[JennyJennyII]

Hi there...we are buying a new handheld GPS and see lots of great options out there

....I am wondering if anyone has an opinion on which makes a better a sport handheld that can be used for boating and snowmobiling, etc. I am leaning towards the Megellan, they seem to offer more for the price.

Considerations:
- pre-loaded with basic mapping w/ ability to download more
- Ease of use
- Color?

 

[Guest]

JJ2- It's really what you want to do with it, but my recommendation to anybody is Garmin. Garmin always seemed to have more detail both with the unit and with the chips you buy. both on land and especially on water the color chartplotter is the way to go.
If it's just on-land hiking or stuff like that, you may want to consider just a regular gps path finder type unit.
Hope I helped.

Convincor

 

[Guest]

If you are set on a handheld, I would seriously look at the Garmin GPSMAP 76, or 76S

You can buy great mounts for those units for your snowmobiles, and the boat.

 

[mts101]

I agree with the others. I have had great experience with Garmin products over the years. I have a Garmin Legend that I use as a backup on my boat and on my snowmobile. It has functioned very well in some very extreme conditions. (ie. below zero temps)

 

[Guest]

I had a Garmin GPSMAP 76 mounted on our last boat that went with it when we sold it. Worked great and had a decent basemap and we usually took it on vacation a few times. I do miss having a handheld GPS...

 

[XAM Dan]

Garmen is definetly the way to go... I have the Legend as well, and it's great for the water, the car, snowmoibiling, anything... and, it's submergable... big plus...

 

[JennyJennyII]

Thanks for the input, I will definitly go look at some Garmins then...I do like the option of taking it with me places so I for sure want a hand held...the extrex legend seem so small though...??? The 76 is nice...BoatChic brought hers on my boat last weekend for our trip to The Cove.

 

[Spider]

The Garmin is the way to go. The 76map one has a decent display also. I was given a HP iPaq and I am considering a unit from Teletype that works with it. Its a bluetooth wireless GPS receiver. One other thing to look at is www.gpscity.com. Good prices, no sales tax, minimal shipping charges.

 

[Spider]

Got my teletype GPS receiver and software today. Got it all installed on my PC and iPAQ. Works great. The maps that come with it look to be detailed enough for what I intend to use it for. Will know for sure after this weekends testing at the boat. The receiver aquired signal quickly and the iPAQ displays the maps very nicely al the way down to a 50 foot scale. So far the only thing negative I can say is the map is for the U.S. only and there is no mapping of the Canadian side of the lake. Seeing as I don't go there anyway its not big deal for me. I suppose the marine charts that are available for the lakes would show it though. I may buy them for next year. Figure I'll see how it goes with the U.S. maps first. Really intersested to see how it does at night.

 

[Milord]

Jenny, I'm researching the same thing right now. I have my old hand held and my big fixed mount which crapped on me last year. Anyway, neither of them had map capabilities nor were they color. I have decided on the Garmin 276C, check it out, it flat out rocks.

 

[Spider]

Well, had some time to get used to the software on the pocket pc and it seems to work very well. Aqusition times are instant. It grabs a minimum of 6 sats. Map quality is excellant. I am getting familiar with setting up routes now on it and that is very easy as well. Only down thing I can say is the pocket pc screen isn't very viewable in bright sun. But I wanted it for night time so that won't bother me at all. All in all I'd recommend the teletype GPS setup without reservation. If you already have a pocket pc and are looking for a GPS set up, its a very good buy. I do think I will but the marine software for it this winter too.

 

[bobrob]

QUOTE(Convincor @ Jun 18 2004, 11:26 AM)If you are set on a handheld, I would seriously look at the Garmin GPSMAP 76, or 76S

You can buy great mounts for those units for your snowmobiles, and the boat.
i agree with bill Garmin ,, 76 is what i have i like it works great,,,,,I had megellan And it allways messed up... screen would go blank keys freeze,, I returned it and had replaced with a second one and it did the same thing after time..

 

[seadated]

gotta be a Garmin, i have the Garmin 182C.. its awesome....