i have a garmin etrex and it works ok, i wouldn't be without it, but i get alot of bad signals need clear view of sky, my question is do the more expensive models have the same problem in pines, and when the leaves are still on. i dont want to spend the extra 200 on a better model if im gonna get the same results. i live in Pa. and others tell me its a problem they have too but usually only in Pa. for some reason Pa. doesn't like the sats. let me know what you use and how well it works for you.

I wonder the same thing about my 5 year old Magellan 320. Does WAAS help with satellite aquisition? I guess a side by side test is the only way to really find out.

Could the tin foil I line my hats(to keep the bad satellites from reading my thoughts) with disturb the good satellites?

UR

I do not have the experience with a wide variety of GPS units. However, I do know that different models/brands utilize different antenna configurations which do aid with acquisition and retention of satelite signals. Under thick cover though, like a pine tree grove, I am sure that just about all of the units experience some signal loss.

I have a Magellan Sportrack Map which I bought last year. It has worked as well as I expected it to in that time period though I do know I experience some signal loss when in areas of dense foliage.

Hope this helps.

Luckily I have had hands on experience with probably every gps handheld unit out there. I use and test different units almost daily. And in my opinion Garmin GPS's are the best quality made units out there. The sattelites in PA will be the same as anywhere else in the world since they all use the same sattelites. The only different in Aquisition may be the terrain you are in. WAAS won't help with sattelite acquisition, but it is only a ground tracking device that helps the sattelites become more accurate through atmospheric error corrections.