, I would waypoint such things as
start of track
creek crossings
track junctions
summits
any other points of interest that will help navigate/locate position.

On returning the GPS track can be downloaded to Ozi and compared with the track printed on the map for interest/comparison/familiarisation.

The advantage of the e-trex is longer battery life with a simple black and white screen, and I believe the newer ones have improved the antennae sensitivity considerably as compared with the early models.

cheers

[87County]

I have had an etrex (vista) and it was good

I now have a GPS map 62 with colour contour & street maps for all of Oz & nz and IMHO it's much better

The on-screen maps even have all the obscure firetrails in state forests and national parks - I don't know how they do it

through basecamp you can record (& print out if needed) vertical profiles of walks with times, grades and altitudes shown

This unit also has an "automotive" mode where it can be used for in-car navigation to a waypoint, place or address with the option of changing the display to that similar to the in-car gps units (fortunately no spoken cammands) - it has programmable proximity warning tomes for turns etc - can be set to avoid toll roads etc.