Figuring out how to buy the right GPSr for you.

My Old Reliable, No longer in production but the Garmin 60CSx is
a fine GPSr.

Either through my shows, blog or in general, one of the most frequently asked questions I get asked is,

"I want to buy a GPSr, which is the best?".

For starters that is the wrong question. You should not be asking yourself which GPSr is the best... Instead you should be asking yourself, "Which GPSr is the best for me?". There are several things in play here. You have to be clear. Are you just seeing which GPSr has the biggest "WOW" factor and with the most bells and whistles or are you going for the unit that you want to use as you go out geocaching, hiking and travelling about? Important distinctions.

If you honestly want to purchase a GPSr for your own personal use there are some factors you must take under consideration. I narrowed them down to a few which cover all you will need to make a good solid decision. Here goes.

SHOULD I GET A GPSr AT ALL? The Value of Use:

Without having to go through all the hub bub, lets get right down to it. What are you going to use your GPSr for? Is it for geocaching, outdoor activities like hiking, travel from place to place?  If you are brand new to geocaching I would suggest that you hold off on the purchase of your GPSr for a month or so. WHAT?  Why would I say that? Because for some, geocaching sounds like a really great hobby to get into and it is. Yet some find out that it may not be what they thought it was and before you invest a chunk of pocket change into a new GPSr that you will only be using for a few weeks. You might want to borrow one from a friend or another geocacher if you can. If you then find out that you want to proceed, read on.

TIME TO DO SOME RESEARCH

Oh quit cringing, we are just getting started. Here is the question I want you to ask yourself. Do you really need all the fancy functionality? For many including myself we want all the bells and whistles we can get. The newer GPSr units can include built in cameras, voice recorders, messaging systems and much more. There is nothing wrong with looking to see what is out on the current market. Yet also realize that there is a cost for all those cool features and that directly influences how much less your wallet is going to weight. Just saying.

So let's try this on the other end. The minimum you need to go Geocaching with a GPSr. A GPSr by nature is a rugged, waterproof gizmo made for being outdoors. This is not the same description I would state in regards to smartphones. Which are not made for being outside at length including being dropped on the ground or into any kind of moisture. A standard GPS will come with some basics like a map and the ability to place coordinates in which you will see where you are presently and where you need to go. There is usually the ability to mark where you started and the path you have travelled. Always great for getting back to your car. When it comes to Geocaching. That is pretty much all you need. Beyond that falls under the bells and whistles category.  Saying this strictly for perspective. What you actually want is totally up to you.

Start looking at the major players when it comes to GPSr units. The things you want to keep in mind is Accuracy, Memory Storage and Battery Life. Almost as important would be Screen Display, Overall Usability and Functionality. Now you can add your bells and whistles. It is always good to read reviews about the product because that usually will tell you it's strengths and weaknesses. ALL GPSr units have combinations of likes and dislikes. You need to decide what you must have and what you can live with or without.

WILLING TO SPEND

It does not matter how great a particular GPSr may be if you don't have the budget to purchase the item. So it's time to cut to the chase. I really wanted to put this as the first item in this article but felt it was just as important for you to understand what you are dealing with before putting on the breaks in your decision making. So now let's get realistic. If you cringe at the thought of spending  over $150.00 I am going to save you some trouble and tell you to invest in a low end Magellan Explorist and call it a day. It is a fine starter GPSr made for Geocaching and will serve you well. I would also suggest looking for GPSr units on EBay there are some good deals there as well.

With that out of the way I am now referring to the middle ground price range which averages between $200.00USD to $400.00USD. Here is where I feel the majority of the target geocachers shoot for. In this price range you are talking a GPSr that has a really good user interface and better than average accuracy. Things like heavy tree coverage, hills and valleys won't slow the unit down all that much. You most likely won't see many of the high end bells and whistles but you should be able to do a lot of paperless Geocaching with it. Again your budget dictates everything. Purchase wisely.

FINAL DECISION

So there you go. If you did your homework and used the information I provided to you above. You should be able to come up with a good price range and idea of
GPSr unit that you want. If you notice I did not specify brands. You will find relatively quickly which brands rise to the top of the list and why. That is why it is so important for you to know how much you can spend. What features you want with your GPSr and which fit your needs and budget. I hope this helps you find what is best for you.

-HHH

GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
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Meet Anson and He's a Geocacher - Hi Anson!

One of the very nice things about Geocaching is how very much of a family style network it can be. You call someone to go on a Cache Raid tomorrow, someone else calls you with a PAF (Phone A Friend) asking for help on a geocache you found a month ago. Someone else wants to hold an event so we can get everybody together to party and well... party some more. Throw in random instances of caching and you can see pretty much how this community works and what a great community it is to belong to.

So when I received and email from Anson and his wife Donna to stop on by and go over some geocaching basics I jumped at the chance. That and I found out he literally lives about two miles from my house - the more the merrier - except when it comes to FTFs but we won't bring that up right now - now will we ;)

Anyhow, I really did get a kick out of going to Anson's house and to chat with him for a while. I explained a bit on the basics of a GPS which I believe he already new quite a bit about. Not that would keep me from talking. I also asked for him to check out NCGO which is North Carolina's Geocaching Organization. We discussed geocaching events and that I would tell him the next time I know one is coming up so he can meet even more of us. All and all a really nice guy and I can't wait for the next time we can go geocaching together... Except of course when it comes to FTFs and all bets are off, huff, huff, huff... but I digress.

If you are interested in finding more about geocaching in North Carolina here are some need to know links.

Geocaching.com

North Carolina Geocaching Organization

GeoSnippits: Geocaching Tutorial Videos

GeoCache:I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?

Bring Us Your Geocaching Videos - New Geocaching Video Group

Hey all, HeadHardHat here...

We just started up a You Tube Video Group and all geocachers are welcome. Bring us your geocaching videos and link or upload them so other geocachers can enjoy them. This can be a really nice place to show off your stuff. No prereqs or judgements, good, bad and ugly we want them all!

Geocaching R US
http://www.youtube.com/groups_layout?name=geocachingrus

Bring 'em on!

Geocaching Wishes and Holiday GPSs To You

Dear Santa,

I have been extra good this year. Like every time I find a new geocache I re-hid it just as good or better than I found it. I tell my loved ones where I am before going deep into an isolated terrain by myself. There is something special that touches my heart when I trade items by replacing the item taken with something just as good or better. Finally I will help travel bugs and geocoins with their goals even if I don't have one to trade. I have been oh so very good this year Santa, will you fulfill my geocaching wishes?

Santa wanted to be sure that he was getting exactly what geocachers want for this year so he went to two geocaching forums and asked flat out. What geocaching thing-a-ma-bob do you want from Santa? Below is the top ten from dozens of responses. Now sure, jet packs, helicopters and tree climbing monkeys are all well and good, but, c'mon, let's get real here.

Counting down from 10 to number 1:

#10 - Palm PDA

Many geocachers want to go green when it comes to geocaching. Not just because it saves trees by not printing out all our geocache information and maps but the ease of having all the information you need right in the palm of your hand makes this a nice gift. Figure about $300.00 for a Palm TX.

#9 - Travel Bug Tags

These specially marked travel bug tags holds a unique ID number which makes every travel bug special. Every travel bug that is registered on geocaching.com receives it's own web page not only giving a full description and goal of the TB but maps showing where it has been as it goes from one cache to the next. Every request used words like loads, bunches and tons to describe how many would be great to be found under the tree or stocking. Average price for a travel bug is about $5.00 each.

#8 - Cache Mobiles

Be it Jeeps, Humvee or Hummers many geocachers would love a vehicle that will get them from here to the most remote caches on the planet. This pricey request would set back Santa some serious reindeer feed but it is on the minds of many geocachers this year. A 2008 Wrangler could set you back around 20K for starts. Better be extra good for one of these.

P.S. most cachers also requested an gas pump with endless fuel as well.

#7 - Digital Camera

I wrote an article just a few weeks ago about deciding on what kind of camera to buy for geocaching. You can find it here and it looks like a great article to read with all the requests for digital cameras this year. We geocachers love to take all sorts of photos of all the interesting places we have been, cool things we have seen and all the other geocaching things we do. Nothing tells a better story than a good digital picture. Digital cameras have come down in price quite a bit and you can get a great low to mid grade digital camera for about $150.00.

#6 - Hiking Boots

Okay you have me here. I too want a good, comfortable, well rounded hiking boot. When geocachers go out into the wild there is every kind of terrain imaginable. We are talking trails, woods, swamps, streams, deserts, mountains, the list goes on and on. That kind of terrain also entails potential dangers like snakes and other critters not to mention the wear and tear of all the hiking. So a good pair of hiking boots is just the ticket for the outdoor enthusiast in all of us.

Good boots can range from $150 and up. This is an item you may want to take your gift recipient with you when buying.

#5 - Buckets of Geocoins

This was stated over and over even when something else was also requested. Many geocachers just love geocoins. Like travel bugs, geocoins have a unique id number that can be registered on geocaching.com and you also receive a special web page to promote each coin. I don't know what it is that draws geocachers to geocoins, maybe it's because of the pirate booty feel of it when you hold them. Sometimes it is the special memory or place it represents. All I know is there are a whole lot of personal geocoin collections where they never see the wild except when taken in quantity to a nearby geocaching event. The average geocoin will cost around $10.00 each. Like any collectible it is up to the holder how much it is worth to them. These make great stocking stuffers or that special accent on any geocachers present.

#4 - Global Positioning Systems or GPS

The following three countdown items on every geocachers list all pertain to basically the same thing but there were such drastic demand for certain types of GPS units I broke them down by popularity. This countdown item is for all geocachers out there that want a GPS unit but do not know which GPS unit they want. To help you out I wrote an article a few weeks ago about which brand of GPS unit was found to be best this year. Coincidentally, the request for GPSs matched these results as well. You can read my article by clicking here. GPS units by far are the backbone to geocaching as we know it and whether we say it or not this is the gizmo we want most!

#3 - Delorme PN-XX GPS

If you go to the article stated in #4 you can read all about the Delorme series of GPS units. They have only really been making handheld units for little over the year but they have the potential of becoming the king of GPSs. This may not quite be their year but that does not stop the mainstream of geocachers out there wanting them big time. The price of a Delorme PN series can fetch you anywhere around $500.00. Be sure to read that article I put out before investing that kind of dough. You will be glad you did. Read it here.

#2 - Garmin GPS (any series)

No sense of denying it. Garmin is the king of handheld GPS units. Be it the high end flash of the Colorado, the complete and reliable workhorse 60CSx or the low end but highly used Etrex series you really can't go wrong with a Garmin. Of all the GPS units requested this year Garmin beat all the other brands combined. You can get a low end Etrex for under $100.00 and up through the high end Colorado and Oregons around $550.00.

#1 - Time

Funny how these surveys and polls turn out some times. It wasn't the flashiest gizmo or the most expensive thing-a-ma-bob that almost all geocachers asked for. Nope it was to have more time doing geocaching. We live in this always connected, hyper fast, must do more with less society and what we all crave is that blissful few moments of quiet. Sitting next to an ammo box or Lock and Lock box for a quick moment of bliss. Signing a log and rummaging through trade items, travel bugs and the rare geocoin. Noticing the wind as it gently raises the leaves or parts the clouds to expose that valley below. No it's not all the cool toys we love to play with, but the extra time to go out and do what we enjoy the most. Thank you Santa we would just love to have some of that wrapped with a bow as well.

Thanks to everyone from the forums of the NCGO and Geocaching.com. As usual you are the best for finding out what geocachers really know and think.

Ahhh Tupperware in Da Woods

Can you think of a better way to be using a billion dollar satellite system? This is bliss for a geocacher. Miss Geoness and Dad Headhardhat out in the woods finding geocaches on a nice crisp Fall day in Cary, North Carolina. Featured above Miss Geoness goes through a regular sized cache. We ended up trading some objects and left one of my signature first aid kits and traded some travel bugs as well.

Which Brand of Handheld GPS is Best, a Real Boxing Barnburner

Lets get ready to rumble!

You can feel the tension in the crowd of this jam packed arena which extends from the rafters all the way down to the center ring. This epic match that has been building for years with the outcome determining the best brand for handheld GPS units. GPS which stands for Global Positioning System is a fancy way of saying, “You Are Here” on a map that exists in the GPS handheld device itself. When you move, the pointer keeps track of where you are and the map underneath digitally moves when you do. That way you can always know exactly where you are on the planet. Now back to the match as the units get ready to show their stuff.

The announcer grabs the mike hanging ring center.

“In this corner, wearing black with blue trim. We give you brand Magellan.”

Magellan is a very popular brand that has been around as other companies since 1994 and did not take it's current name until around 2001. It is extremely well known and boasts the creation of the first commercial handheld GPS receiver.

“In the opposite corner wearing black with white and blue trim. We give you brand Garmin.” The favorite for this evening Garmin has it's origins around 1989 and sold it's first panel mounted GPS for around $2500.00. How things have changed. When discussions turn to GPS devices you will most likely hear the brands of Magellan and Garmin.

“Finally in corner three (hey, it's my article and I want three opponents) wearing blue with white trim. We give you brand Delorme.” Now the possible underdog in this fight has it's roots going all the way back to 1976. Though the majority of it's efforts appear to be more into digital map making rather than the hardware making of GPS units. It's first handheld did not come to market until 2007.

The referee walks up to the three bruisers of the GPS world to set up the match and give the rules.

“Okay we want a clean fight. There is to be no smoke and mirrors on functionality which means what we see is what you've got. No promises of premier Customer Support that actually wouldn't know a way point from a sundial. Finally, In case of a low battery or memory card full condition go to your respective corners and wait for further instruction.” .
Now you can see on their displays that Garmin and Magellan have been around for quite some time and this is not their first time in the ring. Delorme on the other hand is trying to remain calm but you can see his pointer is shaking a bit. Lets find out how the new kid stands up to the top two GPS titan brands. The match begins..

All boxing puns aside, all the information today was provided by experienced Geocachers who take their caching equipment very seriously. Geocachers not only look for the accuracy, dependability and durability of their GPS units but also it's ease of use in the field and more importantly how it interacts with computers and third party software that load all that information in and out of the GPS. You can have the most impressive handheld in the world but if you always have to manually insert multiple waypoints, what good is it? I correlated all of the data from two of my favorite Geocaching site forums. Also included was a question poll asking straight out which brand was best.

Here is what I found out:

Magellan has it's Triton Series of handhelds which range from $129.00 to $500.00 depending on the unit of choice. Surprising to me I found Magellan to be the least liked and had the most defectors from the once very popular brand. The customer support was commented as not being up to par and lacking. Initially they had a very good string of constant upgrades and improvements but over time has dwindled. Several posts voiced their disappointment by stating the Triton Series was not ready to go out into the wild but Magellan decided to sell them anyways. This created a host of very unhappy customers. Out of the three brands discussed here I have to say Magellan is buns up on the canvas this year.

Delorme even though initially thought to be the underdog of the match is showing some true grit. I noticed a growing want to convert over to the PN series but there are some major hurdles keeping them from doing it. The PN-20 and PN-40 range from $250.00 to +$500.00 in price which makes them on the high end of the scale. Let me say right from the start that Delorme is the king of high density and amazingly crisp maps. You can't own 44% of the CD mapping market and not be very good at what you do. One cacher zoomed into a geocache on the map and saw by the placement that it was under a lamp pole; it's that clear. On the flip side the biggest drawback is the learning curve to get the GPS unit itself working. Over a period of three days I personally have seen three very experienced cachers almost in tears trying to get their individual units running as expected. Now Delorme's customer support is being very responsive but since they have only had these devices out on the market for only a year they appear to be scrambling to flesh out all the bugs. I also read several comments that the Delormes were off on accuracy about 30 feet on a consistent basis. It does not sound like much but if you are out trying to find a pinky sized bison tube in a pine tree you want to be sure you are actually looking in the right pine tree. Final note, kudos for the paperless features of the PN series there were many positive comments for that. So what do you end up with? A brilliantly crisp set of graphic and aerial image maps in a unit that has a very high learning curve attached and very low compatibility with existing computer applications which is responsible for loading key information into the unit itself. Looks like for this year at least Delorme has the makings of a top notch GPS handheld but it has some serious issues to address before they will draw a good user base.

According to our user poll Garmin is three out of four the most used GPS unit out in the wild. The pricing spreads nicely across the board and depending on your budget you should be able to find a good one in your price range. For example the Etrex series which is several years dated is still a very common site on the trail. But if you want to experience the true workhorse of GPS handhelds you have to own the 60CSX. It has great accuracy, durability, reliability and compatibility which will fill almost every need you will ever have. The interesting issue with the 60CSX is it too is dated and Garmin is trying to push the fancy new bells and whistles of the higher end units. Unfortunately in this case newer does not constitute better. Case and point Garmin's Colorado which being a high end price tag item has been consistently been compared to, well, doggie-poop. Big steaming piles of poop, in fact I could not find a single compliment in any of the posts. My advice, stay away from this one. The Oregon had many nice statements about the touchscreen, the screen size and the paperless functionality. The drawbacks was the dimness of the screen when outside and the lack of being able to customize it like some of Garmin's older models. So is the grief of making it your own worth the large price tag?

Well the ring judges have sent in their tallies and the winner of this match and the best brand for this year is Garmin. I will be very excited to see next year if some of the lesser known brands can be good enough to enter the ring or will the powerhouse brands of this year get their acts together and put them down for the ten count.