I currently have a Lowrance iFinder Hunt c that I've been using for four years. It has been hunting in Africa and North America, but I want something a little different.

Here are my wants - in no specific order:

• Color Screen.
  
• Easy quick waypoint entry with option to edit later for name & icon changes.
  
• Ability to sync with mapping software of some type. Hopefully with the ability to make a personalized map of each hunt to print out. This can be on a memory card - it doesn't have to hook directly to the computer.
  
• Downloadable maps of NA and Africa.
  
• Non-rechargeable batteries & vehicle power if needed.
  
• Hand-held.
  
• Durable - can bounce around the back of a hunting truck while on.
  
• Great reception.
  

For the sake of argument, brand and price are no limits. I'm not looking for a bargain. I want something that does what I want it to easily and well.

Thanks!

It's been around for a while, but I think that the Garmin 60CSx is still the cat's meow of field GPS units.

It will do everything you want and more -- and it's been around long enough for the prices to fall down into the reasonable range. You won't have much trouble finding one for under $300.

I agree the Garmin 60 CSx is wonderful. I take it everywhere and have never had a problem with it. Far better than others that I have used in the past. It does use the batteries if the compass is left on. I usually leave it off as this feature is not really necessary.

I recently viewed on television a new Garmin with a touchscreen like an Ipod. It looked very simple. However, I believe we are on the verge of a lot of new GPS units utilizing the Ipod style of touchscreen. Whether they are able to download maps is an unknown but I would check it out. If the new touchscreens are going to be the rage I think we will see a whole lot of new products in this arena. Hopefully they will all be easier to learn to use and come with many more features.

quote:

Originally posted by strapman:
I recently viewed on television a new Garmin with a touchscreen like an Ipod. It looked very simple. However, I believe we are on the verge of a lot of new GPS units utilizing the Ipod style of touchscreen. Whether they are able to download maps is an unknown but I would check it out. If the new touchscreens are going to be the rage I think we will see a whole lot of new products in this arena. Hopefully they will all be easier to learn to use and come with many more features.

Gotogirl3, take a look at the Garmin Oregon 550. It meets all of your requirements.

I have been using one now for a few months without an issue. I love the large touch screen and I find it performs very well under a tree canopy, much better than my old E-Trex. While it has rechargeable batteries, it also uses Double A's. An option is auto plug in which I have not used.

Thanks guys. I've just about decided on the Garmin 550t. I'll give it until the end of the week before I decide, but that really looks like the ticket. Not cheap, but if it works, I DO NOT CARE.

Re: the touchscreen. How does it handle all the gunk that gets on your hands while on the truck? I know my camera (Rebel xT) has a real problem w/sunscreen, etc. The finish on the hand-hold (or whatever you call it) has seriously eroded and that is the only explanation I have.

Thanks for all the input and don't stop!!!

gotogirl3

It works. You will not be sorry. It is a great unit. It works OK in the car with the sun etc. And get the largest data card the unit will take immediately. I think it is a 2Gb SD card.

The 550T has the US database pre-loaded, which is the only difference with the 550 "straight" Remember to get the Africa database pieces off the internet and load it before you go. Your friendly GPS dealer will point you in the right direction.

Also ... I use the Picasa3 picture viewer to complement the unit. It give you the functionality to view picture positions on Google Earth as an overlay of icons. You can step through the pictures in sequence, knowing where in the world each one was taken!

quote:

Re: the touchscreen. How does it handle all the gunk that gets on your hands while on the truck? I know my camera (Rebel xT) has a real problem w/sunscreen, etc. The finish on the hand-hold (or whatever you call it) has seriously eroded and that is the only explanation I have.

Screen is pretty hard glass. I wipe it off with my shirt, no scratches to date. Also I find using a knuckle to touch the screen keeps it smudge free.

Geotagging ... man, this a great new toy! This picture was taken (with the GPS) of a quarry north-east of Pretoria from the chopper the other day, with a whole string of others. I was flying and giving instructions while my wife was taking pictures of whatever I pointed out - and more!



After loading it all and viewing with Picasa3, your simply click the Geotag "button" and it fires up Google Earth, and subsequently shows the positions of exactly where the pictures were taken.

This is the Google image showing the quarry as well as the picture icons overlaid. Note pictur No 00017 just above the box on the right of the screen. That is the picture posted above.



This is neat. It will work perfectly for my needs. The picture quality is good enough to identify and count animals. I can't wait!

Wow, Johan that may be just the ticket! Do you know the website where I can go and look at the African databases you mentioned and also the Picasa3?

Thanks!

I bought the "Africa Series UPGRADE" DVD from a local Garmin dealer - BUT - you can also download it from www.garmap.co.za. It contains Southern Africa Streetmaps, Topo & Rec and DEM data. More than you'll need. You can pick the pieces (areas)off the map you want to load onto the GPS as all of it is way too much and eats up space on the unit. Navigate around this website a little - it will give you good idea what's what. The price are all in ZAR I see, but dividing by 7.5 will give you a good estimate of the USD price.

The Picasa software is available all over the place. Just Google it, or have alook at http://picasa.google.com/

Have fun!

Thanks for the info. I plan to get this in the next few weeks and I'll post an update then. At first I thought the camera might be a little over-the-top, but the more I think about the applications, the more I like it!

Shannon,

I use picasa for storing my pics on the computer and for uploading to the net also.
The google guys are on top of everything.

Mike

I haven't tried any of the fancy stuff yet, but I am absolutely loving the ease of this GPS. I haven't had it really and truly "out in the field" yet, so that will be another test but so far I just really like everything about it. If a problem comes up or I do something really neat with it, I'll let you know.

Thanks for the help guys!!