GPS for the pine barrens

[NJSnakeMan]

I look on google earth at several of my snake hunting spots and would like to expand my range of exploration, but safely. I'm considering getting a GPS so i don't get lost in those miles and miles are sand roads. I don't have a lot of money, but does this one look reliable?

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=3496513

Does anybody know what kind of maps it shows? Would i be able to see all the dirt roads on this gps?

thanks,
brandon

 

[Frolickin]

Does anybody know what kind of maps it shows? Would i be able to see all the dirt roads on this gps?

This unit is an entry level GPS. It does not have detailed maps nor does it have connectivity for waypoint management with a computer.

It's a popular unit because of its price. FWIW, Amazon has this unit for much less.

If you are looking for an inexpensive mapping unit with the ability to upload detail maps, I suggest looking for a Magellan Meridian unit. A quick look shows a refurbished unit from Amazon for $130. This too is an older model GPS, however, they are still very popular. In order to upload TOPO maps, you will need proprietary software (Mapsend TOPO). I use one of these units and have for the past four+ years.

If I were buying new today, I would look long and hard at the Garmin 60CSx. It too will require proprietary software and it is not in the same price range as the basic eTrex, but my is it a nice unit!

 

[Boyd]

Unfortunately that's a very basic GPS with a low resolution screen, and it can't display any maps. Here are the spec's on Garmin's site:

http://www.garmin.com/products/etrex/

I'm afraid you'll need a more expensive model if you want maps, and the maps are a separate product which you have to buy and load into the GPS using your computer.

For a map display you would need one of these models:

http://www.garmin.com/outdoor/products.html#mapping

I think the least expensive mapping unit would be the black and white version of the Legend:

http://www.garmin.com/products/etrexLegend/

This model has a pre-loaded "base map" which you probably won't find very useful. It would only have the largest major roads on it, like Rt 70, Rt 206, etc. If you want the little back roads, points of interest (like town names) and topo map details then you have to buy the Topo USA software:

http://shop.garmin.com/accessory.jsp?sku=010-10215-02

You load the MapSource program onto your PC, then select areas of the map that you want to load into your GPS, which are limited by the amount of memory it has. Then you transfer the maps to the GPS using a USB cable. The GPS models with color screens are much nicer, but also a lot more expensive.

Magellan also makes similar units for similar prices. I have the color version of the Legend with the Topo software and I really like it. Before that I had the Magellan software and one of their GPS'es which I wasn't as fond of. When it comes to the topo maps, the Garmin seems to show better contour lines and bodies of water. It has most of the little roads on it but not all of them have names. The Magellan maps have more complete road names, so I guess you need to set some priorities there.

If you look on Garmin's site you can browse through the actual maps to see whether you like them here:

http://www.garmin.com/cgi-bin/mapgen/webmap.cgi?p=6&z=3&w=480&h=360&rz=0&k=1&sc=1

Also see some of these old threads. Unfortunately the images I posted are gone since the gallery software has changed since then.

http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/showthread.php?t=2510
http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/showthread.php?t=1689
http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/showthread.php?t=1206
http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/showthread.php?t=1010

 

[onehand]

i would only recomend one with maping capibility i have two garmins, etrex legend and a 60cs color, i use the legend for kayaking and the 60cs for hiking and US roads and recreation software maping, a garmin product not available any more but....if you know somebody who can burn you a copy, hint, hint, works great in the woods shows old roads and even names them, much better than topo for my use

 

[Teegate]

In the end if you really are short on money and want to buy the yellow eTrex that you mentioned, it is a honest GPS. I had that first and I loved it. As mentioned it does not have a map so you have to decide about that. Always remember if you buy a GPS with a map you have ( will want) to buy the software and that costs much more. With the yellow eTrex you are good to go right out of the box.

Guy

 

[daved]

i have a model similar to that and i have no problems finding things without a map displayed on it. enter in the coords hit go to and follow the arrow it makes it a little more of an adventure finding things without the map feature. they are also pretty accurate too i have found geocaches with it before takes you within like 5 feet of the cache.

 

[Teegate]

i have a model similar to that and i have no problems finding things without a map displayed on it. enter in the coords hit go to and follow the arrow it makes it a little more of an adventure finding things without the map feature. they are also pretty accurate too i have found geocaches with it before takes you within like 5 feet of the cache.

I agree with you on that. My yellow eTrex was much more reliable than my Legend. I think the map takes some of the resources up. I am always annoyed that the Legend's arrow is unresponsive.

Guy

 

[Boyd]

I have the Legend C myself, and I know what you mean. The position marker sometimes seems to lag behind so I think it does tax it to update the map, scroll the screen, etc. Also, if you set tracking so that it records as fast as possible (eg: update every second) you will see some gaps in the track if you zoom way in. Then zoom out and back in again - you'll see that the missing track points are now displayed. I don't think it can update the map as fast as it tracks in realtime.

However, I like my Legend C a lot, and I also like the Garmin maps which look nice in color. So I guess it depends on your priorities. The new version of the color Legend (the Cx) has an SD memory card slot which is a big improvement over the 24 builtin MB in mine. This lets you load more maps, or have separate cards for separate states, etc.

The basic black and white Legend only has 8MB storage for maps. That should be adequate for most day trips I think, but from time to time you would need to load different maps if your travels took you very far. IIRC, I am able to load most of NJ Topo's with adjoining parts of PA and NY in my GPS' 24MB.

I'm sure that Guy and Daved are right about the inexpensive model being useful. But personally I think the maps are cool because you get an idea of where you are in the landscape and what things are nearby which you might not realize otherwise. But of course, you can always bring a paper map for that I guess

 

[NJSnakeMan]

so, with this yellow eTrex.... all you do is get coordinates, punch em in... and an arrow appears pointing you where to go?

besides that, does it come with any other features

and those geocaches, what are they? i found a box hidden under a bridge earlier this year, on the box it said "geocache" and had this little log book with bunch of people's blogs, weird chains and necklaces, dollar bills.

 

[Teegate]

so, with this yellow eTrex.... all you do is get coordinates, punch em in... and an arrow appears pointing you where to go?

besides that, does it come with any other features

and those geocaches, what are they? i found a box hidden under a bridge earlier this year, on the box it said "geocache" and had this little log book with bunch of people's blogs, weird chains and necklaces, dollar bills.

That is about it. It does have a clock, tells you sunrise and sunset, routes, trip odometer, bearing, elevation, trip time, speed, average speed, max speed, heading, etc, and it actually has a map so to speak. The map will show you your waypoints that are entered into it and you can use that in place of the arrow if you want. I tried it and never used it again.

Basically, if that is all you can afford shop around for the best price and you will get an accurate unit. If you can come up with a little more money buy one with a map. But remember, the basic map that comes with it will only show the main roads, and if you want more detail you will have to buy the map software which is close to $100. Don't think you can get away with not buying it because once you see how limited the map they give you is, you will be shelling out the cash for the software. And I believe all but the Topo software has a two GPS code limit so you will have a hard time having someone giving you a copy. Once you step up above the yellow eTrex, you better have the cash or you will be frustrated.

BTW, I don't believe it comes with the cable to connect it to your computer. At least it did not when I bought mine. Maybe that has changed. In any event if it does not you will have to shell out around $30 or so for that.

Guy

 

[long-a-coming]

It does not come with any cables(the etrex) at least the one I have didn't come with any accesories. I have had a great time with mine but I know its limitations. I've got some choice striper spots along the Delaware and several ruins in the pines in there.

 

[Boyd]

According to Garmin's site a cable isn't included with the yellow eTrex and it's a $38 accessory.

http://www.garmin.com/products/etrex/

Package Includes:
eTrex®
Wrist strap
User's guide
Quick reference guide

If you want PC connectivity then I think it makes sense to get the eTrex Legend instead of the yellow eTrex. It only costs about $50 more, stores twice as many waypoints, has the ability to load maps and it includes the data cable. If you don't want the maps then don't buy them, you could always get them later... but you'd be getting a better unit for not much more than the cost of the yellow eTrex plus the data cable:

http://www.garmin.com/products/etrexLegend/

Package Includes:
eTrex Legend
Database:
Marine Point Database
Basemap:
Americas Highway or
Atlantic Highway or
Pacific Highway
PC interface cable
Wrist strap
User's guide
Quick reference guide

BTW, both of these products use an RS-232 serial data cable. Does your PC have a serial port or just USB? If you only have USB then you would need a serial to USB convertor also.

Have you seen the product comparison chart on Garmin's website? It might help you choose the best model: http://www.garmin.com/products/comparison.jsp