Portable GPS

[jorluivil]

What do you use?

What do you like/dislike about it?

[Jimmyz123]

http://catalog.ebay.com/Garmin-GPS-12-GPS-Receiver-/48465169?_pcatid=43&_refkw=Garmin+Handheld+GPS&_trkparms=65%253A12%257C66%253A2%257C39%253A1%257C 72%253A4730&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14 (http://catalog.ebay.com/Garmin-GPS-12-GPS-Receiver-/48465169?_pcatid=43&_refkw=Garmin+Handheld+GPS&_trkparms=65%253A12%257C66%253A2%257C39%253A1%257C 72%253A4730&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14)

The Garmin GPS 12 Handheld is what I have. I've had it for 3 years now and it is everything I need, it is easy to use and it shows you the way to your marks. It is a workhorse. The newer versions of this are nice but they seem to have a lot of issues with the screens.

[PescadorPete]

Waterproof & floats. I have it loaded with road, topo and on the water charts. $220 from the GPSstore.

[old_rookie]

this:

http://gps.motionx.com/iphone/overview/1a.jpg

running this:

http://gps.motionx.com/iphone/overview/

inside this:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/312c--vTTIL.jpg (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/312c--vTTIL.jpg)


I also run this for depth info:

http://fulliphone.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/FlyToMap-GPS-All-in-one-Park-Marine-Lake-Travel-maps1.jpg

from:

http://www.flytomap.com/ftm/mapcatg.aspx


The two GPS/Nav apps were $5 total. The phone was a little more.
The bag was about $30 - not good for taking pics.

As for the GPS app, easy to use. Waypoints easy to enter, and easy to set for navigating.
Easy to set up to create tracks and can e-mail to home PC.
Can also set up the GPS to send out positional info via e-mail every 15 minutes so wifey can see if I go way off course in the event something goes wrong.

The FlyToMap app is very basic and provides little use other than indicating on a chart the depth and location. Without a FF, it is good for depth info.

[onetriphudson]

Old Rookie - That is really cool that you can use your iPhone as a GPS. This is super tempting to me because I am a sucker for simplicity.

How certain are you of the accuracy on the iPhone. I've got the 4G and whenever I've used it for GPS location on Google or another application like say, a jogging app, the phone can't really do better than 20-40ft of my position. This is enough accuracy for me to justify not buying a handheld, but I'm curious how well it has done for you?

Any examples or stories would be great.

[Jimmyz123]

I have a blackberry so I can use that Ap. I still like my Garmin though.

[old_rookie]

Old Rookie - That is really cool that you can use your iPhone as a GPS. This is super tempting to me because I am a sucker for simplicity.

How certain are you of the accuracy on the iPhone. I've got the 4G and whenever I've used it for GPS location on Google or another application like say, a jogging app, the phone can't really do better than 20-40ft of my position. This is enough accuracy for me to justify not buying a handheld, but I'm curious how well it has done for you?

Any examples or stories would be great.
I think the accuracy is very good. I used it to walk my dog and came across a skunk. The track shows how I walked to the other side of the street. There have been times that it wasn't accurate, but I think I didn't give it enough time to acquire more satelittes before moving. Otherwise I'm very pleased with it. I have a Garmin I've used and I think the iPhone is just as accurate. I wouldn't be surprised if Apple used a Garmin chip in their phone. The phone does seem to loose satelittes if I keep it too close to my body and block its view - so when I'm OTW, I need to be aware of its placement.

[lterrero]

I got a Lowrance Finder H2Oc with Nautic Path chip & tell you the truth, I'm real happy with it; for so many years I depend more on it than my FF X67c

[onetriphudson]

this:

http://gps.motionx.com/iphone/overview/1a.jpg

running this:

http://gps.motionx.com/iphone/overview/

inside this:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/312c--vTTIL.jpg (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/312c--vTTIL.jpg)


I also run this for depth info:

http://fulliphone.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/FlyToMap-GPS-All-in-one-Park-Marine-Lake-Travel-maps1.jpg

from:

http://www.flytomap.com/ftm/mapcatg.aspx


The two GPS/Nav apps were $5 total. The phone was a little more.
The bag was about $30 - not good for taking pics.

As for the GPS app, easy to use. Waypoints easy to enter, and easy to set for navigating.
Easy to set up to create tracks and can e-mail to home PC.
Can also set up the GPS to send out positional info via e-mail every 15 minutes so wifey can see if I go way off course in the event something goes wrong.

The FlyToMap app is very basic and provides little use other than indicating on a chart the depth and location. Without a FF, it is good for depth info.


Thanks so much man, I bought this case for my phone and the iphone app too. Haven't taken it on the water yet but so far I am really excited by what I see.

[roadx]

i have a garmin etrex vista C with blue charts and it's compact and works well. you should be able to pick up a used one cheap!


https://static.garmincdn.com/en/products/010-00368-00/g/cf-md.jpg




http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad353/xroadx/LJ2.jpg

[YakMedic]

+1 for the Etrex Vista, I didn't even know about the bluechart program for it, I use mine primarily for hunting but I mark waypoints for good fish bites. I think I need to buy bluechart for mine