What do *you* use your GPS for?
 

Anybody got any good stories where they used their GPS and ATV together? I'm thinking about mounting my GPS on my ATV, wondering what interesting uses people have found.

Thanks

GrayGore

I need a gps to find my gps! LOL! I misplaced my first one, bought a new one, and of course, found the old one. Now I have two, but I couldn't find either of them until a week ago! LOL! I suck at the whole gps thing! When I have one of mine, I use it to find my way back (breadcrumbs are good!). That's only when I get lost and not under a heavy tree canopy, then the gps is worthless. Oh, don't forget fresh batteries, too! LOL!

I went riding a new area 2 weeks ago and fired it up when we left the buddies driveway and we didnt get lost! it worked very well.

mostley i use it in my boat on lake michigan and it has saved my butt in the fog quite a few times 7 to 10 miles out and the fog roll in unless you are very good with a compass you are not finding the harbor.

I use a Lowrance H2O

ive used mine for several things. Before i got one in my truck, i would use my hand held to find gas stations with diesel fuel since not all of them have it. Ive used it to find hotels and restarants also. While atving, we ride a national forest that we know how and where to ride in the northern part,but we have also found where to begin in the southern part of the forest. Knowing we were in the same forest, we wanted to try and ride to the other area and could never find the trails to lead us there. So when we rent riding in the northern part i recorded our trails,then the next time we went,i recorded our trails in the southern part and just kept riding towards the northern trails. Next thing you know ,we found the northern part and rode all day. ive used it to know my altitude while hunting in wyoming and ive used it to check my speed or how many miles ive gone(my bike has 28" tires,so its off a bit). Ive also used it to locate deer stands/areas while in the dark. It even came in handy when going to new lakes and getting out there on the open and unfamiliar waters. If you outdoorsy,its a wonderful tool. Make sure to pack extra batteries!!!

I use mine to go geocaching. Basically finding hidden treasure. You can exchange little trinkets, and sign the logbook, or just sign the logbook. Nice cause it really teaches you to use your GPS in a fun way.

I use mine when driving and riding the quad. I think i use it more on the quad, i ride alot of places where i have been lost and used it to find my way back to camp.

I most often use mine to find my way back to my ATV after a day of Moose hunting in the swamps. After a while the peat swamps and black spruce all start looking the same. I have also used it to mark the location of a kill site to find my way back to while packing out the meat and I share it with my friends who hunt the area so they can stay away from it so they do not have a close encounter of the brown bear kind.

Finding my way and more
 

I use my Garmin Handheld gps for all sorts of things. First of all I use it to find where I am on new trail systems. I also use it to find my way back when cross country riding. I can trace my route back or set my gps to lead me back to my starting location. The thing I use my gps for the most is to track my rides in google earth. You can track your rides and load them in google earth and see the terrain you were riding. You can regenerate maps by setting waypoints. If you bring adigital camera you can also load pictures into google earth along your plotted maps that show good nature pics or buried quads. My family has mapped Wayne national forest with pics of family and friends buried and can share the google earth file. We can all then print the google file because it is more accurate than the map they sell. Finally, you can save the gpx file and reload it into your gps or share it with friends and they can retrace your ride.

For my birthday , I recieved the Garmin Nuvi from my brother.... It will take you around wrecks and traffic within 5 minutes of them happening. It works most everywhere Otherwise, it is amazing and it gives accurate result.The Nuvi is the best GPS I have ever had. Generally it is more refined then any other GPS brand out in the market.


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I use mine to map the locations of trees on my farm. I can mark it on GPS, note its species, size, health etc. I use the data to put together a database of trees on my property that have commercial value, the ones which are damaged and can be cut for firewood etc. It also helps me determine where I need to plant trees or species that I wish to increase. It's a lot of data and I obviously can't document every single sapling on my place but I'm getting the larger ones, the ones I cut, new seedlings and working my way on down.

I've been using a GPS in the woods, regularly, for over 10 years. The single most important thing to remember is that you cannot rely on it to get you out. Carry and know how to use a compass and map, mark your trail and stay aware.

That said my first hand-held still works and has never let me down. Take care of your gear and it will usually take good care of you.

Carry spare batts.

I download my tracks and relevant points, pictures and notes into Google Earth, creating an excellent database for hunting, etc., as well as for generating maps for exploring, hunting and for leaving at home, in the event something happens to me (I spend nearly all of my time in the wilderness alone and wouldn't mind getting rescued if snot hits the fan)

The reverse also works. If I see something interesting, I sometimes note the lat/long on Google Earth, then enter it into my GPS and head out to find it.

I have yet to use mine on my atv but use it on my snowmobile all the time. I set way points for bars and gas stations along the trail in case we run low and need to find our way to some gas. It prevents me from having to stop at all intersections and look at sign posts for directions. If I am by town A and want to go to town B I can bring up the city closest to my next destination and a compass will lead me that direction even if I am not looking at the trail map it self. My Garmin Rino has the 2 way radio if I loose communication. With the Rino anyone else in your party will show up on your map when they key the mic to talk so you can keep track of anyone.

I have a Garmin 76CSx, loaded with both topo and city navigator. The pickup has factory GPS, but I use it hunting, hiking, and on the Adventure motorcycle, and on the quad. On the Adventure motorcycle I wanted turn by turn instructions, as well as being able to find gas stations/food and what not.

I wouldn't be without one. I got the Garmin handlebar mount, with some extra handlebar clamps, and a 12v power cord. It comes with a sleeve the unit slides into, which locks into place and also captures the power plug and locks it into place. The sleeve bayonette mounts onto the handlebar clamp, so it is easy to switch from machine to machine.

spent a lot of time looking for small muskeg lakes with gps mounted on dash of snowmobile and quad. got fix for gps from maps or goggle earth. alberta is crossed by cutlines that made exploring with quad or sled fun.

I don,t mind being lost as long as I have lots of gas. Some times its fun in a way.

I don't even use my GPS anymore but I used to map the trails as I rode. A couple of times it came in handy when I wanted to find the short way back to the truck.

i use mine to store dead batteries in 2 hours into the trails :rolleyes:

but usually- i just make sure im riding with someone who has a better memory than i have, which is basically any animal with more memory than a gold fish :o

lol!
being lost in a canadian trail would have me pissing my bikini!
I've been lost in the northern maine trails at dark- not fun! and I've ridden canada trails- theres no end to them- you can literally go 22 miles down a logging road that just ends in the middle of nowhere! which I'm sure you know all about ;)

Regular GPS units are only receivers and cannot send your position to anyone else. Cellphones with GPS chips can do that; I know the iPhone has several different applications like this and they are probably also available for other smart phones. A cellphone probably doesn't meet your "ruggedness" requirement though.

There is another system which uses satellite communication for this but it involves monthly subscription costs. Maybe Tim will recall this unit, it was discussed here some time back.

Reading your post again, I'm not sure if you meant real time tracking of your position. If you just want to save your track for future use, almost any GPS will do that.

I use my gps every ride out even if its the same trail. Several times a trail i have ridden several times i have found a new trail off it. I Dl my trips usually after every trip. Used it several times when i find a good trail on google maps and i mark it on the gps. Have had to use it a few times when i get turned around on a trail to get me pointed back in the right direction.. Always have spare batteries with me and always use a good set of sanyo envalop batteries in it usually get 100+ hours easily on a charge.

I finally used my GPS again last summer to find a trail head that I've only been to once or maybe twice a long time ago and had the location on my GPS. I only remembered that we had to go somewhere west or northwest. My friend drove my truck while I navigated. It was a big pain in the butt going back and forth from north to west until we finally found the right road but at least we found it.

P.S. When I used the GPS on the ATV I plugged it into my ATV's 12 volt cigarette lighter socket. If I didn't my batteries would only last for a couple of rides in the winter. Summer wasn't that bad.

I am going to mount my phone to track how far, speed and elevation.

What GPS?
 

Mine says "silva" and "Us Geological Survey"