You can now buy a Yellow eTrex H for approximately$100. I would quickly by pass it for a mapping unit. The eTrex Legend HCx comes with a basemap, and can load maps from a MapSource product if you choose. A few years ago I was in Western Montana on assignment. Early one morning I needed to go to a very small cowtown. I took advantage of the basemap, which has most small towns and cities in it. Using the Find function I located the city, clicked on the Go To option and I was on my way. It did not give me turn-by-turn directions but it kept me going in the right direction.
Later that week I was given the LAT/LONG for a trailhead into the wilderness. I created a waypoint, edited with the trailhead LAT/LONG, saved it, and then using the Go To feature I went looking for the trailhead. In route I encountered three or four large road intersections. All I could see was a maze of logging roads. The pointer on the unit kept pointing at the trailhead and I found my way.
Garmin is currently creating and selling a series of pre-load 24K maps on a micro SD card. If you are focus on one area and not interested in chasing all over the country or have the money to buy a number of cards when traveling this maybe your answer. The key is that you must have a Garmin high sensitivity (HCx) unit. To take full advantage of the new 24K cards you need to have a Colorado, or an Oregon gps unit.
http://www.gpsnow.com/Garmin_TOPO_US_24K.htmA couple of down sides to the 24k software is that it will not load on a computer, and the cost. US TOPO 2008 covers the United States and loads on your computer.
I have to agree that upgrading to the same brand has its advantages. The learning curve is cut shorter and you get to enjoy the new features sooner. Need to have Victor Charlie post and give you his opinion of the eTrex Legend HCx. That is where I would start. If you want to include the electronic compass the upgrade to the eTrex Vista HCx.
Recently I received a call from a LEO asking for a recommendation. I recommended the 60CSx or the 76CSx. The 76CSx floats, and the 60CSx sinks, otherwise they have the same operating system. A lot of times I create waypoints when doing my pre-season scouting. When I leave home at 0330 and it has snowed during the night finding dirt roads off the pavement can be tough. But by creating a waypoint at the intersection the turn-off is not missed or the parking spot. The LEO wanted to get a dash mount and the larger screen on the models I recommended have an advantage.
http://www.gpsnow.com/garmin_etrex_vista_hcx.htmWhen I get home I download the waypoints and tracks I created on my scouting trip. I view them on the Map Source US Topo 2008 software and print maps for future hunts. I also leave a map with the wife as part of my safety plan.
I also view my track on Google Earth.
These steps allow me to have a better hunt. Many times I am not hunting my old tradition sites and every little bit of information is helpful. California has a lot of old mine tunnels, and airshafts that present a hazard. The software does not have all the mines; even the Bureau of Mines does not have them mapped.
A bird hunter would want to avoid these areas with his dog. There are a number of locations I hunt that the software displays mines, and other geographic information.
My basic criteria are High Sensitivity Receiver, Expandable Memory, Good basemap, and good battery life. Fourteen hours of battery life should get most hunters by. The unit must meet IPX7 standards.
I currently have two handheld gps units, a 76Cx, which floats, and a Rino530 HCx which sinks. The 76Cx goes out on the boat with me.
Cost:
The lowest cost mapping units are in the eTrex line-up. Be careful because there are a lot of discontinued eTrex models that are not high sensitivity being sold by retailers. There are some basic 60 and 76 models that do not have high sensitivity receivers.
A rough break down of Garmin handheld units with high sensitivity receivers.
High Cost:
Oregon
Colorado
Rino 530HCx
Rino 520HCx
Medium Cost
76Cx, 76CSx
60Cx, 60CSx
Lower Cost
Venture HC, Summit HC, eTrexH, LegendHCx, Vista HCs
Suggest you price on the net. I have found stocking stores asking 100-200 dollars above the Internet price.
