Folks:
I've been looking for a good excuse to buy a GPS unit and just found it! (your Web site) My impression is that, as with other electronics, prices are coming down and features are increasing.

I would appreciate any recommendations as to the best reasonably priced unit for a "newbie" to buy. I don't feel I'd want a lot to fancy "bells & whistles" but I'd want to be able to use it with my Topo map software.

Any thoughts or guidance would be greatly appreciated!

Y'all Come See Us in Amicalola!
http://www.amicalola.info

Dave
Amicalola Web Guy

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Dave Rosselle:
I would appreciate any recommendations as to the best reasonably priced unit for a "newbie" to buy. I don't feel I'd want a lot to fancy "bells & whistles" but I'd want to be able to use it with my Topo map software.


My suggestion would be start out with a Garmin Etrex. You can get a serial cable for it that will allow it to interface with a variety of software. I have used it extensively with Street Atlas and Easy GPS. I think I used it with Topo, but can't recall if I got Topo before or after I upgraded to my Magellan Meridian.

Anyway, the Garmin Etrex is a good model, low price tag and extreemly capable. I did at least 100 caches with mine.

And if you get tired of Amicalola, just come on up to the Blue Ridge area and tackle some of our caches up here.

You're probably going to hear all sorts of different opinions, and you'll find that there are two camps. The two major camps are the Garmin users and the Magellan users. I personally fall into the Garmin camp.

I went out and bought a Garmin initially. I initially got a Garmin eTrex Venture. I found that the Venture didn't really help, as I wanted the basemap that I could get in the Garmin eTrex Legend. I have found my Gamin to be easy to use, easy to read, and overall good stuff. I do, however, wish that I could get a larger screen for my GPSr.

Personally, I would recommend the Garmin eTrex Legend, if you are planning on using it for Geocaching.

Well asking which GPS is best, is like asking which car is best. It depends on what you will do with it. If you just want to geocache, the a Basic GPS with no maps will work. Me, I got my GPS before geocaching and wanted a mapping unit. I used it on trips and hikes. As for brand, both Magellan and Garmin will get you there, but some like the features of one over the other (just like Ford vs Chevy). I have a garmin GPS V I like the fact I can just plug a point in and it will tell me how to drive there.

As for connecting to your Topo software, almost all units can be connected into the computer and the software can exchange waypoints, routes and tracks. I use Delorne Topo USA myself. Here is log where I include a "picture" of the track made by Topo USA


But the only way to get a map into the GPS unit itself is to buy mapping software made by the GPS company.

I just noticed that Joe Mehaffrey, Jack Yeazel and Dale DePriest's GPS Information has a web page Which GPS should I buy?

I agree with the other folx who've already spoke up. I favor Garmin (explicitly, I favor the Rino), but any will get you there. My Rino 110 was my first one and I spent extra for it, but if you want a good starter unit, the eTrex works great.

One thing about the gpsinformation.net - some of hte info is out of date, so take it with a grain of salt.

One thing you haven't mentioned - what dollar range are you targeting? $75? $100? $200? Or do you have deep pockets and can afford [coughcoughAllanLacy] a GPS V?

Just remember if you want a mapping GPS you have to consider everything that comes with a GPS V, that you have to buy with other Garmins. The V comes with mapping software, a 12-volt adapter cable so you can power it from the cigarette lighter. Back on Oct 23 I compared the amazon.com prices:

GPS V $374.99
eTrex Vista $269.99, map software $73.09 and power cord $28.44 or $371.52

And remember the V with it's mapping software will do door to door (or door to geocache) routing, the eTrex Vista will not.


Now if you don't need or want maps.
You can get the basic yellow eTrex for $97.56
or the Garmin Geko 101 GPS for $91.95. Now the Geko 101 doesn't even support connections to the computer.

Dave,
You should get a Garmin gpsmap 60c. It's mid priced and full of features. Go to pricegrabber.com and do a search. I've seen one for $355. eBay has them too. All over this price though. Check it out. You'll love the 60c!