el-bagr
New member
I'm in the market for a new GPSr and am curious to hear your thoughts.
Background: I'm coming from an old Garmin III (not III+) GPSr. Due to the battery compartment not being waterproof, and my avocational exposures to saltwater (and being too burnt at the end of a "paddling trip", aka mudflat slog to clean it out), the battery connectors have corroded away. (Low-cost option is for me to rig up alternative power supply, which I have done, but it is as yet unreliable and greatly reduces any remaining waterproofness.)
Optimal objective: Minimize cost while maximizing valued features:
1. Basemap showing roads, waterbodies, point locations. (Thus Garmin GPS60 is out - point basemap only; same for Gekos etc.)
2. Waterproof battery compartment. (Thus eTrex series is out.)
3. Good battery life ( > 8 hours).
4. Good signal.
5. USB interface for transferring waypoints to PC.
Desired uses:
- navigation aid for multiday backcountry paddling (canoe and kayak)
- generate maps of my local singletrack trails
- hiking/bushwhack navigation aid
- skiing data (navigation plus speed/odometer functions)
What I don't care much about:
- altimeter/compass not necessary (but altimeter would be useful)
- microSD capacity
What I can go either way on:
- uploadable maps: knowing me, I'm not likely to pay for any topo data, but the ability to get some topo data on the unit could be good. I'm familiar with raster vs vector issues (and think the vector topos aren't so hot) but am open to the idea of viewing topo data on the GPSr.
I'm looking at the GPSMap60. The Map60CSX is obviously sexy, but too pricy, and has features I don't care about... but it has SirfSTAR III, which seems to be better than normal chipsets. The intermediate Map60CS lacks the SirfSTAR chip, and isn't much cheaper than the Map60CSX anyway...
Ideas?
Background: I'm coming from an old Garmin III (not III+) GPSr. Due to the battery compartment not being waterproof, and my avocational exposures to saltwater (and being too burnt at the end of a "paddling trip", aka mudflat slog to clean it out), the battery connectors have corroded away. (Low-cost option is for me to rig up alternative power supply, which I have done, but it is as yet unreliable and greatly reduces any remaining waterproofness.)
Optimal objective: Minimize cost while maximizing valued features:
1. Basemap showing roads, waterbodies, point locations. (Thus Garmin GPS60 is out - point basemap only; same for Gekos etc.)
2. Waterproof battery compartment. (Thus eTrex series is out.)
3. Good battery life ( > 8 hours).
4. Good signal.
5. USB interface for transferring waypoints to PC.
Desired uses:
- navigation aid for multiday backcountry paddling (canoe and kayak)
- generate maps of my local singletrack trails
- hiking/bushwhack navigation aid
- skiing data (navigation plus speed/odometer functions)
What I don't care much about:
- altimeter/compass not necessary (but altimeter would be useful)
- microSD capacity
What I can go either way on:
- uploadable maps: knowing me, I'm not likely to pay for any topo data, but the ability to get some topo data on the unit could be good. I'm familiar with raster vs vector issues (and think the vector topos aren't so hot) but am open to the idea of viewing topo data on the GPSr.
I'm looking at the GPSMap60. The Map60CSX is obviously sexy, but too pricy, and has features I don't care about... but it has SirfSTAR III, which seems to be better than normal chipsets. The intermediate Map60CS lacks the SirfSTAR chip, and isn't much cheaper than the Map60CSX anyway...
Ideas?