Power Kite Forum

What do I need to know about GPS?

soliver - 15-5-2012 at 08:40 PM

Not that I can afford it any time soon, but I was thinking about it and I'm curious about GPS.

I know most of you guys use them for speed tracking, and I've been thinking about what is necessary to do that...

I'm not the most tech savvy guy, so fill me in.

What kind of GPS is needed for this application and what model works best for not too much $$ and will stand up to abuse?

Does it require paying for a service to use? or is that part free :smilegrin: ?

macboy - 15-5-2012 at 08:57 PM

My Garmin is quite bomber. Pretty good package for the price, water resistant and imports tracks to Google Earth on my Mac without issue. You can spend as much or as little as you want really but all you want is speed and odometer. Tracks are cool too.

They don't require any subscription service. Probably one of the few things in life that are still free ; )

soliver - 15-5-2012 at 09:04 PM

thanks Mac, what model do you have and how much did it cost (if you don't mind my asking)...

I've seen a few guys use the Garmin etrex, thoughts on that model?

Bigbear97e - 15-5-2012 at 09:05 PM

You can get a garman Etrex for around $100

soliver - 15-5-2012 at 09:18 PM

I just realized a friend of my wife gave us one in a pile of cr@p she was getting rid of, do they all do speed and odometer? if so, I've already got one, ... might be a piece though.

It's a Mio??

Bigbear97e - 15-5-2012 at 09:26 PM

http://www.mio.com/ca/en/products-Handheld-navigation.htm

Mio is primarily automobile "in car" gps, colored screen, maps .... power it up as it may have a screen that will give you some trip stats like distance, max speed, avg speed, etc .... won't be as weather proof and rugged as a handheld like Garmin or earthmate .... probably can't save trips, but it's free ... flog it til it breaks ....:spin:

soliver - 15-5-2012 at 09:34 PM

good call

PHREERIDER - 16-5-2012 at 08:42 AM

phree is good. use it all, good call.

Garmin etrex 10 seems to be entry level basic for pace and distance. the water resistant feature is available as well. maps and color screens seems to be the product direction for driving impaired mostly.

on a veer...amazed at how many folks don't know where they are, OR how they got there... on the best roads on the planet. the in-car gps thing is truly handicapping the animals that can drive. not to say they don't have their shining, helpful applications but the frank, perverse dependency is frightening.

Feyd - 16-5-2012 at 06:35 PM

Garmin Etrex Legend is a good unit and can be had relatively cheap.

Fortrex and For Runners are good little units and wristop mounted. Also can be had fairly cheap.

soliver - 16-5-2012 at 10:22 PM

Yeah, I've been messing around with this Mio, and I'm pretty sure it's not going to work for the bug,... it seems like it may track, but only on streets and highways,... It kinda seems like a POS....

so maybe after some more new kites, and a GoPro, I'll pick up a GPS,... aka in a few years...:lol::lol::lol: