OK, this isn't an ATV question, but you guys have given good advice all along. We're planning a trip to West Virginia (Hatfield-McCoy) next month and people I've talked to say I should get a handheld GPS unit. I tried one (Magellan explorist 300) last week on a 25 acre farm. When I stopped to look at how it was tracking, the detail looked like my 3yr old just colored all over the screen. I realize they're not going to have trail details on them, but it would have taken me hours to get home if I followed each waypoint. So, in a big park like W. VA (500 miles), will a GPS be easier to follow then in a small 25 acre farm? Any recommendations on a better GPS unit? Any info you can provide is appreciated as the website (Bass Pro Shops, Gander Mtn.) make it sound like they all work perfect which I know isn't the case. Thanks!

 

when i bought my truck brand new they gave me a 400 dollar garmin V gps and it works very well and is easy to use. i can get the upgraded software and pull it off my computer onto my gps as well. the only thing i have to complain about is that it is black and white i wish it was color cause when i am outside in the sunlight sometimes it is hard to read my tracks specially when i am on the lake cause that is represented in a darker color.

 

I went with the Garmin 120 GPS/GMRS Radios. You can blow up the detail on the screen to see things better and it has a return feature the shows you when and which direction to turn to get back to your start point. The radio function will transmit your location to other Garmin GPS/GMRS units and vise-a-versa so you can find the other guy or him you. Plus there are sunrise and sunset tables, best hunting times, moon rise and set times and other sundry programs, and games if you get boarded.

 

A few years ago I bouth the Garmin Etrex Yellow GPS - it is about as basic as you can get and only about $75. I used it in Alaska when we lived there all the time. It had every feature I needed, waypoints, compus, sunrise/sunset tables, speed and distance info, etc. It doesn't hook up to your computer or store any maps in it though, but I don't need that stuff.

SO, I think any cheap GPS will do you good out there. If you are lost it will at least tell you what direction you will have to head to get back. Good luck. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

I do not have a GPS but a friend of mine came over one day and had a unit that was able to be connected to a pc. We went out riding in the mountains and of course DID get lost, about 40 miles into the ride. He was able to zoom in on his gps and make sence of the lines. BUT the best part was when we got home he connected his laptop up to my highspeed internet and logged into google earth. He was able to upload the gps file and overlay it on to a color map of the mountains by my house. We were able to see where we went wrong and where we should have gone. Very intresting as our map showed all the logging roads and we were able to zoom in on google earth to be able to see the trees, heck even seen our house. This also depends on how current your satelite picture is. I know not what your asking but something fun for when you do get a GPS.

 

The Garmin 120 and 520 series GPS/GMRS Radios can download all kinds of maps from your PC. It will even let you choose just a portion of a map to download so you get a much better detailed map on you little screen. Pretty much any of the newer ones that have a PC program allow this kind of thing.

 

I bought the Garmin Vista C. I like the color, but it's significantly more expensive than black and white. Think I paid about $270. Battery life is good - 2xAA lasts about 22 hours. It does have a handy option - the handle bar mount ($12), although I had to fabricate, using a piece of 1/2" copper pipe, a place to mount it on my 650 as mounting space is scarce. Once there the GPS can be securely and quickly snapped on or off. One thing I believe most people would wish for - certainly I do - a larger screen. I'd be willing to forgo several features for a larger screen.

I also bought the U.S. topos and load them to the area I'm riding. That is almost a "must have." The topos are taken from standard Forest Service maps. About $130 as I recall. Excellent, with lots of local interest items.

Weez. Don't worry about a color screen. When moving, they are not much better to see than the B&W and there is still a lot of glare. If GPS mfgr's would change the texture of the screen itself to reduce glare, well, that would be a very good thing. Office Depot sells a stick on cover specifically for color PDAs (they also make one for B&W - they are different) that is suppose to help, but I haven't used it yet.

Bear. Question. Is the location data link between radio GPS units automatic at some predetermined time interval, or must you manually send a location request IOT update?

One thing to remember - at least with Garmin models. Just because you bought it today don't think you have the most current OS. I had some glitches when I first bought mine and couldn't figure out what was going on. Called Garmin (their customer service is a long wait, but very helpful) only to find out I had OS 2.1 and they were using 2.6. Once downloaded the problems went away.

 

I have a magellan and it works great for me. (explorist 300)

 

I use a Garmin Rino 530 which has way more bells and whistles than most will use. The FRS/GMRS radio is handy, so if you have friends with the cheapy FRS radios you can talk to them during trail rides, camps etc. Garmin is what I use in my work as an Emergency Manager, it is very tough and the maps are ground, marine, and air comp. It is really good to be able connect GPS device to PC for alot of reasons. I just used mine with Google Earth also, It was great to be able to overview your tracks and plan future rides. THE REST OF STORY- Read and use the device before you really depend on it!!! If not you will use the worst four letter word of all- "LOST" ha ha The Garmin Rino 120/130 series is avail. at wal-mart for less than 200.00 It is very good.

 

JetSkiBiker,
This is totally off topic and if anyone is offended I sorry, but I've just GOT to ask you a couple of questions. I see you are in Leesville, LA. I was drafted in the 60s and spend the better part of a year at Ft Polk, or as we called it, Ft Puke. I have to know, is Jim's Lounge and Resturant still there? Another thing that always cracked me up was the big welcome sign on the north side of De Ridder. On the top of that sign was another, smaller sign that said, "De Litter De Ritter." Is that one still there? Still cracks me up to think about it.

FYI, go to your libary archives. In the June 1965 (4?) issue of Esquire Magazine there is a long article on Leesville. Not too flattering, but funny. It's worth the research to find it. PM me if you desire to take this off line.