Going One Better

Submitted by Ernunnos

Second the recommendation on the H-series Garmins. The new GPS chipsets in them are 100x more sensitive, and can even get a lock on the satellites from inside a building. They also lock on much more quickly after powering up.

I have a non-H Legend, and while it works ok out in the desert, when I took it to the forests of Michigan on a hunting trip, it couldn't get a lock through the trees AT ALL. I actually can't believe they're still selling the non-H models. While it's better than nothing, I would never rely on it again. I consider them dangerous for anything other than recreation on open land or water. For any serious use, I would highly recommend returning it while you can and upgrading to the H model.

ED – I had contemplated getting The Garmin eTrex Vista HCx GPS, which has all the features I described, as well as the antenna sensitivity you described, plus a whole host of additional and really cool features, but for $299 it’s almost twice as much as the unit I got.  While I’ve no issue with dropping $300 on a GPS, the question I could not answer to my satisfaction was, is it worth it? 

As I saw it, the most significant feature was the increased sensitivity.  The color screen is nice but not a requirement in my eyes, as is the removable SD card, but I wasn’t looking to navigate across the globe with my GPS, just tell me where I was in it.  So, is that increased sensitivity worth an additional $150?

What do you think?

Comments

[Matthew]

While I am speaking strickly from hunting experience and no prior military exp., I can't imagine that extra $150 going to a better use. Like the post says a heavy tree canopy can even block the satellite signals and that could be dangerous to someone who is relying on their unit to do a number of things. Yes, I am sure all military personnel have been taught how to use a compass and a map but I can only imagine that the split second accuracy of a better quality GPS could come in handy.

[Ernunnos]

Garmin makes H models going all the way down to $99 for the barebones eTrex with no basemap and a monochrome screen. Shave off features until you get to one that fits your budget. The next step up, the Venture HC at $169 gets you a map and a color screen. No removable SD, but that's not really an issue if you stay in the same area and/or can load maps from a computer.

[epiphanius]

I just ordered the Venture HC -
http://www.gpscity.ca/item-garmin-etrex-venture-hc/etrexventhc.htm

[Eric Daniel]

In taking another look at High sensitivity GPS units, I did a side-by-side comparison of all the units that had the base line features I wanted (the altimeter and built in compass) as well as the high sensitivity. The units I came back to were the eTrex Vista HCx and the Summit HC. The HCx has a 32-hour battery life and the SD memory card, but is more expensive, while the Summit has only a 14-hour battery life, but is only $40 more than the unit I bought originally. This review also raised a couple of new questions. Does the high sensitivity feature work everywhere in the world, or just in the U.S. (in conjunction with the WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System.)) Also, one of the features I like about the GPS I have is the lunar data it provides. While the commentary about the other GPSs highlight their fishing/hunting data and calendars, I'm more interested in the lunar data. I think a call into Garmin is in order.

[Marine6]

A quick search indicated that the eTrex Vista HCx was available at Preferred Photo for $212, including shipping.

I placed an order, and soon reqretted it. First was an email saying that I had to phone to "confirm" my internet order. When I finally got thru, I found that what they really wanted was to relenlessly upsale me. They claimed that regular batteries only work for 10 minutes and I really needed their special rechargeable set. Then they claimed I must have their special carring case. Then it was their special extended warrenty. When I said just sent the unit I ordered they claimed that they would process the order immediately.

It's been a week, and when I check their website I get two conflicting messages. The first is that my order is back ordered. The second is that the unit is "in stock" if I order it today.

Their price is good. Their ethics are prue sleaze. As the saying goes "Caveat Empetor!"

[Marine6]

As a followup to my earlier comments. I was so enraged about the sleasy business ethics of Preferred Photo that I sent not one, but two letters of complaint to the Attorney General of New York to get them to look into the unethical business practices of bait and switch and upselling at Preferred Photo.

Finally, after five months, Preferred Photo notified the Attorney General, and me, that they were finally going to fill the order, at the original price.

So, in the end, I got the unit I wanted, at a good price. But I could never recommend that anyone do business with these people.