roboandkate
Member
I'm looking for a splashproof handheld GPS, want something simple that will give lat & long and course & speed over the ground. Big buttons & display and as few features as possible would be ideal. What's recommended?
Which Handheld GPS
- Thread starter roboandkate
- Start date
StephenW
Well-Known Member
Old style garmin GPS 12 works well - may be able to pick one up secondhand very cheaply
pvb
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I'm looking for a splashproof handheld GPS....
[/ QUOTE ]No, you need a waterproof one for boating. Garmins are good.
I'm looking for a splashproof handheld GPS....
[/ QUOTE ]No, you need a waterproof one for boating. Garmins are good.
PeteCooper
Well-Known Member
If you can find a secondhand Magellan 310 it would be ideal for your requirements.
VicS
Well-Known Member
I've been looking at these for some time. I have not bought one yet, maybe never will. My requirements are about the same as yours.
I reckon its got to be Garmin based on general opinions and experiences on here.
I think the choice is therefore between the Geko 201 (the smallest of the lot), the basic Etrex and the GPS72.
All are waterproof to IPX7 and all are WAAS enabled. Remember battery consumption is high so if to be used on the boat my favourite will be the GPS72 with marine pack (12V powerlead, mounting bracket etc)
All three can be compared on the Garmin website: www.Garmin.co.uk in the "outdoor" section.
I reckon its got to be Garmin based on general opinions and experiences on here.
I think the choice is therefore between the Geko 201 (the smallest of the lot), the basic Etrex and the GPS72.
All are waterproof to IPX7 and all are WAAS enabled. Remember battery consumption is high so if to be used on the boat my favourite will be the GPS72 with marine pack (12V powerlead, mounting bracket etc)
All three can be compared on the Garmin website: www.Garmin.co.uk in the "outdoor" section.
Amulet
Well-Known Member
I had a Garmin 12, now have Garmin 72. Both are pretty simple. I junked (sold for 30 quid) the 12 because it ate batteries to the point of it being a serious expense and was on some wierd voltage (7ish?) which prevented it running direct off the engine battery. I started off simple like you aim but soon grew ambitious. Found problems getting the 12 to talk to a computer (unresolved and may be my misunderstanding) - no problems with the 72.
72 has a sensible screen, and you can configure it to show less lines of text and BIG letters. Being of advanced geezerhood, that helped my old eyes. 72 is waterproof and floats.
There is a Garmin 12 variant (12L?) which does run at 12 volts and may be less greedy for all I know.
If by hand-held you mean small - then you my 72 is not the best - it's pretty chunky.
Saw some snivelling on one of the forums recently about the 72 developing faults and about Garmin support. Actually I have two(!) 72's, such is my enthusiasm, and both have worked perfectly. Also I have asked Garmin some demanding and some stupid questions by email and have got intelligent answers.
72 has a sensible screen, and you can configure it to show less lines of text and BIG letters. Being of advanced geezerhood, that helped my old eyes. 72 is waterproof and floats.
There is a Garmin 12 variant (12L?) which does run at 12 volts and may be less greedy for all I know.
If by hand-held you mean small - then you my 72 is not the best - it's pretty chunky.
Saw some snivelling on one of the forums recently about the 72 developing faults and about Garmin support. Actually I have two(!) 72's, such is my enthusiasm, and both have worked perfectly. Also I have asked Garmin some demanding and some stupid questions by email and have got intelligent answers.
FAITIRA
Well-Known Member
My Garmin 72 works well on the chart table with no ext antenna, and it,s linked to the vhf, dsc. Good value cables etc from "gpsbitz".
theforeman
Well-Known Member
my 310 has given up the ghost. it lost the ability to lock on. i tried the fixes you set out in a past thread - no joy. now it will not switch on. any suggestions ?
FrankieJ
Active Member
I have a Garmin Etrex, and it does what it says on the tin. It's simple to use,( it had to be cause i'm no geek ) re. batteries, I use rechargeables and a 12v powered, quick charger,which plugs into the boat, that I bought from '7 dayshop. com' ( to whome I have no connection) one set of batteries in the GPS and one set in the charger. The batteries seem to last a long time between charges, I think for two reasons, 1- I don't leave it on all the time and 2- I bought the largest capacity batteries on sale at the time, which are 2800ma. The buttons are no problem either. Reading the info was easily solved, I bought a pair of 'readers' for 3 quid from the local market, but you may not have the problem that my advancing years have brought.( I am refering to eyesight) And all for less than £100.
I must add that it was my first venture into GPS and I was afraid it would be complicated. I was surprised how simple it is to use.
I must add that it was my first venture into GPS and I was afraid it would be complicated. I was surprised how simple it is to use.
dt4134
Well-Known Member
I've got an eTrex and it works fine.
I've found two limitations, both of which can be lived with:
1) when you create a route it gives you the distance between waypoints but not the bearing. It means you have to be extra careful when checking the waypoints against the chart and be especially suspicious if there are even small differences between the charted distance between waypoints and what the GPS reports.
I've developed the habit of setting up the route I want to sail on the fixed GPS on whatever boat I'm sailing and using the HH to programme up the position of buoys and marks I expect to pass along the way, so that I know where to look to spot them.
2) The routes can't be named. It automatically assigns names based on the first and last waypoints. Fine for cruising from one port to another, but a nuisance where you might be racing over one of a variety of courses all starting and ending at the same places.
I've found two limitations, both of which can be lived with:
1) when you create a route it gives you the distance between waypoints but not the bearing. It means you have to be extra careful when checking the waypoints against the chart and be especially suspicious if there are even small differences between the charted distance between waypoints and what the GPS reports.
I've developed the habit of setting up the route I want to sail on the fixed GPS on whatever boat I'm sailing and using the HH to programme up the position of buoys and marks I expect to pass along the way, so that I know where to look to spot them.
2) The routes can't be named. It automatically assigns names based on the first and last waypoints. Fine for cruising from one port to another, but a nuisance where you might be racing over one of a variety of courses all starting and ending at the same places.
A
Anonymous
Guest
I'm intrigued - why do you want as few features as possible?
Solitaire
Well-Known Member
Very simple - Garmin 76. Not the map version but the plain 76. It serves me well on all my delivery trips and has saved me when expensive kit goes down.
The Etrex is good, but if you are over 40 or slightly visualy impared the "76" cuts the mustard. If I sound biased, then yes I am - logged over 6,000 nm on my current one!
The Etrex is good, but if you are over 40 or slightly visualy impared the "76" cuts the mustard. If I sound biased, then yes I am - logged over 6,000 nm on my current one!
pvb
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
If you can find a secondhand Magellan 310 it would be ideal for your requirements.
[/ QUOTE ]Except that, like most Magellans, it's not waterproof! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
If you can find a secondhand Magellan 310 it would be ideal for your requirements.
[/ QUOTE ]Except that, like most Magellans, it's not waterproof! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
2nd_apprentice
Well-Known Member
Thought of getting the garmin 60 (without map). The older designs aren't much cheaper. The 60 needs less power and connects via USB. Am I missing something?
jwrhind
Well-Known Member
I have a Garmin GPS60 and would recommend this as a simple handheld GPS. It came out well in a review by one of the sailing magazines a few years ago.
Has USB connection to PC for transferring waypoints. Also does anchor alarm function.
This has no maps or colour display and battery life is okay.
Has USB connection to PC for transferring waypoints. Also does anchor alarm function.
This has no maps or colour display and battery life is okay.
DRANNIE
Well-Known Member
Hi, Ive got a Garmin GPS 60 which is great. It can pick up a signal inside the boat without an ariel. A really handy feature not found on some really basic unit is that I can down load waypoints off my PC plotter either with a preloaded route or create routes on the go. For Burnham week I stuck all 20'od bouys into my PC and down loaded it into the GPS and just put together a route on the morning of the race when the course was announced. Its bounced around the cockpit and got wet, still works.
Twister_Ken
Well-Known Member
One thing I find reassuring about Garmin is that its kit is becoming the de facto OEM nav suite for the latest generation of light aircraft. That's a far more mission-critical use than saily boats, and people leike Cessna would not be offering it if they weren't confident it was going help keep their products in the air.
pheonix
Well-Known Member
i'm another in favour of a basic etrex does what it should and simple to use "well i can use it and i am no whiz with gadgets" i also use high capacity ni-cad's rather than alkalines however when they run flat they do so without much warning so a second set of bateries on standby is a must
/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
G
Guest
Guest
I also support the basic eTrex ... no fuss ... simple ... does what it says on the plastic bubble wrap !
I use Rechargeables .. carry a spare pair as well. I have both 12v + RS232 cable to run from ships supply or a USB cable which will power it also.
Only niggle I have ... shop I bought it from - when they gave me the cable - they broke of the "nipple" on the plug ... so it doesn't click into the locking slot ... they thought it was a moulding flash !
Excellent little machine ...
I use Rechargeables .. carry a spare pair as well. I have both 12v + RS232 cable to run from ships supply or a USB cable which will power it also.
Only niggle I have ... shop I bought it from - when they gave me the cable - they broke of the "nipple" on the plug ... so it doesn't click into the locking slot ... they thought it was a moulding flash !
Excellent little machine ...