# I want a GPS for Christmas, what should I look for? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 20, 2002, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-gps-for-christmas-what-should-i-look-for/133139 "2002-10-20T22:38:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-gps-for-christmas-what-should-i-look-for/133139/1 "2002-10-20T22:38:50Z")
I want it for two reasons: geocaching, and to see if I can use it to find my car when I get out of a store. What kind of price should I expect (American)? And what sort of features can I get? ---
**Author:** ![unwashed\_brain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a9adbd/32.png) [@unwashed\_brain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unwashed_brain)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-gps-for-christmas-what-should-i-look-for/133139/2 "2002-10-20T23:00:35Z")
What should you look for? Why, good directions of course! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![happyheathen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@happyheathen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happyheathen)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-gps-for-christmas-what-should-i-look-for/133139/3 "2002-10-20T23:06:19Z")
If you need a GPS receiver to find your car… I hope your driving skills exceed your parking skills 😉 Moving maps are nice - esp. if you can get a model which accepts plug-in maps (city/road maps, marine/aviation charts) All kinds of receivers - all kinds of prices. for giggles: > **[Pilot Supplies and Aircraft Parts | Aircraft Spruce](https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/avpages/gpsmap196.php)** > > Aircraft Spruce is a worldwide distributor of certified and homebuilt aircraft supplies. makes the others look downright cheap, huh? (look for the certified panel mounts if you really want a shock) ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-gps-for-christmas-what-should-i-look-for/133139/4 "2002-10-20T23:37:06Z")
Just go to the Garmin and Magellan sites and look around. I have the Garmin 12-Map which is eminently suitable for geocaching. Although it’s not absolutely required for geocaching (and certainly not for finding your car), I’d suggest a mapping GPS. They are very useful for finding your way to trailheads, not to mention figuring out where you are when you’re lost. If you get a mapping GPS, the key is how much memory you can put in. GPS manufacturers quite frankly have not stayed current with technology – none of the current models support Firewire or even USB input (strictly serial), and their built-in memory is pretty pitiful – even the new ones don’t have more than 24 or so MB. That’s enough for a major metropolitan area, but not really a whole state. If you settle on the Garmins, I’d go with one of the ETrex models – the GPS V is very cool, but it’s quite expensive and doesn’t really have the ideal form factor for geocaching. One thing I would look for is the ability to support an external antenna (or a very sensitive internal antenna). GPS receivers are not at their best underneath a leaf canopy and an external amplified antenna is very helpful in trying to get a fix. The ETrex Vista has a built-in compass which is nice for geocaching, because your basic GPS isn’t so red hot on determining direction – you have to move a few dozen feet before it figures out which direction you’re heading. As for cost, anywhere between $100 and $350.00. But – the maps/software are about $100.00 each. There are third party map and software solutions as well as some public domain maps on the web. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-gps-for-christmas-what-should-i-look-for/133139/5 "2002-10-20T23:46:01Z")
If you have a PDA, you shoulf be able to find a GPS unit that works with it. You load maps into the Palm. and the gps places you on the map. Drive along and watch the street map scroll with you. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2002, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-gps-for-christmas-what-should-i-look-for/133139/6 "2002-10-21T03:04:18Z")
If you are into geocacheing, you might have a lot of fun with the Degree Confluence Project [http://confluence.org/index.php](http://confluence.org/index.php) > [@](#): > > The goal of the project is to visit each of the latitude and longitude integer degree intersections in the world, and to take pictures at each location. The pictures and stories will then be posted here. ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2002, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-gps-for-christmas-what-should-i-look-for/133139/7 "2002-10-21T05:24:16Z")
I have a Garmin GPSmap 76s. It has an electronic compass, which is great for Geocaching. It is waterproof, has 24 megabytes of memory for maps, external antenna jack, and a decent sized screen (the Etrex screens are TINY). It also comes with a data cable for hooking it to your PC. I have seen them online for $375 or so. ---
**Author:** ![pestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e5b9ba/32.png) [@pestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pestie)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2002, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-gps-for-christmas-what-should-i-look-for/133139/8 "2002-10-21T21:11:35Z")
I have a Garmin eMap. I like it a lot, but to be really useful you have to add memory to it and get one of the mapping packages (US Roads and Recreation, Metroguide, Lights & Waterways, Topo, etc.) I think I spent about $80 for 8 megs of RAM (which, contrary to what **Finagle** says, is enough for almost all of Massachusetts, including Boston, most of Connecticut and various bits of southern Vermont, southern New Hampshire and southeastern Maine). The US Roads & Recreation CD was $80 or so, too. I also got an external antenna on eBay for only $35 or so (I’ve seen the same one retail for $80+) and it improves performance tremendously! It’s well worth the money. If I had it to do over, though, I’d go with **Joey G** ’s recommendation - the GPSMap 76s. It’s not only got plenty of built-in RAM and a magnetic compass, but it’s waterproof, it floats, I _think_ it has a barometric altimeter, and it supports WAAS (the Wide-Area Augmentation System). WAAS improves GPS accuracy down to +/- 1 meter, assuming you’re in view of the WAAS satellites. The external active antenna helps with WAAS, too. The GPSMap 76s is a work of art. It uses the same external antenna and software as the eMap, too, so when I get around to upgrading I won’t have to lose my investment in those things. ---
**Author:** ![Theios](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e8c25b/32.png) [@Theios](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theios)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2002, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-gps-for-christmas-what-should-i-look-for/133139/9 "2002-10-22T09:59:43Z")
I have both the Garmin ETrex and the new, nifty Garmin V. Actually, the Garmin V isn’t much bigger than the ETrex. It’s just about as rugged and waterproof too. So I will be using my new toy and it’s external antenna to find a particularly frustrating geocache near my house. I’ve mainly been using my Garmin V as a driving navigation tool. The auto-routing and turn warnings have kept me from getting in trouble with my CrazedGirlfriend. (I always get us lost) If you look around, you can get the deluxe package (all US/Canada maps) online for about $400. The ETrex can be found for less than $100 on ebay. It all depends on how much you want to spend on your new toy. Go to the suggested web sites and figure out what you want out of your toy. Get the model that meets those needs. If your geocaching, you need waterproof/rugged and preferably the ability to attatch an external antenna for better reception in tree cover. (Basic yellow eTrex does NOT allow this). Everything else is gravy. ---
**Author:** ![H8\_2\_W8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c77e96/32.png) [@H8\_2\_W8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/H8_2_W8)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2002, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-gps-for-christmas-what-should-i-look-for/133139/10 "2002-10-22T12:37:20Z")
This is the GPS I want for Christmas: the Garmin Rino 120 It is GPS, a walkie/talkie radio, and if you’re using two of them you’re able to know the location of the other user as well as yourself. So, for example, if my wife was in a particular store in the mall too long while I waited in the car, I’d know which one store and I could call her. If she’s in Victoria’s Secret I could call her and ask her to get a thong or something see-thru and if she’s in Gap Kids I could call her and tell her “No, the kid doesn’t need yet another sweater.” I think everyone can see the practical applications of this thing. [http://www.garmin.com/products/rino120/](http://www.garmin.com/products/rino120/) ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2002, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-gps-for-christmas-what-should-i-look-for/133139/11 "2002-10-22T22:30:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pestie \* > **I _think_ it has a barometric altimeter** It does. > [@](#): > > **The GPSMap 76s is a work of art** Only thing I don’t like is that they put the buttons above the screen. That annoys the crap out of me, to the point where I am thinking of sending it back and getting a 196. It also does not have a course deviation indicator like the Vista, which I prefer when flying. I also wish they would take a clue from Magellan and use standard upgradable memory (Secure Digital/MMC) rather than the built in Garmin memory. It is an excellent GPS overall, though. ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2002, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-gps-for-christmas-what-should-i-look-for/133139/12 "2002-10-22T22:34:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Theios \* > **the ability to attatch an external antenna for better reception in tree cover. (Basic yellow eTrex does NOT allow this).** None of the Etrex line has this. The Vista at least should… ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-gps-for-christmas-what-should-i-look-for/133139/13 "2002-10-23T03:14:21Z")
I was looking at the Magellan site and none of the units that I looked at offered external antennas. Is their unit good enough to skip that? ---
**Author:** ![Theios](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e8c25b/32.png) [@Theios](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theios)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-gps-for-christmas-what-should-i-look-for/133139/14 "2002-10-23T04:35:41Z")
You don’t have to have the external antenna, but it really helps when you’re in the woods. (tree cover plays havac with reception) What you want is the ability to attatch an external antenna. You can get some decent ones cheaply on Ebay. Usually they attatch with a coax connector to your unit. With some of the Garmins, the supplied antenna pops off and then you attatch an external one. I’d imagine that some of the Magellans are the same way. But I don’t know much about Magellans, maybe someone esle has one and can verify this. ---
**Author:** ![Theios](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e8c25b/32.png) [@Theios](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theios)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-gps-for-christmas-what-should-i-look-for/133139/15 "2002-10-23T04:45:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Joey G \* > \*\* > > None of the Etrex line has this. The Vista at least should… \*\* I just going from memory here, but I remember that someone in the geocaching community found a non-US site that offered an external antenna for some of the eTrex models. I’m not sure what models that it would work on, but I do remember that the basic yellow eTrex wasn’t one of them. I think it lacked the external connection point (one pin?) that the antenna connected to. I could probably dig up the information if you’re interested. (did a quick google, but couldn’t find it… but I did find this cute little thing. Wonder how well it works…) [http://safetracgps.com/reraidiating.htm](http://safetracgps.com/reraidiating.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Mort\_Furd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mort\_Furd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mort_Furd)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-gps-for-christmas-what-should-i-look-for/133139/16 "2002-10-23T11:01:00Z")
Sorry, folks. I just have to post this. It has been bothering me every since I first saw this thread. You do NOT want a GPS. That is a Global Positioning System. That includes about thirty satellites and damned if I know how many ground stations. It cost billions of dollars to put in place. I really don’t think you want to buy one. What you mean is that you want a GPS receiver. I know, I am picking nits. It just happens to be a nit that irritates me. ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-gps-for-christmas-what-should-i-look-for/133139/17 "2002-10-23T20:42:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mort Furd \* > \*\*What you mean is that you want a GPS receiver. > I know, I am picking nits. It just happens to be a nit that irritates me. \*\* Used to annoy the hell out me too, but I eventually got used to calling them just GPSs. If you mention a GPSR, noone knows what yer talking about.