Handheld GPS

Hi,

I'm looking at buying a handheld GPS for use camping/canoeing and returning to dive sites.

A few requirements: 1 - Accuracy (duh...) 2 - water resistance (no, I won't take it underwater) 3 - Mac compatible software (not really, REALLY needed but a big plus) 4 - Downloadable Maps for Nova Scotia + the coastal areas. and 5 - Palm/Handspring compatible maps?

Anyone recently buy one of these and have an opinion? Looks like the decision is between the Magellan line and Garmin?

Thanks!

Go to the NG sci.geo.satellite-nav

I'd recommend the Garmin eTrex Legend - specific comments on your reqts. below.

It supports the WAAS corrections for better accuracy. You're pretty far north, so you probably won't see the benefit on land (the geosynchronous satellite that provides the correction data would frequently be below hills, buildings, etc.), but it should help with the dive sites where you have an unobstructed southern horizon.

Waterproof to IPX7 specs which call for immersion for 30 minutes at a depth of one meter.

Not too good here. There's some 3rd party software that works with Garmins (GPSy and MacGPS), but the Garmin MapSource program for downloading maps is strictly PC. Some people do use Virtual PC on their Macs for this with varying success - indications are it should work much better soon.

Garmin does have MapSource maps for Canada. Check out their Enhanced Canada Basemap and MetroGuide map at their website, www.garmin.com. Go to the Cartography section, click on the picture of the MapSource CD, and then use the 'MapViewer' to zoom in your area and check for the level of detail.

Don't know.

Thank you Peter!

It looks like the Legend is the choice. You say I'm pretty far north, we're 1/2 way between the equator and the north pole (and more south than most of Maine) - will that cause problems? Am I correct in assuming that the WAAS satellite is geosynchronous with the equator?

Cheers!

Andrew.

Check out the stuff at delorme maps. http://www.delorme.com - they make a gps, and mac-comppatible maps and stuff to go with a palm pilot. I found that the maps took up a lot of space on the PP, but Ihad a teeny old one. They also have a program that will allow you to mark points in the field so you can add your own notes to the map.

No real problem, but the satellite sending WAAS corrections will be fairly low in the sky and may be blocked by trees, buildings, hills, etc. when you're on land. (This is also true here in the San Francisco bay area at 38 degrees.) In that case you just drop back to normal GPS accuracy which isn't bad these days since selective availability was turned off. The WAAS signals should be more consistently useful when boating where your southern horizon is clearer.

Yes, the orbit is geosynchronous over the equator.

I recommend the Garmin Etrex Vista. It has in addition to the GPS, a flux compass and altimeter. It can hold 24MB of maps. I normally load both Metroguide and Topo maps. The Vista has room for it all. The metro guide shows me the way, and points out restraunts, hotels and more points of interest along the path. The topo maps provide great shore detail, and marks the peaks and has some roads even though the roads tend to be out of date. The Metroguide map is much more up-to-date as far as streets. It has proven to be waterproof since I turned over my sailing kayak with it and it spent 10 minutes under water with not a drop penetrating the case or battery compartment. It has WAAS so under ideal conditions, can show 5ft accuracy. Mapsource software which is used to View the maps on your PC as well as manage waypoints, and download maps does not work on a MAC unless it has a windows emulator.

I meant to post earlier but the server was down...

Just a couple of random thoughts... Before you spend good money on downloadable topo's for NS to the best of my knowlidge most of the data is about 10 years out of date unless the map makers have done thier own surveys. There have been some revisionary surveys done but not many. I use a garmin 12 and find it to do everything required. I have had it long enough that I used it with SA on and off and with SA off I don't miss the corrections at all. (Ive used equipment using the Goast Guard correction and better stuff using RTK too, and for what I do +- 2 M is fine) Off the top of my head there aren't any charts available for the handheld devices,(this was as of say a year ago, but that may have changed) but there are some good ones for PC's, but then you are getting into many thousands of dollars.

I like the Garmin line better than the Magellan line, but that is just my personal opinion, YMMV

Regards Rich Enfield NS

Rich,

I was going to mainly use it for hiking and canoeing in Keji. I find it a bit stressful hauling out the compass, the 1:50,000 and using dead reckoning trying to pick out a small island or point in 25km/h winds in the middle of Keji lake! I also do a bit of scuba diving, but just coordinates are fine for returning to sites no need for topo maps.

I was interested in the Garmin eTrex Legend, until I saw the Canadian maps bundled in their MapSource product. I believe it had the 103 on it, and maybe the road to Maitland Bridge, but not much more - and not topo.

Bummer...

Andrew.

For really unbiased reviews go here http://joe.mehaffey.com and look around.

Regards Rich Enfield NS