GPS questions

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masshunter

Active member
My 12 YO Magellan Gold crapped out, looks like everyone uses Garmin now, so I've been reading up and confusing myself. I've been looking at the 450 and the 600. Are the "100K" topo maps worth it ? I'm not even sure what 100K means. My hunting is in the northeast, except every couple years I hunt co. Anyone have any experience good or bad, or any suggestion ?
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Not sure on garmin, I was in the same situation with my magellan sport trak and went with the delorme pn-60. I've been very happy with it, I purchase a yearly unlimited map pack that allows for satellite and aerial photo download. I've used it to for work, to hunt and geocache with the family and would buy from them again. I do like the large screen on the garmins that I've looked at in the stores.

Just my opinion.
 
I use a 450T. Love it. No problems at all. Maps are worth it if you use them not so much if you are just looking for something to get you back to the truck at the end of the day. Get a model with the tilt electronic compass. If you get a model with the Maps you can use the free Garmin Base map program and look at the Maps on your computer. Cabelas has the 450T on sale now online for $199.88
 
There are better choices for GPS mapping than the Garmin maps that come preloaded. If the model you are looking at is available without the topo maps get it. They are usually about $100 cheaper. Then you can apply that $100 to a better program.

I use huntinggpsmaps.com products. koutdoorproducts.com is another option. Either of those are considerably better than the preloaded garmin stuff.

 
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Originally Posted By: masshunterMy 12 YO Magellan Gold crapped out, looks like everyone uses Garmin now, so I've been reading up and confusing myself. I've been looking at the 450 and the 600. Are the "100K" topo maps worth it ? I'm not even sure what 100K means. My hunting is in the northeast, except every couple years I hunt co. Anyone have any experience good or bad, or any suggestion ?
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100K topo:Without getting too detailed, 100K is a reference to the scale of the map. The smaller the number such as 24K, the more detailed the map tends to be. A "24K" map has a scale of 1:24,000 and a 100K map has a scale of 1:100,000.

100K topo doesn't always dictate how often you will see contour lines but in most states Garmin 100K topo lines show changes in elevation every 100 to 200 feet of elevation change. As I have said this varies. Most 24K topo maps show elevation changes usually around every 20 feet of elevation change. Some people don't want a lot of elevation lines and some do. For my tastes, when I need elevation information, I prefer 24K.

If the price is the same for a 450T and a 450 for instance, get the T version but I wouldn't spend a lot of extra money on a T version GPS. If you add any 3rd party maps to the GPS, it will cover the Garmin topo anyway because Garmin loads this as a basemap on the GPS.

GPS Types:
The Oregon 600 is a newer GPS than the 450 but a lot of stores are running clearance sales to sell all remaining inventory on the 450 and 550 models. Due to this, if you can get one for under $200, I would still go for a 450 or 550 vs paying $350+ potentially for a 600 or 650 model. The 450 can be compared to the 600 and the 550 to the 650. A few features on the 600 series that are changes include the newer models have brighter screens for easier direct sunlight viewing, support multi-touch (spreading your fingers to change zooms), faster processors, and pick up GLONASS. GLONASS is Russian based satellite systems. This allows the unit to use 20+ additional satellites to acquire a signal faster, and potentially get a stronger signal. These are all good things, but are they worth double the price?

If you prefer a button GPS over a touchscreen, then I would look at a 62S as they are a nice Garmin Button Driven GPS.
 
Thanks Kirsch, I think all the closeouts are the 450T,so I may go with that. I had the 1:24 on my Magellan. I wish I could save all the waypoints and kill sites, they are on a memory card. I know this is 2013, but I'm still a 90's guy,
an 1890's guy !!
 
If you want, email me the waypoint file, I can potentially turn it into a Garmin waypoint file for you. The formats are different but since my company creates GPS maps, we have lots of tools that can convert different formats. I can't guarantee it will work, but it should. You can use the email address of kirschtrax@hotmail.com
 
Originally Posted By: masshunterThanks Kirsch, I think all the closeouts are the 450T,so I may go with that.

Not sure what the prices you are seeing on the 450T's but Amazon.com has the 450 in 3 different store options for $180 with free shipping. It looks like Cabela's may have the 450T for $179.99 right now as well with free shipping. I don't think they will last long at that price.
 
Originally Posted By: KirschOriginally Posted By: masshunterThanks Kirsch, I think all the closeouts are the 450T,so I may go with that.

Not sure what the prices you are seeing on the 450T's but Amazon.com has the 450 in 3 different store options for $180 with free shipping. It looks like Cabela's may have the 450T for $179.99 right now as well with free shipping. I don't think they will last long at that price.

Kirsch, you caught my attention when I saw you were from ND (I live in Mandan)and you worked with GPS maps etc. My question for you and anybody else. I am a complete dummy when it comes to using a GPS. the written instructions assume you already know the terminology etc. but I don't, is there something out there like "GPS for dummies" or starting from scratch? Thanks
 
Parson, the other problem is at least for Garmins, most of them don't even come with a manual anymore. The manuals are available online, so a lot of people will not go online to look at them. I haven't used them myself, but if you bought a Garmin for instance, they have some online videos to watch Here. Some of the older models aren't listed here, so if you do a search on Google for instance for Garmin Training Video and then the model such as Oregon 450, you can find other areas as well. There are lots of youtube videos on people walking through GPS features as well, and other websites that have overview videos for specific models.

Besides what has already been suggested, remember simply play with the unit. One thing that scares a lot of people, is they may mess something up. You can always reset the GPS back to factory defaults, so that isn't an issue. The other thing is a lot of people will say, well if I am not hunting, then how can I test it. You can test all Garmin GPS units while sitting in the comfort of your home if you like. What I mean by this is, once you touch the Map screen on a touch screen GPS, or move the cursor on a non-touch screen, you have gone from Live Mode to what I call Browse Mode. Now you can move the GPS around, mark waypoints, etc. It still isn't quite like using it live but you can search for things, etc. It won't allow you to backtrack as it doesn't know where you are but a lot of features will work.

Assuming you have a Garmin GPS, once you figure out your GPS, then you need a NDTRAX map. It will help you in so many ways when hunting ND. The base maps on virtually all GPS units have very minimal information. They are good for marking spots and seeing your tracks, but that is it. I have a demonstration of TRAX maps and many of the demos show ND features Here

Bottom line is the more you use it, the better you will get at using it. If you only play with it while hunting, it makes it more difficult as when I am hunting, I am concentrating on hunting not figuring out my GPS. Take it with you while doing jobs around the yard, to the grocery store with the wife, etc. Anything you can do to increase your time with the GPS. Also, check with your local sporting goods stores. Some of them have sessions such as GPS 101. The biggest thing with these types of classes and any books, is most will be generic and won't be specific to your exact GPS. They are good for terminology but not for how to use those features on your GPS.
 
Thanks for all the input everyone, Cabelas delivered my Garmin 450T yesterday, I've been playing with it a little today. Will have to get the 1:24 maps I think.
 
I have a Garmin 650T that takes pictures and also holds the mini SDHC cards. I have the city maps and a holder/speaker that suctions onto the window and plugs into the cigarette lighter plug on my truck. It acts just like a NUVI system and even give you VERBAL turn Directions.

I'm planning on getting on of the Hunting mini SDHC card for it for Indiana. I just don't know which one to get. I wish it were possible to see how they work and what they show online somehow before spending over $100 for the chip.

The Garmins are what I've always used and this is my third one. I lost the second one a eTrax Vista model that fell out of my truck on the way home one night. I used some credit card points that I accumulated over a couple of years time to buy the new Garmin 650 T I love the pictures it takes and how easy it is to upload those pictures to my computer. I have a 18 megapix canon camera and I have to reduce the size of the pictures before uploading them to photobucket and other sites. With the Gammin 650T I can set the photo size to 5 or 8 megabits and those are perfect size for the web.

The Gammin has all sorts of features like three way axis and it's fast at accessing the satelites.

If I were out driving and then wanted to walk and hunt I'd have to change the chip inside the Garmin 650T and be careful not to lose the small SDHC mini chip. The unit only accepts on SDHC Mini Chip at a time. I wish I could upload the chip information into the unit's internal memory and then add another chip like the hunting chips.

I need to know who owns what land in Indiana where I hunt so that's the type of chip map I'm looking for. One that has the Plat Data and the owners names, addresses and phone numbers with each private property in the IN counties that I plan on hunting. I think this would help me get permission to hunt more private lands. To me that's worth $100 if it's accurate and has all the information that I hope to get out of it.
 
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