Got new GPS

Posted by: Jimshaw

Got new GPS - 02/23/10 07:33 PM

They charged me a bit, but I traded in the smoked Foretrex 101 for a 301. Nice machine. The manual is on a CD and you need a new copy Adobe reader to view it. I think its easier to use than the 101, but its still for computer geeks. It did come with a USB cable and I'm hoping to learn to do automatic route and waypoint entry from my computer since I like to use google earth and NG Topo. The waypoint mark and goto functions are button operated and don't require a lot of screen changes. It weighs 3.1 ounces with batteries and someone said it has more sensitive antennas but I can't confirm that, and I do not know about battery time.
Jim
Posted by: bigfoot2

Re: Got new GPS - 02/25/10 06:00 PM

Cool. Glad ya' got a new one. I still think our map/compass was more help on our most recent hike when your GPS was not functioning. Still,
if you like playing with it...more power to you, Jim goodjob

BF cool
Posted by: Jimshaw

Re: Got new GPS - 02/25/10 08:07 PM

BF
the topo map with all of the points marked on it was very useful, but as you know, we never pulled out a compass, I didn't have one.
Jim
Posted by: Dryer

Re: Got new GPS - 02/25/10 10:13 PM

Cool! Run back out by that power plant and see if it holds up. grin

I bought a road optimized GPS (Garmin Nuvi) and am amazed how different and improved they are, compared to my old Magellan Map 330...which still works great.
Posted by: Jimshaw

Re: Got new GPS - 03/06/10 01:01 AM

I'm sitting here in my office loading up some way points for tomorrows hike and my foretrex301 is giving me a way point inside! That's a first for me. That means they have finally solved the noise problems in their amplifiers. This way more sensitive than the 101.

I just went out to get us some candy bars. Its Friday night right? and 34 degrees out. I ended walking up to main street, then left to the edge of town, then up a block and down to the other edge of town and there's one gas station open. Everything else closes at 8pm except for 2 restaurants and two bars. The gal at the store in the gas station asked me why I was out walking in the cold! I walked about two miles, but hey it was a good warm up for tomorrow.
Jim
Posted by: 300winmag

Re: Got new GPS - 04/26/10 12:11 AM

I'm a Garmin fan. I have a Nuvi 350 for my car and a Colorado 300 for backpacking.

I'm a Sierra Club outings leader & Nevada Outings chair so I got it in case we had an emergency of some type and I needed to find a fast way out.

But for waypoints it's great and it works well even in box canyons! Gotta say, the Colorado's screen is much brighter than the Oregon's touch screen. Now if they could give me a firmware upgrade for the Colorado to make it find satellites faster that would make it complete.

Eric
BTW, Jim, Cabela's sells Bennett Marine's instructional DVDs for Garmin GPS units. For my Colorado it was a necessity B/C Garmin was too cheap to give us more than a "Quick Start" guide.