What do you think of GPS units?

[santaman2000]

GPS (and mobile phones) are mandatory items for many ultra-distance events now. Whilst this can often upset the purists, the organisers consider that if the technology is accessible/cheap and greatly improves the safety of entrants then it is entirely reasonable to insist on it being carried.

This is in contrast to when GPS units were actually forbidden in some events, such that it often led to disqualification if a team were observed using one!

Too bad mobile phones don't work unless there are cell towers near. You know, like in the real wilderness where real exploring is done?

 

[santaman2000]

While I can see the benefits for wilderness situations etc, my big problem with them is the de-skilling aspect - people who have them in their cars and follow them blindly rather than learning to navigate properly. I bet there will be a huge proportion of the younger generation who grow up unable to read maps.

MAPS!? Heck they're growing up unable to read anything!

 

[santaman2000]

Can someone tell me the exact cable to use for downloading waypoints with the Garmin Etrex h and a laptop?

The one that came with the Garmin. If one didn't come with it then you need to contact Garmin

 

[santaman2000]

Utterly useless under dense or even partial canopy. There is a tendency to be overreliant on gadgets and gizmos, at the expense of real knowledge and understanding of basic navigation principles. A GPS is a valuable tool to reconcile your existing superb map, compass and ready reckoning skills, but not as a primary navigation system on its own. A GPS is useful to confirm your position as reckoned using traditional methods. That way you will know exactly how lost you are +/- 10m

Gadgets and gizmos. You mean like a map and compass?

 

[plastic-ninja]

I won a Satmap GPS in a competition and it is quite fun to take along to record the route.Also pretty good in poor visibility to offset that feeling that you aren't really where you should be!Having said that I think that the sd cards are ludicrously expensive!Over £100 for SE France,£200 for Switzerland,£200 for UK.Total madness so can't see me buying any cards in a hurry.The onboard Li ion battery lasts for ever on a charge ; over 12 hours every time and more if it is turned off when I'm not using it to navigate.Still carrying my map and compass and a backup compass too as I can't bring myself to truly trust the GPS!
Cheers , Simon