GPS - Which Ones to Look For?

[black2003ss]

OK. I did a little ride on Sunday late afternoon and My Tracks on my phone still didn't work properly, it said I did 217 miles in 1:20. I only did 14 miles. So, since I can't get that thing to be accurate at all...I am considering looking at GPS. So what is good and what is bad? I would imagine Garmin is the go to brand. Do I need a color screen? Can I get away with spending $150 max? I will be using this for biking...and probably hunting too.

Thanks

[RMXByker]

For that price range look for the Garmin 305. I have one and it is perfect for basic GPS functioning. No color or touch screen but all the needed features. Even has the ability to look at your path taken. Nice part about that is while it won't give turn by turn directions, you can just work yourself back to your original waypoint.

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=331

[tdf2437]

the place I go to for reading about GPS reviews and recommendations is this website
http://www.dcrainmaker.com/

[utabintarbo]

This is almost like a "Which tire to use..." topic, but I will say that you want to look for a high-sensitivity chipset (with the old Garmin nomenclature, it would have an "H" in the model designation). A barometric altimeter is also necessary to get more accurate elevation readings This meets your budget (mostly) and is one of the best all-around models to get (I have this one, as well as the Edge 305). The Edge 305 has some other very nice features, but I tend to use mine as a supplement to the eTrex, rather than a replacement.

[RMXByker]

The model that utabintarbo shows is a great one if your specifically looking for only GPS. The reason I suggested the 305 was because of the ability of adding the cadence and HR monitor as well. To each their own...

[b_b]

The cadence sensor is needed if you want it to be accurate for mtb riding.

[c0nsumer]

For that price range look for the Garmin 305. I have one and it is perfect for basic GPS functioning. No color or touch screen but all the needed features. Even has the ability to look at your path taken. Nice part about that is while it won't give turn by turn directions, you can just work yourself back to your original waypoint.

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=331

The 305 prefers GPS over wheel sensor when both are present. I would instead get a 500.

To the OP, read this, which shows that if you get an Edge 500 (or 800) you'll probably really want a GSC-10 (wheel sensor) so you can get accurate distance recordings while riding MTB trails.

[nailgunn]

I personally have the Edge 800. If you do not have the $$ the 500 as Consumer suggest is also a fine choice. It has most of what my 800 has.
I use the GSC-10 and it works great ....a single speed and cadence sensor and has not failed.
One point I use a Bontrager Cadenace dand magnet and a rare earth magent in my rear wheels.

Some of the advantages to the 800 is
Cadence Speed sensors. Can be used on a stationary trainer.
Heart rate monitor
5 differant Bike /Tire Profiles w auto calc on tire size
Navigation , Point to point .and . yes you can create a "Course" and know if you made a wrong turn or missed a turn. Or use it in your car. Granted it does not do Voive navigation and the screen is small compared to other Car Products but hey it works
Too many other options to talk about.

[c0nsumer]

Some of the advantages to the 800 is
Cadence Speed sensors. Can be used on a stationary trainer.
Heart rate monitor
5 differant Bike /Tire Profiles w auto calc on tire size
Navigation .. yes you can create a "Course" and know if you made a wrong turn or missed a turn.

The 500 does all of this, except it only has three bike profiles.

For on-trainer use I think that TrainerRoad is a bit nicer.

[RMXByker]

For that price range look for the Garmin 305. I have one and it is perfect for basic GPS functioning. No color or touch screen but all the needed features. Even has the ability to look at your path taken. Nice part about that is while it won't give turn by turn directions, you can just work yourself back to your original waypoint.

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=331

The 305 prefers GPS over wheel sensor when both are present. I would instead get a 500.

To the OP, read this, which shows that if you get an Edge 500 (or 800) you'll probably really want a GSC-10 (wheel sensor) so you can get accurate distance recordings while riding MTB trails.

The 500 would be nice but I figured it was a bit out of the $150 budget...

[rvd]

Can I get away with spending $150 max?

The garmin forerunner 305 is within your budget: https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&tbm=shop&q=forerunner+305. It comes with a heart rate monitor, displays (tiny) maps, guides you back to your starting location if you want, works with a cadence and a wheel sensor, allows loading workouts, and is light weight. It has many of the features that the other more expensive devices have, but doesn't look as cool. The forerunner 205 is even cheaper but doesn't have the external sensor options, I believe.

Or.. you try a different app than mytracks. I use endomondo and strava on my iphone and never have any issues. I occasionally compare the results with my garmin forerunner 305 and the differences are small; as others have said, you need a wheel sensor for accurate distance and speed on the trails, but you won't be off by more than 20% in most instances. (personally, I use the wheel sensor only for rides on my indoor trainer.)

[c0nsumer]

For that price range look for the Garmin 305. I have one and it is perfect for basic GPS functioning. No color or touch screen but all the needed features. Even has the ability to look at your path taken. Nice part about that is while it won't give turn by turn directions, you can just work yourself back to your original waypoint.

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=331

The 305 prefers GPS over wheel sensor when both are present. I would instead get a 500.

To the OP, read this, which shows that if you get an Edge 500 (or 800) you'll probably really want a GSC-10 (wheel sensor) so you can get accurate distance recordings while riding MTB trails.

The 500 would be nice but I figured it was a bit out of the $150 budget...

Sure. But I'm of the opinion that buying a half-measure often is false economy.

[RMXByker]

For that price range look for the Garmin 305. I have one and it is perfect for basic GPS functioning. No color or touch screen but all the needed features. Even has the ability to look at your path taken. Nice part about that is while it won't give turn by turn directions, you can just work yourself back to your original waypoint.

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=331

The 305 prefers GPS over wheel sensor when both are present. I would instead get a 500.

To the OP, read this, which shows that if you get an Edge 500 (or 800) you'll probably really want a GSC-10 (wheel sensor) so you can get accurate distance recordings while riding MTB trails.

The 500 would be nice but I figured it was a bit out of the $150 budget...

Sure. But I'm of the opinion that buying a half-measure often is false economy.

Such logic is very good...

[black2003ss]

Sure. But I'm of the opinion that buying a half-measure often is false economy.

Such logic is very good...

I agree. When I buy, I typically buy at the upper end of equipment when affordable. I think I just might wait until next year to pick up a GPS so I can get the 500 or the 800 or see how summer pans out with work bonuses at least.

I still haven't given up on my phone, but it is the *beep* weirdest thing I have ever seen ( I have two other GPSs, much older though, I have a Garmin III that is probably 10-12yrs old and doesn't do much at all and a TomTom). I looked over the data and My Tracks had me pedalling in the middle of Lake St. Clair for a few minutes at 500+mph. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot? I am going to try another app. I can't mount the thing on top of my helmet. I even tried it in my car on the dash and it still was all over the place. I wonder if I can get an external GPS sensor and even wheel speed and heart rate monitor sensors. I think I read somewhere I can use some type of a blue tooth sensor to make it all accurate. I think the phone is capable of doing just about everything the Garmin 500 can do, I just have to figure out how to make it all work. The regular Sprint Nav that uses GPS works awesome when I am driving, loses signal every once in a great while.

There was a feature in my phone I turned off as well in the locations and security settings, it had the box checked to use WiFi as a locator as well, wonder if that might have made a difference...I will do some more testing. There are quite a few complaints about the GPS chip set in my specific phone, but it usually occurs when the file storage is encrypted from what I read.

[nailgunn]

I agree with Steve
I believe sometimes it is better to wait and get the right tool for the right job.
Edge 305 is a discontinued item replaced by the 500 I believe
The Forerunner 305 is primary a Runners watch
Both the Forerunner 305 and Edge 500 are @ $250