GPS Maps & Altimeters

[climb.on]

I am close to pulling the trigger on a Garmin 62. I have read a some of the other GPS threads, which actually pointed me toward the 62. I have owned a Garmin eTrex summit for many years and it\'s time to get one with topos.

I am basically trying to decide between these 3:
Garmin 62 (no altimeter, no 100k US basemap)
Garmin 62s (has altimeter, no 100k US basemap)
Garmin 62st (has altimeter, has 100k US basemap)

One of the things I found most useful was the altimeter for helping to determine my location/progress was looking at my planned route on a printed map and the current elevation on the GPS. I used it primarily for back country skiing, backpacking, climbing & mountaineering. Since these activities are all primarily Point A, to Point B, to Point C, etc... I didn\'t ever use the GPS for direct navigation per say; more often just to check my progress and confirm I was on route. I would occasionally plot the UTM coordinates from the GPS to the map if I really needed to dial in exactly where I was on the printed map. I would insert some way points ahead of time and key points along the route so I could get back to them if I got off route or something. I suspect I will use the GPS for Elk hunting will be quite different as I really won\'t really have an exact route, so given that I have a couple questions...

1. How often are you guys using the altimeter with your topo GPS? I just wonder if I would not need/use the altimeter with a new GPS that has maps in it. I will still, of course, have a printed map and compass along.

2. Did you get a GPS with the 100k US BaseMap in it already? Do you use it? I\'m sure the 100k maps are not much good for hunting and I plan to get a 24k for CO, but maybe it\'s nice to have for other things?

 

[Swede]

I don\'t use the altimeter much anymore. Where I hunt there is not enough relief in the landscape to make altitude a significant point. I used to use an altimeter, before GPS in some timber sale layout work. In some places, if you have a compass, map and altimeter, it is an easy to locate exactly where you are.

 

[F M]

I don\'t use the altimeter much anymore. I just bought a garmim 62 and got home and found out it does not hold map chip so its going back to the store. I ordered a 62s instead.

 

[bnsafe]

i never use my altimeter. not even sure i could find it. as far as the base map i dont like the one on garmin. i bought the 100 dollar hunting gps map card an love it. so much more detail. so, as long as your gps has a place for a sd card go with it.
those are just my opinions. i am not a gps guru. matter fact the more im in the mnts the less i turn mine on.

 

[Deertick]

If you have to use an altimeter, you\'re hunting very vertical country ... and I\'m against that. :angle:

The map, though, is very useful. I thought the map would be so-so, and not used ... now, I\'d say it\'s one of the key features.

 

[climb.on]

Thanks guys. I had a hunch the altimeter might not be as necessary. Turns out I will have it anyway, so that\'s fine. I was about to order the 62s (to get the sd slot) when I came across a brand new Garmin 450 on Craigslist for $150. Had to take that deal. Now I need to figure out which maps to order. Going to take a closer look at the maps on huntinggpsmaps.com Bnsafe: is that where you got yours?

 

[bnsafe]

thats what i have. got it at sportsmans warehouse but they are a 100 bucks anywhere you get them. you can buy the maps online an download it into your computer also then download it on your gps. my cousin did that an it worked well. he looked at our hunting area on a full size computer screen an marked waypoints before we ever got to colorado. so we had a waypoint to our camp five miles in before we ever saw the country. downside was my gps erased it after one year an i lost everything. not sure why. with the chip i just put it in an take it out as needed. so depends on what you like.

 

[bnsafe]

come to think of it you might be able to download the chip onto you computer an do the same thing. i dont know, im not very computer savvy

 

[WW]

I never even look at the altitude on my GPS. Or any of the other Bells & Whistles either. So long as it has a micro SD slot for my HuntingGPSmaps.com card, I\'m good to go!

 

[WapitiBob]

thats what i have. got it at sportsmans warehouse but they are a 100 bucks anywhere you get them. you can buy the maps online an download it into your computer also then download it on your gps. my cousin did that an it worked well. he looked at our hunting area on a full size computer screen an marked waypoints before we ever got to colorado. so we had a waypoint to our camp five miles in before we ever saw the country. downside was my gps erased it after one year an i lost everything. not sure why. with the chip i just put it in an take it out as needed. so depends on what you like.

Create a GPX folder under the Garmin folder on the sd card, then move your waypoints from the GPS\'s Garmin/GPX folder to the GArmin/GPX folder on that card. You\'ll then have the data protected. The waypoints you take in the field will still be on the GPS but you can move those when you get home if you want to keep them. The GPS will read all files in both directory trees, Garmin and the SD card, so you should move the files rather than copy to eliminate duplicates in the handheld.

 

[Deertick]

WapitiBob ... I need to mark that post for a \"read again\" ...

Why don\'t you make a separate thread about how to do stuff like that? I think that\'d be real helpful (as in: Archived tips). :upthumb: