Low-end GPS
 

At the Work Boat Show (Seattle) on Friday I was looking for a fixed mount GPS to
replace my beloved Micrologic Mariner which is showing some senility. I found
the Garmin GPS 152 and the Furuno GP-32 and 37. They'd probably do the job.

Thing is, though, neither of them has a keypad. So I'd like to know from a user
just how, and how quickly, a waypoint can be entered. Ever since I had a laptop
disaster I've taken to putting waypoints in manually as I need them rather than
storing more than a couple. It takes less than 10 seconds on my Mariner. How
about either of these two units.

Alternatively, can someone recommend perhaps another unit, like these two, that
does have a keypad entry?

Thanks

Low-end GPS
 

On Sun, 23 Nov 2003 16:30:19 +0000, Chuck Bollinger wrote:

At the Work Boat Show (Seattle) on Friday I was looking for a fixed mount GPS to
replace my beloved Micrologic Mariner which is showing some senility. I found
the Garmin GPS 152 and the Furuno GP-32 and 37. They'd probably do the job.

Thing is, though, neither of them has a keypad. So I'd like to know from a user
just how, and how quickly, a waypoint can be entered. Ever since I had a laptop
disaster I've taken to putting waypoints in manually as I need them rather than
storing more than a couple. It takes less than 10 seconds on my Mariner. How
about either of these two units.

Alternatively, can someone recommend perhaps another unit, like these two, that
does have a keypad entry?

Thanks

I have the Furuno GP-32 and I love it! I like the BIG letters you can get so I
can see speed, course, etc. from anywhere in the cockpit.

However, it IS a pain in the rear to enter text. If you just wanted temporary
waypoints, you could just call them a, b, c, etc. and the entry would be pretty
fast. IIRC the initial lat/long displayed is the current position, so the closer
the waypoint is to you, the easier it is to enter.

I enter waypoints when I have nothing else to do, like when I'm motoring and
Otto has the helm. Donno how many the GP-32 stores, but it stores lots!

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36

Low-end GPS
 

On Sun, 23 Nov 2003 16:30:19 +0000, Chuck Bollinger wrote:

At the Work Boat Show (Seattle) on Friday I was looking for a fixed mount GPS to
replace my beloved Micrologic Mariner which is showing some senility. I found
the Garmin GPS 152 and the Furuno GP-32 and 37. They'd probably do the job.

Thing is, though, neither of them has a keypad. So I'd like to know from a user
just how, and how quickly, a waypoint can be entered. Ever since I had a laptop
disaster I've taken to putting waypoints in manually as I need them rather than
storing more than a couple. It takes less than 10 seconds on my Mariner. How
about either of these two units.

Alternatively, can someone recommend perhaps another unit, like these two, that
does have a keypad entry?

Thanks

I have the Furuno GP-32 and I love it! I like the BIG letters you can get so I
can see speed, course, etc. from anywhere in the cockpit.

However, it IS a pain in the rear to enter text. If you just wanted temporary
waypoints, you could just call them a, b, c, etc. and the entry would be pretty
fast. IIRC the initial lat/long displayed is the current position, so the closer
the waypoint is to you, the easier it is to enter.

I enter waypoints when I have nothing else to do, like when I'm motoring and
Otto has the helm. Donno how many the GP-32 stores, but it stores lots!

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36

Low-end GPS
 

I have 4 garmins for my boat, dingy and car. I have owned 7 garmins in
total for the past 10+ years. I rarely use the input on the front
panel... instead I use the Garmin software and upload and download my
waypoints with my computer. This allows me to sync all the boat/dingy
GPSs with minimal effort and it allows me to make backup and archive
copies. There are also third party software and Free-ware packages to
do this with Garmin or Furuno. Just make sure your unit supports
uploads and downloads and either comes with a cable or they are EZ to
get. (Many of the new small cheap garmins that they sell at Circuit
city etc for 200 include cables) For my fixed mount unit(2006) I built
the cable into the boat and I just go into the cabin and connect my
laptop to it.




Chuck Bollinger wrote:
At the Work Boat Show (Seattle) on Friday I was looking for a fixed
mount GPS to replace my beloved Micrologic Mariner which is showing some
senility. I found the Garmin GPS 152 and the Furuno GP-32 and 37.
They'd probably do the job.

Thing is, though, neither of them has a keypad. So I'd like to know
from a user just how, and how quickly, a waypoint can be entered. Ever
since I had a laptop disaster I've taken to putting waypoints in
manually as I need them rather than storing more than a couple. It
takes less than 10 seconds on my Mariner. How about either of these two
units.

Alternatively, can someone recommend perhaps another unit, like these
two, that does have a keypad entry?

Thanks

Low-end GPS
 

I have 4 garmins for my boat, dingy and car. I have owned 7 garmins in
total for the past 10+ years. I rarely use the input on the front
panel... instead I use the Garmin software and upload and download my
waypoints with my computer. This allows me to sync all the boat/dingy
GPSs with minimal effort and it allows me to make backup and archive
copies. There are also third party software and Free-ware packages to
do this with Garmin or Furuno. Just make sure your unit supports
uploads and downloads and either comes with a cable or they are EZ to
get. (Many of the new small cheap garmins that they sell at Circuit
city etc for 200 include cables) For my fixed mount unit(2006) I built
the cable into the boat and I just go into the cabin and connect my
laptop to it.




Chuck Bollinger wrote:
At the Work Boat Show (Seattle) on Friday I was looking for a fixed
mount GPS to replace my beloved Micrologic Mariner which is showing some
senility. I found the Garmin GPS 152 and the Furuno GP-32 and 37.
They'd probably do the job.

Thing is, though, neither of them has a keypad. So I'd like to know
from a user just how, and how quickly, a waypoint can be entered. Ever
since I had a laptop disaster I've taken to putting waypoints in
manually as I need them rather than storing more than a couple. It
takes less than 10 seconds on my Mariner. How about either of these two
units.

Alternatively, can someone recommend perhaps another unit, like these
two, that does have a keypad entry?

Thanks

Low-end GPS
 

On Sun, 23 Nov 2003 16:30:19 GMT, Chuck Bollinger
wrote:

At the Work Boat Show (Seattle) on Friday I was looking for a fixed mount GPS to
replace my beloved Micrologic Mariner which is showing some senility. I found
the Garmin GPS 152 and the Furuno GP-32 and 37. They'd probably do the job.

Thing is, though, neither of them has a keypad. So I'd like to know from a user
just how, and how quickly, a waypoint can be entered. Ever since I had a laptop
disaster I've taken to putting waypoints in manually as I need them rather than
storing more than a couple. It takes less than 10 seconds on my Mariner. How
about either of these two units.

I use a Garmin, and it is annoying, but doable, to enter waypoints
manually. I can do it while singlehanding if things are not hectic.

When things are happening too fast, and my wife is not with me, Saving
waypoints by number is quick and easy. One then has to call them up at
anchor, and look at a chart to reconstruct where each WP is, THen they
can be labelled.

The Garmin lives out in the weather at the wheel of a sailboat. Inside
a pilot house, I would try to find something with a keypad.


Alternatively, can someone recommend perhaps another unit, like these two, that
does have a keypad entry?

Thanks


Rodney Myrvaagnes NYC J36 Gjo/a


Capsizing under chute, and having the chute rise and fill without tangling, all while Mark and Sally are still behind you

Low-end GPS
 

On Sun, 23 Nov 2003 16:30:19 GMT, Chuck Bollinger
wrote:

At the Work Boat Show (Seattle) on Friday I was looking for a fixed mount GPS to
replace my beloved Micrologic Mariner which is showing some senility. I found
the Garmin GPS 152 and the Furuno GP-32 and 37. They'd probably do the job.

Thing is, though, neither of them has a keypad. So I'd like to know from a user
just how, and how quickly, a waypoint can be entered. Ever since I had a laptop
disaster I've taken to putting waypoints in manually as I need them rather than
storing more than a couple. It takes less than 10 seconds on my Mariner. How
about either of these two units.

I use a Garmin, and it is annoying, but doable, to enter waypoints
manually. I can do it while singlehanding if things are not hectic.

When things are happening too fast, and my wife is not with me, Saving
waypoints by number is quick and easy. One then has to call them up at
anchor, and look at a chart to reconstruct where each WP is, THen they
can be labelled.

The Garmin lives out in the weather at the wheel of a sailboat. Inside
a pilot house, I would try to find something with a keypad.


Alternatively, can someone recommend perhaps another unit, like these two, that
does have a keypad entry?

Thanks


Rodney Myrvaagnes NYC J36 Gjo/a


Capsizing under chute, and having the chute rise and fill without tangling, all while Mark and Sally are still behind you

Low-end GPS - Thanks
 

I appreciate the thoughtful replies. It confirms what I had suspected. As far
as entering info from the laptop: I go through this 'entering numbers' thing on
the GPS to stay aloof from the laptop. I've had a series of evil things happen
at bad times, which is why we have the chart-pack out when in non-home waters.
If the laptop goes I lose a toy, but not my position or ability to navigate.

This is a good group.



Chuck Bollinger wrote:

At the Work Boat Show (Seattle) on Friday I was looking for a fixed
mount GPS to replace my beloved Micrologic Mariner which is showing some
senility. I found the Garmin GPS 152 and the Furuno GP-32 and 37.
They'd probably do the job.

Thing is, though, neither of them has a keypad. So I'd like to know
from a user just how, and how quickly, a waypoint can be entered. Ever
since I had a laptop disaster I've taken to putting waypoints in
manually as I need them rather than storing more than a couple. It
takes less than 10 seconds on my Mariner. How about either of these two
units.

Alternatively, can someone recommend perhaps another unit, like these
two, that does have a keypad entry?

Thanks

Low-end GPS - Thanks
 

I appreciate the thoughtful replies. It confirms what I had suspected. As far
as entering info from the laptop: I go through this 'entering numbers' thing on
the GPS to stay aloof from the laptop. I've had a series of evil things happen
at bad times, which is why we have the chart-pack out when in non-home waters.
If the laptop goes I lose a toy, but not my position or ability to navigate.

This is a good group.



Chuck Bollinger wrote:

At the Work Boat Show (Seattle) on Friday I was looking for a fixed
mount GPS to replace my beloved Micrologic Mariner which is showing some
senility. I found the Garmin GPS 152 and the Furuno GP-32 and 37.
They'd probably do the job.

Thing is, though, neither of them has a keypad. So I'd like to know
from a user just how, and how quickly, a waypoint can be entered. Ever
since I had a laptop disaster I've taken to putting waypoints in
manually as I need them rather than storing more than a couple. It
takes less than 10 seconds on my Mariner. How about either of these two
units.

Alternatively, can someone recommend perhaps another unit, like these
two, that does have a keypad entry?

Thanks

Low-end GPS - Thanks
 

Chuck Bollinger wrote:

At the Work Boat Show (Seattle) on Friday I was looking for a fixed
mount GPS to replace my beloved Micrologic Mariner which is showing some
senility. I found the Garmin GPS 152 and the Furuno GP-32 and 37.
They'd probably do the job.

Thing is, though, neither of them has a keypad. So I'd like to know
from a user just how, and how quickly, a waypoint can be entered. Ever
since I had a laptop disaster I've taken to putting waypoints in
manually as I need them rather than storing more than a couple. It
takes less than 10 seconds on my Mariner. How about either of these two
units.

Alternatively, can someone recommend perhaps another unit, like these
two, that does have a keypad entry?

Thanks

Chuck Bollinger wrote:

I appreciate the thoughtful replies. It confirms what I had suspected. As far
as entering info from the laptop: I go through this 'entering numbers' thing on
the GPS to stay aloof from the laptop. I've had a series of evil things happen
at bad times, which is why we have the chart-pack out when in non-home waters.
If the laptop goes I lose a toy, but not my position or ability to navigate.

This is a good group.

I can recommend the Yeoman plotter. It is a specialised digitising tablet
with a NMEA0183 interface designed for marine charts that lets you
quickly and easily read off the current position directly on any normal
paper chart using your GPS, (you just move the puck in the direction of
the illuminated arrow or arrowson it, and your position is under the hole
in the crosshair for the tip of a pencil when all the arrows have gone
out. It also reads off range and bearing to any feature on the chart, and
SENDS WAYPOINTS DIRECT FROM IT TO YOUR GPS with only a few button clicks.

Of course, you have to calibrate it to the chart, but that only takes a
couple of minutes per chart, once off, then its select the reference
number you wrote on the chart margin, and click the three reference points
if you change charts or if the power has been off.

I first met it on a friend's yacht and was sufficiently impressed with the
conveniance, accuracy and reduced risk of error that I treated my self to
one just to pre-enter waypoints in the Garmin GPS12 handheld I use when
dinghy cruising.

--
Ian Malcolm. London, ENGLAND. (NEWSGROUP REPLY PREFERRED)
ianm[at]the[dash]malcolms[dot]freeserve[dot]co[dot]uk [at]=@, [dash]=- &
[dot]=.
*Warning* SPAM TRAP set in header, Use email address in sig. if you must.
'Stingo' Albacore #1554 - 15' Uffa Fox designed, All varnished hot moulded
wooden racing dinghy circa. 1961