GPS n00b

This forum section is for the select few who believe in hard work and refuse to “Buy” success.
  • Advertisement

HB Store


User avatar
PK_
500 Club
Posts: 6894
Joined: Tue Nov 20, 2012 5:10 am
Location: Just Off
Status: Offline

GPS n00b

Unread postby PK_ » Tue Feb 10, 2015 2:34 am

I'm sorry, I know this has been discussed but I cannot seem to find the threads when i search.

I need a GPS. I have never even used one, period.

I am leaning towards this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Magellan-eXploris ... uctDetails

I want to mark waypoints for beds/stands and be able to backtrack and find my way out in the dark in unfamiliar places. I also want public property boundaries.

Is this going to do the job?

Are the boundaries reliable?

It runs on AA batteries, is that common?

It says I can use satellite images, will my waypoints and tracks and property lines show up on the sat images??

Please feel free to throw me a link or make/model of your GPS if you recommend it. Also any threads covering the basics on GPS would be cool.

Thanks gentlemen.


No Shortcuts. No Excuses. No Regrets.
Everybody's selling dreams. I'm too cheap to buy one.
Rich M wrote:Typically, hunting FL has been like getting a root canal
User avatar
hunter_mike
Moderator
Posts: 8294
Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2012 3:24 pm
Location: south central WI
Status: Offline

Re: GPS n00b

Unread postby hunter_mike » Tue Feb 10, 2015 3:32 am

I am not familiar with magellan gps's. But I can say that i have no problems with my garmin. I also get the feeling that garmins are more favored but i cant say that i have tried many different brands... mainly because i have never had any problems with my garmin.

I can do pretty much everything i need to do and more by using two programs: 1. Garmin base camp 2. Google Earth

The things i can do with ease:

-Create aerial image overlays
-Pre plan routes
-View waypoints that I marked in the field and my track where I walked right in google earth

The property lines are doable by making an image overlay ahead of time, or by buying a chip which I have never done.

If you get a garmin i'd be happy to walk you through anything like that, feel free to ask. That goes for anyone else on here as well.
“The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried.”
User avatar
hunter_mike
Moderator
Posts: 8294
Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2012 3:24 pm
Location: south central WI
Status: Offline

Re: GPS n00b

Unread postby hunter_mike » Tue Feb 10, 2015 3:43 am

My gps runs on 2 aa's

Not sure how that one will work but the garmins are set up so that your waypoints and topo lines show up on top of satelite images. also if you have multiple maps, you can turn each one on or off depending on what map you want to view. But yeah your track and waypoints are usually shown on top of the map or image overlay you are viewing
“The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried.”
User avatar
hunter_mike
Moderator
Posts: 8294
Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2012 3:24 pm
Location: south central WI
Status: Offline

Re: GPS n00b

Unread postby hunter_mike » Tue Feb 10, 2015 3:47 am

“The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried.”
User avatar
justdirtyfun
500 Club
Posts: 2973
Joined: Sun Sep 22, 2013 4:10 pm
Location: Misery, previously Hellinois
Status: Offline

Re: GPS n00b

Unread postby justdirtyfun » Tue Feb 10, 2015 5:00 am

Some image overlays are better than others. For hardwood areas and farmland I like a black and white winter image. A summer green image is harder to decipher details on.

[ Post made via Android ] Image
You don't have to be the best, just do your best.
User avatar
checkerfred
500 Club
Posts: 1950
Joined: Mon Sep 23, 2013 2:49 am
Location: Alabama
Status: Offline

Re: GPS n00b

Unread postby checkerfred » Tue Feb 10, 2015 5:23 am

justdirtyfun wrote:Some image overlays are better than others. For hardwood areas and farmland I like a black and white winter image. A summer green image is harder to decipher details on.

[ Post made via Android ] Image


Where are you finding overlays like these?

Palmetto, I'd recommend the garmin 62s. The
Magellan doesn't have as much support. My brother bought one and all of the maps on gpsfiledepot are for garmin as well as the ones that you buy that show property lines. I bought the latter. I had the chip but sent it back and got the download so I could put it as well as other maps on a bigger chip. Their chip you can't mess with.. It can only have their map. They aren't cheap but they are nice for showing wma lands, forestry lands, and private lands.

[ Post made via Android ] Image
mike_mc
500 Club
Posts: 505
Joined: Wed Mar 17, 2010 5:30 pm
Location: Wisconsin
Status: Offline

Re: GPS n00b

Unread postby mike_mc » Tue Feb 10, 2015 5:31 am

Here is a google search of "hunting beast gps".
https://www.google.com/search?q=hunting ... en&start=0

A lot of people here like the Garmin 62s, and reviews on other sites were good, so that is what I bought. It was on sale at Cabelas for $200. I also bought the onXmaps chip for Wisconsin, which is great. ($100) The aerials photos I got off of Birdseye aren't very good though.

Take a look at this site. http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Handheld-Gps-Reviews
User avatar
wmahunter
500 Club
Posts: 1268
Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2011 12:43 am
Location: West Central Florida
Status: Offline

Re: GPS n00b

Unread postby wmahunter » Tue Feb 10, 2015 8:04 am

I switched from Megellon products to Garmin 62S that I bought from gps city.

GPS city has videos to help if necessary.

I have created my own Custom maps on both and can say the Garmin is a little more technical when creating the maps than the magellon.

But as for transferring points and data the garmin is better and easier.
Plus I can download files from gpsdepot for the garmin.

They all run on AA's just have to see which one gives you the performance you are looking for.

Always carry at least 4 (extra AA's) with you when your are out scouting.

Find other forums using google that describe how to make custom maps for that particular gps and see how many steps are required.
User avatar
wmahunter
500 Club
Posts: 1268
Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2011 12:43 am
Location: West Central Florida
Status: Offline

Re: GPS n00b

Unread postby wmahunter » Tue Feb 10, 2015 8:10 am

For magellon products these guys are pretty good at answering questions also.

http://www.jungleghost.com

familiarize yourself with this site "http://www.msh-tools.com/gps.html" for tools for the magellon products and map making. They are free.
Read everything before you change anything.
User avatar
wmahunter
500 Club
Posts: 1268
Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2011 12:43 am
Location: West Central Florida
Status: Offline

Re: GPS n00b

Unread postby wmahunter » Tue Feb 10, 2015 9:11 am

a brief reviews I found based on this google search.

"garmin 62s vs explorist 350h"

http://gpstracklog.com/2013/09/magellan ... eview.html

http://gpstracklog.com/2013/01/magellan ... nters.html

But judge for yourself.
User avatar
PK_
500 Club
Posts: 6894
Joined: Tue Nov 20, 2012 5:10 am
Location: Just Off
Status: Offline

Re: GPS n00b

Unread postby PK_ » Tue Feb 10, 2015 11:27 am

Thank you guys, I will read up!
No Shortcuts. No Excuses. No Regrets.
Everybody's selling dreams. I'm too cheap to buy one.
Rich M wrote:Typically, hunting FL has been like getting a root canal
Bowhunting Brian
500 Club
Posts: 4138
Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2011 3:13 am
Status: Offline

Re: GPS n00b

Unread postby Bowhunting Brian » Tue Feb 10, 2015 12:20 pm

I'd go with the Garmin.
FCAndrews71
Posts: 45
Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2015 12:49 pm
Status: Offline

Re: GPS n00b

Unread postby FCAndrews71 » Wed Mar 25, 2015 1:33 am

My buddy just bought a factory refurb'ed Garmin Oregon 450 for $180. Comes with a 2 year factory warranty. The bigger screen is what sold him on it. Im leaning towards the same model as well.
User avatar
csoult
500 Club
Posts: 1045
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2015 10:04 am
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Open-Air-P ... 137422734/
Location: Central PA
Contact:
Status: Offline

Re: GPS n00b

Unread postby csoult » Wed Mar 25, 2015 4:15 am

If you own a smart phone I would not buy a gps unit, you already have one. I use the gaia GPS app, no cell coverage needed, and you can predownload the maps you want. You can also save maps that are marked up on caltopo and open them in the app. It has worked really well for me so far.
User avatar
Horizontal Hunter
500 Club
Posts: 2936
Joined: Thu Jul 31, 2014 1:08 pm
Location: Western Massachusetts
Status: Online

Re: GPS n00b

Unread postby Horizontal Hunter » Wed Mar 25, 2015 4:36 am

wmahunter wrote:a brief reviews I found based on this google search.

"garmin 62s vs explorist 350h"

http://gpstracklog.com/2013/09/magellan ... eview.html

http://gpstracklog.com/2013/01/magellan ... nters.html

But judge for yourself.


I love my 62s. If you shop around you can find them for around '$200 on sale. Remember that it doesn't come with maps. I opted to use the free maps at GPSFileDepot ( http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/ ) There are lots of resources available there. I prefer a dedicated GPS over my phone.

Bob

[ Post made via iPad ] Image
Vegetarian: vejiˈte(ə)rēən/noun: old Indian word for lousy hunter. :o

Excalibur Exocet, GT Laser II, 2" Bhoning Blazers 125g NAP Spitfire


  • Advertisement

Return to “Public Land Hunting”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 17 guests