The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Skunkworks > Gear and Accessories

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old October 25, 2002, 08:23 PM   #1
klh8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 24, 2002
Location: WV
Posts: 120
GPS's

I am going to be hunting in unfamilar territory this deer season and have been thinking about the garmin etrex gps to keep my mind at ease on making my way back to the truck.
Are these gps units practical for this type situation?Just wondering.
Thanks
klh8 is offline  
Old October 25, 2002, 08:39 PM   #2
Chugach
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 24, 2002
Location: Alaska
Posts: 172
Yep, got one and it works fine for tagging return locations. You can press and hold one button to trigger that function. Just remember to "record" the location of your truck before you leave it!

If you're hunting in heavy timber or steep hills, you may have trouble getting enough satellite locks to accurately locate your position. That's gonna be a problem with just about any GPS unit that you use, not just the etrex. Find a reasonable clearing within a quarter mile or so of your truck and mark it instead, then look for thin tree cover when you're on the hunt.

I'm assuming that you're interested in taking a good map of the area and a compass as well?
__________________
No such thing as bad weather, just bad gear...

"A society of sheep must in time beget a government of wolves." - Bertrand de Jouvenet
Chugach is offline  
Old October 25, 2002, 08:47 PM   #3
nemesis
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 18, 2002
Location: Texas, on the border
Posts: 846
I've been using a Garmin GPS III Plus for many years and I can state positively that the later generation multi-channel receivers have no trouble with trees and similar obstructions. Mine works well in many buildings too.
nemesis is offline  
Old October 25, 2002, 10:47 PM   #4
Chugach
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 24, 2002
Location: Alaska
Posts: 172
The etrex has a 12 parallel channel receiver also. I've been able to befuddle it by taking two steps into light forest cover.

Does the III Plus have an external antenna? May explain the difference in performance. The etrex is a pretty basic unit costing around $120.
__________________
No such thing as bad weather, just bad gear...

"A society of sheep must in time beget a government of wolves." - Bertrand de Jouvenet
Chugach is offline  
Old October 26, 2002, 12:24 AM   #5
klh8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 24, 2002
Location: WV
Posts: 120
Thanks fellas.Yep,I do have topo maps of the area.Thanks alot for the info.
Paul
klh8 is offline  
Old October 26, 2002, 08:12 AM   #6
AK103K
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 1, 2001
Posts: 10,223
Have a good map of the area and a good compass and know how to use them. The GPS is just another tool to go along with them, but can get you in trouble if you rely on it solely. The biggest advantages are to be able to plot where you are on the map and to get the right magnetic bearing from it for your compass. You only need a fix once in awhile if the cover or hills are to heavy. Your GPS can tell you how to go if you did your homework and have your waypoints in it, even with only one or two fixes. As long as you know where your truck is, you can always get back, but not always with just your GPS.

Just an after thought about batteries. Use the lithium batteries instead of alkaline. They cost more, but last a lot longer, especially in the cold. They also last longer just sitting in the truck when the unit is switched off.
AK103K is offline  
Old October 26, 2002, 11:35 AM   #7
Foxy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 14, 2001
Location: Maryland
Posts: 846
The Garmin Etrex series has a little tiny antenna.. that's the tradeoff for having such a compact size. They have a harder time with reception under cover than other GPS's with a beefier antenna. Don't get me wrong, I have two members of the Etrex family and love them.

They do make re-radiating external antennas which should help greatly if you are worried about reception under cover. They are kinda pricey though.
Foxy is offline  
Old October 26, 2002, 02:26 PM   #8
Long Path
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 31, 1999
Location: N. Texas
Posts: 5,899
I haven't used the Etrex, but have been regularly using a Garmin 12, ca 1997, for the last 5 years, and am quite impressed with its features, durability, battery life, and ease of use. Heavy timber can make it take a while to locate or even disallow it alltogether, depending also on the terrain (mountains shadowing the lower sattelites, etc). I very much approve of the dust-proof, water-proof, semi-armored construction, and the fact that it uses easily-replaced AA batteries (4). Backlit at night is a nice feature, too. Name was derived from 12 satellite capability.

Back then, it was a steal at ~$180.

I'm sure that the technology's changed over the past few years, but if Garmin's on the same track they were on back then, they're the stuff to go with, IMHO.
__________________
"Welcome to The Firing Line, a virtual community dedicated to the discussion and advancement of responsible firearms ownership."T.F.L. Policy Page
Will you, too, be one who stands in the gap? ____________
Long Path is offline  
Old October 26, 2002, 03:34 PM   #9
Chugach
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 24, 2002
Location: Alaska
Posts: 172
Coincidentally was reading another thread on TFL and found a reference to nav tools. I eventually ended up here:

Navigation Tools Comparison

May be of interest...

EDIT: May also be outdated information. I couldn't find the Lowrance GlobalNav 212 at the Lowrance website.
__________________
No such thing as bad weather, just bad gear...

"A society of sheep must in time beget a government of wolves." - Bertrand de Jouvenet

Last edited by Chugach; October 26, 2002 at 07:20 PM.
Chugach is offline  
Old October 26, 2002, 04:24 PM   #10
klh8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 24, 2002
Location: WV
Posts: 120
Thanks

Thank you for all the help and input.Just went out and got a garmin etrex today.
Now to learn how to use it.(don't look to bad)
Thanks again
Paul
klh8 is offline  
Old October 31, 2002, 01:27 PM   #11
sniper1az
Member
 
Join Date: July 28, 2002
Location: Phoenix ,Arizona
Posts: 27
See if you could return the ETreck and get the EMAP instead !

The unit will load topographical maps of your hunting area IN GREAT DETAIL and then shows where your camp is and WHERE YOU ARE ON THAT MAP !!! Then it tells you how far from where you want to go is !

The ultimate map / hunting tool !
__________________
Never bring a boxcutter to Jihad , you might get more than you asked for ...
sniper1az is offline  
Old October 31, 2002, 01:40 PM   #12
Bacchus
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 3, 2001
Posts: 259
Make sure to take a look at the models that allow you to pre-program way points from your computer into the unit. You could mark major roads, expected place to camp, etc. before you even leave.
Bacchus is offline  
Old October 31, 2002, 09:38 PM   #13
pdmoderator
Registration in progress
 
Join Date: November 6, 2001
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 1,202
My wife bought me an Etrex. It can't cope with trees.

- pdmoderator
__________________
Give up no state. Give up no ground.
pdmoderator is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:35 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.06267 seconds with 8 queries