[meteorite-list] GPS

From: Galactic Stone & Ironworks <meteoritemike_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 14:01:49 -0500
Message-ID: <e51421550904191201k4396e18dl70397e8dd2d23737_at_mail.gmail.com>

Hi Folks!

When I said "city driving", I should have been more specific. I don't
need turn by turn routing and voice prompts. I just need something to
help me find my way back to the nearest highway if I get lost down a
dirt road or a BLM area. And I won't be doing any polling or linking
up to other GPS units in the field - just something stand alone for
general purpose hiking/boondocking and also to document any meteorite
finds in-situ. I prefer a unit with a compass and altimeter built in.

Does that change any recommendations?

Also, I won't need more than 10 hours or so battery life between
charges. Maybe 12 tops.

Regards,

MikeG




On 4/19/09, Mr EMan <mstreman53 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Well Mike, I am a fan of the Garmin Rino series 110/120/130 and
> 530/530(color) They are water proof, 5-14 mile range dual GPS and FRS/GRS
> radio units which can be slaved to a laptop GPS program and powered from
> either internal batteries or off vehicle power. You can use several map
> sources including Garmin's map set made for city/vehicle navigation.
>
> You can load topos on all three and they have a built in GRS/FRS radio which
> allows search party members to "poll" other members and automatically import
> their locations dynamically into your map screen. The Rino 110 is a
> cheapest version which still polls but is a little under size memory
> capacity for topo maps but is still good for axillary members of your search
> party especially if they are, for instance, driving your vehicle to the far
> end of the search area for later link up. All units have only built-in
> memory--a necessity in keeping them water proof and none hold all the maps
> I'd like to have available at one time but you can swap them out from a
> Windows laptop or Mac via Parallels Widow emulator.
>
> I have 4 units: a 130 with map capability plus weather radio, a 120 with map
> cap, two bright yellow 110 units plus 4 regular FRS radios so everyone in
> camp can keep in touch.
>
> Most any time on eBay the 530/520c new are $300-400, the 130 and 120 are
> under $200 and the 110 is usually $80 or less occassionally $50! But as a
> dual unit for city navigation I don't think they are the best owing to lack
> of voice and small screen. This makes them affordable for the whole search
> party and preserves the polling feature which allows everyone to keep up
> with the location of everyone else.
>
> One caveat is the radio side can be an issue when traveling to certain
> foreign locations where personal two way radios are restricted.
>
> I am sure there are oodles of other opinions but this seems to work for me
> and my situations.
>
> Elton
> --- On Sun, 4/19/09, Galactic Stone & Ironworks <meteoritemike at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>>
>> What is a good dual-purpose GPS?
>>
>> I want something that has loaded Topo maps for
>> prospecting/hiking use and can be used handheld. I'd also like the
>> ability to dash mount the same GPS and use it for city driving. Is there
>> a good GPS like this that doesn't cost more than $200 or so, maybe $250?
>>
>> I'd like to keep things simple when out boondocking and
>> hunting for meteorites - so one GPS is better than two, not to mention
>> less batteries and chargers.
>>
>> Thanks in advance!
>>
>> MikeG
>

-- 
.........................................................
Michael Gilmer (Louisiana, USA)
Member of the Meteoritical Society.
Member of the Bayou Region Stargazers Network.
Websites - http://www.galactic-stone.com and http://www.glassthrower.com
..........................................................

Received on Sun 19 Apr 2009 03:01:49 PM PDT