So my dad has offered to buy me a GPS or a VHF for christmas. (Thanks dad!) I think it helps that he is a large boat sailor, and he may feel sympathy for my poor graduate student plight. Problem is, I need to choose only one. Does anyone have any advice along these lines? I noticed that the local marine store has about twenty different models of VHFs and GPSs, and am quite interested to hear anecdotes or advice regarding specific brands and specific units. It should cost in the neighborhood of $250, but I don't want to sacrifice high quality of equipment to save a few $$$. Also, it should be small enough to keep handy on or near my person as I am paddling. Rules for avoiding a holy war: 1. Assume that I will not use the GPS as a substitute for proper knowledge of navigation and the ocean environment, or proper non-battery powered navigation tools. It will be for tracking absolute speed, testing actual navigation ability, and for the "gee-wiz" effect. I am a quite the nerd, so the latter is actually rather important. :) 2. I do not consider a VHF essential safety equipment. It is nice and useful in the same way that a GPS is nice and useful to supplement a chart and compass. Weather radio (or barometer), flares and signal mirror are more essential. Happy holidays, and good luck avoiding the muzak, Kevin ___________________ / Kevin Whilden \ |Dept. of Geosciences \___ |University of Washington \ |kwhilden_at_u.washington.edu| \________________________/ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 12/9/98 4:18:02 AM Eastern Standard Time, kwhilden_at_u.washington.edu writes: << So my dad has offered to buy me a GPS or a VHF for christmas. (Thanks dad!) I think it helps that he is a large boat sailor, and he may feel sympathy for my poor graduate student plight. Problem is, I need to choose only one. Does anyone have any advice along these lines? >> Depends an awful lot on what you'd use it for, Kevin. You know what they'll each do for you. If you go for the VHF, however, make sure it's one of the new specification "submersible" radios --- not water "resistant" or water "proof". The actual word "submersible" should be in there. Too many horror stories out there on the performance of lesser radios. And get the automatic weather activation mode, too. Let's you know if NOAA sends out an alert for your area. You can get very close to this within your price bogie --- but you may have to add $30 to $40 to your "safety grant" to get both standards. Jack Martin *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
$250? Get both. The sub-$100 Magellan Pioneer GPS is perfectly serviceable. Among VHS, forget about the fancy digital calling models: The whole system won't be up and running for years. I would think you could get a decent VHF for $150, though I can't name a model. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
VajraT_at_aol.com wrote: > > The sub-$100 Magellan Pioneer GPS is perfectly serviceable. I bought the Pioneer because I like gadgets but couldn't justify spending enough for a 12 channel GPS. Also I liked the fact that it is light, rugged, compact & easy on batteries. It should do fine for sea kayaking as long as you keep it where nothing blocks the antenna. Mine is useless in the bottom of my canoe or in a pants pocket, so-so in a shirt pocket & okay fastened on my hat. It is also affected by tree cover - not a concern on the sea. I'd suggest fastening it on the deck, sprayskirt or shoulder of PFD. It is much slower than 12 chan GPs units in gettting a fix so I leave it turned on when travelling. So much for battery life. Do I regret it? No. Cheap, light, nice toy & occasionally useful. -- Lloyd Bowles The Mad Canoeist "Keep the open side up!" http://www.fortunecity.com/greenfield/clearstreets/358/index.html *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Concerning GPS: While there are lots of Garmin proponents out there, I've seen lots of posts in the sci.geo.sattelite-nav newsgroup concerning Garmins that briefly and barely got wet, and ceased to function, typically requiring they be sent for repairs or replacement. I'd recommend the Magellans as they're much more ruggedly built and watertight. My Magellan 2000XL ($160) is almost constantly wet while kayaking and has been completely immersed a couple of times without any adverse effects. BTW, make sure any GPS you might get is a 12-channel parallel receiver for the best performance and signal reception. -- Rob Nevitt blumarbl_at_pacbell.net 122d42'27"W 38d26'58"N ils.bytebeam.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Which to let Dad get? Depends on where you kayak. I paddle mainly on large lakes in the triangle area of North Carolina. a VHF radio would be of very little use. A GPS is far more useful. If I was spending time on the coast, I would want BOTH, a good multichannel GPS and a good waterproof VHF. From reading r.b.p and this list I'm doubtful you can get a good GPS AND VHF. Depends on the definition of good. A GPS is very useful as a training aide. The Garmin 12XL can tell you your current speed, taken with a grain of salt, how far you have traveled, when the sun rises/set, your direction of travel, the time, how far you are from where you put in, and yes, your position. I think these functions are pretty standard on most GPS units. The distance traveled is what I use the most. If you time yourself over a period of time 15/30/60 minutes you can figure out the average speed. This can really tell you how well your paddling technique is working. You might be surprised. More work DOES NOT mean faster! There is a satellite navigation newsgroup which is very informative and there is a web site, joe.mehaffey.com, that has quite a bit of GPS related information. I paddle with my GPS power on. Expensive in the batteries but worth it so I can log my distance traveled. Also find out the latest software version on the GPS you wish to buy and make sure that the unit you are purchasing is at that level. Just turn the unit on to tell. The batteries in my GPS last about 12 hours. The latest software for the 12XL, which Garmin will upgrade for a price, lasts 24 hours. A big difference if you leave the unit on all the time you are paddling. I bought the GPS just to play with but it has turn into a valuable tool. I use it not only for kayaking but when I'm looking to buy land in the country. Really helps to locate the property on a contour map! If I paddled on the coast more I would have a VHF and a GPS... Hope this helps.... Dan McCarty *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 12/9/98 10:06:31 AM EST, blumarbl_at_pacbell.net writes: << I've seen lots of posts in the sci.geo.sattelite-nav newsgroup concerning Garmins that briefly >> All GPS handhelds should be in a clear dry bag. I have heard of more problems with Magellan units then Garmin. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Correction to my earlier post: one of the JIS-7 "submersible" VHF radios made by Apelco, the Apelco 520, is now priced by Defender Marine for $245, so it's actually under your bogie --- pre-tax, anyway. The 520 is JIS-7 (submerged one meter under water for 30 minutes) qualified, and has the "weather alert" function which tells you if there's a warning in your area. I have the "waterproof" precursor to the 520, Apelco's 510, and it has served me well --- over, in and under the water --- but that's not necessarily the experience all have had with it. The 510 is no longer made, and the 520, especially at that price, is a major improvement. Jack Martin *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
>All GPS handhelds should be in a clear dry bag. I have heard of more problems >with Magellan units then Garmin. Good point. Another advantage of the drybag is that your GPS/VHF radio will float. Aquapac seems to make ggod drybags. And just to add my .02 cents to the question -- I carry both a GPS (Garmin 48) and a VHF radio (Icom M1 which failed on me once). -Patrick -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Patrick Maun pmaun_at_bitstream.net *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 12/9/1998 7:20:51 AM EST, VajraT_at_aol.com writes: << The sub-$100 Magellan Pioneer GPS is perfectly serviceable. >> Not according to two friends who own them and a New Jersey firm that sells them. It is a 2 channell vs 12 for most and it takes a long time to lock on when turned on. As a contrast, my Magellan 4000XLS takes about 15 seconds adn my friends takes 5-10 minutes in idea conditions. You can get a really good GPS for $ 150.00, why skimp $ 50.00 for a piece of junk? Any GPS that takes that long to figure where it is is a piece of junk! It is a toy, not a tool. John *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
How come no one has mentioned getting one of the recent used units? I just ordered a Garmin 40 for $65. Have I made a mistake? This is my first GPS and being new into kayaking myself I will be using it in a lot of "firsts" for myself. What are your opinions in THAT! phil Johnlebl_at_aol.com wrote: > In a message dated 12/9/1998 7:20:51 AM EST, VajraT_at_aol.com writes: > > << The sub-$100 Magellan Pioneer GPS is perfectly serviceable. >> > > Not according to two friends who own them and a New Jersey firm that sells > them. It is a 2 channell vs 12 for most and it takes a long time to lock on > when turned on. As a contrast, my Magellan 4000XLS takes about 15 seconds adn > my friends takes 5-10 minutes in idea conditions. > > You can get a really good GPS for $ 150.00, why skimp $ 50.00 for a piece of > junk? Any GPS that takes that long to figure where it is is a piece of junk! > It is a toy, not a tool. > > John > > *************************************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ > *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
I've got a 12 XL I keep bungeed on my deck: no problems! > *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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