The American Beagler Forum

What's your experience and the "good/bad" of any gps system you've used? (not to find hounds but find your way out or to way points.
I'm pulling the trigger on a Garmin etrex venture, not sure if it's to much or not enough, just want to find the truck before dark...
Thanks for any input...

I have one that is a few yrs. old and it works great, it has allot more options on it than I'll ever use. It works great to find your way back to the truck and to mark spots when your out fishing so the next time you go out you can find your honey holes

For me, Garmin are the most "user friendly". Also, the newest ones are much easier on batteries than the older ones. If I were you, and used it for simply finding my way back, I'd get the simplest one available, but there's nothing like seeing the Topo maps on a screen to help you navigate, or perhaps find better "Honey Holes". Terry McBride

I agree that Garmin are the most user friendly. I have the Rino 110 that also has a walky talky. I use small headphones so that the rabbits or deer wont hear the radio. My hunting buddy also has one and they will broadcast our locations so that we know each others location when hunting. I disagree with getting a basic unit for getting back to the truck--If you are hurt you might want to get to the nearest road. I wish that I had gotten a better unit with a base map. So my advice would be to get the best one that you can afford at the time. Danny

Yes the e-trex is easy to use and gives you the data to go where you want and return easy, make some saved trails etc. I have talked to a few other guys that got more complicated ones and they don't like them. Having the maps is great though. I thought the same, spend @ $100 for one that will do most all I need OR $350 for one and a map card may be $80 xtra for it also, this one will take more time to get used to, but then you can plug it into your computer and add to the maps and trails you use or make. I just missed the e-trek on sale for $ 79.00, NO RAIN CHECKS, FOR THAT TYPE OF MONEY IT'S WELL WORTH IT, you can always get a better one later, wouldn't be hard to sell the e-trek either. Garmin has more up to date maps also, I believe they leed the industry in mapping.

I have a Garmin but it stays in the pack most of the time. Around here my GPS drops coverage all the time in the woods, if I'm counting on something to get me back to the truck before dark it will be my Brunton compass not my gps. In the open it's never a problem but deep in the woods I've yet to see a GPS give 100% performance, especially if you hunt in the mountains, you'd be better off following the sun.

I use the Megellan Explorist 100 but bought a 500 off Ebay new for a third of the cost. The Explorist is more accurate than the E Trex and less expensive. Your map software is cheaper also and better. The E trex will do the job but the Megellan is more user friendly.

I would recommend getting a GPS that works while you're standing still and doesn't require that you have to be moving. It doesn't seem like it would make much difference, but sometimes you can lose signal while moving (especially in the thick stuff) & at least if it works while you're standing still, you can get a good bearing. JMO Stan

I have a Rino 530 HCX I will sell you for $325 plus shipping. High sensitivity receiver,I can sit inside my house and pick up signal. Has a digital compass.Which means you dont have to be moving for it to point you in right direction. It has a color screen and a two-way radio. With the right software it will give you turn by turn directions to adrsseses, restaurants, shopping etc...Unit is approx 1 year old comes with box and all paperwork.

Mike