Thread: Best handheld GPS?

'GPS' is too small for a search, so if you know of any existing threads, lemme know.

The GPS60CSX is what I got as a present. It's the nicest present I've ever recieved, I think. But the topo software doesn't work with Macs. Otherwise it looks perfect. Any other ideas?

I know nothing about GPS units, btw.

boot camp-able mac? then you'd be set fine...

I'm also interested in a good GPS. Can't afford to spend $500 or anything, but would love to find one for a couple.

Originally Posted by Jumper Bones

boot camp-able mac? then you'd be set fine...

I don't know what this means.

http://www.google.com/search?as_q=gp...s=&safe=images

Originally Posted by LaramieSkiBum

http://www.google.com/search?as_q=gp...s=&safe=images

I didn't know google could do this. Thanks for the link, now I'm glad I didn't sell this thing for crack money. I had no idea GPS units were so cool. And there's lotsa GPS info on this links, holy moly.

Looks like I'll use my roommates PC until Garmin becomes Apple compatible sometime this year. I hope they stick to that plan....

Originally Posted by slippy

I don't know what this means.

is your mac a G4-based, motorola chipped model (iBook, etc), or is it a newer Intel-based MacBook? Or, is it the G5 tower, or Mac Pro?

dude you've gotta know current macs can run win xp

Yes, GPS software is not Mac friendly. I can only use National Geo TOPO. I have heard Garmin was going to try to be Mac friendly, but with the new dual Intels that run Windows, they probably aren't rushing that.

That said, I want a new Garmin Edge and a new IMac next month for my birthday....last....November. Please.

Slightly off topic but relevant -

In my past life I used garmon gps' for geological mapping in the Australian out-back. Sometimes if we were on the side of a large hill that reduced the size of the sky we wouldn't be able to pick up enough satellites to get a position. Even a dense tree canopy seemed to cunt things up.

I'm not sure if I'm telling you something you know already - I suspect in the US there's more sats available - but if you're heading to other parts of the world make sure you test them before you need them. They may not be the fail safe tool you're hoping for.

Different times of the day effected things to.

(for reference this was 2002/03)

Garmin are pretty much the standard right now.

Buy one and carry on.

edit: gps software support for macs is fucking atrocious. can't help you on that front.

I've got the Garmin GS60csx and a Mac, so have some of the same issues. My real problem is that the batteries go down faster than a French prizefighter. Otherwise it's a nice toy.

I'm taking it to the Alps next week to see if I find it more useful than just a toy to track my vertical, average speeds, etc. If not, I will probably return it to REI.

Another issue I have discovered - most of the published Colorado hut coordinates do NOT match what I find in the field. In other words, if I punched in the published coords and navigated to them I would've missed the hut by 1/4 to 1/2 mile each time. Not the GPS' fault, I know, but the tool is only as good as the data you rely upon.

Originally Posted by JoeStrummer

I've got the Garmin GS60csx and a Mac, so have some of the same issues. My real problem is that the batteries go down faster than a French prizefighter. Otherwise it's a nice toy.

When I bought my GS60csx the guy in the GPS shop advised me to buy better longer life batteries. He said the ones that came with it wouldn't last longer than Roo's car insurance no-claims bonus.

In a european test the newest version of the GS60 had clearly the best reception, I very rarely lose reception even in the trees.

Originally Posted by JoeStrummer

Another issue I have discovered - most of the published Colorado hut coordinates do NOT match what I find in the field. In other words, if I punched in the published coords and navigated to them I would've missed the hut by 1/4 to 1/2 mile each time. Not the GPS' fault, I know, but the tool is only as good as the data you rely upon.

Different maps (and GPSs) use different coordinate systems.

All maps have a coordinate system.
A coordinate system consists of a datum (NAD27, NAD83, WGS84 etc) and a projection (Lat/Long, UTM etc).

Every point on the earth can be desribed by coordinates (a set of two numbers). For UTM projections the coordinate is expressed in meters (East and North). For Latitude and longitude projections the coordinate is expressed in degrees/minutes/seconds (DEGMINSEC). GPS units have the ability to show you your location in either degrees or meters. There is only one Lat/Long coordinate system for the entire earth but there are 60 UTM systems - refered to as UTM zones. There are five UTM zones in BC (7,8,9,10,11). Your GPS will have the ability to automatically detect which zone your are in.

When you travel in the backcountry with a GPS you should also have a govt. topo map for that area (a GPS is not a substitute for a map, it is to be used used in conjunction with one). Every govt. paper map will clearly state the coordinate system on the bottom of the map. All Canadian govt. topo maps are produced in UTM projection (UTM = Universal Transverse Mercator) with either the NAD83 or NAD27 datum. This is often expressed as one piece of information (ie. UTM NAD83, or UTM NAD27).
What you need to do is determine the coordinate sytem used for the map that you have and then set the GPS to the same coordinate system. E.g., if your map says "Universal Transverse Mercator NAD83 zone 10", you would set your GPS to UTM NAD83. Zone 10 would be detected automatically (this is probably what "U 10" means on your unit).

When set to UTM, your GPS will show you a coordinate that looks something like this.

491030E, 5458990N

The East value is specific to the zone that you are in, the north value is your distance from the equator, in meters.

Your map will also have a square UTM grid across it, with meters-north shown on the sides and meters-east shown on the top and bottom. Your location on the map is the point that matches the GPS coordinate (just like playing Battleship). Govt topo maps don't have Latitude/Longitude grid lines on them, so you are better off using UTM when trying to locate yourself on a map.

An important thing to note here is that a location on the earth (or map) will have a different coordinate for each coordinate system. For example, the GPS will show a different coordinate for UTM NAD27 than it will for UTM NAD83, for the same location. This also applies to Lat/Long projections, not just UTM. If you don't set the coordinate system correctly you could easily be more than 200 metres away from where you think you are. This is why YOU MUST SET YOUR GPS COORDINATE SYSTEM TO MATCH THE COORDINATE SYSTEM OF YOUR MAP OR ELSE YOU WILL INCORRECTLY DETERMINE YOUR LOCATION! When someone gives you "GPS" coordinates for a location you should always ask them which coordinate system they were using. Sadly, this information is often neglected on hiking sites.

The 60CSx is the best civilian handheld unit that I can think of.

Originally Posted by Yeti

The 60CSx is the best civilian handheld unit that I can think of.

i agree, i use it for everything. Spend the 100 bucks and get the city navigator map if you want to use it while driving. the worst thing about garmin is the base map. the base maps are weak.

for resort skiing, check out www.mountaindynamics.com

Originally Posted by jerr

Slightly off topic but relevant -

In my past life I used garmon gps' for geological mapping in the Australian out-back. Sometimes if we were on the side of a large hill that reduced the size of the sky we wouldn't be able to pick up enough satellites to get a position. Even a dense tree canopy seemed to cunt things up.

I'm not sure if I'm telling you something you know already - I suspect in the US there's more sats available - but if you're heading to other parts of the world make sure you test them before you need them. They may not be the fail safe tool you're hoping for.

Different times of the day effected things to.

(for reference this was 2002/03)

My Garmin still gets screwed up in the New England mountains if there is a block to the southerly exposure from trees or just the side of the hill....

Here's my question - of these handhelds, they're equally valuable in the woods as they are in, say, a big city? I was in Prague a few months back, and when we parked the car we made the mistake of not immediately noting exactly where we were parked, instead using locations like churches and Pilsner Urquell/Budweiser bar signs as landmarks...except yeah those are EVERYWHERE in Prague. Would have been much better to just have been able to mark the car as a waypoint, wander away, and then make a beeline back - the streets wind and meander, and you can't tell where you're going. Took us like 3 hours to find the car.

Anyway, I'd like a handheld I can use in the woods/survival situations, as well as cities - I don't want one of those bulky car units. Plus it'd be nice if it works world-wide.

I just picked up a legend CX for 225.00 loaded with Mapsource for my area, it's battery life was pretty good. I may be able to get someone the same hookup w/o the Map source basemaps

I have an older version, the 60CS (not CSx). One thing that a Garmin rep told me about the 60CSx: do not use lithium batteries in it. For some reason they do not work well in the CSx; stick to alkaline.

Originally Posted by Jay's Dip Powcher

My Garmin still gets screwed up in the New England mountains if there is a block to the southerly exposure from trees or just the side of the hill....

2nded

I've got a vista and while its great little tool, I never actually count on reliably being able to grab a signal in the trees.

The 60CSx is equipped with a new generation of processor that is supposed to be able to hole a lock in much more challenging conditions than previous models.

Also a 60CSx user here. Love the device, so snappy for reception. Also like the removable memory card.

As far as topo software for a Mac...you might be boned. Apparently, back in 2006 you should of been able to get your mitts on some GPS software from Garmin: http://www8.garmin.com/pressroom/cor...006.html...but obviously, you've seen how that turned out.

The only thing I can think of is installing virtual computing software (like VMWare) and installing a Windows OS to run Garmin's MapSource software. A lot of work, but that's all I got.

For making and transfering waypoints (say, for Geocaching), I'm sure you can find some freeware to do this, or you can buy a subscription to Google Earth, which is the best waypoint manager there is: super easy to use and has tons of cool features. It's $20. Good luck!

CO garmin users lookie here: http://www.abovethetimber.com/Features.htm

WAY better than mapsource 1:100,000 topo lines, the 1:24,000 is the shit, now if they only did more states...

Originally Posted by laseranimal

I've got a vista and while its great little tool, I never actually count on reliably being able to grab a signal in the trees.

That situation changed completely with the SiRF III chipset that Garmin put in the 60Cx/CSx models -- this past season I never lost a signal anywhere in New England (or out west on Rainier, Adams, Baker) for more than a few brief moments. (Even reception indoors is spookily effective -- works in my basement ski room, which doesn't have any windows!) Garmin is also now upgrading their less-expensive models with a chipset from a competing company that is touted as offering comparable reception. Ditto for the recently announced Triton line from Magellan (which can display National Geographic Topo maps).

Originally Posted by Jumper Bones

Here's my question - of these handhelds, they're equally valuable in the woods as they are in, say, a big city?

With proper maps and the ability to get good reception...

I've been investigating buying a bluetooth GPS Receiver (~$70) and using it with my phone for driving/directions. It could also be used with a computer then for a bigger screen and driving directions.

I've heard mixed reviews of doing things that way though