Which GPS should I buy ?

edwardseco · Feb 3rd, 2009, 10:24

You wouldn't be willing to do a how to manual for the site would you

? For me it would have to be the idiots guide to GPS trekking whereas for my boy only a tech manual would suffice

..

jivan · Feb 4th, 2009, 19:33

One of the people could do is make maps of their own. Just use one of the inexpensive GPS then could play with it.

http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/index....armin/Download

as an example. It would be fun.

If somebody is in the himalayas and has GNU/Linux and one of the Garmin GPS stuff would be fun to play with.

Sharpened Lyrics · Feb 4th, 2009, 20:24

What about using an iPhone with Google Earth and the built-in GPS locator function? I know Google Earth isn't totally accurate and some of the coverage of the Himalayas region is only in low resolution but used in combination with printed trekking maps it could be a usable solution? I'm hoping to take my iPhone to India with me this year and test it out.

Nick-H · Feb 4th, 2009, 21:03

There are ways and means of using google maps. It is something that I am just not techie enough to play around with these days.

<crossposted>

If one was to use google earth, one would have to be able to get an internet connection. Do trekkers find that cell phone signals and net coverage have preceded them into the hills?

Sharpened Lyrics · Feb 4th, 2009, 22:54

You have a good point, I didn't really think that one through well enough! Of course you would need good cell phone coverage to obtain a GPS reading with an iPhone. Probably not something you can get easily in the Himalayas? Oh well, back to the satellite systems then. Just need to find one that has decent out of city mapping capabilities.

Nick-H · Feb 5th, 2009, 00:42

Well, GPS on your phone will, if it GPS, work just fine --- just that there may not be much in the way of map!

As I've mentioned, Chennai is well covered by Nokia Maps, but on a recent visit to Kerala I found nothing but a few major roads. I was still able to get lat and long coordinated to facilitate seeing places on Google Earth back home. At a pinch, it would have told me the direction and distance from one saved place to another too --- but not much more.

Paresh · Feb 5th, 2009, 23:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by edwardseco

You wouldn't be willing to do a how to manual for the site would you

? For me it would have to be the idiots guide to GPS trekking whereas for my boy only a tech manual would suffice

..

Painful task and its way too technical for IM.

Now even I can't believe that I did that.

OK. Give me some time and I will write that out. But as I mentioned, you save a lot of money and put in a lot of effort!

Other,
Definitely, service provider signals would not be available in far off regions. Stored maps are needed there...

avidtrekker_del · Feb 6th, 2009, 19:10

So, we are back to square one ! Take a detailed terrain map (physical or printout) with good resolution and Logitude+latitude data, use cheap but reliable GPS, giving at least correct coordinates (Long+Latt) and then fix your position over the map manually.

jivan · Feb 11th, 2009, 14:47

Dunno what you guys think of Google Latitude

Another interesting piece I saw on a blog

Comments on both should be interesting to say the least

TimeBandit · Jun 17th, 2009, 07:51

i bought a nokia n810 its not actualy a normal gps its an internet tablet with built in gps. the advantages are that you can use a lot of diffrent mapsources for example gstreet, yahoo, virtual erath, osm maps and any kind of vector-maps such as garmin-maps. so you are very flexible!
search for "maemo mapper" or "navit" for further informations...
i bought it for 200$ last week!

vegan · Jun 22nd, 2009, 13:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by mountaintrekker

Hi,

I want to buy a GPS System which should not be very costly also offering the basic functions. I have never used a GPS so dont have any idea of using it.

Do the normal GPS comes with features like Altimeter, thermometer, waterproof ?

Kindly suggest me good brands and if possible their link.

Thanks in advance.

Hi,

Garmin eTrex H is a good and cheap (less than $100 in USA) GPS unit, especially for hikers/trekkers. I own a Garmin eTrex Vista HCx, which has lot more features than the eTrex H model, but eTrex H should suffice for most, including me.

I use it mostly for creating my trails and waypoints (co-ordinates of important points on the trail). It eases returning to the trail head by letting me know how far and in which direction any given waypoint is from my current location.

However, paper maps and compass are must for backup if going on a remote trail. As are additional batteries for the GPS unit.

Amazon's site contains fairly good review of these GPS units.

Good luck.

cheshta · Sep 10th, 2009, 07:46

Has anyone got experience of using a Garmin Nuvi GPS unit purchased in the USA, and subsequently purchased a map chip that covers India, particularly the State of Rajasthan.
If you did purchase a map chip, where did you get it and does it work well?
Any help is much appreciated.

TimeBandit · Sep 26th, 2009, 20:55

ok so im back and tried the n810 in india!^^
works quite well, and its easy to get the maps you actually need simply by finding wifi access! i didn use it in a professional way, it was more like a gadet, but it stil worked fine with google maaps!

Nick-H · Sep 26th, 2009, 21:37

There may well be members who'd appreciate more technical detail... if you have to time to enlarge on that.

TimMakins · Sep 26th, 2009, 23:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by jivan

Dunno what you guys think of Google Latitude...

Unless your mobile phone has a satellite receiver built into it, the position that it gives out is not your position, but the position of the cell tower that you are currently connected to, from Google's cell ID (cell tower) location database. Whilst in a big city centre this may pinpoint you down to 100m or so, in the countryside the tower may be several kms from where you are, so don't start thinking the Rescue Services can use this to locate you on a trekking trip!

Feb 3rd, 2009, 10:24	#16
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 5,843	You wouldn't be willing to do a how to manual for the site would you? For me it would have to be the idiots guide to GPS trekking whereas for my boy only a tech manual would suffice..

Feb 6th, 2009, 19:10	#23
avidtrekker_del Explore Nature - Enjoy Nature - Trek Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: New Delhi, India Posts: 73	So, we are back to square one ! Take a detailed terrain map (physical or printout) with good resolution and Logitude+latitude data, use cheap but reliable GPS, giving at least correct coordinates (Long+Latt) and then fix your position over the map manually. __________________ Life is a Journey ! Spice it with Adventure !!

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Feb 4th, 2009, 19:33	#17
jivan Maha Guru Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Pune, India Posts: 862	One of the people could do is make maps of their own. Just use one of the inexpensive GPS then could play with it. http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/index....armin/Download as an example. It would be fun. If somebody is in the himalayas and has GNU/Linux and one of the Garmin GPS stuff would be fun to play with.

Feb 4th, 2009, 20:24	#18
Sharpened Lyrics Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Guernsey, Channel Islands, UK Posts: 32	What about using an iPhone with Google Earth and the built-in GPS locator function? I know Google Earth isn't totally accurate and some of the coverage of the Himalayas region is only in low resolution but used in combination with printed trekking maps it could be a usable solution? I'm hoping to take my iPhone to India with me this year and test it out.

Feb 4th, 2009, 21:03	#19
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,213	There are ways and means of using google maps. It is something that I am just not techie enough to play around with these days. <crossposted> If one was to use google earth, one would have to be able to get an internet connection. Do trekkers find that cell phone signals and net coverage have preceded them into the hills?

Feb 4th, 2009, 22:54	#20
Sharpened Lyrics Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Guernsey, Channel Islands, UK Posts: 32	You have a good point, I didn't really think that one through well enough! Of course you would need good cell phone coverage to obtain a GPS reading with an iPhone. Probably not something you can get easily in the Himalayas? Oh well, back to the satellite systems then. Just need to find one that has decent out of city mapping capabilities.

Feb 5th, 2009, 00:42	#21
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,213	Well, GPS on your phone will, if it GPS, work just fine --- just that there may not be much in the way of map! As I've mentioned, Chennai is well covered by Nokia Maps, but on a recent visit to Kerala I found nothing but a few major roads. I was still able to get lat and long coordinated to facilitate seeing places on Google Earth back home. At a pinch, it would have told me the direction and distance from one saved place to another too --- but not much more.

Feb 11th, 2009, 14:47	#24
jivan Maha Guru Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Pune, India Posts: 862	Dunno what you guys think of Google Latitude Another interesting piece I saw on a blog Comments on both should be interesting to say the least

Jun 17th, 2009, 07:51	#25
TimeBandit Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Austria Posts: 12	i bought a nokia n810 its not actualy a normal gps its an internet tablet with built in gps. the advantages are that you can use a lot of diffrent mapsources for example gstreet, yahoo, virtual erath, osm maps and any kind of vector-maps such as garmin-maps. so you are very flexible! search for "maemo mapper" or "navit" for further informations... i bought it for 200$ last week!

Sep 10th, 2009, 07:46	#27
cheshta Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Cape Cod, Massachusetts,USA Posts: 2	Has anyone got experience of using a Garmin Nuvi GPS unit purchased in the USA, and subsequently purchased a map chip that covers India, particularly the State of Rajasthan. If you did purchase a map chip, where did you get it and does it work well? Any help is much appreciated.

Sep 26th, 2009, 20:55	#28
TimeBandit Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Austria Posts: 12	ok so im back and tried the n810 in india!^^ works quite well, and its easy to get the maps you actually need simply by finding wifi access! i didn use it in a professional way, it was more like a gadet, but it stil worked fine with google maaps!

Sep 26th, 2009, 21:37	#29
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,213	There may well be members who'd appreciate more technical detail... if you have to time to enlarge on that.