GPS for hiking?

AlanR · Occasional Visitor Joined: Apr 14, 2004 Posts: 5

I am looking for a GPS to use while hiking, preferably one that I can upload topographic maps to. Are there any dedicated handheld units that can accept memorymap type OS maps of the UK?

Failing that, is it practical to use a PDA based solution for hiking (say up to 12 hours per day)? My biggest worry with this method is battery life. I have seen a couple of external battery extenders for handheld reviewed on this site but does anyone have any idea of how much extra life they provide?

Thanks for any advice

Alan

lbendlin · Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 3:15 pm Post subject:

from my own experience (grrrrrr...) the battery extenders are still in a useless phase. They never show you how much capacity is left, and they start draining the PDA or the receiver when they fall in voltage (no reverse protection)

two alternatives:
- use standard batteries and carry spares. Some of the newer BT receivers have replaceable standard batteries and run up to 30 hours!
- consider a solar charger

Additionally it helps to minimize the use of the PDA. You don't need to stare at the screen all the time. Enjoy the hike and only fire the PDA up when you are in doubt.

My personal favourite for hiking would be the RoyalTek RBT 3000 - includes a datalogger with ample of memory.
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sparkyweb · Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 11:11 pm Post subject:

Not really having used many of the other more graphical types of GPS i can only comment on the Garmin Etrex.

I have succesfully used my Etrex Venture for both hiking and walking. With the ability to download routes (via the supplied data cable) you can view your downloaded map on the screen. I have found this great as i can work out the route on a topographical software, Anquet, Fugawi, MM etc. and then import the data to the GPS.

The big disadvantage that you get with this is you can only really see the route(s) on the screen that you have entered to it and not a graphical map.
However, you can connect a PDA and view your position on the PDA if you have the relevant topo software to it.

I went out cycling in unknown territory last weekend and didn't need to get the OS map out of the bag once!!!! - just viewed the screen.

The benefit of the Etrex Venture is the ruggedness, waterproof etc. Neg point inability to see 2D/ 3D maps on screen.

I am know that there are Gurus out there with better knowledge than me, with details on all the other models, PDA enhancements etc. but this works for me, at a relativly low cost!

My 2p worth!!!

Cheers

Sparky

Skippy · Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 11:25 pm Post subject: Re: GPS for hiking?

AlanR · Occasional Visitor Joined: Apr 14, 2004 Posts: 5

Thanks for the comments.

The blue-tooth data logger sounds interesting and I have a few questions about it...

1) Does anyone know roughly how heavy this is?

2) The web site suggests that it runs for 10 hours on a full charge, is this what people are seeing in the field?

3) Does it do altitude as well as lat/long?

4) Can it pick a signal from within a pocket / pack or does it need to be worn around the neck? Does it have to be oriented in a particular direction?

Cheers

Alan

AlanR · Occasional Visitor Joined: Apr 14, 2004 Posts: 5

PS in addition to the RoyalTek device, has anyone come across the following http://www.linkspoint.com/docs/BluetoothGPS_Info_Sheet.pdf

It seems to be a version of the Emtec BT gps with data logging capabilities.

Cheers

Alan

lbendlin · Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2004 2:29 pm Post subject:

I think the batteries are the heaviest part.. Yes, 10 hours is realistic. You can put it into the top pocket of your backpack or any other pocket that points skywards

Not sure about altitude, but I guess they'll have it.

The Linkspoint datalogger is a myth so far - we haven't yet seen one in real life, and there is no word anywhere on the data memory capacity
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AlanR · Occasional Visitor Joined: Apr 14, 2004 Posts: 5

Linkspoint have indicated the following to me...

"Just keep in mind that the RoyalTek is not a dual-mode datalogger, meaning that you cannot log GPS points at the same time that the device is forwarding points in real time to another device. With RoyalTek, it is either or."

Is this correct? If so, does it mean that I have to turn off the logging feature each time that I want to check my location on my iPaq?

(PS FYI they also indicated that the Linkspoint datalogger has a 128MB flash rom that stores 4096 points.)

Thanks

Alan

lbendlin · Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 3:06 pm Post subject:

That's incorrect. Of course the datalogging happens independently of the BT traffic.

4096 points? Well, that's even less than the Deluo Blackbox which has about 6000. And of course it is nothing compared to the 30000 you get with the RBT...
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AlanR · Occasional Visitor Joined: Apr 14, 2004 Posts: 5

Thanks for the info! I was a bit surprised at the suggestion!

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