whats a good gps?

05-26-2002

whats a good gps?
like a damm good gps?
an ok gps?
and a sorta ok gps?
TIA
Kash

agentgrn · 05-26-2002

I don't have the disposable income to toss at a whole bunch of different GPS units. However, I am very happy with the DeLorme TripMate that I got off Ebay. Short of the little ASTRAL thing (which NS 0.3.23 supports now), it's a pretty good NEMA compliant device. Since I use my GPS as a dedicated unit for netstumbling, I didn't feel the need to purchase a Garmin or a Magellan unit, though both of them are pretty nice.

The tripmate's downside is that it will only work with Netstumbler or the DeLorme GPS software. Using it with any other standard package requires either a modifcation or an external box to loop the output signal.

Though, if I had the money to spend, I'd probably get any GPS that would work well with an external antenna. The yellow box on the dashboard does look pretty goofy.

Regarding the PCMCIA cards for GPS, I am pretty sure most of them use a Rockwell encoding technique that doesn't work with anything needing NEMA input. I could be wrong on this, however.

Thorn · 05-27-2002

I have a Magellan 315. It works great with NS and as a stand-alone GPS. It speaks NMEA 2.1 as one of its options (menu selected.) Make sure you purchase the serial date/power cable, which does not come with it. The only caveat: It does not transmit any serial data, until it sees at least 3 satellites. This drove me crazy before I figured it out. Since it acquires the satellites much quicker outdoors, I just initialize it outside now.

The Magellan 320 is the same model, with less land based, and more water navigation features. Actually, I'm told that you can flash the ROMs so that either model will become the other.

For the true "hardware hackers" out there, I was told some months back on this board, that there is a Motorola module in the dashboards of certain Cadillac models which is a self contained GPS unit. I still have to hit the junkyards one of these days and snag one. If nothing else, it would be fun to play with one.

Cheers,

sparafina · 05-27-2002

I've been using mapping and survey grade GPS for 10+ years. The Garmin Etrex has been the first consumer GPS I've bought and I've been surprised with its accuracy. It is approximately 10-15 feet off when compared to 6-inch digital orthophoto. This leads me to the conclusion that most 12-channel receivers are plenty accurate for stumbling, moving map displays, home brew automatic vehicle location, etc. The decision on which one to purchase really depends on what features you want.

For stumbling, I would say that the cheapest is the way to go, unless you want to use it for other things such a moving map display while you're flying etc.

<ON SOAPBOX> Also don't try to convince your self that you will use one for hiking. I really find all that waypoint crap confusing and useless. Do yourself a favor and take a map reading or orienteering course if you plan to do any back country travel. Training, a good map and a Silva Ranger compass are better tools and don't require batteries. I hate reading about lost hikers with a GPS that use their cell phone to call search and rescue.<OFF SOAPBOX>

Another consideration is that the more popular brands such as Garmin have lots of freeware and shareware software support.

Here's some resources:

Sam Wormley has good GPS information site:

http://www.edu-observatory.org/gps/

Joe Mehaffey has a krufty consumer GPS site worth digging through:

http://joe.mehaffey.com/

blackwave · 05-28-2002

Quote:

Originally posted by sparafina
<ON SOAPBOX> Also don't try to convince your self that you will use one for hiking. I really find all that waypoint crap confusing and useless. Do yourself a favor and take a map reading or orienteering course if you plan to do any back country travel. Training, a good map and a Silva Ranger compass are better tools and don't require batteries. I hate reading about lost hikers with a GPS that use their cell phone to call search and rescue.<OFF SOAPBOX>

Too late!... I always convince myself of the "what-if" situations... even when the sales people try to convince me otherwise, which they also attempted... and failed...

In retrospect it is unlikely that I will ever see the sun, and much less exert engery under it.

Alas...

Garmin eTrex Legend is what I have

Very nice and compact, looks like a little Nokia Cell phone... though i spent more in the accessories such as the data+power bundled cable (which is a must), and the window suction cup holder(another must)...

05-26-2002	#1 (permalink)
Kash Posts: n/a	whats a good gps? whats a good gps? like a damm good gps? an ok gps? and a sorta ok gps? TIA Kash

05-26-2002	#2 (permalink)
agentgrn KB1JQO - Packin' Heat Join Date: May 2002 Location: Worcester, MA Posts: 517	I use an okay GPS. I don't have the disposable income to toss at a whole bunch of different GPS units. However, I am very happy with the DeLorme TripMate that I got off Ebay. Short of the little ASTRAL thing (which NS 0.3.23 supports now), it's a pretty good NEMA compliant device. Since I use my GPS as a dedicated unit for netstumbling, I didn't feel the need to purchase a Garmin or a Magellan unit, though both of them are pretty nice. The tripmate's downside is that it will only work with Netstumbler or the DeLorme GPS software. Using it with any other standard package requires either a modifcation or an external box to loop the output signal. Though, if I had the money to spend, I'd probably get any GPS that would work well with an external antenna. The yellow box on the dashboard does look pretty goofy. Regarding the PCMCIA cards for GPS, I am pretty sure most of them use a Rockwell encoding technique that doesn't work with anything needing NEMA input. I could be wrong on this, however. __________________ -A.G.-

05-27-2002	#3 (permalink)
Thorn Did you do the math? Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Villa Straylight Posts: 10,361	I have a Magellan 315. It works great with NS and as a stand-alone GPS. It speaks NMEA 2.1 as one of its options (menu selected.) Make sure you purchase the serial date/power cable, which does not come with it. The only caveat: It does not transmit any serial data, until it sees at least 3 satellites. This drove me crazy before I figured it out. Since it acquires the satellites much quicker outdoors, I just initialize it outside now. The Magellan 320 is the same model, with less land based, and more water navigation features. Actually, I'm told that you can flash the ROMs so that either model will become the other. For the true "hardware hackers" out there, I was told some months back on this board, that there is a Motorola module in the dashboards of certain Cadillac models which is a self contained GPS unit. I still have to hit the junkyards one of these days and snag one. If nothing else, it would be fun to play with one. Cheers, __________________ Thorn "Read Altas Shrugged. Compare it to today. Repeat as necessary"

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05-27-2002	#4 (permalink)
sparafina Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: TX,MD,NY Posts: 1,430	I've been using mapping and survey grade GPS for 10+ years. The Garmin Etrex has been the first consumer GPS I've bought and I've been surprised with its accuracy. It is approximately 10-15 feet off when compared to 6-inch digital orthophoto. This leads me to the conclusion that most 12-channel receivers are plenty accurate for stumbling, moving map displays, home brew automatic vehicle location, etc. The decision on which one to purchase really depends on what features you want. For stumbling, I would say that the cheapest is the way to go, unless you want to use it for other things such a moving map display while you're flying etc. <ON SOAPBOX> Also don't try to convince your self that you will use one for hiking. I really find all that waypoint crap confusing and useless. Do yourself a favor and take a map reading or orienteering course if you plan to do any back country travel. Training, a good map and a Silva Ranger compass are better tools and don't require batteries. I hate reading about lost hikers with a GPS that use their cell phone to call search and rescue.<OFF SOAPBOX> Another consideration is that the more popular brands such as Garmin have lots of freeware and shareware software support. Here's some resources: Sam Wormley has good GPS information site: http://www.edu-observatory.org/gps/ Joe Mehaffey has a krufty consumer GPS site worth digging through: http://joe.mehaffey.com/