HandheldGPS between £100-£150 any recommendations?

[joe17]

I have got between 100 and 150 pounds to spend on a handheld GPS. Does anyone have any recommendations.

I have the article from YM August2001. It recommends the Magellan 315 or the MLR SP24 or MLR SP24XC. Any opinions on these or does anyone know of a more up to date buyer's guide or comparison?

Thanks!

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by joe17 on 12/07/2002 10:46 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[trev]

They are all pretty good bits of kit - but my own preference is Garmin 12XL for ease of use and easy to read screen.

Trev

 

[Mike_02]

I've got a Garmin 12. I can't fault it. Watch out for the cheaper makes as they use much more battry power than garmin or magellan.

 

[chas]

I got a Garmin 48 from West Marine in the US for just over £100. It has the US hazards on which I was going to have converted to the European but have never bothered. It is a great GPS.

 

[Skyva_2]

Garmin have a very good user interface. I have a GPS 38 which is slow to acquire but OK as a backup unit. Their modern units are very good.

Also their service is excellent - my GPS 120, years out of guarantee, has had a new unit AND a new aerial, both gratis from Garmin UK. And they downloaded the waypoints to the replacement unit!

Keith

 

[tr7v8]

After asking the forums advice I promptly ignored it and brought a Magellan 320 off of E Bay for £ 137 inc P & P. This included a PC link cable, CD Rom & Ciggy lighter lead.
I've only done one journey with it so far on someone elses boat but am more than happy with it.
Be careful on E Bay, GPS's and especially Garmins tend to be in huge demand and fetch nearly new prices. But there are bargains to be had.

Jim
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[poter]

Without doubt the MLR SP24xc is a great handheld GPS.
IMHO the best screen display of any of the hand GPS's. It also has a basic plotting facility which you can get and interface with your computer.
I got mine at GPS warehouse, good delivery and service.

http://www.gpsw.co.uk/index.htm

poter

 

[SimonD]

I only have experience of the MLR SP24xc, so can't compare, but I'm more than happy with it. The 3 levels of operation mean that it can be configured to be a very basic positioning device or an all singing route planning gizmo. Battery life is also very long. The chart plotting function, though crude and not to be used as a replacement for paper charts (don't want to get sued!) is a great comfort in times of stress.

Higly recommended.

 

[Guest]

To be honest I think they are all pretty much of a muchness.

Quite a few people have asked gps questions. The replies are generally similar in that they all extoll the virtues of the owners particular model.

GPS's seem to have evolved to a point where accuracy, reliablity etc are pretty much a given. Nearly all have reversable routes and large numbers of waypoints so it's all down to personal taste. They all do the job.

Personally I'd hunt around for the cheapest, then maybe buy two

Good luck
Jim

 

[charles_reed]

Garmin and Magellan both produce good equipment.

Garmin definitely score best on after-sales service - providing you buy in the UK.

Battery longevity is a function of size of battery vs screen size and brightness.

 

[brian_neale]

Battery life is also a function of the age of the design - my GPS12 is a great piece of kit, easy to use, subjectively more sensitive than a colleague's Etrex - but it eats batteries as if it were sponsored by Duracell!