GPS Units
 

I am hoping to get some advice for a GPS unit.

Anyone have experiance on what works well and what is a good unit? I will be using it primarily for hunting and marking stands, scouting, etc.

Thanks in advance for all the help!

RE: GPS Units
 

bearshooter, if you click on search, type in gps, change the finds from one month to one year at the bottem of the search you will find many topics on this subject. hope this helps.

RE: GPS Units
 

I have had relatively good experiences with the Magellan Sportrak Map model. I have had it for about a year and a half now and have found it relatively easy to use and very reliable. You can usually get a package deal on them, with the mapping software and travel kit for around $300 if memory serves me.

RE: GPS Units
 

I would only buy a Garmin, I have had several (keep upgrading) & have been very happy with each one I have owned. I currently have the Garmin 76 & use it as a back up offshore & in the woods. I'm very hard on a GPS & a Garmin will not let you down.

RE: GPS Units
 

The government supplied me with a Garmin unit for general navigation and surveying. I really liked the unit. It had decent battery life, was very accurate, and had loads of features. I think it was a GPS Map 76.

RE: GPS Units
 

I used about every handheld GPS unit out on the market today. Garmin is still inhead of the rest by leaps and bounds. They back their products 100%.

RE: GPS Units
 

Bearshooter,
I'd have to go with Garmin, as others have suggested. I fish commercially in the northeast and rely on gps every time I'm out on the water. I have used many GPS units from different manufacturers and have found Garmin to be my personal favorite. I just purchased a Garmin 60C for an upcoming elk hunt in Montana. I haven't used it yet so I can't tell you much about it. I also own two other handheld gps untis from garmin and they are both good performers. I own quite a few fixed mount gps units, two in each boat, and I've only had a problem with one, I sent it back to Garmin and, no questions asked, they fixed it and had it back in no time. Hope this helps.

RE: GPS Units
 

What would be the minimum unit(model and costwise) that would serve a person well? I am talking about using one rarely except for a week in Colorado this fall.

RE: GPS Units
 

I think I spent about 279 for my Garmin Etrex Vista about a year ago, I find myself using it more than I thought I ever would

RE: GPS Units
 

Cougar, if all you were needing is a navigation device that will get you from point A to Point B, with compass, distance and other various computations, something as simple as the Garmin Etrex(yellow) will get the job done. Under a $100 retail. The fancy mapping units are cool(like 60C, Etrex Legend, Etrex Vista, etc), but when your lost, both will get you back basically the same way.

RE: GPS Units
 

One feature that is really nice to be able to download waypoints to the GPS unit. Try a Garmin Legend (about $160). You also also send Topo maps or Bluewater charts to it too.

RE: GPS Units
 

I have a Garmin Etrex Vista that has been very reliable and works great.

RE: GPS Units
 

I have an Etrex Legend. Paid $150. It has more features than the basic model, not as many as the high end units, but definitely some bells and whistles worth having. The built in maps are nice for general reference though they are not detailed. You can download more detailed maps if you buy the CDs, but I haven't had the need to. Overall, its a great little unit.

RE: GPS Units
 

I'm using a Garmin GSMAP 76CS (color, lots of memory for maps, auto routing). Having a color display is a great improvement in these things.

RE: GPS Units
 

i bought my garmin etrex vista brand new on ebay for about $120

RE: GPS Units
 

I've been using a Garmin in one form or another since GPS was released for civilian use. I've tried others, but always come back to the Garmin's. Useing a GPS hunting will change the way you hunt, IF you get a good one you can trust. Saying you only need it for Colorado is like saying you only need heat in the winter, put in a cheap furnace. Colorado is big country that can take your life if you're not careful. Don't buy the cheapest unit you can and learn to use it before you go. And ALWAYS carry a compass and map as a backup! I'm speaking from experience.

RE: GPS Units
 

Garmin!
I have a Garmin Legend that I love. User friendly, nice features, and Garmins customer service is great -- my screen had issues, called customer service and they said send it in even though I didnt have the receipt. I got a new unit in a couple weeks -- and they even put my old waypoints on the new unit!
Only problem is satellite reception in the woods is not the best, but didnt expect it to be.

RE: GPS Units
 

I use a Garmin Etrex Summit it gives you an instant bearing (arrow pointer points you directly to your waypoint)while standing still once locked on to the Sat. Same thing withe the built in compass. Their lesser model and that goes for other brands out there (the yellow one) for about $99 gave me problems the first time i used it while hunting it took awhile to get a good bearing and or compass heading i was having to walk a ways before everything would get orientated so i exchanged it for their better model.

RE: GPS Units
 

I love my Garmin Legend, however the Vista has some awesome features that the Legend does not. Stick with a Garmin!

RE: GPS Units
 

I'd buy a Garmin - they support the devices long after the sale has taken place. Things I look for in one is the ability to load maps and color. Color adds a lot to these devices. A few that you might want to look at are the ETREX-Legend C, ETREX Vista C, 60C and 60CS and if you want to load a LOT of maps the GPS MAP 76C.

RE: GPS Units
 

I use mine everyday. The key is keep it simple. You don't want to carry the info book with you. I went and purchased five a couple of years ago, and tried them all. The simplest and cheapest(under $100) is Garmin E-trex. I took the others back w/ receipt very important. I kept the E-Trex and it has been with me in Alaska bear hunt (self-guided) to the Washington Canyon offshore 70 miles as a back up. I will do what you need. It will never replace a compass and good map skills. Lots of people think they can buy a gps and they are Lewis and Clark. I bought one for my son(10) just like mine and he can use it fine. I take him out, let him get lost and make him use map, compass and gps. If he starts using the gps more, I shut it off. He will thank me someday.

Till our trails cross,
Ryan

RE: GPS Units
 

I have two Garmins,a 12xl and a 76.I am extremely pleased with them and their customer service is great!

RE: GPS Units
 

No Way Garmin! I have only owned one GPS, A Garbage Garmin. Hey it let me down on a mulie hunt in Co. and it's STILL LOST. It can't find itself. When I called Garmin they told me it would be min. charge $75. The unit was about 2 years old when it could no longer find itself. NO advice from Garmin technician but I did receive several ideas from the folks here. It still doesn't know where it is. Thats my experience.:eek: