GPS Info

[grizz]

I'm in the market for a GPS and would like some feedback, maybe some of you can help?

I havent used one since the 90's and things have really changed with everything they are offering now, including the prices and subscriptions.

Do any of you use them? Garmin seems to be the go to brand and thats what I had in the 90's and liked it.

Features I'm interested in are
- long battery life
- 2 way coms, either text and or talk
- emergency SOS ability
- built in topo maps

What say you???

[pkveazey]

Bwahahahaha..... If you find anything like that, ley me know. What you're looking for is what most Cell Phone Zombies already have on their SMART phones. Those only operate through Cell Towers. I keep a small Garmin in my fanny pack at all times and extra batteries because those things eat batteries as fast as Digital Cameras do. My Garmin talks to the Satelites. My old Garmin just shows a map and an X where you are and it leaves a snail trail on the map as you move around. I can zoom in or out but I can't get TOPO but it does give me altitude. I'm consi9dering getting a better one as long as it doesn't get too pricey.

[grizz]

Bwahahahaha..... If you find anything like that, ley me know. What you're looking for is what most Cell Phone Zombies already have on their SMART phones. Those only operate through Cell Towers. I keep a small Garmin in my fanny pack at all times and extra batteries because those things eat batteries as fast as Digital Cameras do. My Garmin talks to the Satelites. My old Garmin just shows a map and an X where you are and it leaves a snail trail on the map as you move around. I can zoom in or out but I can't get TOPO but it does give me altitude. I'm consi9dering getting a better one as long as it doesn't get too pricey.

Here in AK we dont get good cell service outside of the cities so sat is a must in the mntns.

On garmin site they advertise 300+ hours battery life in power saving mode for some models

2 way text is also available on most models

[DMCakhunter]

I have an inreach explorer. Works ok paired to a cell phone but is tedious to send messages on itself.
Have looked at upgrading to a Montana device, just haven’t pulled the trigger yet

[reconprepper]

Bwahahahaha..... If you find anything like that, ley me know. What you're looking for is what most Cell Phone Zombies already have on their SMART phones. Those only operate through Cell Towers. I keep a small Garmin in my fanny pack at all times and extra batteries because those things eat batteries as fast as Digital Cameras do. My Garmin talks to the Satelites. My old Garmin just shows a map and an X where you are and it leaves a snail trail on the map as you move around. I can zoom in or out but I can't get TOPO but it does give me altitude. I'm consi9dering getting a better one as long as it doesn't get too pricey.

Bwahahaha I found something like that. Its called Garmin communicators series on their website. Allows text messages and email thru the iridium satellite service anywhere in the world. And its a gps. Doesnt rely on cell service because its using sattelites. Has lithium batteries with over 18 hour battery life. And if you are a real prepper in the outback of Alaska or anywhere for that matter you would carry a small foldable solar panels that are available now or one of the small battery packs made to recharge laptops of cell phones with you to recharge your gps device. Plus you aren't walking around with the gps on the whole time. You turn it on when you are lost, look at it see where you are, and then set a heading. Turn off the gps. Check it again in a few to make sure you are staying on the heading. Turn off again.
https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/561269
https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/699779

So devices do exist that grizz is asking about.

[grizz]

I have an inreach explorer. Works ok paired to a cell phone but is tedious to send messages on itself.
Have looked at upgrading to a Montana device, just haven’t pulled the trigger yet

Thats the one I was looking at, I didnt know it could pair with cell phones?

I'm gonna call garmin and ask them, hopefully they will have people there to answer the phone

[pkveazey]

All this GPS talk got me thinking about my small handheld Magellan that I always carry. I checked and it was working fine but when I checked my extra batteries a couple of  them were stone cold dead.

[JohnyMac]

Since that does not use cell towers it still could triangulate your position (well daaaa it is a GPS unit). I am really working and thinking of how I could communicate send/receive without the use of cell towers to reduce my footprint. I wonder if this is the gadget to do it? I wonder if the person sending/receiving has to have the same unit?

Grizz, thanks for looking into this for the group. 

[grizz]

Since that does not use cell towers it still could triangulate your position (well daaaa it is a GPS unit). I am really working and thinking of how I could communicate send/receive without the use of cell towers to reduce my footprint. I wonder if this is the gadget to do it? I wonder if the person sending/receiving has to have the same unit?

Grizz, thanks for looking into this for the group. 

I called and set up a callback because they were busy (?) They happened to call back as I was driving to Dr appointment so our conversation was cut short. After giving the guy a list of what I was looking for in a device he recommended the Montana 700 series or the 66I. He told me you need the subscription for any use but when I searched online for reviews someone mentioned not needing the subscription unless you wanted to text, SOS or use a few other features. Although I did read that the SOS would always work even without the subscription.

OK, after reading what I wrote I realize I didnt add much to the conversation but I'm working on it 

[DMCakhunter]

I pulled the trigger and ordered a montana 750i, so give me a week or so to play with it once it comes in
I have a subscription on my inreach explorer that I will transfer.

Grizz, thanks for bringing this up, I had forgotten I wanted something better.

Too bad no one makes a gps / sat unit that clips to a cell phone like the old one kyocera had 10 years ago.

[DMCakhunter]

JM - what distance are you looking to have?
Garmin makes their rino units that share location data between users.
https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/576031#specs

[grizz]

I pulled the trigger and ordered a montana 750i, so give me a week or so to play with it once it comes in
I have a subscription on my inreach explorer that I will transfer.

Grizz, thanks for bringing this up, I had forgotten I wanted something better.

Too bad no one makes a gps / sat unit that clips to a cell phone like the old one kyocera had 10 years ago.

I think thats a good choice since its the one I was comparing to the 66i. I decided on the 66i cuz its almost half the weight I should have it within the next 2 weeks

[JohnyMac]

DM, several weeks ago I drove up to a restaurant with Mrsmac for dinner. Within seconds I was pinged with three advertisements from local merchants' to the restaurant we had now seated ourselves in.

I am looking for a mode of communication that does not track me or my texts/voice/whatever.

A Pager would work but nobody covers my AO.

So there you go. 

[Jackalope]

I've been using an Inreach explorer, it works globally.  I'm satisfied with it's performance.

Johny, don't know if you've used APRS, but it works as advertised.  Used it recently on an out of town trip with a Yaesu FT-3DR.  It never missed a beat until I got about 10 miles from my QTH.  Apparently there's no digipeater up on the Cumberland Plateau, so we go under or over the radar once we get on the Plateau, eliminating tracking.

[DMCakhunter]

Apples latest update is supposed to give the user more control over being tracked, if you use an Apple cell phone.

[DMCakhunter]

One of the best communicators was the texting device that came out alongside the first Iridium phone.
That is what I hope the Montana unit will do for me, plus be a gps and weather center when off grid.

[JohnyMac]

Jackalope,
maybe an article on APRS? I am vaguely aware of it but have to read more about the service. Thx. 

[patriotman]

I am watching this thread with interest 

[DMCakhunter]

Received the Montana yesterday. Was easy to switch my subscription from the explorer to the montana, took maybe 15 minutes outside.
Here is a picture of the 2 units so you can see their size.
First impression is this will be a great improvement for texting. A real qwerty keyboard touch screen - goodbye tedious hunt and peck scrolling for letters when trying to send messages or input waypoints. hope to take it out on the 4 wheelers this weekend to test tracking.
Years ago I started off with a garmin 12XL, great gps for hunting, then garmin rino 120's, then added an iridium phone (huge but worked well), then a smaller iridium phone - got tired of the fees involved, and tried an iridium go that you pair to a cell phone for texting / e-mails. worked well but a flaw, the unit turns on when charging so needs more time when trying to charge from a small solar panel. Then went to the garmin explorer after they bought DeLorme, gps and satalite texting in one unit.
And now the montana, looks good so far. The unit is bigger but the screen size will help with topo's and maps. also works as a car travel maps gps unit.
When plugged in to charge, the unit starts up, but can be turned off to charge while off.

[grizz]

I got the 66i in the other day. I've been playing with it but did not set up the in reach yet, waiting till the weekend.

[Jackalope]

  Grizz, I'll be interested in how you like the 66i.

[grizz]

  Grizz, I'll be interested in how you like the 66i.

I'll connect to InReach on Monday and get more details but so far I like it. I've only used it at work and found out I run 1/2 mile every day, sometimes its 3/4 or more. Right now I'm battery testing, it should last 200 hrs in "Expedition" mode, we'll see

My only small complain so far is it did not come with a owners manual, I had to download the pdf from their site. It did come with a startup manual to get you going but that did not cover all the icons and "how-to's"

[DMCakhunter]

Spent some time with the montane last weekend. Works very well. Did not get the best battery life because I was always fiddling with it. Screen is easy to read, and it is easy to use.
I use Trail Treker on my cell phone for atv trails in Wisconsin, will have to see if something similar is available. I can always just record a track and save it. Works well in a car too with the included map. Takes about 20 seconds to get a weather forecast for my location. Very handy.
Need to enter some contact info and e-mails and spend some time reviewing other features.
So far so good.

[JohnyMac]

DM, thx for the update. Others?

[grizz]

I had mine out yesterday for a hike. I didnt play with anything other than tracking which I left alone as I walked. It performed just fine.

I did have trouble connecting it to my cell but after a few hours talking with different reps (everyone was very courteous, friendly and understanding) we got it working.

Hopefully I'll be able to get out today and tomorrow for more testing