What GPS unit?

BRADFORDcoHUNTER

BRADFORDcoHUNTER

New member
Figured I'd pick the brain's of some folk's here, and see what you use. I'm looking to purchase a handheld GPS unit for use in the big woods of Pennseylvania. Ideally, what I want is one without a preloaded base map of garbage I'm never going to use. ie- all of North America and Mexico, etc etc. Most of the ones preloaded like that, aren't reprogrammable, and those base maps cannot be altered.

If possible, I want to be able to purchase and load a map of the PA state gamelands on it, PA state parks, etc. I have NO need to use it for driving directions in cities, and I'm damn sure not using it to tour North America. What GPS unit will afford me those luxuries? Monochrome or color, it doesn't really matter. Thanks!
 
I have and like the Lowrance IFinder. It comes with all the major state highways but you can change the level of detail to 0 and get nothing but a blank screen. You can also buy a chip of the state you want and it will have every road and pig trail in your area.

i got a dash mount for mine and it works great for driving, just pop it out and you can carry it in a back pack. I have the back pack with a side slot and when carried in that it continues to track my routes.

I highly reccommend it.
 
I use a Garmin GPS60csx almost daily for work. It comes with only a basic map loaded on it but other maps are available. I bought the Topo US and like it a lot for our rural area. It shows, of course topography, but also a fair amount of streets and roads as well as the back roads. It has an altimeter, calender, shows sun and moon phases, best hunting and fishing times, geo cacheing, points of interest, and on and on. The points of interest is nice as it shows the local public hunting, old Churches and schools, back roads, etc. It isn't cheap, but I like it a lot and use it often. I can get by on a lot of things without a gps, but now that I have one, I use it a lot just because, especially at work to find poles and customers (power company). It helps to find places much easier and the sun and moon phases help me to pick vacation days /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
I've got a Garmin GPS MAP 76CS. It's a color display unit that I've loaded with both topographic and city/street maps. You can buy either/both sets of maps for the unit, or use it as it comes. In your case, all you'd need is the topo for the US and you'd be good to go. It's accurate and easy to use too. One thing that I've noticed is that for me, the color display makes a HUGE difference. Take a look here for more GPS info. There's a lot of nice GPS units out there.

http://gpsinformation.net/
http://forums.groundspeak.com/gc/

MI VHNTR
 
i own and use a Garmin 60C have had it for several years and have used it hunting and fishing I truck in the winter so have the topo maps for summer use and metro for deliveries in all the major cities like LA,helps me a lot
 
Very good input people....thanks. I have done my own research, and I have narrowed it down to two units. The iFinder Hunt C Plus and the Garmin 60cSx with the new SiRF satelite receiver. Both are color, and Both units seem to be excellent. The iFinder has cooler icons for hunters, but not as many features. The Garmin SirF receiver, is supposedly the best currently available, for use under heavy foliage canopies and in steep canyons. It also has ALL the bells and whistles, like auto routing, back tracking, etc. Hmmmm....Decisions, Decisions.
 
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If you are using it in the heavy woods, I would suggest that you get the Garmin 60csx. The antennae is much better than the iFinder unit. With tree cover you will reduce the number of satellites so a good antennae is a must in the thick woods.
 
you might also want to look at the new bushnell gps. You can download aerial photos to them. You can mark your cordinates right on the aerial photos. I am leaning real hard to the bushnell.
 
Yeah, I did see that one BigMike. It's Delorme the map people, and Bushnell working together on that one. Seems neat, but I always like to let them work the bug's out of brand new concepts first.
 
I have been using a Lowrance IWAY 500C for a while and like it. It has a huge database (20 gigabite hard drive IIRC) that shows even small dirt roads, all streams, even dry ones. The large full color touch screen display can be customized to show as much detail as you want. The database includes all gas stations, motels, librarys, parks, restaurants, just about anything you can think of. You can have 2 or 3D display and even show contour lines if you want. You can program it to call out turns in advance. It comes with an assortment of good quality mounts for car, truck, motorcycle, etc. My only complaint is that the display does not work well cold. When you first get in the truck in the winter it is very dark and hard to see till the heater warms things up. It is also pretty heavy at about 5 pounds.

Jack
 
I'm a lowrance fan. I have a hand held Ifinder and love it. I've got the map create6 software and can put in the amount of detail I want. But, the interesting thing is that I want a lot of detail. Don't always use it but it's there if I want it.

I also have a lowrance IWAY 350, similar to the one Jack mentions above except with a smaller screen. It's great for driving around new cities you aren't familiar with. Punch in an address and it will give you exact directions.

On my boat I also have a dual depth finder/gps until from Lowrance. I put in a detailed lake map chip and I can go anywhere. I love it.

But, I've found that some of the features you say you don't are sure nice to have once you have them. If you are going to pop for a unit, I'd sure suggest that you go for as many features as you can.

Randy
 
Sure wish we would have had one my Last trip out. It would have helped tremendously. The stress mounts when rescuers ask you to turn vehicle flashers on while honking the horn so they might possibly get a visual. Giving coordinates would be much better. Even one under $100 could save a life. Sounds like a great idea to research & invest. Good Luck.
 
I agree tripod3. You can buy basic units used off the internet from people upgrading for as little as $50. That's a $50 life insurance policy that EVERYONE should have.
 
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