[OSM-talk] GPS recommendations

Richard Fairhurst richard at systemeD.net
Thu Apr 24 10:56:46 BST 2008


Stephen Hope wrote:

> I think it's just as important to have a list of models NOT to buy.

The one recommendation I'd give is: if you're expecting to be at all  
serious about OSM, grit your teeth and pay for a decent Garmin.

I'm now using an eTrex Legend HCx (having started with a basic yellow  
eTrex, then moved up to a Geko 201) and the difference it makes is  
enormous: quality of reception, in-built OSM mapping, storage  
capacity, ease of use, ease of marking waypoints... it's just a  
beautiful unit, and I wish I'd gone straight to it rather than  
bothering with the Geko. It's such a shame to see people struggling  
with gpsbabel, drivers etc. when you can just plug a USB cable into a  
higher-end eTrex and download the tracks in mass storage mode.

Personally I don't get on with the NaviGPS at all, finding it a  
fiddly, unreliable, counter-intuitive little beastie, and would  
happily see it consigned to ocean floor surveying duties. But if  
you're a happy Linux command-line hacker you may have more luck with  
it than me.

cheers
Richard





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