So, Tech Gurus, I don't know tons about GPS devices and I'm wondering if any of you have them and can tell me to love them or leave them.

It would be for my Dad who would likely use it for skiing, moutain biking and hiking so portability would be a big consideration. I guess if it could dash mount into a vehicle as well that would be nice but not necessary.

I'm chipping in with some of my siblings, but still under $300 would be preferable. Thanks!

GPS is schweet. Especially since they took out the error. There's a great "game" you can play with them, GeoCaching.

As far as which one to get, I know there are some GPS review sites, but I'm at work, typing this between transferring data from an old PC to new, so you'll just have to google.

I have one of the Garmin Rino series, which includes a 2-way radio. Very useful for hunting. Using it in the car is not it's strong point, but it does what I need it to do, and has lots of features that I probably won't ever use. Basically what I need it to do is bring me back to the camp/horse/carcass. I don't need all the bells and whistles, but wanted the radio so I didn't have to carry a separate device up and down hills at 9000 feet. There's no frickin' oxygen up there!

Features available that your Dad may or may not want, radio, track logs, color, talking device.

You can get a GPS device about the size of a large wristwatch, very basic functionality, or you can get TomTom Go, which talks you to where you want to go, but I don't know how portable it is. Many choices in between. For 3 bills, you should be able to get a nice one. One thing to look out for is if the map software is included. I bought Garmin's separately.

Thanks, Tenzip!

Just having a few points to start off with helps (learned a few things already Googling after you mentioned the product line). It's also good to know about the software in advance. Yeah, he's mentioned GeoCaching before as something he'd like to try.

Thanks again!

Make sure you can see the screen clearly and actual map ,and also if it is portable you can take it on boat,I am using the micro$oft street and trips with gps , and have an extra antanae that I will put on our fish finder which is gps capable,they are pretty cool and the thing to have now .they are coming down in price big time so shop around .

Just depends on what features you need, and the area it will most likely be used in (situation) Garmin's are a good brand.

here are a couple of links to check out and do a little research.

Personally i have trimble GPS units at work, (survey grade) well below sub cm, we hold tolerances of 0.005 of a foot over 1,000 feet with a rover unit, and base station. But i doubt you want to pay over 50,000 for a complete unit... LOL

http://www.gps-planet.com/

http://www.gpsdude.com/servlet/StoreFront

Joe

Hmm, my dad doesn't hunt or fish anymore. Makes him sound like a hippie that he spends that much time in the mountains and doesn't kill anything.

YappyPappy, good point about the screen. I tend to just shop on-line but going into an electronics store to give 'em a test drive is a good idea.

Wow, Joe, I knew surveyors' equipment was expensive, but had no idea! Thanks for the links!

Joe, got a question for you about your work equipment, but I don't want to take the thread too far off topic. I'm not sure The Duchess knows how to deal (appropriately) with a thread that goes off topic.

You're holding tolerances of 4 ten-thousandths of an inch? Does this include some interaction via laser between the base and the rover? Seems to me that the errors introduced by atmosphere and such would prevent such tolerances for strictly GPS devices. Just curious, not bashing.

Heeeeeyyyyyy..... I only throw other people's threads to the wind. Any I've started have stayed quite to the point, thank you.

I have a Tom Tom 910, it's great in my vehicle, you can use it for walking around as long as you stay on known streets. If you wander off a know street it just put you in a blank spot on the screen. Not real good for going off road in my opinion.