Serious h/h GPS question

[Wiggo]

Assuming serious questions are still allowed...

I don't wish to know how they work, or how to build one, but I inherited an old Magellan GPS with the last boat, and it lives in our grab bag, but it's getting a bit tempremental.

Any recommendations for a cheap and cheerful handheld that can run on AAs - it doesn't need to be flashy, as it will live in the grab bag, and hopefully I'll never need to use it...

 

[jhr]

I've got a Magellan Sportrak, which is about £145, and which we actually use as our main GPS, 'cos it came as a bundle, with a mounting bracket and combined battery/NMEA lead (it's all you really need on a boat our size but could no doubt be used on your boat, at a pinch, were your main GPS to go pear shaped). It takes AA batteries.

Otherwise, I've heard the Garmin Etrex spoken of very favourably (think it also takes AAs) at around the £90 - £100 mark, and it would have the legendary Garmin after sales support, of course. Also the software is allegedly more intuitive than the Magellan.

 

[rickp]

I have the Etrex (albeit the Vista, which has all the toys) and its very good. Takes AAs as you say, but the Vista is a bit hungry. Turning off the fluxgate compass helps on that front.

Used to use mine for all sorts of things, but it tends to live in the grab bag since I got the TomTom stuff - no need to have it in the car anymore /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Rick

 

[steverow]

Garmin etrex, Ive got one...OK bit of kit....no frills but does what it's supposed to.
I think I saw somewhere, maybe Compass or Force 4, dunno, on offer for £69.99.

Steve.

 

[PhilF]

yup, i use basic e trex for nav in car and boat in spain with ipac, works fine all the time

 

[jfm]

Yup we have etrex in the grab back. also worthwhile putting a chart in there. Bit boring knowing your lat/long off the etrex but not being able to see where that is on the chart, imho

 

[Wiggo]

I kind of assumed we should know roughly where we were, and the GPS was just to give lat/long to the CG, but I take your point...

BTW, thanks for the input: I think the Garmin seems to win hands down.