HAND HELD GPS???

[sem]

Does anyone use one of these? If so what type and how do you like them. I've read a little about them just don't really know much abouot them and their features. Just looking for something to get me in the woods and back without getting lost and maybe to help with some record keeping.

thanks

[Collins Country]

Garmin makes a Unit "e-trex" for $99 that will mark your tracks and tell how far you have gone. i use one all the time.

[DIXIEDOG]

They work OK but don't count on them if you hunt thick cover. I lose the GPS signal with mine all the time. I prefer to use a compass and only use my GPS to mark points to help me find them later.

[tommyg]

I use a Magellan Explorist 500 LE with Accutara map software works great has got me out of a few binds,I use it for hare hunting and Brook Trout fishing to find streams. I also take a compass with me to check the Digital compass,also for back up if the unit fails. Mine will quit working about 10 below 0 if I have it out to long. Mine has a color screen and its hard on battries if you want to use it just to get in and out get a E-Trex or Magllan Explorist 100 they will do a good job and don't use up battries like their free.

[sgc]

Also, I think with the $99 e-trex you have to be moving for it to work. In my opinion, its better to pay a little extra & get a gps that shows you the way out without having to be on the move. That way you can try & find an opening to get satellite connection. When you have to be on the move, & you're moving in and out of thick cover, its harder to maintain connection when you need your gps the most.

[walleye101]

I carry one all the time when hunting. Don't often need it but when you do you can't beat it. Just remember to mark the truck when you go in, shut the unit off and forget it. No eating batteries that way. Keep it in an inside pocket so it is warm if/when you need it. Done hunting, turn on unit, hit "go-to" function, and you've got the most direct route back to truck.

[reddog1]

I use the Rhino 530 from Garmin. It is a GPS, FRS Radio, and a Weather Radio all in one. It gets you in and out of the woods and you can talk to your hunting buddies without carrying an extra radio. The weather radio is great when the skies start to get dark from a storm that has just popped up. You can find out where it's headed.

[Spruce Ridge Beagler]

Garmin etrex vista c , it has never let me down yet. You can down load topo maps that really help for hunting. The most important thing is to spend time with your unit and know how to use it no matter wich one you get. I always carry a compass as well.

[jleerockit]

not sure how much u wanna spend but u might wanna checkout the Garmin Astro 220 combo. its a hand held gps that is also a tracking system. holds up to ten collars. the combo comes with one collar included. it has turn by turn navigation, a barometric altimeter, it identifies whether ur dog is treeing, pointing, or hunting, and a long long list of features! the combo runs bout 600.

[dogfacenh]

I purchased a Garmin E-Trex a month or so ago after hunting in unfamiliar territory and feeling lost, it works pretty well. I always carry a compass but sometimes after hunting in extremely thick cover and walking multiple circle you begin to wonder... So far the E-Trex is enough to get me in and get me out without having to be a rocket scientist. I can mark my truck before I cut the dogs loose and can get back to it when I want to, that's about all I need, the E-Trex works for me and it's cheap.

[thornie]

I still trust my good old compass. But I want to see one of these new fangeled ones work. Here's a question for those that use a compass, how many take a back azmith from where you start?

[Tim H]

I am on a search and rescue team and everyone on the team uses them, some more than others. I use it quite a bit in training because I can send someone out with a gps unit to lay a trail for me and the gps maps their track. Then I run my trail with a gps and I can see if we were on track or where I lost it. The etrex and magellion 100 seem to be the preferred ones due to cost efficiency and battery life (color monitors eat batteries as mentioned in a previous post). We want one that is reliable but we won't have a panic attack if it gets dropped or lost while we are searching. Believe it or not, when tethered to a beagle that is intent on catching what is at the end of the track can cause you to fall and break things.

Also, don't just carry a compass as a backup but actually use it as you would if you didn't have GPS. If the GPS fails, all the compass will tell you is which way is north. Most can figure that out by the sun or stars so the compass doesn't add any help to your situation.

However, if you properly use the compass on your way in, you will be less likely to have to call our team and dogs out to find you. As mentioned before, even just doing a back azimuth can increase your awareness and accuracy.

Like any technology, it's great when it works but it''s bad when it doesn't.

[Danny G]

I use the Garmin Rino. The things I like most about it is that it has a radio built in and will send my location to my hunting buddy and his location to me (when ever we transmit) so that we can tell where the other is at. I like the ones with maps, in an emergency it will show you the nearest road which could be closer than your truck. Danny

[j243whitetail]

I use a Garmin Rino 530. The best thing about the rino's is everytime you or one of your buddies uses the built in 2-way radio there location is updated on your display. Its great for thick cover, no one is getting lost or shooting in the wrong direction without knowing.

[MDH68]

I have a rino 530hcx for sale. It comes with vehicle charger and a TRIPLE A battery backup pack that you can carry with you in case your recharchable battereis run low. Also comes with sucction cup window mount, wrist strap, usb cable, and trip and waypoint software and a litium ion batterie charger. Comes with original packaging and instruction booklests.

Asking Price is $275 plus shipping

Mike
269-729-4719

THE HCX MODELS ARE SUPER SENSITIVITY MODELS. I was in a 5 story parking structure yesterday and it was still giving me turning directions.