Re: [Texascavers] GPS Recomendation
I have been a long time user of Garmin GPS units, plus the software MacGPS Pro (Mac only) which allows me to do some neat mapping things on a Mac. The MacGPS site is [http://www.macgpspro.com/] and they also sell cables plus they are talking about a new iPhone app due out soon. Should be interesting. First of all I would strongly recommend the Garmin because of it's nice user interface, and because it can do 10,000 track log points and each track log record has the complete location information (not just a delta from a starting point). Plus if you use WALLS (PC only), you can just plug it in and download your track log and waypoints (specified as a radius from a central waypoint) and the result can be integrated with your cave mapping project. I have the 76CSx which, as I understand, is larger than the 60CSX and therefore it floats. (Good for river trips.) Otherwise, I think the two units are about the same. The x in the model name implies the higher sensitivity receiver which is good for caves in those deep, tree-lined canyons. There is a comparison of the 60 76 models at [http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=139022]. Although the 76CSx has the altimeter function which can be accurately calibrated, apparently this more precise elevation measurement does NOT go into the track log, which instead uses the GPS measurement of z or elevation. Alan Blevins just posted some good information on uploading maps using the PC only software Mapwel. Alan said: The upside: you don't have to buy maps from Garmin. There's a software called Mapwel (free demo, full version for $45) that lets you make your own maps from any image: http://www.mapwel.biz/ On my last trip to Big Bend, I just pulled down a bunch of topos from the USGS seamless server (http://seamless.usgs.gov/index.php), poked around in Mapwel for about 5 minutes, and loaded them onto the GPS. It worked great. - Pete On Apr 24, 2009, at 12:54 PM, Don Arburn wrote: I love my Garmin CSX 60 Sent from my iPhone On Apr 24, 2009, at 12:52 PM, Thomas Sitch dreadfl...@yahoo.com wrote: Dear Friends, The time has come for me to ask for your help. The last time I was seriously doing any orienteering was in the military, and before that digging through USGS drawers at the local sporting goods store hoping to find the topo maps I wanted. I now find myself starting a business where I need a nice hand held GPS, and I obviously want it to do double duty on caving trips and karst walks. I'm looking to spend around $300, but can go higher if there's a really good model I should own. What do you recommend? Which models have served their owners well, and which ones have looked pretty and then broken down with the slightest abuse? My Best Regards, ~~Thomas
[Texascavers] GPS Recomendation
Dear Friends, The time has come for me to ask for your help. The last time I was seriously doing any orienteering was in the military, and before that digging through USGS drawers at the local sporting goods store hoping to find the topo maps I wanted. I now find myself starting a business where I need a nice hand held GPS, and I obviously want it to do double duty on caving trips and karst walks. I'm looking to spend around $300, but can go higher if there's a really good model I should own. What do you recommend? Which models have served their owners well, and which ones have looked pretty and then broken down with the slightest abuse? My Best Regards, ~~Thomas
Re: [Texascavers] GPS Recomendation
I love my Garmin CSX 60 Sent from my iPhone On Apr 24, 2009, at 12:52 PM, Thomas Sitch dreadfl...@yahoo.com wrote: Dear Friends, The time has come for me to ask for your help. The last time I was seriously doing any orienteering was in the military, and before that digging through USGS drawers at the local sporting goods store hoping to find the topo maps I wanted. I now find myself starting a business where I need a nice hand held GPS, and I obviously want it to do double duty on caving trips and karst walks. I'm looking to spend around $300, but can go higher if there's a really good model I should own. What do you recommend? Which models have served their owners well, and which ones have looked pretty and then broken down with the slightest abuse? My Best Regards, ~~Thomas
RE: [Texascavers] GPS Recomendation
Gotta agree with Don on this one. I've owned a few Garmin units from the el cheepo etrex to the Vista HCx but the best mid grade unit on the market now is probably the GPSMAP 60CSx. They have the new high sesitivity reciever for awesome accurcy even in valleys and under heavey foliage, more buttons and less digital menue navigation, color screen, and USB plus serial ports on the back. You dont get much better in the hobbyist consumer market that this. The next step up is the Trimble company products that start at arround $1200 and go up. Wes~ List-Post: texascavers@texascavers.com Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 10:52:55 -0700 From: dreadfl...@yahoo.com To: texascavers@texascavers.com Subject: [Texascavers] GPS Recomendation Dear Friends, The time has come for me to ask for your help. The last time I was seriously doing any orienteering was in the military, and before that digging through USGS drawers at the local sporting goods store hoping to find the topo maps I wanted. I now find myself starting a business where I need a nice hand held GPS, and I obviously want it to do double duty on caving trips and karst walks. I'm looking to spend around $300, but can go higher if there's a really good model I should own. What do you recommend? Which models have served their owners well, and which ones have looked pretty and then broken down with the slightest abuse? My Best Regards, ~~Thomas _ Rediscover Hotmail®: Get e-mail storage that grows with you. http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Storage2_042009
Re: [Texascavers] GPS Recomendation
I second the love for the 60 CSx. The downside: it doesn't come with any maps, aside from basic highways. The upside: you don't have to buy maps from Garmin. There's a software called Mapwel (free demo, full version for $45) that lets you make your own maps from any image: http://www.mapwel.biz/ On my last trip to Big Bend, I just pulled down a bunch of topos from the USGS seamless server (http://seamless.usgs.gov/index.php), poked around in Mapwel for about 5 minutes, and loaded them onto the GPS. It worked great. On Fri, Apr 24, 2009 at 12:54 PM, Don Arburn donarb...@mac.com wrote: I love my Garmin CSX 60 Sent from my iPhone On Apr 24, 2009, at 12:52 PM, Thomas Sitch dreadfl...@yahoo.com wrote: Dear Friends, The time has come for me to ask for your help. The last time I was seriously doing any orienteering was in the military, and before that digging through USGS drawers at the local sporting goods store hoping to find the topo maps I wanted. I now find myself starting a business where I need a nice hand held GPS, and I obviously want it to do double duty on caving trips and karst walks. I'm looking to spend around $300, but can go higher if there's a really good model I should own. What do you recommend? Which models have served their owners well, and which ones have looked pretty and then broken down with the slightest abuse? My Best Regards, ~~Thomas
Re: [Texascavers] GPS Recomendation
Me too--I just bought one last week from Amazon for $295, now it appears to be selling for $267: http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-GPSMap-60Cx-Handheld-Navigator/dp/B000CSWHCY/ref=dp_return_1?ie=UTF8n=172282s=electronics Someone I know that works for ESRI (the company that sells ArcGIS) told me that this is his tool of choice. He said that the Garmin Colorado series models were inferior if you plan to use them on the trail--the antennas are not as powerful as the ones in the GPSMAP 60 series. It has an amazing antenna, a color display, a built-in altimeter and a built-in compass. It accepts MicroSD cards for more memory. I love it. Diana On Apr 24, 2009, at 12:54 PM, Don Arburn wrote: I love my Garmin CSX 60 Sent from my iPhone On Apr 24, 2009, at 12:52 PM, Thomas Sitch dreadfl...@yahoo.com wrote: Dear Friends, The time has come for me to ask for your help. The last time I was seriously doing any orienteering was in the military, and before that digging through USGS drawers at the local sporting goods store hoping to find the topo maps I wanted. I now find myself starting a business where I need a nice hand held GPS, and I obviously want it to do double duty on caving trips and karst walks. I'm looking to spend around $300, but can go higher if there's a really good model I should own. What do you recommend? Which models have served their owners well, and which ones have looked pretty and then broken down with the slightest abuse? My Best Regards, ~~Thomas * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Diana R. Tomchick Associate Professor University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Department of Biochemistry 5323 Harry Hines Blvd. Rm. ND10.214B Dallas, TX 75390-8816, U.S.A. Email: diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu 214-645-6383 (phone) 214-645-6353 (fax) - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
