GPS Handheld

[dickandjill]

I am about to buy a Garmin handheld GPS for use on my boat and also occasional use when out walking etc.
I have narrowed it down to a GPS60 or a GPS72 or possibly a Etrex Legend.
Has anyone any experience of any of these to help with my decision?Also what is battery life like with Nimh rechargeables?
Thanks
Richard

 

[Blue Fox]

A couple of weeks ago I bought a Garmin 60, in combination with a laptop. If you plan to use a pc with only usb: beware, it doesn't work with for instance seaclear and some other programs. At the end I bought a second hand gpsmouse for a tenner to solve my problems!
Otherwise it is a good gps, quite sensitive. Although the screen is in low light hardly readable (in sunlight it is OK). Batterylife is reasonable - will take 24 hrs or so.
Chris

 

[BruceDanforth]

The Etrex Venture has a good display, simple menus and a power saver mode. Battery life OK on duracell. I generally just turn it on for a couple of minutes for a fix so I don't know how long exactly it lasts. It seems quite waterproof though it did mist up in the tropics for a few days. It is the green etrex.

 

[wavelet]

I only know the Garmin 72, of which I have two. The voltage range ensures it runs at almost any state of the boat batteries. I only use NiMH rechargeables to maintain while switched off although they do not hold charge longer than a couple weeks so I put standard good quality AA's instead. I use 12Volt and leave the unit on constantly while at sea and often over night or for a couple of days when in port, so 12 Volt supply essential for me.
Big screen is good. Floats, which means has pretty good rain and spray resistance.
Don't like the way hand moves over screen when thumbing the central rocker, would prefer that below screen. Would like a simple hook rather than the centred dangle cord and the twelve volt lead projects behind so unit does not lay steadily against surface or even flat on back.
First GPS unit was in 1994, a Garmin 45, lost its abi;ity to lock on to satellites when stored for six months without batteries, guess it can be reprogrammed.
Didn't like tiny ETrex, power supply lead contacts like mobile phone type and looked vulnerable to corrosionand scewiffing damage. Power supply lead very expensive. Fewer batteries so less time on one set, just too tiny plus a tad plasticcy.
Didn't like the Garmin Geko at all despite early fascination at the clever marketting (includes Hunt the Gecko game which is a real obsession of mine but I don't want it to be sold at me).
/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Garmin 72 my choice.

 

[wooslehunter]

I've been using a Garmin72 for teh past 3 years as the primary GPS on the boat. It's not sited in the best possible position for reception but has performed OK and is feeding the autopilot & VHF DSC.

I did spot some strange outputs though and have yet to get to the bottom of them so it may be something simple or just finger trouble. I have defined one of the screens to show "Time to Next" and "Time to Destination". Sometime I get some very strange results.

Would still recommend one though - cheap, easy to use

 

[wavelet]

[ QUOTE ]

I did spot some strange outputs though and have yet to get to the bottom of them so it may be something simple or just finger trouble. I have defined one of the screens to show "Time to Next" and "Time to Destination". Sometime I get some very strange results.


[/ QUOTE ]
Dakar to Gomera, Garmin 72 showed an impossible twenty mile, 90 degree, detour on a gentle night. The track had a three mile hook at the end and then returned along the same detour to the boat position. I was asleep while it did this and, upon noticing it, spent some time thinking the boat had been abducted by an aliens.
Another night it leapt five hundred miles to the north west, at a speed of three hundred knots. I spotted it this time and spent a weird full moon night wondering if the boat really was now a hundred miles to the north west of La Palma. When the position returned to one hundred and fifty miles off Cap Blanc, Mauritania, things returned to normal.
Eventually got to Gomera after 27 days at an average rate of one point eight knots. Who knows maybe we did go for the odd wild flight /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif?

 

[michael_99]

I have just bought the GarminGPS60, and use Oziexplorer and for me it works fine.However,as it hasn't a proper map display, you should first think of what kind of maps you want to use, one thing you don't want, is to have to buy two kinds of maps.

 

[Guest]

Seaclear .... interesting ?

Why does it not work with Seaclear ? Which has provision for as many virtual ports as a PC will create .... second has NMEA and formats to suit ...

I think you may have a parameter incorrect in your set-up ....

As to GPS Mouse - they have a distinct disadvantage - They only work with PC on .... they cannot work alone. A GPS HH on the other hand for little more is a much better deal - as it works with or without PC ......

ANY GPS outputting data NMEA will work with Seaclear ...

Not being smart or rude ... but just passing on info.

 

[William_H]

Re: Seaclear .... interesting ?

I have had the Garmin Etrex for a long time. No probs. I do find that I need specs on to read it especially in the dark and have trouble seeing the display from a distance especially speed. Maybe your eyesight is better than mine.
The connection for power is a bit dicky at times. I was able to knock up a power converter 12v to 3 volts to run the Etrex on. I also found that the antenna performance was not brilliant especially among tall buildings. I understand the Gecko will loose all stored data if you change batteries which makes it to my mind hopeless.
So bigger the screen the better but then not so good for walking. olewilll

 

[Guest]

eTrex ....

I have the base eTrex and I think it is a very good piece of kit for what it is ... price and size.

Regarding the power connector ... I too had trouble with this as it was falling out at times ... especially when hung by the cord on my sprayhood ... the eTrex hangs "upside down" ... cord is attached to bottom.

I found out why ! The power / data cable supplied by many chandlers has the moulding flash cut of the connector .... STUPID - This is designed to click into the little hole when connector is made to the eTrex ... then the cable is very firm and is secure against most knocks etc. My later USB connector came WITH moulding flash still on ... excellent.
Pity that my 12v / data combined cable was knackered by the chandler ... I went back and looked at others - same - I mentioned it to the guys behind the counter and they reckoned the cables were supplied like that ... maybe ?

So to keep a eTrex cable in place ... Do NOT cut of the "bauble" on the plug .... it has a definite use !

As to battery life .... on 2100 NiMH - I get about 15hrs on full use ... over 24hrs if I use batt save.

 

[Blue Fox]

Re: Seaclear .... interesting ?

It does work with oziexplorer and its own mapsource. But it has a propriety sentence in its software: it doen't make a virtual serial port - which makes it useless for (f.i.) seaclear. Older Garmins do work allright. See the thread of a couple of days ago on this forum.
Chris

 

[Guest]

If it works with Ozi-ex ...

there is no reason it will not work with Seaclear ...

Are you using latest Seaclear ? Seaclear2 ??

Ozi-ex will not work without a virtual Com Port with USB ... same as most other items ...

Maybe look at this > On the Comm page there are 3 boxes ... TX1 / RX1 RX2 RX3 ................ are you trying to use TX1 / RX1 for connection ? This is the passthru box usually and is best to disable and use RX2 box ....

I am sure that there is a config error somewhere as Seaclear in fact has more permutations on connections than most other Software I know ... in fact I haven't come across a combination that I haven't sorted yet ! Even when presented with that most useless of adaptors - The Belkin USB - RS232 one which is often supplied without driver !!

I have sorted USB into multiple Serial RS232 connections to share data without passthru, I have made various GPS items talk where I was told - not possible .... It's a hobby to me - I enjoy a puzzle and enjoy solving it ...

Seaclear is a doddle once the basics is sorted.

 

[Blue Fox]

Re: If it works with Ozi-ex ...

I have tried everything I could think of - and followed all the hints given on this forum in the mentioned thread (indeed also what you suggest). I contacted the helpdesk of waypointgps (a program similar to wingps - I also have the freeware, doesn't function either). Well, It still doesn't work in all except oziexplorer. I understand from the people of waypoints gps that Garmin has for the 60 another kind of software. Anyway, I now bought a used usb gpsmouse, and it is working like a doddle - so I do not think my configuration was to blame.
Chris

 

[Guest]

If you are sorted and happy ....

OK ...

Pity as I like a challenge and having not found an instance of Seaclear refusing to accept data before - except where set-up is in error ... I am intrigued !
I know that NMEA format ... where there are different versions can sometimes upset it - upset any data accepting software in fact ...

Well I shall never know what is stopping it now !!

Did you send any message to Olle ? to let him know about the problem ? Maybe he has an idea - as he wrote the program and knows exactly what it will or will not do ....

 

[Blue Fox]

Re: If you are sorted and happy ....

It doesn't seem to work with maptech either. Btw, I like seaclear very much - only use the waypointgps program because they have Dutch charts with vector-mode buoys, so I can update them every month. Well needed if you sail the waddenzee.
I will inform the maker of seaclear as you suggested.
Chris

 

[PhilF]

Re: If you are sorted and happy ....

my basic etrex worked with both seaclear and maptect, saying that I have now moved on to PDA and bluetooth GPS for less wires to warry about

 

[Guest]

The dear old eTrex ....

Yes it is a basic piece of ****** ...... but

It works

It handles all NMEA required by any Chart program

It works WITHOUT PC - unlike GPS Mouse

It slides into pocket easily

It lasts more than average days outing on a set of AA's

It is clear and simple to use

For the price what more ?

If you are reading a PC screen or GPS repeater - then why pay more for something that you will hardly ever look at ?

Yes I own a eTrex and very glad I have one - its excellent tool .... little different in size to a cigarette packet ...