Author Topic: What should I get? (Read 3513 times)

MSP Ret · « **Reply #30 on:** July 18, 2004, 03:25:05 PM »

glanceblamm, I really wished you lived near me, I could use your help with the Garmin 12. Because of what I read on this thread and wanting a GPS for my forays into the North Maine Woods well off the beaten track I kept checking e-bay and finally purchased an as new Garmin GPS 12XL. It was described as the best for entry level as well as having all the real required features without being overly complicated. As a matter of fact it was described as the easiest to use. I got a new case for it, a cord with it to connect it to my computer and ordered the instruction manual, and a quick instruction card. Well I took it for a mile or so walk around the neighborhood several times and cannot figure the darn thing out!!! I am not a technophile by anyones definition but for the life of me I do believe I should be able to use this simple piece of equipment, but I can't!!! What to do? Are there local clubs or groups I can look up for some help....Thanks....<><.... :oops:

MI VHNTR · « **Reply #31 on:** July 18, 2004, 03:41:48 PM »

MSP, take a look at these sites. Geocaching will help to familiarize you with using your GPS and the second site may aid you in finding someone in your area. Hope it helps you out.

MI VHNTR

http://www.geocaching.com/
http://opentopic.groundspeak.com/0/OpenTopic?a=tp

MSP Ret · « **Reply #32 on:** July 19, 2004, 07:08:03 AM »

Thanks MI vhunter, I can use all the help I can get. I will follow through with the helpful information you have offered!!!....<><.... :grin:
(incidentally if that handle "MI vhunter" stands for Michigan Varmit Hunter, I want you to know many of my forays into the North Maine Woods are in search of coyotes...Thanks again....)

MSP Ret · « **Reply #33 on:** July 19, 2004, 02:50:40 PM »

by the way I think I saw something posted here about the terrible instruction book that accompanies the Garmin 12 and 12XL. Is that ever correct!!! The instructions are the worst I have ever seen for any product (of course it is a close second behind my digital camera!!!) The company support has been fairly good though as long as you have enough time to stay on the line before they get to you, typically 30-35 minutes....<><.... :grin:

MI VHNTR · « **Reply #34 on:** July 19, 2004, 05:06:13 PM »

MSP, glad to have helped you out. Yes, I like to hunt coyotes and other predators. I use my GPS for hunting them also. I can really come in handy at times. Since you like to hunt coyotes, you may be interested in this link: http://www.predatormastersforums.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi
There are some people from Maine there. MI VHNTR

Siskiyou · « **Reply #35 on:** July 22, 2004, 04:29:25 PM »

MSP Ret:

Times have changed from when I retired off the job. GPS units were just coming on board and we would have a surveyor come out with one on some of the remote crime scenes. Now the guys are issued recreation class gps and they have to put a LAT/Long on their reports.

I have found that most of the people who are on the job and have been issued gps units have not had the time to become experts with the darn things. They are already in overload mode. Having some free time on my hands has helped. I can understand your frustration.

I believe that the built in base map on my Legend, and the ability to use Map Source products made the unit more understandable. For me learning to use the gps was like building a brick outhouse.

If you have not been to the Garmin Website you should visit it for the "software updates" and you can also download a manual. While a manual came with my gps I also downloaded one so that I could highlight and make notes in it. I use my gps for hunting and fishing. This has helped my learning curve. When I obtained MapSource Topo I started making strides. When I took my evening walk, I would create a track with a number of waypoints. I would then download the track with waypoints to my pc using MapSource Topo. When I looked at my printed out maps I could then visualize what was going on.

I do a lot of trolling for fish. Using the gps has improved my catch to the point that when I purchased a new fishfinder, I bought one with a gps unit.

Geocaching is a great activity and learning tool at the same time. I and a couple of grandkids have had a lot of fun geocaching. The only problem is they latch on to the gps. One of these days I will give it to them, because I think I want a new "Garmin Legend C", it provides longer battery life, far more memory for map storage, and a color screen.

I looked at what Courg2wolfs had to say about the gps 12. It must be a little on the difficult side. I know that garmin sells video on how to use their units. I have not seen the product so I do not know if it is anygood.

I guess I need to look at the Garmin page and see what they have to say about the gps 12. Frankly the first time I was introduced to a gps I backed off because of the small, small print manual, and the new enviroment. :shock:

Keep working with it.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #36 on:** July 23, 2004, 03:31:59 PM »

Siskiyou, I have been retired almost 4 years now and had no intention of looking for a job, however "the best laid plans" and all, you know how things work out. I got a group e-mail from the "State Police Job Bank" a couple of weeks ago and saw a job posting that looked to good to be true. Well I called and sat for an interview, and, you guessed it, I got the call!!! The first day in training what comes out of the bag of tricks, a GPS!!! I am going to have to learn how to use it because it is going to be part of the issued equipment for my new "retirement" job...along with a vehicle, expense account, cell phone, camera and quite a few other "incidentals", did I mention a salary? God is good!!! Thanks God!!....<><.... :grin:

Siskiyou · « **Reply #37 on:** July 23, 2004, 06:09:27 PM »

I got one of those job(s) e-mails the other day looking for an expert in a certain field. The job offer was out of country. (Unstable at best) My wife had a laugh over that. I remarked that it would be a good assignment for one of those headquarters types. I'll keep doing my "other" part time retirement job in country. Over the years I missed a lot of days in my kids lives, and I would hate missing the grandkids.

Without a doubt a gps would be a good tool on the assignment. Batteries might have been a problem. Need to take rechargeables and a 12v charger along with an international power adapter. Before I retired I traveled a fair amount on the job. A gps would have been a fantastic tool. But I always seem to get there and get back.

I would be interested in hearing what kind of training they give you with the gps. Or will they give you the manual and the rest is up to you. Hopefully they issued you a gps with an installed base map and memory for more maps. I am currently loading map sets on my laptop for different locations so that I can quickly load them on to my gps without straining the old brain. I spent sometime last summer helping a guy with his "highend gps." It was issued without any training.

This year I have been the telephone "gps support" for a couple of friends still in the field. The nice thing is that as a retired guy I have had the time to read the gps manual, and the software manual. Then I have had the time to go out and see how the darn thing works. Frankly it took me the kind of time that a guy on the job does not have. Or at least I never had. A good gps that has mapping memory requires a "little bit" of computer knowledge, for uploading and downloading maps and software updates. Some agency's are so strapped that they cannot provide the support to the ground to keep things updated. I think it is great that many of the dispatch centers screens now display address, and gps coordinates in a least three different modes automatically. This is an important item for officers and the public.

The one thing I quickly learn is that different model gps units from the same manufacture do not work the same. It is like dealing with the more complicated fishfinders, none are the same. I ran into a guy on an incident last year that had the same model gps as I. We had some down time and I started asking him questions about it. He had had it for a couple of years, but he really did not know how to take advantage of it. Now he was in a situation that people's safety depended on him and he was carrying a tool he had not taken the time to become functional with. To his credit, it was his gps, and not provided by his agency. He was in the learning process. He was doing a good job, but his gps could have been a greater assist.

Last weekend I was listening to calls on my scanner when I heard an old friend working in a rural area call for a helicopter to lift accident victims out of a canyon. The officer provided the dispatcher with a LAT/LONG. The dispatcher in turn provided the info to the rescue helicopter. All the pilot needed to do was plug it in and hit "go to." This is very important because the helicopter fly's the Northends of two large states. There is no way that the pilots can know every backcountry road.

For years we trained specialized teams with maps and compasses. After we trained them we flew them into isolated locations. The adjective was to find their way back across the mountains using a map and compass. Their lunch would be waiting for them. The hunter types from sheriff departments normally would make it back in a few hours. These guys also had the benefit of working search and rescue. Some of those who could find themselves around city streets took much longer. But they made it back.

Good luck with the new job and let us know what the new gps is.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #38 on:** July 24, 2004, 03:13:04 AM »

OK Siskiyou, I was able to see the GPS was a Magellen and it appeared to have maps displayed on a couple of the screens I was able to quickley glance at, of course it was anothers unit not the one I will be issued. I have a couple of friends who retired who took jobs "out of country" in some pretty hairy areas but being an old marrried man I thought I have had my share of travel and my wife would prefer me closer to home and to get home both on a regular basis and eventually for good. The overseas jobs look good financially but you are gone for a year or 2 at a time and are not guarenteed getting home at all. This job was offered in my home area without traveling any more than a 50-100 mile radius. I guess I'll learn the GPS now....<><.... :grin:

Siskiyou · « **Reply #39 on:** July 24, 2004, 11:02:39 AM »

Sounds like a good job. I suspect that you will enjoy you new toys.