My ancient GPS died and no one seems happy with anything out there currently. Any suggestions?
I bought a Garmin etrex20 for about 160
I downloaded the topo for the states I hike, hunt, and paddle for free from gpsfiledepot. Used it in the Everglades and found it to match the chart. I use it on the rivers and coastal marshes of SC, and find it mpre accurate than my chart.
GPS and marshes
Tanks Castoff I will check out the info you sent. Spent a lot of the last 20 years sailing and the kayak and inland waterways is newto me. Appreciate your input.
Any good modern gps
will be great. Good reception under a canopy used to be a problem but the modern gps units have that issue nailed now.
DeLorme PN60
The DeLorme PN60 is a very good unit and it comes with free detailed topo/road maps. As a bonus, the road maps are routable so you can use it in a pinch in as a automtive GPS, though the interface is somewhat primitive for that purpose
For additional detail you can download 1:24k maps and sat photos from DeLorme for a small per map fee, or an unlimited amount with a yearly subscription.
It’s also hard to beat Garmin. The eTrex line (10, 20 & 30) is nice, as is the GPS Map 62S. Though Garmin charges a lot for their detailed maps, there are many Garmin compatible maps available free online these days. Or if you can find one used, the Garmin 60CSX is probably one of the best units ever made. It was replaced by the 62S but there are a lot of people out there who prefer the older 60CSX.
GPSMap 78
I’m using a Garmin GPSMap 78. For backcountry areas I have found the (Garmin) Topo maps to be very good. For marine use, you can get the unit preloaded with the excellent BlueChart maps.
Garmin’s newer GPS unit supports “BirdsEye” satellite imagery ($30 annual subscription). Downloading is fairly slow and I use this in a limited capacity. However I have found this to be very useful when you need maximum detail for a relatively small area (critical areas, points of interest, inlets, etc). You can combine this imagery with your other maps and charts.
Greg Stamer
The Garmin78 is a very good unit
– Last Updated: Jun-30-13 12:06 PM EST –
and it floats if I recall. My paddling partner has the older 76.
I like the small size of the etrex20. It has a sd card slot, and has a marine setting with tides and navagation markers. It may also accept the blue chart card from Garmin, but I haven't checked on that. The etrex also can download the birdseye satellite maps for a $30 annual fee. It doesn't float, but I took a pool noodle and cut a bit off and treaded a string through it to use as a floating lanyard. I use mine in the woods as much as on the water so I went with the small etrex.
Here is the link for free downloadable maps.
http://gpsfiledepot.com/
Here is a link that has reviews of many of the garmin units this is of the Etrex20, and you may find a review of the 78 there also.
http://gpstracklog.com/2011/10/garmin-etrex-20-review.html
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