GPS

[Toyboy]

Whenever I'm heading into the unknown, my compass never leaves my side.

 

[/pine]

I do use a GPS unit but I'm waiting on an economical, high quality civilian "inertial" system...they do not rely on any outside source of data...i.e., satellites, RF transmitters etc.,etc... they are entirely self contained systems...

Used to love LORAN and thought it was a valid redundant system seeing as it was land based...not sure "inertial" system technology will be cost effective for the average consumer for a while though...

 

[aczlan]

I am out in the woods a good bit and use my Garmins a good bit. Things like marking large trees or finding my way in the swamp. A smart phone does not do it for me since it relies on cell service and not available in many places. I recommend putting BaseCamp on your computer to download your tracks and waypoints. You can overlay everything on Google Earth and add places and tracks into your Garmin from there using BaseCamp, also. I carry rechargable batteries in my waterproof GPS.

If you save maps as available offline on an android device, you can use it without an internet connection. I do that with a wi-fi only Android tablet.

Aaron Z

 

[k0ua]

If you save maps as available offline on an android device, you can use it without an internet connection. I do that with a wi-fi only Android tablet.

Aaron Z

I didn't know that.. tnx.

 

[bcp]

Don't need these modern toys to find my way I do it the old way.

But you may be right.
Men have better sense of direction than women | EurekAlert! Science News

Bruce

 

[grsthegreat]

Ive used the garmin nuvi for years. An amazing device.....but it tried to kill me.

Kept trying to take me down one way streets in nashville. ...the wrong way. I must have pissed her off. She has that nagging voice and i kept turning it off. You cant mute a female without paying the price.

 

[oosik]

I have a hand held Garmin, map 60 CSX, that is used for geocaching. I have a Nav V, made by Garmin, mounted on my BMW R1200R. Its fun to play with and is actually a bit of help. It alerts me to upcoming roads that I want to turn onto. Out west here, we don't have such a maze of roads that a person would often get lost. And I DO NOT venture into large cities - ex, Seattle - on my motorcycle. As long as there is still gas in the tank and the shinny side is UP - all is OK.

And as has been mentioned - the route suggested by a GPS unit is not always the way you want to go.

 

[Wagtail]

I am out in the woods a good bit and use my Garmins a good bit. Things like marking large trees or finding my way in the swamp. A smart phone does not do it for me since it relies on cell service and not available in many places.

I use a Tom Tom GPS for when I need it in my ute. Mostly because of many deep valleys AND sporadic mobile phone coverage here in Tassie.

Oh sure, the Big Smokes are covered due to population but outside of them and you're taking your chances. There are many mobile phone black-spots and a lot of the time it depends on who your coverage is with!

A few ears ago my Aunt was visiting Aus; she picked up a cheap SIM card phone from 'Vodafone' when she landed in Sydney and it worked all over the country... until she visited me in St Helens. Nothing but emergency calls. All because my area was 'Telstra' and rural so Vodafone didn't bother to pay Telstra for use of their towers.

 

[dickfoster]

Good morning fellas,
I've been hooked on using Garmin GPS's for a couple years now. I have one mounted in the boat (GPSMap 531), which is invaluable when fishing Canada's Lake of the Woods. I also have a hand held portable (GPSMap 78) which I use when elk or moose hunting along with my compass for back up. Both of these units take the Lake/Area specific micro sd cards and can be switched between them. Very handy indeed.

I've also got two for the vehicles, a (nuvi 52) and a (Drive Smart 50). The drive Smart 50 has all the bells & whistles you could use, Bluetooth, traffic update, school zones,voice controlled, etc. The more I use them the handier I find them to be.

One thing I really like about Garmin, is they answer their phones and their in Kansas. Really nice people to work with.

Anyone else on here turning into a GPS junkie?

I've always been a GPS junkie, even before GPS became commonplace. I like Garmin units too even though today they are a foreign owned company. I think one or two of Garmin's founders were King Radio escapees. King Radio is or was a big maker of avionics gear for general aviation based in Olathe Kansas.
Back when I was in avionics I told people that GPS was coming and that it would take over aviation for everything and obsolesce all the existing gear and arachne navigational systems then in use. Even for landing and taxing right up to the jet way. They all told me I was crazy, especially when I told them that someday they could toss their altimeters out the window. What good is MEAN (average) sea level anyway since it's always changing?

 

[dickfoster]

Don't need these modern toys to find my way I do it the old way.

That kinda depends on where and how far you're going.