Which is best GPS?

Didn't want to hijack Tinymans thread but leading on which GPS would anyone recommend?

I have started doing more stuff on my own up in the Lakes & whilst not too bad with a map & compass I would like the security of a GPS as backup. Main use would be for double checking a grid reference in poor vis. Making sure i'm where I think I am. Once sure of my location I would probably pace my way out on a compass bearing.

I've started to look a few times but i'm not right into gadgets & it all looks v confusing :confused:

I was looking at the same thing for the same reasons and this is the one that keeps getting recommned - looks like it's the budget choice:

Garmin eTrex H

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Originally Posted by Tea & cake

Didn't want to hijack Tinymans thread but leading on which GPS would anyone recommend?

I have started doing more stuff on my own up in the Lakes & whilst not too bad with a map & compass I would like the security of a GPS as backup. Main use would be for double checking a grid reference in poor vis. Making sure i'm where I think I am. Once sure of my location I would probably pace my way out on a compass bearing.

I've started to look a few times but i'm not right into gadgets & it all looks v confusing :confused:

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I guess it depends what you want to do with it.

If you just want your location then buy the cheapest and you won't go far wrong.

I use my for MR work as well as a back up in my pack. If you want to be able to download route etc. if you want it to do more then spend as much as you can afford

Mine also hads mapping software which means you can use it to see the lay of the land quite quickly.

Etrex Venture HC

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Originally Posted by IanDarkpeak

I guess it depends what you want to do with it.

If you just want your location then buy the cheapest and you won't go far wrong.

I use my for MR work as well as a back up in my pack. If you want to be able to download route etc. if you want it to do more then spend as much as you can afford

Mine also hads mapping software which means you can use it to see the lay of the land quite quickly.

Etrex Venture HC

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Or get an etrex legend HCX

Cheaper, 25 hours battery life and you can install your own memory (1GB sd cards are about £3) :)

Thanks for the info. Had a quick look at both. After talking to a few folk i'm tempted to go for a slightly better one. Will have a good look at yours IDP, price didn't look too bad to me.

I've already got memory map 1:25 for the Lakes on my PC, do you know if I would be able to load that onto it? Sorry for the dumb questions, not very technically minded

Thanks :)

Thanks Baggins, will have a look at that one too :)

No need to worry about hijacking my thread T+C. I backed off when the flak started flying about the principles and ethics of the whole GPS question. Be careful - it's a minefield out there!:confused:

As I've said on several threads in the last few months - if you want a GPS to give you an OS Grid Ref be careful which one you buy.

The 205/305 doesn't, for example, and I've just (quickly, mind!) checked the spec on the Etrex H and it doesn't say that it does (but as I said, I checked it quickly....).

Worth bearing in mind.

Just re-read the thread - on many of the units you cannot load maps (ie memory map) onto the unit itself, so another reason to work out what you want and understand what you're buying.

fb

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Originally Posted by Fat Bloke

As I've said on several threads in the last few months - if you want a GPS to give you an OS Grid Ref be careful which one you buy.

The 205/305 doesn't, for example, and I've just (quickly, mind!) checked the spec on the Etrex H and it doesn't say that it does (but as I said, I checked it quickly....).

Worth bearing in mind.

Just re-read the thread - on many of the units you cannot load maps (ie memory map) onto the unit itself, so another reason to work out what you want and understand what you're buying.

fb

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It's only the wrist devices that don't do OS GB, all the hand helds do

Some of the wrist devices show GB grid references. Both the Foretrex 201 and the one I'm currently using, the Foretrex 401 will give grid refs. The 401 is good as it runs on AAA batteries, can be used with routes from memory map, can be use with a heart rate monitor and can be used when stationary as it got a magnetic compass. However it won't show pace like the running versions do.

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Originally Posted by Tea & cake

Thanks for the info. Had a quick look at both. After talking to a few folk i'm tempted to go for a slightly better one. Will have a good look at yours IDP, price didn't look too bad to me.

I've already got memory map 1:25 for the Lakes on my PC, do you know if I would be able to load that onto it? Sorry for the dumb questions, not very technically minded

Thanks :)

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You can down loads routes from MM to the Garmin and tracks to MM

The maps on the screen are Garmin Map Source. this will cost you another 100(or so) folding beer vouchers I'm afraid. However you don't need this for the garmin to work

unless you can find a friend local that will let you 'borrow' theres!!

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Originally Posted by IanDarkpeak

It's only the wrist devices that don't do OS GB, all the hand helds do

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Apart from the Forerunner 310XT but the lowest price on that is £228 :eek:

I have a Garmin Oregon 300 and the OS mapping on a mini SD card for all the national parks and I have to say it's fantastic. It gives you a 'you are here' dot on the map and is easy to use. Also gives you cumulative ascent as you go which is a feature i like.

It aint cheap but was a present to myself when i got made redundant and i;ve loved using it, esp at night. I think it will help save a bit of time on my upcoming winter round, and i really do need all the help I can get. It's a foolproof backup for zeroing in on things and is going to be useful if the weather is really poor.

If you're prepared to spend 300 quid, it's a superb bit of kit.

ST

I've got a Garmin Legend HCX, plus the topo maps that I 'found' on the web. One of the best uses I've found is to create bike rides (mainly road) and upload them from Tracklogs to the Garmin and use that to find my way round roads that I'm not familiar with. I've used it on on offroad rides/runs as well, but it's not as easy to follow routes because the Garmin maps aren't very detailed and don't contain many features - paths, bridleways etc... They're good pieces of kit.

ps... I can carry spare batteries as well... ;)

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It's only the wrist devices that don't do OS GB, all the hand helds do

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No probs - I stand corrected. I have a GPS60 that does do OS grid refs; my 305 doesn't and I *thought* (wrongly it appears) that (some of) the cheaper hand-helds didn't.

Serves me right for being pompous about it :D

fb

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Originally Posted by Fat Bloke

No probs - I stand corrected. I have a GPS60 that does do OS grid refs; my 305 doesn't and I *thought* (wrongly it appears) that (some of) the cheaper hand-helds didn't.

Serves me right for being pompous about it :D

fb

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I think it's just away of selling more kit. It's only a software issue so wouldn't add much to the cost of producing but if you could by a watch with OS GRs on for £90-£140 why buy a hand held??

Quote:

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Originally Posted by IanDarkpeak

You can down loads routes from MM to the Garmin and tracks to MM

The maps on the screen are Garmin Map Source. this will cost you another 100(or so) folding beer vouchers I'm afraid. However you don't need this for the garmin to work

unless you can find a friend local that will let you 'borrow' theres!!

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Hmmm, thought that would probably be the case :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Swiss Toni

I have a Garmin Oregon 300 and the OS mapping on a mini SD card for all the national parks and I have to say it's fantastic. It gives you a 'you are here' dot on the map and is easy to use. Also gives you cumulative ascent as you go which is a feature i like.

It aint cheap but was a present to myself when i got made redundant and i;ve loved using it, esp at night. I think it will help save a bit of time on my upcoming winter round, and i really do need all the help I can get. It's a foolproof backup for zeroing in on things and is going to be useful if the weather is really poor.

If you're prepared to spend 300 quid, it's a superb bit of kit.

ST

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Thanks ST. Will have a look at it but might be a bit on the spenny side for what i'm after. That said have just invested in a petzl ultra. Couldn't believe I was spending that much cash on a head torch but what a fantastic bit of kit, loving my night runs now.
Who said running was a cheap sport ;)

Thanks for your thoughts ST. My original thread had a lot to do with using a GPS on unsupported rounds (or those with only road support) - I guess I should have been a bit bolder in asking more directly. :o

What's the line on using a GPS on unsupported rounds? What's acceptable and what's not?
From what ST says it's a great tool to check that e.g. the summit you've arrived at is the summit that is part of the round (I'm thinking of e.g. Pike How on the Joss Naylor). But if you switch the GPS on and you find that you're some distance off the summit you're then using it as a navigation tool - does this cross some kind of 'threshold of acceptability'?

I've never come across anybody, after a round, being openly challenged about whether they visited all of the summits in that round. But as a way of proving to yourself and others that this was, in fact, the case, would logging each summit into the GPS give a bit of assurance? Not to mention some quality information about timings etc.

I know that on a long solo run my mind starts playing all sorts of tricks and self-doubt becomes a real motivational factor despite trying to build that mental resiliency through training. Would the hard info from a GPS offer a bit of support when the mindspeak gets negative?

I'm just interested in what a GPS offers on a long day out, other than pure 'you are here' information.

Reading back over this I think it might be better for me to get some more mates rather than a GPS - I sound like a right sad b***ard:D:eek: