Cheap gps ?

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itsonlymoney

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Before anyone says it I will say it first "I know I dont need one on a Lake".......

Any suggestions as to a cheep possibly hand held gps I primarily want it for the anchor alarm but of course its allways there for the future, you never know were you end up. The anchor alarm must be loud enough to wake me from a deep alchohol induced sleep /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
I've had a Garmin 128 (now called the 152) for years now, very reliable and easy to use, I even use it to drive the Raymarine C80.

This is a fixed unit, I'm not sure if hand helds have an anchor alarm.

You can pick up the 152i (built in antenna) for about £150, but I bet there will be better deals at SIBS.

Neil
 
This sort of thing drives me mad. When someone tells you what product type they want, and what 'primary' use is, why recommend something when it doesn't to your knowledge provide that primary function?
 
Don't expect the gps to be very useful as anchor alarm, 'cause it's very tricky to set it properly: it sounds every other minute if the range is strict, it doesn't when necessary if you just enlarge it a little bit.
It depends on various factors (anchor chain length, distance from the coast and/or other boats - and also accuracy of the fixing, depending on where you are), but in practice I always found the radar to be the only meaningful alarm system.
And it works also when it's another boat which moves around.
...though that would probably be a bit over the top on a lake and for your boat, I guess.
 
Er, hang on a minute. I don't know that it doesn't, for fact, not have the capability to sound an alarm if the device moves a certain distance from a set point. I am pretty sure it wont be labelled an 'Anchor Alarm' - it being a phone and everything - but that is not to say it wont have a function that will mean the same net result.

I at least fulfilled two of the three criteria - it is a GPS device and is very cheap (free in most cases).

I note you have yet to make a suggestion to answer the original question.
 
I'd have suggested a second hand Garmin GPS III, but I don't know any cheap gps that has volume loud enough to wake someone from alcohol induced sleep, so had no real suggestions, so didn't suggest any for that very reason.

Still don't understand the concept of giving product advice based on what the responder is purchasing, rather than what is required.
 
To clarify...
With regards to the volume. I normally raft up overnight with two other boats. One of ems a "yacht thing" with anchor alarm that cannot be heard by any one unless your sitting over the helm, tuther blokes got a "propper" boat with a Garmin thingy or summat but no manual so no ones worked it out propperly yet. Any way I just wanted one on my own boat for possible future use and it would also give me a project to do one weekend. Had a look online at the Garmin 152i as previously suggested so thanks for that, still open to suggestions, oh really has to have an inbuilt antenna as well .... thanks.
 
I have N95; can't see anything that would satisfy as anchor alarm. So far, the GPS has been a bit disappointing, takes ages to get a fix. I have a GP30 on my boat (came with it) and it is almost instant to get signal and never skips a beat. eBay is probably the best source.
 
Garmin GPS 72 handheld has one, now 70 quid or so on Amazon (or a lot more with its useful plastic stand). Volume may be an issue though and I suppose you may not always get a good signal if you take it to bed with you /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
At anchor, every now and then, (possibly twice a day), the trail goes for a walk, well outside any anchor alarm zone... no doubt this is due to some abberations in the sattelites, or in the plotters' interpretation, (it's not restricted to Lowrance .... other people experience it aswell).

So I have given up on the anchor alarm facility on the GPS - too many false alarms.

Neither my PC nor the Lowrance would wake me anyway.
 
There is a flaw in your request......If you are woken from an alcohol induced sleep then you will be too pi$$ed to drive anyway!!!!!!!!!!!! Better off spending the money on a better anchor!!!!!!!!
 
I reckon there's no harm in getting a cheap GPS to try the anchor alarm and all the other functions on a personal education basis or just for the fun of it. It may, as you say, come in handy in future.

But you are probably thinking of your specific problem the wrong way round. What you need is a cheap sleep and an alcohol-induced anchor alarm. I suggest making a light line fast to the railings outside the pub at closing time and then trailing it back from the dinghy as you return to your boat. Give yourself about 16ft of slack then attach to manual pull on lifejacket, lie on back, balance large bucket of cold water and ideally one or two oily fish on chest and fall carefully into coma. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
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