GPS

Steve Gray May 17, 2004 14:37:00

I'm considering buying a GPS unit. What I'd really like is a rugged hand-held device with OS 1:25K full-colour mapping. However, my preliminary reseach suggests that such a device is not available at least as an off-the-peg item. Even the mid-range units (such as the Garmin Vista) that purport to support mapping don't do proper OS mapping. They don't seem to be worth the extra money over an entry-level model.

One option for a high-feature system seems to be to use a PDA with either a plug-in or a bluetooth GPS add-on. This sounds attractive in that it the PDA fulfils other roles too (diary, etc). Does anyone have any experience of such a combo or any other recommendations? Can the bluetooth GPS unit stay in a backpack so that only the PDA needs to be hand-held?

FourWinds May 17, 2004 14:54:41

Replying to Steve Gray

The GPS unit's aerial will need to be in the open (on top of your hat or something!), but the box-of-tricks will be ok in your bag - this will be very small though I'd imagine.

I would say GPS with 1:25K mapping is overkill, but if you like gadgets then go for it and tell me how wonderful it is!

Just out of interest, which PDA offers enough storage to have 1:25K maps on them? or is it a case of just putting relevent maps on the unit before you go out?

Basically, which PDA/BT combination are you thinking of?

Jane May 17, 2004 15:40:52

Replying to Steve Gray

Call me old-fashioned, but when we went to Land's End in March, we found that a pile of OS maps, an 'eye' for landscape and a 'nose' for sniffing out this stuff were far more useful than ocifant's GPS. Save yer wonga, Etienne Gris, and buy MAPS instead! You don't have to replace batteries in 'em or anything.

But you've probably set your heart on a GPS now, eh?
J
x

FourWinds May 17, 2004 19:11:12

Replying to Steve Gray

I reckon the best place to ask would be on a <overt your eyes everyone> GeoCache web site or maybe an orienteering/mountaineering/etc site.

Rivington Pike May 19, 2004 20:38:09

Replying to Steve Gray

Hi Steve,

I went throu' the same search for infomation back in March, and As usual "our friends" on TMA came up with the goods. Have a look at the following strings for their advice.

http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/forum/?message=187830&thread=17166

I ended up buying a Garmin Extrex Venture from Expansys
http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=110989

and TrackLogs 25k Digital Mapping program.
http://www.tracklogs.co.uk/cgi-bin/publ/user.cgi?obj=shop&micro=as_shop_tracklogs&page=25K%20Site%20Centred

I've found that both software and hardware work well together and I'm well impressed with the accuracy of the GPS.

Hope this helps

RIV

Ike May 19, 2004 23:25:23

Replying to Steve Gray

I have got a eTrex summit anf Tracklogs 1:50000 map of Great Britain.

As the yanks would say Awesome hardware and software. You can print maps out from the this software at any scale (detail alwasys as 1:50000) and you can view it in glorious 3D with version2 software.

Rated :-)

I highly recommend www.tracklogs.co.uk for GPS klt.

Ike

The GArmin Forerunner looks nice.