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#1
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Which GPS?
Being a psuedo-Luddite who still has a slide rule (and knows how to
use it), I still use paper charts and think that navigation and position plotting is aesthetically pretty, but I also admit to being a geometry/trig geek. For the last 13 yrs, I have had a Loran that I sometimes trust when it agrees with my plotting. I used to rely on a "knotstik" to get my speed and then when I got the loran started using its stated speed. Far from any recognizable markers or shore features, I reluctantly rely on a Loran position but check it with dead reckoning. I spose I just have a fetish about my hand compass. I am planning to go to he Bahamas where Loran supposedly dont work so am considering GPS but will still use my beloved paper charts so dont need a chart plotter. All I really want is position and speed. Waypoints just get me screwed up because I can never remember if I really entered the correct coords last night or if those coords for WP5 is for my last trip. Considering that my wants are few, which GPS would be best? Do I get one that works off of the boat 12V? Do the hand helds have that option as well as batteries? Most of the hand helds look too much like my cell phone that I purposefully leave at home. I have even been tempted to forego GPS completely but I spose it is a safety thing. Any ideas? |
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#2
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Which GPS?
Considering that my wants are few, which GPS
would be best? Do I get one that works off of the boat 12V? Do the hand helds have that option as well as batteries? Most of the hand Get the Garmin 76 Mapping unit. You'll know where you are and have fun with the world base map. Should you want it to do more, it can and it's cheap at just 299.00 most stores. RB |
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#4
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Which GPS?
The Magellan 315 should do the trick and are fairly cheap if still
available. Parallax wrote in message om... snip... All I really want is position and speed. Waypoints just get me screwed up because I can never remember if I really entered the correct coords last night or if those coords for WP5 is for my last trip. Considering that my wants are few, which GPS would be best? Do I get one that works off of the boat 12V? Do the hand helds have that option as well as batteries? Most of the hand helds look too much like my cell phone that I purposefully leave at home. I have even been tempted to forego GPS completely but I spose it is a safety thing. Any ideas? |
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#6
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Which GPS?
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#7
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Which GPS?
On Mon, 27 Oct 2003 23:49:22 -0500, Ryk wrote:
On 27 Oct 2003 18:49:55 -0800, in message m (Parallax) wrote: I am planning to go to he Bahamas where Loran supposedly dont work so am considering GPS but will still use my beloved paper charts so dont need a chart plotter. All I really want is position and speed.=20 Waypoints just get me screwed up because I can never remember if I really entered the correct coords last night or if those coords for WP5 is for my last trip. Considering that my wants are few, which GPS would be best? I'm very pleased with my Garmin GPS 76. At about US$200 there's not much point in going cheaper. An optional power cable and cradle makes it into a console model. There are enough characters in each waypoint label to use meaningful names. I found the graphical display adequate to drive into a narrow harbour blind. Now that it's set, the anchor watch alarm will wake me anytime the boat moves more than X after sitting still for a while. Go for a little more than the minimum -- you may find you like some of the added features once you have them. Ryk Ah well, there's nearly always a different point of view and here's mine. We've had the GPSMap76 for over two years and think it is ok but would = not want to depend on it for charting. The display is way too poor for that. We use a notebook pc for charting with an old Garmin GPS II connected. = And yes, still keep the paper charts handy and double check. We use the 76 = as a backup and for waypoint direction reference at the helm. I think the original poster only needs the cheapest possible GPS, like a Garmin eTrex (less than $100?) or other cheapie. If one wants to get into charting, the Garmin GPSmap 176 might do the trick. |
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#8
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Which GPS?
Parallax wrote:
Being a psuedo-Luddite who still has a slide rule (and knows how to use it),.... Ahhhh! Such memories. For the last 13 yrs, I have had a Loran snip I am planning to go to he Bahamas where Loran supposedly dont work so am considering GPS but will still use my beloved paper charts so dont need a chart plotter. All I really want is position and speed. snip Considering that my wants are few, which GPS would be best? Do I get one that works off of the boat 12V? Do the hand helds have that option as well as batteries? I have and love the Garmin 48. (may no longer be made.) Main reason was that it was the easiest to work one-handed. I primarily use it similarly to you, but the included light list turned out to be much more useful than I expected. VERY handy in strange places. I have a 12v & data connection to hook up to the autopilot. Except for that, I'd go with NiMH. Be careful of the cheapest ones as they can take forever to lock and lose signal more easily. -- Jere Lull Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD) Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/ |
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#9
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Which GPS?
Jere Lull wrote in message . ..
Parallax wrote: Being a psuedo-Luddite who still has a slide rule (and knows how to use it),.... Ahhhh! Such memories. For the last 13 yrs, I have had a Loran snip I am planning to go to he Bahamas where Loran supposedly dont work so am considering GPS but will still use my beloved paper charts so dont need a chart plotter. All I really want is position and speed. snip Considering that my wants are few, which GPS would be best? Do I get one that works off of the boat 12V? Do the hand helds have that option as well as batteries? I have and love the Garmin 48. (may no longer be made.) Main reason was that it was the easiest to work one-handed. I primarily use it similarly to you, but the included light list turned out to be much more useful than I expected. VERY handy in strange places. I have a 12v & data connection to hook up to the autopilot. Except for that, I'd go with NiMH. Be careful of the cheapest ones as they can take forever to lock and lose signal more easily. Thanks Y'all. |
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#10
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Which GPS?
I'd also reccomend the Garmin GPS-76. The screen is a lot nicer than the
little E-Trex, and it floats. It locks up very quickly and includes a WAAS system for even more accuracy. Easy on batteries, you can use it with a DC power cord if you'd like. Dave "Parallax" wrote in message om... Being a psuedo-Luddite who still has a slide rule (and knows how to use it), I still use paper charts and think that navigation and position plotting is aesthetically pretty, but I also admit to being a geometry/trig geek. For the last 13 yrs, I have had a Loran that I sometimes trust when it agrees with my plotting. I used to rely on a "knotstik" to get my speed and then when I got the loran started using its stated speed. Far from any recognizable markers or shore features, I reluctantly rely on a Loran position but check it with dead reckoning. I spose I just have a fetish about my hand compass. I am planning to go to he Bahamas where Loran supposedly dont work so am considering GPS but will still use my beloved paper charts so dont need a chart plotter. All I really want is position and speed. Waypoints just get me screwed up because I can never remember if I really entered the correct coords last night or if those coords for WP5 is for my last trip. Considering that my wants are few, which GPS would be best? Do I get one that works off of the boat 12V? Do the hand helds have that option as well as batteries? Most of the hand helds look too much like my cell phone that I purposefully leave at home. I have even been tempted to forego GPS completely but I spose it is a safety thing. Any ideas? |
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