GPS Units

[PeteS]

I've been sceptical of GPS units for years but recently have had a couple of occasions where one would have been quite useful. Have a bit of cash coming my way in a couple of weeks and thought one would make a useful aquisition.

So far I've narrowed my search down to the following:

Satmap Active 10
Garmin GPS Map 62s
Garmin eTrex 30

My preference would be for the Satmap but I find the price of the maps off-putting. I'm sure I'll need quite a few 1-25000 but a £40+ each that's soon going to mount up.

Any advice on these models (or recommendations for others) would be greatly appreciated.

[overthecrowroad]

Don't know about the other two but I bought an etrex 30 a couple of months ago. Can't say I that impressed with it. Although it's improving with updates the firmware is still buggy. It still freezes occasionally and requires the removal of batteries to get it to work again. It's main failing is that it is a mapping gps but scrolling through the map is slow to the point that I end up shouting at it (normally reserved only for computers). The compass works but needs recalibrating almost every time that it's switched on. There are other annoying features like the saved track list not being in any sensible order so it is difficult to locate a track. On the plus side the batteries last for ages, the satellite acquisition is fast and the satellite lock is excellent.

[PeteS]

Don't know about the other two but I bought an etrex 30 a couple of months ago. Can't say I that impressed with it. Although it's improving with updates the firmware is still buggy. It still freezes occasionally and requires the removal of batteries to get it to work again. It's main failing is that it is a mapping gps but scrolling through the map is slow to the point that I end up shouting at it (normally reserved only for computers). The compass works but needs recalibrating almost every time that it's switched on. There are other annoying features like the saved track list not being in any sensible order so it is difficult to locate a track. On the plus side the batteries last for ages, the satellite acquisition is fast and the satellite lock is excellent.

Not sounding that great then! Thanks for the advice anyway.

[Martyn P]

Not sounding that great then! Thanks for the advice anyway.

I've got an eTrex 30 as well. Have to say that I haven't experienced it freezing yet, but there's time. I concur that scrolling through can be slow and the screen is slow to update, but once underway the refresh rate is just fine and I like it. There's not many GPS units out there as small as this one with the specification .... also concur that acquisition is very fast and it's never (yet) lost lock. There are probably plenty of annoying features such as the track list not being in order (I'd noticed that one too) but I haven't found them yet .... I'd say the eTrex 30 is still worth a punt.

Martyn

[Martyn P]

I've got an eTrex 30 as well. Have to say that I haven't experienced it freezing yet, but there's time. I concur that scrolling through can be slow and the screen is slow to update, but once underway the refresh rate is just fine and I like it. There's not many GPS units out there as small as this one with the specification .... also concur that acquisition is very fast and it's never (yet) lost lock. There are probably plenty of annoying features such as the track list not being in order (I'd noticed that one too) but I haven't found them yet .... I'd say the eTrex 30 is still worth a punt.

Martyn

p.s. I forgot to mention - mapping costs 20 quid per 600 sq/km. Not exactly cheap, you have to be careful how you buy it ....

[PeteS]

Cheers Martyn,
Had a google around last night and there were a few other reviewers reporting similar issues as first posted even after various firmware updates. Perhaps you just got lucky!
There are quite a few positive review for the GPS Map 62 though..... going to have a look at one after work tonight.

p.s. I forgot to mention - mapping costs 20 quid per 600 sq/km. Not exactly cheap, you have to be careful how you buy it ....

I'll bare that in mind though I think this still compares quite favourably to Satmap.
I was on Cannock Chase on Sunday morning trying to find all of the trig points which sort of prompted this post. A quick bing map suggests 100sq/km would have covered that. Do you need to use all 600 in one shot or can you pick and choose different areas?