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#167131 - 06/23/12 11:07 AM Suggestions for a GPS for a Canadian
ABcowgrl Offline
member

Registered: 06/04/12
Posts: 22
Loc: Alberta
Looking for model suggestions for a GPS unit for a canadian.Alot of units only have USA maps or mapping sites that don't include coverage for me.trails.com only shows 6 trails in the areas I go to,and their are ALOT more than that!! Anyone know of sites that cover all of the rockies in AB/BC? What units are fellow canadians using? Never used one before,I'm old school..map,compass,familiar areas,and 2-way radios.Also, there's NO cell phone reception in these areas,and have heard some hikers have had their GPS units lose signal in some spots.

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#167145 - 06/23/12 04:37 PM Re: Suggestions for a GPS for a Canadian [Re: ABcowgrl]
lori Offline
member

Registered: 01/22/08
Posts: 2801
GPS units connect to satellites, not cell towers. Some models lose reception easier than others, usually due to tree cover or deep canyons.

A Garmin 60csx would be one model that tends to be more reliable in connecting to satellites. But all GPS units can be wrong, or just less accurate than you'd hope, especially if you never calibrate it.
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#167151 - 06/24/12 08:38 AM Re: Suggestions for a GPS for a Canadian [Re: ABcowgrl]
ABcowgrl Offline
member

Registered: 06/04/12
Posts: 22
Loc: Alberta
As far as cell coverage,I just meant that I can't use the popular iphone gps app,cause it won't work out there,and that i'll need a unit capable of picking up signals from multiple satellites.I was told some models can do this,can't remember which ones though.so far my best option will be one that will let me download trail gps coordinates,trying to find topo sites for canada is proving difficult.There's acouple forums that I can download trail info.

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#167154 - 06/24/12 11:07 AM Re: Suggestions for a GPS for a Canadian [Re: ABcowgrl]
lori Offline
member

Registered: 01/22/08
Posts: 2801
No one should try to depend on a cell phone app for navigation. If you think some GPS models get poor satellite connection... And, many of the cell phone apps only work with the cell tower connection in addition to satellite. Mine is one. The screen is blank without the cell tower.

Any GPS with map capacity should let you download and upload tracks.
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#167166 - 06/24/12 02:10 PM Re: Suggestions for a GPS for a Canadian [Re: lori]
phat Offline
Moderator

Registered: 06/24/07
Posts: 4107
Loc: Alberta, Canada
Garmin Etrex 20 or 30 - I have the 30 - Get the model that does dual GPS and GLONASS (the russian one). The dual set of
satelites (and nice russian northern hemisphere coverage) means it does tend to work better with limited view of the sky.

I have been using now a Garmin Etrex 30 with the free Ibycus Topo 4.0 (wit Ibycus "old roads") that is a free version of the government topo maps. it's pretty good for hiking - you'll need to buy a bigger micro-sd card to hold that, but it's kind of nice having topo for the whole country, for free, in your unit, you just need to to a little research online to find the Ibycus maps and get them installed onto your sd card.

The small size of the unit leaves something to be desired for car use - it'll work, but for that you're better off with something bigger. If you do a lot of "dedicated GPS work" where you are fiddling with it a lot you may want a bigger screen or better interface. Me? I want it as light as I can get it for taking hiking, yet with good maps. this fits the bill. I wish the battery lasted longer but oh well, I use eneloop rechargables in it (from costco) and take several sets. I *may* get a lightweight charger apparatus for longer trips. If you leave it on "during the day" for tracking purposes without the backlight I get about 2 days out of a charged set of eneloops. If I don't leave it on, (and only take it out and turn it on when I want it to figure the world out) it lasts much longer - but I have to be prepared to wait a while for it to boot up, and find satelites when I want to do that.





Edited by phat (06/24/12 02:13 PM)
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