cutter10x Posted August 18, 2007 Report Share Posted August 18, 2007 i heard that its sometimes hard to get a signal on the gps while in the trees of colorado......im getting a new one and cant decide which.....nothing to fancy.....mid range.....garmin vista, legend, maybe the older c model color ones....or the magellan explorist 400......any opinions would be great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mountain_Dragon Posted August 18, 2007 Report Share Posted August 18, 2007 I say you can't beat a good topo map and compass for reliability. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeNRA Posted August 19, 2007 Report Share Posted August 19, 2007 i heard that its sometimes hard to get a signal on the gps while in the trees of colorado......im getting a new one and cant decide which.....nothing to fancy.....mid range.....garmin vista, legend, maybe the older c model color ones....or the magellan explorist 400......any opinions would be great Personally, I would stay away from any that DON'T have a high sensitivity antenna! Don't cheat yourself on a GPS! Get one that has the high sensitivity antenna! It will lock on satellites a lot easier through heavy foliage and mountains! I just ordered a new one because of this very reason. It worked GREAT in the open waters while fishing. But in early fall or spring it had a hard time locking on. I would get something in this line. I know first hand since I went where you want to go about having something just BASIC! Here is what I just ordered. https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=145&pID=310 Now they make the Garmin Vista HCx with the better antenna. https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=145&pID=8703 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvertip_co Posted August 19, 2007 Report Share Posted August 19, 2007 A guy who brought lots of lost folks out of deep canyons at night suggested I buy a 'Magellan Blazer 12'. Its an old model that works EVERYWHERE in Colorado. The newer stuff does NOT. I bot one off of eBay ANIB for a good price and it works great, But then I use map and compass a lot also. Thsi will be my first GPS seasons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvertip_co Posted August 19, 2007 Report Share Posted August 19, 2007 I saw this myself at Elkatraz3. Some of the guys newer GPS wasnt working when up on the mtn and they got turned around a little. The guy with the Magellan 12 went and got em. His never quit working. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tecumseh Posted August 19, 2007 Report Share Posted August 19, 2007 I use topo maps and a compass more than my gps unit.I mark my campsite and where my truck is parked in my gps but definietly learn how to use you'r new unit before you head out into the wilderness with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeNRA Posted August 19, 2007 Report Share Posted August 19, 2007 I saw this myself at Elkatraz3. Some of the guys newer GPS wasnt working when up on the mtn and they got turned around a little. The guy with the Magellan 12 went and got em. His never quit working. That may be true! But just like with all new technology, something has to give. Take note to loran C, I don't think they use this system anymore, could be wrong too. But the newer units are way better because of the newer systems coming out. Sooner or later the older units will become obsolete. Just like everything else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutter10x Posted August 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2007 oh i got the compass, 3 to be exact and the topo.im pretty good with them to so im not to worried........thanks for the advice....i got a magellen 315....and i just bought the garmin vista(offer to good to pass up....cabelas=199.99..i got it nib for 86.00)...so im going to take both...again thanks for the info..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elkoholic Posted August 21, 2007 Report Share Posted August 21, 2007 Anything that needs to read a satellite signal will fail if that signal is blocked. Also, in order for a GPS to be accurate it needs to read at least three satellites. That is impossible in the dark timber or at the bottom of a canyon. While a GPS is a useful tool, being able to read a compass and topo map are orienteering skills well worth honing. One other point, none of these tools do you any good if you leave them in camp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvertip_co Posted August 26, 2007 Report Share Posted August 26, 2007 I actually prefer the compass myself. I've been topoman since 14yrs old so I try to stay away from electronics. Tho I did buy the Magellan 12 and a 600yrd rangefinder this yr. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeNRA Posted August 26, 2007 Report Share Posted August 26, 2007 Anything that needs to read a satellite signal will fail if that signal is blocked. Also, in order for a GPS to be accurate it needs to read at least three satellites. That is impossible in the dark timber or at the bottom of a canyon. While a GPS is a useful tool, being able to read a compass and topo map are orienteering skills well worth honing. One other point, none of these tools do you any good if you leave them in camp. I have had two GPS units so far. My newer one (Garmin GPSMAP 60 CSx) is sitting 12 feet away from any window. I have a 28 foot accuracy, and five or six satellites locked on! 99% of the time I have 8-12 satellites locked on. The newer units that have a high sensitive antenna that will read better through heavy foliage. I already tested this and it worked great! About canyons, I cant help you there. But knowing how to read topos and using a compass, I totally agree with you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Zirkel Posted August 28, 2007 Report Share Posted August 28, 2007 First Post: I've never had a GPS issue in Colorado that couldn't be solved by moving 50 feet or so. There are probably extreme cases of deep canyons that you could conjure up a problem. But, I wouldn't worry about it. Good to go, Zirkel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 257Roberts Posted September 17, 2007 Report Share Posted September 17, 2007 any newer gps with waas corrections should give you a decent signal in the woods. I've got a three year old garmin etrex and it will give me 40ft accuracy indoors. Mine worked fine in the woods. One problem i have found with the gps's is with the GOTO funtion. Ie, you are occuping a point and want to know how to get back to camp. It will give you a bearing and distance. This is pretty accuate but the arrow that points the direction you are going maynot always be correct. that's because the electronic compas is not that accurate in those models. I'd take that bearing and distance and use a compass and go a ways and take another reading with the gps and see if you are getting closer. We played with our garmins in colorado last week and it would get you to withing 100 ft of where the waypoint was logged and that is good enough to get you outta the woods. The neatest feature on the gps is the track log. We logged all the roads where we were hunting and that way you could alway see where you were in relation to a trail or road. Sometimes the shortest distance between a and b is not a straight line. Especially when there is a cannon or ravin inbetween A and B. My buddy used the garmin rhino 110 and he hiked between 4 and 8 miles a day and it would bring him back out. But ditto on the topo maps. they are priceless in that kind of terrain. When used in conjuction with a gps it is almost impossible to get lost unless you run outta batteries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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