So many choices! Which GPS should I buy?

we discovered in the last blog any old GPS will do the job. The trick is figuring out how much you want to spend and how many features you think you need.

We are going to look at a range of GPS units from the cheap to the expensive. From the simple to the ultra high tech. I won't bother rating them but I will give you their features and specs in an easy to understand way and list the most important feature, Their Price!

Before we look at the units themselves lets talk about where to buy. Their are basically three choices.
1. Retail

• Carry currently on sale GPS.
• Prices are highest with the occasional sale.
• New in box. 
• Usually have accessories available.

2. Wholesalers/Discount Retailers

• Carry currently on sale and previously on sale GPS.
• Prices range from low to high with sales being more frequent.
• New in box units as well as refurbished and discontinued stock.
• Usually have some accessories available.

3. Private Sale/Used

• Can find anything from the ancient to the shiny new.
• Prices are usually lowest but beware.
• Usually opened and used with signs of ware, occasionally a new in box.
• Most often if there are accessories they will be sold with the unit as a package or there won't be any at all.

So that about sums it up. I think that all three are valid options and it is just a decision on whether you want to buy new or used. I will say that you should never buy retail without checking for lower prices. One of my favorite stores is www.gpscity.ca and they carry a huge variety of models at the lowest retail prices. They unfortunately don't carry any Delorme models. 

Okay let's get started! Prices are Canadian dollar unless otherwise stated. And I will link to the official site. Price listed will be the cheapest I can find.

#1 - Geomate - Geomate Jr. - $69.99 (USD at Geocaching.com Shop)

The Geomate Jr. is a well built GPS. It is designed as a family friendly Geocaching specific GPS. It is preloaded with 250,000 geocache locations. It runs on 2x AAA batteries and will get 12+ hours of runtime. This gps would be great to get the kids involved or for a demo for a friend. It has almost no features. You turn it on and it points you to the nearest geocache. When you find it you just hit the next button and it will point you to the next closest. Easy peasy but no maps not setting waypoints and no bells or whistles. 

#2 - Garmin - eTrex Venture HC - $119 (USD at Bass Pro Shop)

The eTrex HC is a very robust unit for its price range. It is a mapping handheld that comes preloaded with a basemap of North America. It is geocaching enabled so you are able to upload geocache files to the onboard memory. It runs on 2x AA batteries which I prefer. It has a high sensitivity chipset and is WAAS enabled. (WAAS allows for a better signal) This would make a great starter unit. It's one big downside is that it has very little onboard memory and no sd memory card slot. So you won't be able to store 1000s of geocaches on here but you will be able to load enough to keep you busy for a day or two.

#3 - Garmin - GPSMAP 60csx - $240 (CDN at GPS City)

The 60csx was, and to some still is, the best outdoor GPS. It has unbeatable reception and is an all round great unit. This gps and the ones that follow now have built in electronic compasses and altimeters. It has no onboard memory but uses a micro sd card that comes with the gps. And if you want more memory you can just buy a new and larger micro sd card. It does not have Paperless Geocaching built in but if you are a tech savvy person their are ways to get the info onto the gps. It is a rugged well built gps that will last a long time and get the job done and done well. The only thing it lacks is the ability to go paperless. It is going discontinued so the price is coming down.

#4 - Delorme - PN-40 - $250 (USD at Delorme)

I'll just get this out of the way the PN-40 is the GPS I chose. You can buy one used for half of it's retail value. It has all of the features you could ever want from a geocaching gps. It has the absolute best reception of any gps I have ever seen. Even indoors I get 2 meter accuracy and I get my signal a lot sooner than most other gps units. The only down side is the screen size is quite a bit smaller than its rivals at Garmin. PN-40s are none for lasting forever and that was also a great factor. They also have the best maps available but unlike Garmin they don't have the ability to add custom made (homemade) maps. All around I found it to be the best bang for the buck. I am however dreaming of upgrading. However if you have $200 or less this is the best unit out there.

#5 - Garmin - Dakota 20 - $270 (CDN at GPS City) 

The Dakota 20 is our first Paperless Geocaching gps. This means you can have all of the cache info from the website on your gps. This is hands down the best feature for geocaching. Sometimes your gps gets you to ground zero and you just can't find the cache. Having past logs and the Cache Owners hint can make a lot help. This is also our first touch screen gps. It has a lot of standard features and has a nice sized screen. It is still waterproof and rugged. It also features a 3-axis compass that will point correctly regardless of how you are holding your gps. Another neat feature is that all Garmin touchscreen gps have the ability to share waypoints and data wirelessly to one another. So if you are caching with someone with another Garmin touchscreen you can send them the cache info if they don't have it loaded. An all round great unit at a great price.

#6 - Garmin - Oregon 450 - $340 (CDN at GPS City)

The Oregon 450 is the Dakotas big sister. It has a larger, higher resolution screen. It has a better chipset for even better accuracy. It also has 850 mb of onboard memory and the a micro sd card slot. It has all the features of the Dakota, paperless caching, 3 axis compass, etc but it is faster and a little more user friendly as the larger screen allows for larger touch icons. Like the dakota it can share data wirelessly with other compatible units. This unit is also a wherigo compatible unit. Basically wherigo is a gps based game that works on its own and with wherigo specific geocaches. For more info go here!

#7 - Garmin - GPSMAP 62s - $400 (CDN at GPS City)

The 62s is replacement for the 60csx. It has all the features any handheld gps could ever want. It has a top of the line chipset and antenna for unbelievable reception. It has the same size screen as the Dakota 20 but has buttons instead of a touch screen. It has paperless caching, 3 axis compass, the lot. It also has 1.7 gb of memory and a micro sd slot. But with all of that onboard memory you can have all the geocaches for your province loaded and tons of memory to spare. It has an extremely easy to learn menu system. This is a great all round gps and was my first choice if I hadn't have had a budget. This unit does not have wherigo.

#8 - Garmin - Oregon 550 - $530 (CDN at GPS City)

What can I say, yet another Garmin touch screen. This is the exact same as the Oregon 450 with one big difference. It has a digital camera built in. It is a 3.2 megapixel camera that can geotag photos. What that means is that it will add gps coordinates to the photos data. With this you can upload the photo to google maps or google earth. It will embed the coordinates of where the photo was taken right into the photo file. I can see how in 20 or 30 years when you are looking back at your life and photos that it would be neat to know exactly where the photo was taken. This GPS will also work in reverse. If you have a geotagged photo that you or anyone else has taken, this gps can take you to the location where it was taken. A friend could email you a geotagged photo from a hidden fishing hole and then you could use your gps to get there. Like all Garmin touch screens this will share data wirelessly.

#9 - Garmin - Montana 650 - $$$ (Coming Soon)

Why another touch screen you ask? Well, Garmin is trying to conquer two worlds with this soon to be released monster. It will be a fully functioning hand held and automotive gps all in one. It has a fancy new high def 4" screen unlike the previous models 3" screen. It will work upright like in the photo or in landscape mode when turned on it's side. It has a whopping 3 gb of storage available for upgraded maps and geocache info. If you need the latest and the greatest you may want to check into this guy. Oh yeah they still have the camera but now it is 5mp instead of the 3.2 like the previous model. 

Well, that was a long one. I only hope this helps you in your search for the perfect gps. My final thought is that if you know a lot of people, family and friends, that geocache the data exchange feature of the Garmin touchscreen models sure would be a great feature. Good luck in you search and remember that almost all of these can be had at a fraction of the cost if you buy used.

Oh So Many Choices!

So I know what Geocaching is. I know I want to do it. I have everything I need, oh wait, I don't have a GPSr yet! Hmmm, what to do? Well what are the choices? Handheld Mapping GPSr, GPS enabled smart phone or a automotive use GPSr. Let's dive in.

First things first. What do I need in a GPSr to go geocaching? What features do I want to make geocaching more enjoyable? What are those extra flashy features that I want because I am a gadget crazy guy?

Well fist off, any gps can get you to the GZ, Ground Zero, but some do it faster and more accurately than others. So what do I need? Any old gps! But to make the experience enjoyable there are some features that I should seriously consider. Such as, accuracy, coordinate management, paperless geocaching, electronic compass, map availability, to name a few. And the features that are just a cherry on top? Well there are units with built in cameras that automatically attach the GPS coordinates to the photo so you know exactly where the photo was taken. There are units that have GPS enabled games. There are units that can communicate with each other to share cache locations, waypoints and tracks. We will take a look at all of these as we take a look at our three GPS categories.

Automotive GPSr
     You are likely familiar with this style of gps. Whether it is a Garmin, Magellan or a TomTom, just to name a few. They are designed for automotive use but can be used for geocaching as well. They generally don't have any geocaching features but will accept geocache coordinates and mark them on your screen. The maps installed are road maps and your screen will just be blank with a little arrow on it once you get off road.

The + Side

• Cheap and readily available. Garmin Nuvi 255w is available for $99
• Great turn by turn road directions
• Come preloaded with Road maps
• Most have additional maps for purchase. Such as topographical maps or trail maps.

The - Side

• Designed to be used on open roads and therefor does not receive a strong signal under tree cover
• Accuracy is usually at best 10m
• Most do not have any geocaching features built in.

To Sum Up

• It will work, you can find caches with it, but it just isn't that great. It isn't what it was designed for and you can tell as soon as you leave the road.

GPS Enabled Smart Phones

     With smart phones quickly taking over the cell phone market it is likely there is already a GPS enabled phone in your house. The only thing you need to get going now is an app! And those can be a lot cheaper than buying a new GPSr unit. I am talking FREE, and who doesn't like that. There are many options for apps based on the model of phone you are using. I won't go into trying to pick a best one as they are very similar and also very subjective. I will mention a few positives and negatives of the genre however.

The + Side

• Cheap and depending on the feature set you want, possibly free!
• Most apps have a cache management system built in to track which you have found already.
• Some apps will communicate directly with www.geocaching.com to make finding caches extremely easy. Even allowing you to log your find from the field. 
• A smart phone will allow you to jump onto the internet if you need clues or help solving a puzzle.

The - Side

• GPS is a secondary function of the phone and as such doesn't have the accuracy of a handheld.
• Most smartphones aren't designed for outdoor roughing it use.
• GPS use on a phone usually dramatically increases power consumption and therefor the battery life will be shortened and because they don't run on AA batteries, when they die in the middle of a cache hunt there usually isn't a plug in available.

To Sum Up

• Smart phones work. They will get you closer than a automotive GPS but aren't ideal for going out into the woods. Staying in your city? Sticking to urban caches? Smart phones will work great there.

Handheld Mapping GPSr

     These are ideal. Mostly because GPS companies design models specifically for geocaching

Well I am going to start this off by stating my prejudice. I will never again give magellan my money. I bought a gps unit of theirs some time back. It broke within a month and they would do nothing to help me out. Even though it is supposedly warrantied, they wouldn't help me out. Their customer service is amongst the worst I have ever dealt with. So although Magellan does make handheld gps, some made with geocaching in mind I will not be recommending or even reviewing them.

The + Side

• Purpose built for outdoor use. Almost all will be waterproof and to a certain extent shock proof. Some will even float if dropped into water.
• Built with backwoods reception in mind. Most Garmins and all Delormes come with a very good antenna built in and the latest gps chipset to give you great reception even in the woods, valleys, mountains. My Delorme PN-40 gets 2-3 meter accuracy in almost any condition.
• Most if not all of the modern handhelds have a geocaching function built in. This will allow you to upload not just the coordinates but also the name, rating, previous logs and hint. This can be extremely valuable when you just can't find the darned cache.
• Most handheld gps units are designed to run off of AA batteries. Each different model will have a different run time but most are in the 4-6 hour range. This can be extended by using higher quality batteries such as rechargeables. I can usually get around 6-8 hours with my PN-40 with rechargeable NIMH batteries. The nice thing about AA batteries is that it is easy to carry extras and easy to change.

The - Side

• No internet connection means that you are unable to log from the field or get help off of the web.

To Sum Up

• All round best class of device to use. The trick now is deciding which one to get. In the next blog I will cover off a handful of the most common handheld units covering the whole price range. 

Spending cash to find a cache!

Why aren't all good things in life free? Well geocaching can be. I have compiled a list of things that may be needed to find a geocache in the wild. Many of these things you will not need if you are only going to be urban geocaching. And depending on what you already own and how challenging the caches you are seeking are, you may not have to spend a $1. Items marked with a * are not needed to get to the geocache but might be a good idea


Getting to the Geocache
-GPSr
            The gpsr is going to get you to GZ ground zero using the coordinates provided by the CO Cache Owner (hider). You can get as fancy as you want here. There are dozens of options and we will look at those in my next post. However, have a smartphone? It is likely also a gps. And there are great apps available for geocachers for BlackBerry, Iphone and Android smart phone.
  -Compass * (old school back up)
            Can be used to triangulate a cache location. Also can get you back to your vehicle if your gpsr gobbles up all of your batteries.
-Map/Road Atlas *
            Before you ever turn on the gpsr you can use your map to get you to the general location. Be it the local park or a lake out in the country.
-Camera *
            While having pictures is not necessary you are going to see some beautiful sights and will want some mementos.
-Batteries
            While most modern gpsr units have really good battery life. It is no fun to find your way out of a bush or valley without your gpsr. Always have a spare set, or two, or three!

Now where is that geocache? This is the treasure hunt.
-MultiTool *
            These are great as they have a bunch of handy tools in a small package. You never know when pliers/knife/screwdriver may come in handy
-Flash Light *
            For use at night or for looking into dark nooks and crannies where the CO Cache Owner may have hidden the geocache. Remember this is a treasure hunt!      
-Tools of the Trade *
            Well these can include telescopic mechanics mirrors/magnets, a metal coat hanger, rope, tweezers, etc... There are a lot of really creatively hidden geocaches and you never know what will help you find them!

Found It! Now what?
-Pen/Pencil/Marker
            Inside every geocache there is a log book to sign. Lots of caches will have a pen etc. inside but always good to have your own just in case.
-Paper/Spare Log Sheets *
            Sometimes the elements can get inside the caches. Nice to have some on you to replenish in case of need.
-Trackables *
            There are geocoins, trade bugs and dog tags that are all trackable online. These are meant to be moved from one cache to the next. They travel the world and their travels can be followed online. For more info check this out... Trackables!
-Swag, The Treasure
            The rule of the land is to take a piece of Swag and replace it with something of equal or greater value. Usually in the cache descriptions it will give you an idea of the style of swag or if there is a theme. Near Drumheller, AB? Maybe dinosaur related swag, be it toys or fossils, etc. Usually nothing to costly, toys, souvenirs, etc..


A NOTE What should not be placed in a cache?

People of all ages hide and seek caches, so think carefully before placing an item into a cache. Explosives, ammunition, knives, drugs and alcohol should not be placed in a cache. Respect the local laws.

Food items are always a bad idea. Animals have better noses than humans, and in some cases caches have been chewed through and destroyed because of food items in a cache. Please do not put food in a cache. 

From the FAQ @ Geocaching.com

Maintenance * While not compulsory it is always nice to help out a cache in need
Spare Cache Containers*
Ziploc Bags*
Duct Tape*
Garbage Bags for CITO - Cache In Trash Out
            More info Here!

What should I Wear? 
Hiking Boots
Long Pants
Long Sleeves
Hat
Sunglasses
Poncho/Rain Jacket
Walking Stick/Pole
Gloves
        Towel/Rags

Surviving the Hunt having the right supplies makes a big difference
 Water/Drinks
Snacks/Food
First Aid/Band Aids
Bug Spray
Sun Screen
Umbrella
Toilet Paper/Wipes

Well that was a long one. But I hope it helps. Next blog is going to delve into the many options for GPSr units. From smart phone apps to entry level gpsr's to the newest paperless caching gpsr's.

And finally a treat for making it through my list. Another video you may enjoy!

And so it all begins,

On a cold and dreary January morning, I stumbled upon a website. This website was Geocaching.com. Why and how I came to be there I don't recall. What I do know is that geocaching is the activity that I had been wanting to do without knowing it. It combines my love of the outdoors, my wife's enjoyment of hiking and sight seeing, and our children's love of treasure hunting. It didn't take long to realize that this was going to be great for our whole family. Not to mention that there are 100's of caches ready to be found within just a 1 hour drive of our house.

So, what is geocaching? Well simply put, it is a Hide and Seek Treasure Hunt. Someone hides a container of treasure and marks its gps coordinates. And other geocachers try and find it using their gpsr (receiver). I have also heard it described as "Using a billion dollar military satellite network to find tuperware in the woods." But the good folks at Geocaching.com have prepared a little video that will explain better than I.

For any more information on what geocaching is please visit Geocaching.com.

Now, the decision has been made, we will be geocachers! So what next? Time to go shopping. Oh boy, is this going to cost me a lot? I know that's what we were thinking. Well the good news is that it will only cost you what you want to. You can literally start geocaching without spending $100. Or you can go gear crazy and spend $1000's. I am going to go into the gear and tech needed to geocache in a outdoor, out of town setting in my next blog.