OT - Any GPS users out there?

[sam the man..]

Folks,



I've recently aquired a Garmin Geko 201 and a pair of Garmin RINO 110.. <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> These nippy little electronic gizmos are amazing for mapping and marking waypoints.. So far, I've marked some locations in West and East Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia... Looking forward to mark some waypoints in Mongolia, New Zealand and Europe.. Well, who knows? Maybe someday, it will find its way to the Bladeshow or the SHOT show! *hee-hee!*



Sam



have scars will travel..
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[jaxon]

Of course. The sailboater's 21st century sextant.

Jaxon

Weekend yet?

[sam the man..]

sextant.. haven't seen these navigational tools in action for a while.. they are mandatory to learn for commercial seafarers.. <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

Sam

have scars will travel..

[Zrexxer]

I've been playing with a Magellan Meridian lately... GPS technology absolutely fascinates me. With a device you can hold in your hand for under $100, you can stand almost anywhere in the world and know your exact position by satellites miles overhead. It boggles the mind!

Dan

[Ted]

I have a Garmin eTrex Vista. Perfect little thing. Already have the maps loaded for the coming vacation.

[yog]

Ha, not to boast, but the GPS system I use comes with it's own backpack, has an accuracy of 2mm (+/-1mm) and costs £20,000.
Unfortunately work wont let me bring it home on weekends and it doesn't fit on the car dashboard <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

Walk softly, carry a big stick.

[sam the man..]

Dude ~ that's one helluva GPS you have there! I have an old Magellan GPS 12.. Its gone to the dogs now and Magellan had offered for a trade-in for the newer Meridian Platinum.. <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

Sam

have scars will travel..

[zardoz]

Sorry Samo - saw this thread a bit late.
I bought an Etrex to go "Geocaching" a few months ago, it's a great hobby, check out www.geocache.com
A quick check there shows over 30 Geocaches in your area! Hunt em down! :-)

[bell]

Samo,
Your threads are great, your pics are great, you live in a bueatiful part of the world and you are constantly doing cool things in exotic settings. But I am curious, what do you DO? (Please dont answer if you would have to kill me if you told me).

[sam the man..]

Thanks for the leads Zardoz! Will check 'em geocaches out!

Bell - I'm no spook or LEO, just a normal dude who writes for a living.. <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

Sam

have scars will travel..

[travis quaas]

Samo,
GPS's rock! I have the Garmin Vista. I was able to get my hands on the metro map and topo maps of all of the US. It is fun using this little thing. It's funny that you guys mention the Geocaching. I highly suggest you try them out. I was able to get together with a friend of mine and start a personal "geocache". His aunt lives in Missouri, so during the year, she hides something for us to find and then we trade and hide something for her. I love it. Let me know if you would like to do a geocache the next time you're in Colorado. We have tons of them here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TQ

[sam the man..]

Hi Travis! You should be at the BladeShow by now! Yeah, GPS Rocks! They help me a lot in terms of wilderness navigation.. Geocaches.. mmm... didn't really know that there are some in my country.. <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

Sam

have scars will travel..

[Knife Nut]

Well, I am using the Street Pilot 3 Deluxe for my work & personal & it just rocks! Usually 97% on the money with everything. Simple to use & the big color screen & voice prompts are really nice. Plus the fact that you can just type in an address to where you need to go or if you need to find a "point of interest", it can tell you where pretty much everything is at. Like gas stations, hospitals, nearest exits, towns, nearest burger king....& a hole lot more! I added an external magnetic amplified antenna which helps dramatically! Picks up the sat's quicker & it doesn't lose the signal very easy at all unlike the standard antenna that comes with it. It is an expensive unit, but if you can do it, you'll be happy you did!

[rorschach]

<true geek.mode on>
I have a Garmin Legend, a custom serial cable from Hong Kong, linked to an iPaq 5455 running Routis software. I had the pleasure of using this rig on an airplane flying from NoCal to SoCal, very fun. The Garmin is the best walking-exercise tool I have ever found.

/geek.mode

-Rorschach :][: <a href=http://members.cox.net/gurban>HOS</a>

[sam the man..]

Yeah guys! the Garmins really ROCKS! I'm not that happy with the RINOs cos the FRS audio qualities aren't that good.. <img src="sad.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

Sam

have scars will travel..

[zardoz]

Samo - sorry, that url should have been www.geocaching.com

[sam the man..]

no problems dude! nice site and some of the geocache gear for sale are really C<img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0><img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>L, too bad they don't ship outside the US.. <img src="sad.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

Sam

have scars will travel..

[Gary]

Hi Samo,
I use and sell Garmin's Gekos, e-Trex and Rhinos. My biggest problem with them (all GPSs for that matter) is their severe battery usage. I can do better (and go much longer) with my SUUNTO watch and topo map (with a needle compass, whistle and Spyderco around my neck for backup). Batteries are just too heavy when you don't have Sherpas (or anyone else) to carry your gear. I agree about the quality of the Rhinos' radios. As a matter of fact it was Motorola's part of the project that held up the release as long as it did (+1.5 yrs.). I do like the Rhinos for when we take groups into the wilderness. Usually our leader and our caboose carry one and we can track exactly how spread out the group is.... that's handy. As you can see with the Gekos... they are getting smaller. Casio has a watch unit out now... but it is not too trail hardy. I think the next generation (or the one after that) will become small enough that the battery life will make them more useful.
Enjoy... and don't get lost...
Gary

[Concord_Bob]

I have Garmin 12, 45, etrek, emap, and just got the new USB DeLorme GPS unit. The newer Garmin's are great. The older Garmin's are a little slow on aquiring a fix. The DeLorme is fantastic for Laptop use, just traveling or wardriving.