Can anyone make suggestions on what I should consider when purchasing a
hand-held GPS?

I am fairly new to sailing and don't own a boat. I charter them, and
frequently the boats either don't have GPS or I have to spend a lot of time
figuring out how to use them. I sail in So Cal and the local Channel
Islands.

I want a hand-held I can bring with me on charter boats. I am willing to go
with monochrome to save $. I am versed on coastal nav, but would
particularly like a GPS when navigating in fog. I'd like to be able to
interface with my laptop and overlay on charting software (don't own any
yet).

I started looking at some manuals for Garmin hand-helds.

Any pointers on what I should consider?

Any good articles on the basics, either on web or in a magazine?

Any special considerations of chart/map software and standards I should know
about?

Any new technologies on the horizon I should consider before purchasing?

Any "wish I would have known about this before I bought mine" kind of
stories?

Thanks,

Brien

Any "wish I would have known about this before I bought mine" kind of
stories?

Get a Garmin 76 with a built in map for under 300 bucks. It's well featured
with a good sized screen. It's also a nice size. The smaller series is easy to
drop. The 76 mapping features are also quite useful. It also floats, which
could be a plus in some situations.

RB

I've got the Garmin III-Plus and I'm very happy with it; been using it for a
few years now with no problems (primarily for sailing and motorcycling;
special adapter for handlebars). It's rugged, waterproof, easy to use, and
uploads/downloads maps and routes quickly to and from my laptop.
Scout


Brien Alkire" wrote
Can anyone make suggestions on what I should consider when purchasing a
hand-held GPS?

I am fairly new to sailing and don't own a boat. I charter them, and
frequently the boats either don't have GPS or I have to spend a lot of
time
figuring out how to use them. I sail in So Cal and the local Channel
Islands.

I want a hand-held I can bring with me on charter boats. I am willing to
go
with monochrome to save $. I am versed on coastal nav, but would
particularly like a GPS when navigating in fog. I'd like to be able to
interface with my laptop and overlay on charting software (don't own any
yet).

I started looking at some manuals for Garmin hand-helds.

Any pointers on what I should consider?

Any good articles on the basics, either on web or in a magazine?

Any special considerations of chart/map software and standards I should
know
about?

Any new technologies on the horizon I should consider before purchasing?

Any "wish I would have known about this before I bought mine" kind of
stories?

Thanks,

Brien

Get a low-end Garmin. You don't need map functions, just the basics.
I still have my 12xl. It's great. Does everything you need to do. You
don't need the 76 at this point, unless you're sure you want to drop
$300 or so.

"Brien Alkire" wrote in message
...
Can anyone make suggestions on what I should consider when purchasing a
hand-held GPS?

I am fairly new to sailing and don't own a boat. I charter them, and
frequently the boats either don't have GPS or I have to spend a lot of
time
figuring out how to use them. I sail in So Cal and the local Channel
Islands.

I want a hand-held I can bring with me on charter boats. I am willing to
go
with monochrome to save $. I am versed on coastal nav, but would
particularly like a GPS when navigating in fog. I'd like to be able to
interface with my laptop and overlay on charting software (don't own any
yet).

I started looking at some manuals for Garmin hand-helds.

Any pointers on what I should consider?

Any good articles on the basics, either on web or in a magazine?

Any special considerations of chart/map software and standards I should
know
about?

Any new technologies on the horizon I should consider before purchasing?

Any "wish I would have known about this before I bought mine" kind of
stories?

Thanks,

Brien

Ditto.

Cheers

OzOne wrote:

I have a Magellan 315, it's not mapping but does everything else.
An excellent, fast and reliable basic unit.


On Mon, 19 Jan 2004 11:46:59 -0800, "Brien Alkire"
scribbled thusly:


Can anyone make suggestions on what I should consider when purchasing a
hand-held GPS?

I am fairly new to sailing and don't own a boat. I charter them, and
frequently the boats either don't have GPS or I have to spend a lot of time
figuring out how to use them. I sail in So Cal and the local Channel
Islands.

I want a hand-held I can bring with me on charter boats. I am willing to go
with monochrome to save $. I am versed on coastal nav, but would
particularly like a GPS when navigating in fog. I'd like to be able to
interface with my laptop and overlay on charting software (don't own any
yet).

I started looking at some manuals for Garmin hand-helds.

Any pointers on what I should consider?

Any good articles on the basics, either on web or in a magazine?

Any special considerations of chart/map software and standards I should know
about?

Any new technologies on the horizon I should consider before purchasing?

Any "wish I would have known about this before I bought mine" kind of
stories?

Thanks,

Brien





Oz1...of the 3 twins.

I welcome you to crackerbox palace,We've been expecting you.

My old 300 is very basic, but it works.

Scotty

OzOne wrote in message ...

I have a Magellan 315, it's not mapping but does everything else.
An excellent, fast and reliable basic unit.

Do you have any idea how stupid you sound with this post?

Except for the difference in cost, COST, peabrain.

wrote in message
...
On Mon, 19 Jan 2004 12:53:02 -0800, "Jonathan Ganz"

wrote:

Get a low-end Garmin. You don't need map functions, just the basics.
I still have my 12xl. It's great. Does everything you need to do. You
don't need the 76 at this point, unless you're sure you want to drop
$300 or so.


The mapping units weigh the same as the non-mapping units, so there is no
performance penalty for the greatly enhanced units. If Ganzy could use
foodstamps to buy a GPS, he'd think mapping was indispensable.

BB



"Brien Alkire" wrote in message
...
Can anyone make suggestions on what I should consider when purchasing a
hand-held GPS?

I am fairly new to sailing and don't own a boat. I charter them, and
frequently the boats either don't have GPS or I have to spend a lot of
time
figuring out how to use them. I sail in So Cal and the local Channel
Islands.

I want a hand-held I can bring with me on charter boats. I am willing
to
go
with monochrome to save $. I am versed on coastal nav, but would
particularly like a GPS when navigating in fog. I'd like to be able to
interface with my laptop and overlay on charting software (don't own
any
yet).

I started looking at some manuals for Garmin hand-helds.

Any pointers on what I should consider?

Any good articles on the basics, either on web or in a magazine?

Any special considerations of chart/map software and standards I should
know
about?

Any new technologies on the horizon I should consider before
purchasing?

Any "wish I would have known about this before I bought mine" kind of
stories?

Thanks,

Brien

Three times the cost of a non-map GPS isn't a price penalty?

This guy definitely was asleep during business 101.

wrote in message
...
On Tue, 20 Jan 2004 10:00:03 +1100, OzOne wrote:

On Mon, 19 Jan 2004 22:53:36 GMT,
scribbled thusly:

On Mon, 19 Jan 2004 12:53:02 -0800, "Jonathan Ganz"

wrote:

Get a low-end Garmin. You don't need map functions, just the basics.
I still have my 12xl. It's great. Does everything you need to do. You
don't need the 76 at this point, unless you're sure you want to drop
$300 or so.


The mapping units weigh the same as the non-mapping units, so there is
no
performance penalty for the greatly enhanced units. If Ganzy could use
foodstamps to buy a GPS, he'd think mapping was indispensable.

BB

But there's a price penalty.
Never seen the need for a mapping GPS when charts have so much more
detail.


The price penalty isn't really much to quible about, and the added ability
more
than makes up for it. A mapping GPS is not a sub for charts, but a nice
addition. Especially since the electronic charts can be kept up to date
and
accurate much easier and cheaper. I carry one ashore with me as well when
I
land.

BB


Oz1...of the 3 twins.

I welcome you to crackerbox palace,We've been expecting you.

"Brien Alkire" wrote in message
...
Can anyone make suggestions on what I should consider when purchasing a
hand-held GPS?

I am fairly new to sailing and don't own a boat. I charter them, and
frequently the boats either don't have GPS or I have to spend a lot of
time
figuring out how to use them. I sail in So Cal and the local Channel
Islands.

I want a hand-held I can bring with me on charter boats. I am willing to
go
with monochrome to save $. I am versed on coastal nav, but would
particularly like a GPS when navigating in fog. I'd like to be able to
interface with my laptop and overlay on charting software (don't own any
yet).

I've a Garmin MAP175.

The mapping feature works well, but it really cannot display enough
information to be useful.

In fact, the only thing that I really find the map useful for, is inputting
routes.

Before you purchase any unit, find out if it comes with a cable to connect
to your laptop. Six years ago, these cables were very expensive.



Regards


Donal
--

OzOne wrote:

On Tue, 20 Jan 2004 10:47:02 +1300, MC scribbled
thusly:


Ditto.

Cheers

OzOne wrote:


I have a Magellan 315, it's not mapping but does everything else.
An excellent, fast and reliable basic unit.


Hey, I bought it on your advice :-)

and excellent advice it was!



I'm glad to hear you enjoy it. I also mounted a socket near a cradle
next to the keyboards to power if the main GPS unit goes down. It works
really well with the navigator being able to dismouint it to load the
waypoint at the chart table then returning it to the cradle. The highway
display is easily visible from the wheel.


As an aside, I need help getting some inventions (useful little boat
electronic things) to market. Any ideas?

Cheers