Re: [Paddlewise] GPS Units

This is incredible how much information all of you have on this topic... Since
a few of the emails it has come up I will give a little more details of our
intended use...

We have multiple compasses (one on each of our kayaks, a small hiking one you
wear as well as one that sits on maps so you can orient it to the map in order
to figure out what direction to head in.

If we were paddling Cape Cod or even Boston most of the time this would be
enough for us to do a trip.  But Maine in August is prone to fog. I have yet
to go on a morning paddle without the fog as my view for a few hours.  Because
we are going for a week and the fog can last many hours into the day(or even
all day) we will be using the GPS so we stay on course.

We will have our map handy as well as our vhf radio which we can tune into the
weather.  

At home we already have Topo USA on the computer to mark out our path as well
as come back and map out where we went and the times... so really we need it
for the core purpose, but the "extras" make the diffrence as well since in the
future I'm sure we will upgrade along the way as newer units come out with
more and more features!!

*Ally

"Evan Dallas" <Evan_Dallas_at_notes.ntrs.com> wrote:

 >>>>>Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2003 10:39:07 -0400
 From: "Ally Pike" <ally_at_thepikes.org>
 Subject: [Paddlewise] GPS unit
 
 I would love to hear about the GPS units that some of you use and what you
 love and hate about it.<<<<<
 
 I won't comment on specific units, but on key features, based on my
 previous GPS's:
 -- Built-in electronic compass:  I thought this was a cool feature
 initially and one of the reasons I bought my current GPS, but I've been
 disappointed in the accuracy.  Generally it needs to be almost exactly
 level to work and even then the electronic compass can be off by 20 degrees
 or so.  I generally take the bearing from my gps and then use my
 much-more-reliable deck compass to navigate
 
 -- Waterproof:  someone correctly pointed out the problem with the
 "waterproof" claim for the eTrex.  I also had this problem, but unless I'm
 mistaken, leaky battery compartments is a problem with virtually all
 "waterproof" GPS's, not just the eTrex.  I use the suggestion of another
 list member (from a year or two ago) and use _good quality_ electrical tape
 to seal the battery compartment and since then I've had no leakage (even
 though I don't use a waterproof bag for it).
 
 -- Downloadable maps:  VERY nice for kayaking and, imho, well worth the
 extra money
 
 -- Built-in altimeter/barometer:  This is another feature I thought was
 pretty nice, since if you want (at least on the Garmin Summit) you can turn
 off everything else except the barometer and keep a log of changing
 barometric pressure to potentially predict changes in weather/storms.
 Yeah, it's potentially a nice feature, but you can usually get better and
 more reliable weather info from your weather radio.  However, if you plan
 to also use your gps for hiking, I'd definitely recommend this feature.
 
 I'd also suggest thinking through how you expect to use it.  Do you expect
 to have it on most of the time, say to log your path, keep track of average
 speed, using most of the special feature (or even just for "entertainment")
 etc? Or do you plan to mostly use it just to get a bearing or figure out
 where you are?  Depending on your answer, you may not need a really high
 end unit.
 
 Evan Dallas
 Woodinville
 
 
 


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