anybody using GPS systems????
 

thinking about getting one mostly for fishing...but if i get one id use it for marking stuff whilescouting/hunting too.

is a Mapping GPS worth the price hike over non mapping???

im having a hard time finding good reliable info on GPS models and detailed reviews...information is not very consistant, one guy says he loves model x while, the next guy says it stinks. and alot of the Models i can find info on are 2-3 years old.....

it seems like the technology in them is kindof behind the times while the price is way high IMO....should i wait till they advance moreto buy???


any help from someone with experience is apreciated.....

RE: anybody using GPS systems????
 

I use a GPS for lots of stuff but mainly hunting related.

Scouting - Mark sign, trails, stand sites, possible stand sites and anything else that might help.

Hunting - I tell it to take me to the stand site I want to go to. You can make a route if you want to go a specific way. It gets me there very fast even in the dark. I can stay until dark, even if I am way back 1/2 to 1 mile. I tell it to take me to where I am parked and follow the arrow. Very fast and not much fumbling around in the dark.

In-Season Scouting - I mark all of the sign I see during hunting season so it kind of keeps me up-to-date on new movement patterns and such.

I currently have two different ones but if I only had one I would recommend the Garmin 60CSX. I would also recommend some good mapping software like DeLorme Topo USA.

http://gpsinformation.net/

http://www.maps-gps-info.com/gp.html

http://www.gpsy.com/gpsinfo/

RE: anybody using GPS systems????
 

if im walking oron an ATV, or boat and moving can/will a GPS track my movement..... and draw a line on the mapthat tells me were ive been or would i have to manually plot my points and connect the dots???
(like if i wanted to plot deer trails in the woods....or a Channel throu a stumpfield in the backwaters ofthe mississippiriver.)

hopfully myquestion makes sense.:)

RE: anybody using GPS systems????
 

The better ones will do that. The Garmin I mentioned will easily do that. I do that all the time. When I find deer trails while scouting I turn on the track and follow the trail. Then I upload those tracks to my mapping software. Great for seeing patterns. You can save those tracks on your GPS and then have it follow the track every time you want to go back to that spot.

Another good GPS is the DeLorme PN-40.

RE: anybody using GPS systems????
 

so i would want a mapping gps...i think?

Can you Print the Maps out with the mapping software....and is it something that would be to scale....where i could say transferpoints to a Corps of Engineers map....or a County TOPO map or is the mapping software just as detailed as a good detailed paper Map??

isthe softwaresomething that you can load into your GPS or do you have to hook your GPS to a computer and use the computer to get the mapping benifits??

How much does Mapping software cost????
do the GPS's have proprietary Mapping software??? like Garmin has to use Brand X mapping.....while Lowrance uses brand Z...?????

im asking alot of questions ...thanks for any answers.
its hard for me to understand reading about GPS's with out having any personal experiences with one....ive never even seen one being used.

RE: anybody using GPS systems????
 

The best mapping software, IMO, is DeLorme Topo USA. With that you still have to download the usgs 1:24,000 topos as all it comes with, like most mapping software are the 1:100,000 topos. The DeLorme PN-40 allows you to put the 1:24,000 topos on it along with color/BW aerials and satellite pics. You can print the DeLorme maps in any of the formats mentioned and you can print them with your trails and waypoints plus any other draw features you may want to put on there. The 1:24,000 topo DeLorme maps are as good any I have seen.

Garmin uses their map software, Mapsource, but you can't get the 1:24,000 topos with it. But you can transfer waypoints and trails from the garmin to delorme topo usa and then, using the maps and the gps together works pretty well.

Go to the websites I gave you and do some reading. That will help also.

http://www.delorme.com/

RE: anybody using GPS systems????
 

thanks for the help.

Ill take a better look at the other links in the next couple days.
ive never heard of Delorme....looks like they are on the ball.

i just know that if i went to the store id be buying blind or at the mercy of a store salesman. so im trying to learn what i can about it before i buy.
i'll probably be asking more questioins soon

to me the quickest way to learn is direct conversation with someone who has experience in the matter. thanks again.

RE: anybody using GPS systems????
 

also why the discrepancy in price???
$245 at walmart (wich i dont like walmart atall)
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10759794&findingMethod=r r

compared to $399 and $439 at the delorme sight it says something about a bundle??? but either way thats a big difference from $245 to $399
http://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/DELibeCCtpSctDspRte.jsp?section=10461&minisite =10020

RE: anybody using GPS systems????
 

I use a Garmin 60CSX for hunting as well as ATV riding....its a true blessing with a ton of options...easy to use.

RE: anybody using GPS systems????
 

I like my DeLorme Earthmate PN-20 however the the newer PN-40 does come with a little more stuff. Both you can down load NOAA nautical maps for some of the bigger lakes. DeLorme has depth maps for most lakes so it probally will not be long before those are added to the collection. I just happen to like the Delormes better for my usage that's all..