I would like to get a GPS sometime next year. I am looking for one that picks up quickly and holds signal even under canopy, is easy to use/intuitive controls, has good topo maps. I would mainly be using it for scouting and finding the best routes/pinch points and the way to my stand and back to the truck in unfamiliar territory. Bushnell makes one called the "backtrack" the looks real easy to use. But it only holds 3 waypoints and no mapping.
I have always been a big fan of the Garmin Rino line. I have the 530HCx and love it. The two way radio feature is great and the peer to peer feature is pretty cool!
What is the peer to peer feature....I have had the basic Rhino and loved it and have also had an H20 and it worked great too
I have the Rino 530hcx as well. The peer to peer feature let's you see your buddies on the topo map as well as talk to them through the two way radio. Awesome GPS for the $$$. Not sure how good they are for your area, but I'm using free maps from www.gpsfiledepot.com and they are really pretty good. I'll drop the $100 when Garmin finally comes out with the high detail 24k maps for my area, but for now these maps are pretty good.
I have a garmin 60csx and it is extremely intuitive and very easy (a pleasure) to use. It is what I use to get to and from waypoints that I have loaded on it. The maps suck. Used in conjunction with good maps, I print my own with my waypoints on them, that type of system, maps and gps, works well for scouting. I also have a delorme pn-40 and, while it is not hard to use, it requires some practice and a bit of paging to get what you want on the screen. The maps you can put on it are second to none. They're awesome. I use it for scouting and examining the lay of the land. I also use it with my maps but it has the same maps (1:24000) on it along with color aerials and satellite. The bushnell backtrack is only good for getting back to someplace it has already been and the waypoint has been saved. It would be good for marking the parking area or the entrance/exit point of the woods that you want to get back to after walking far in. It would be a much better device if you could load the 3 waypoints from map software but, as it is, it is real limited for use in hunting/scouting situations. Garmin would be my first choice but the PN-40 is a fairly close second.
This is one I'm lookin' at. Seems very reasonable price. Garmin etrex H (Description from another websight) Ideal for the mobile hunter, angler, hiker or camper, etrex's H is equipped with a NEW high-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled, 12-parallel channel receiver and a powerful, built-in, patch antenna. Permanent user storage data keeps info secure without a memory battery. The entire unit is waterproof so you can trek through any weather with confidence. Dedicated zoom keys make it quick and easy to navigate the map screen. The highly accurate, built-in hunting and fishing calculator displays optimal times of day to be in the field and on the water. Other features include a resettable trip computer, storage for 500 waypoints as well as 20 reversible routes with up to 124 waypoints. An automatic track log with 10 saved tracks lets you retrace your path in both directions. Two AA batteries (not included) provide up to 22 hours of battery life. Doesn't say much about the mapping. But the waypoints and tracking look good. For the price, it looks like it might be a good choice to start with.
Nice unit. I don't think it does mapping but that is something that is not really needed when it comes right down to it. If you want something that saves waypoints and can get you to and from them, this looks good. Here are a couple of links that may or may not come in handy: http://www.thegpsstore.com/Garmin-eTrex-H-Yellow-P1601C2.aspx http://www8.garmin.com/support/userManual.jsp?market=4&subcategory=41&product=010-00621-10
Yes it is cryptic about the mapping. the description says "Dedicated zoom keys make it quick and easy to navigate the map screen". But that may mean this screen... I think a topo screen would be very useful though.
I think they mean that screen also. The garmin topos really suck. If you are looking for a gps with good topos then you should check the delorme. One other thing you can do is have good topo map software and then print the topo maps with your waypoints on them. Then, when using any gps, when you get near the waypoint you can look on the map and see where you are. You can also determine where you are by checking distance to certain WP's and then plot yourself on the map. Even with my good gps' I usually still carry a map. Just a much bigger "picture" of hwere you are and the way the land flows and runs in relation to your location.
