Any body got a gps for speedo and mileage? what kind do you use? what features does it have? I'm looking to get one for the buggy/ and in my pocket when I KGB. I don't wanna spend a wad of cash on a piece o junk , it needs to be durable and waterproof would be even better.

Garmin eTrex Venture. Seems to be pretty bombproof. I use it biking and buggying and my husband takes it running.

It shows total distance, saved routes, waypoints, maximum speed, average speed, time moving, time stopped, moving average speed. I like exporting the routes and dropping them into google earth.

Here was my route from my last buggy session- nearly 20 miles

That is freakin sweet! How much?

I've got a Garmin eTrex Venture. No color screen but it seems durable and waterproof and I think its a pretty affordable model. Had it about a year with no issues. I think that one feature its lacking is a "static compass" or something like that. In other words you have to be moving to use the compass. Someone with more knowledge can probably elaborate, but its something to watch out for if you want to use it as a compass I guess.

On another forum a guy used a trackstick. I think these are about $100 and are basically a USB thumbdrive that you carry and then export the data later to Google Earth. So they wouldn't have a display but would log your whole trip like the above pic. Might work for you if you could wait to find out your speeds.

Archkiter, how did you get you route exported to Google Earth? I consider myself pretty good with computers and technology but for some reason I'm completely overwhelmed by my GPS. :puzzled:

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Originally posted by WELDNGOD That is freakin sweet! How much?

from google shopping, it looks like around $200 or less- it's a slightly older model (mine is the HC version w/ color display), I'm not sure if they are still making this version, but lots of places are still selling them. Mine was "free" with my REI dividend check last year .

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Originally posted by kiteNH Archkiter, how did you get you route exported to Google Earth? I consider myself pretty good with computers and technology but for some reason I'm completely overwhelmed by my GPS. :puzzled:

You need to export or save your track as a .gpx file. I do this through the Garmin Bobcat software on a Mac (I am sure that the PC software allows you to save as a .gpx file too). Then you just import or drag the .gpx file into google earth and your track magically appears. Google Earth also has a function to connect and download directly from your GPS, but it never works for me, I don't know if that is a Mac issue or not.

Ah ha, .gpx got it. Thanks for the tip. Now I just need to figure out how to get my GPS to talk to my PC and make nice:P.

My GPS has some stupid serial cable that I don't understand how to use which is my other problem. But I think I have one old desktop with a serial port so I think I may give it a try. I'd love to make some tracks like yours and it sounds like Google earth makes it pretty easy. That's my biggest complaint about my GPS actually. Serial cable instead of USB. Very annoying.

EDIT: I just realized that I wrote that I had the Venture above. I meant to write Legend. I have the Legend, not the Venture. It has a blue translucent case.

I have a Legend and a first gen etrex. The legend is nice for the trip computer screen I have mine set with speed, max speed, moving average, and trip odometer. with big numbers I like it. I got it half price on sale. I friend has the garmin gps map 60cx which looks as bomb proof as they come it is a nice unit if you can take the price.

I'm using the legend also (thanks screwy). I had a forerunner, which worked good also, but i liked the legend better, because of its point of interest feature when you use it in the car. Or you never know ... I could be out for a buggy ride and feel the need for Jack in the box

Garmin Edge 605
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=160&pID=10884

i use it for both kitebuggy and cycling.

walmart usa, had a garmin on sale for less than $200 and a magellan for about the same.

That Garmin 605 looks nice. I have a 5 year old Garmin Etrex Vista black and white mapping GPS that still works great. Bet you could pick a new one up now for $150. Has built in compass (that works without a satellite signal, as it is an actual hardware chip) and barometer. I bought the neoprene case, so now it floats and is watertight. I use it sailing, kiting, for pretty much everything.

Mine connects to my PC with a serial cable, but the new ones have a USB cable. I also bought the serial cable/cigarette lighter power adaptor (which unfortunalety, does not charge the AA batteries).

krumly

For those of you who are looking for GPS's I would say look on craigslist. When I was looking for one I found some SWEET deals on there, some people buy them because they're a new Technology toy and realize they don't even use it. :tumble:

I like my Garmin Fortrex . Mine is the 101. It has batteries and does not come with patch cable + software but is capable of downloading. The 201 has sealed, rechargeable batteries and comes with everything to download.

Things I get out of it I enjoy : Max speed, present speed, avg speed, tracking, distance and time.

I'm looking for which one of these to put on my Christmas list. I don't need lots of features but I would like it to display my track and have a basic base map showing roads, lakes, and rivers. What is the most basic model you guys have seen that will display my track with the base map or a data screen with the usual speed/distance info? I wouldn't really care about the track and basemap but I'll use this hiking, and mountain biking as well. We also just got some sea kayaks and it could come in handy for that as well. If I have to spend $250, then I'll just get a wireless bike computer for the buggy instead.

i posted this before

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=144&pID=8705

i did the homework of price shopping for you too:

http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_query=gps&...

$90.00 at Walmart for the gps unit in Yellow.

If you want colour ... i found the HC Version at Costco USA:
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11268611&am...

ENJOY!!!

If you buy a Garmin, make sure it has the SIRF high sensitivity receiver. I had a 1st generation legend and it was not very useful. Put it in your pocket and you loose reception. It would not work well without a totally clear view of the sky. I purchased a GPSMAP60csx and it works much much better. Garmin now makes the legend, vista etc with the new receiver too.

The GPSMAP60csx works very well for all my buggy needs and it also has auto route navigation turn by turn. I use it all the time with the dash mount option in the car when I travel. Be careful what mapset you buy if you want auto route navigation. Walmart.com has it for $299 and it's well worth the money.

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Originally posted by archkiter Garmin eTrex Venture. Seems to be pretty bombproof. I use it biking and buggying and my husband takes it running. It shows total distance, saved routes, waypoints, maximum speed, average speed, time moving, time stopped, moving average speed. I like exporting the routes and dropping them into google earth. Here was my route from my last buggy session- nearly 20 miles

i have an etrex how do you drop your route on google earth???

I have GPSMAP60CSX as well and its a great GPS unit. However, knowing what I know now, I wouldn't buy a Garmin GPS. Their maps are too expensive.

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Originally posted by centex_buggier If you buy a Garmin, make sure it has the SIRF high sensitivity receiver. I had a 1st generation legend and it was not very useful. Put it in your pocket and you loose reception. It would not work well without a totally clear view of the sky. I purchased a GPSMAP60csx and it works much much better. Garmin now makes the legend, vista etc with the new receiver too. The GPSMAP60csx works very well for all my buggy needs and it also has auto route navigation turn by turn. I use it all the time with the dash mount option in the car when I travel. Be careful what mapset you buy if you want auto route navigation. Walmart.com has it for $299 and it's well worth the money.

Kite project:
I am not that impressed with their maps either. I bought the metroguide for my legend only to find out that I had to buy the exact same mapset (but a different product) City Navigator to support auto routing with my 60csx. But now that I have the maps, I'm happy. They don't offer much of a discount for updating your maps either, but the hardware is great.

Tyson:
Go to Garmin.com and get the latest Mapsource program. The update is free as long as you have a genuine original version. In the View menu select the last item "view in Google Earth" and all your tracks and waypoints will be uploaded.

I have a Garmin GPSmap 76CSx. Not much it can't do. Actually bought it as a backup for my offshore fishing boat GPS systems, but it is equally at home on land. Durable and waterproof.

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Originally posted by ripsessionkites i posted this before https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=144&pID=8705 i did the homework of price shopping for you too: http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_query=gps&... $90.00 at Walmart for the gps unit in Yellow. If you want colour ... i found the HC Version at Costco USA: http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11268611&am... ENJOY!!!

I read the whole thread before asking the question. I can't find that the Etrex has a base map under your trail. Does it? At $90, the price is right but I don't want to get something that almost does the job I need it to.

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Originally posted by DragOn I have a Garmin GPSmap 76CSx. Not much it can't do. Actually bought it as a backup for my offshore fishing boat GPS systems, but it is equally at home on land. Durable and waterproof.

This one is pricey for what I need it to do. If I had to pay $250, I would probably get the Delorme PN-20 because I'm familiar with it at work.

I'm still lookin around at them too Bob. The maps would be nice ,but I really need speedo function and trip meter ,more than anything. I would like to post my tracks on a google maps also.

See if that's all you need, a $25 wireless bike computer fits the bill perfectly. You get max speed, average speed, elapsed time, distance. No anomalies due to a blip in the satellite reading either. Wireless makes it clean. I use a cateye wireless on my mtn bike and it is very easy and accurate. No tracks for Google Earth though.

Bob, how would that mount on a buggy?

Etrex Legend... $129 in Canada

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=145&pID=173

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Originally posted by WELDNGOD Bob, how would that mount on a buggy?

The computer itself wireties onto the bike handlebars, so the downtube takes its place. The trick is to get the magnet onto the wheel. I've seen stiff wire epoxied into a friction fit hole drilled into an appropriate place in the wheel. An old bicycle spoke would be perfect here. The sensor just wire ties onto the fork. Wireless is too cheap to have wires wound around everything to get hung up and broken. My mountain bike uses a cateye micro wireless.

Bob , thanks bro' , I'm on it! Not sure about wireless or not. More important for it to be waterproof,I splash in the waves . And from time to time the buggy ends up in the chesapeake bay, for whatever reason.