To: Mounted search and rescue <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: [MSAR] Simple affordable GPS without radio
Date: Wed, 2 Nov 2005 20:28:45 -0700
Scott Bombard wrote:
>We are in the market for two simple GPS's without radio, but with
>backtrack feature. Is there a easy to use unit out there that's
>affordable?
I have used a lot of GPS units. The one I finally bought myself
is a Garmin 12; I got a used one on Ebay. For GPS use while on
horseback (often moving), key features are a large display and
large buttons. For backcountry and general off-road use, a huge
memory full of pre-installed map (and commercial marketing) data
is useless. For SAR use, down-loadable maps are mostly useless;
who has time to download the relevant USGS quads? I keep a paper
map collection in my vehicle. (I also have all but 1 topo quad
for New Mexico in raw image files on my computer.)
Another benefit of the Garmin 12 is its relatively large antenna;
it tends to get a much more accurate fix, faster, than many newer
GPS units.