I need a gps no frills. Please help.

[DalesCarpentry]

Last year I went hunting in some new woods and got really lost. I wondered around for a couple hours before I came out on a road. The road I came out on was the same one my truck was on but I was probably 2 miles from it. I never want this to happen again seeing as it was getting dark when I found the road and my cell phone had no signal there. I also work construction and work all over the place. So what I am looking for is a basic model that I can use on the woods and in my truck. With road maps and city street maps. I would like to try to keep it under $200.00. Thanks in advance for any help Dale.

[SURVEYOR]

http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-eTrex-Legend-GPS-Navigator/dp/B000058BCQ

[DalesCarpentry]

Thanks that is definitely along the lines I am thinking. Do you know of any with turn by turn for under $200.00. Thanks Dale.

[Siskiyou]

I agree with SURVEYOR’S recommendation.

My first gps was a Garmin Legend and it will do every thing you ask, including a reasonable price.  The unit has a good Base Map which I took advantage of when traveling the Western States, you can also load maps on it if you decide to.

The eTrex Legend fits my hand, and I learn to use the buttons one handed without much thought after the initial learning period.

There is an old saying about trusting your compass; it needs to be updated to trusting your gps.  Recently I was out hiking, stop and talked with another hike and resumed my hike.  I had been distracted and must have had an elder moment.  I checked my gps and it placed me a ½ mile West of a main road and about ready to intersect a secondary road to the SE.  I was sure the gps was wrong.  As I progressed the map position arrow moved towards the secondary road, which I quickly intersected.  It was clear that the gps was correct and I had a lapse in my sense of direct for a few minutes.  While this was not a critical incident, because I normally take the gps on walks even in known area for practice it was a little wake-up call.

On of the features I like is the track feature.  I use this feature a great deal because in shows me where I have been.  I create a waypoint at the location I have parked my pickup.  I then leave the unit on while I am in the woods.  Every once and a while I may create a waypoint for interesting game sign, a place for a stand, or some other reason.  In effect I am creating my own map.

The best additional mapping software for the Legend is Metro Guide.

GARMIN MapSource MetroGuide North America v8 DVD (010-10468-00) $116.65 - $89.95
[Add to Cart] [See More about it]
Perfect for the urban jungle, MapSource MetroGuide North America v8 DVD offers similar coverage as City Navigator, including detailed maps throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Provides automatic route calculation on the PC only (cannot autoroute on any GPS).  Provides detailed city maps including street addresses and points of interest such as hotels, restaurants, museums, theaters, shopping centers, service stations and more.  (Garmin recommends City Navigator instead for the GPS V, GPSMAP 60C/60CS, GPSMAP 76C/76CS, GPSMAP 196, GPSMAP 276C/376C, eTrex Legend C, eTrex Vista C, Quest series, iQue series, and StreetPilot series which does auto-route on these units. 1,227 MB


MetroGuide is recommend for the Legend because the unit itself does not autoroute.

Now you ask for a frill!

The eTrex Legend Cx is a big improvement and auto routes.
Garmin eTrex Legend Cx PKG with USB PC interface cable    010-00440-00   $224.95   $224.95

New removable, upgradeable microSD card memory
64MB microSD card included
WAAS-enabled GPS
256-color transflective TFT display
Americas Recreational Routable Basemap with Automatic Routing Capability
Includes MapSource Trip and Waypoint Manager for trip planning on the PC
Accepts maps from MapSource CDs
USB port PC interface
Waterproof

If you have a laptop you can connect the Legend to a laptop and use a lower price software such as Microsoft Streets & Trips, but you will not have auto routing with it.  I have used this feature in the past.

[SURVEYOR]

http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-StreetPilot-Vehicle-GPS-Navigator/dp/B000ACGQI8/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_k2a_1_img/104-6245295-1411961

[Siskiyou]

Be aware that the Garmin StreetPilot i2, i4, and i5 have been discontinued. I could not find any software updates for them on the Garmin update page.  https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=164

One of the things you give up with the i2 is the unit is not waterproof.  Might have to carry it in waterproof bag designed for cameras.

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=164&pID=321

[jgalar]

I have 4 gps units. I just bought the Garmin Legend Cx and its an awesome unit. It is about the size of a cell phone so is easy to carry, but with the purchase of Mapsource software will give you turn by turn driving directions with prompts. Bigger units are better for car use only, but the Legend Cx can be carried in your pocket. I bought mine to use while riding my motorcycle. It is also upgradeable and has a memory card so you can switch from say road maps to topographic maps by swapping out a tiny card. Keep a watch on the net for sales. I bought mine a couple of months ago for $202.

[DalesCarpentry]

Thanks guys.

[victorcharlie]

The local Sportsman's Warehouse has the Legend for $149.

[jgalar]

There is the Legend and the Legend Cx - two totally different critters.

[d_hiker]

Another thing to consider is that if you are in the woods and have a canopy of leaves you may lose your satellite signal.  You may have to find a clear spot (clear view of the sky) for the gps unit to re-acquire satellite lock, which might take a minute or two depending on the current satellite configuration.  I have the Garmin Legend and like it.  In the fall and winter I have no trouble with it in the woods losing satellite signal.  But when the leaves are out, I have lost signal.  I have also used mine on a small river to mark favorite fishing holes, same problem at times with satellite signals.

I bought a bundled package with a map CD, vehicle mount, data cable and 12v power cable.  It had a $50 rebate at the time, I thought it was a good deal.  Supposedly, I can upload more detailed maps from the CD than what comes as the base map in the unit.  I have just never taken the time to learn how to do it.  The base map shows mostly the state roads and a few county roads in my area.

[corbanzo]

I have a magellan explorist 300 that I really like.  It went for $150, is waterproof, and simple to use.

[rvtrav]

  Dale,

   like most folks into them, I have more than one GPS. I went with the magellans for the user friendly controls, and for the same reason I prefer the meridan series of theirs, they are larger,but so are the buttons and the view screen.

  I also have an explorist 500, it is small (about the size of a cell phone, and still easy to operate. the main thing I wanted to say is that most handheld units today are very similar in size and cost, wether they have the bells and whistles (like topo software) or color screens, so you may as well buy one with the upgrades. The topo maps and features will  prove helpful and the cost is about the same anyways.

  Garmin sells sd cards (memory) pre loaded for their units and Magellan sells software that works with their units for reasonable prices, and for getting around/out of unfamiliar terrain the topo maps are a godsend to getting referances to where you are in relation to roads and streams and terrain features.