gps, satellite phone, epirb all on your smart phone

au.findmespot.com
just got to have this as its all in one, just your cell phone stu

Just bear in mind its not a true Epirb and they offer no Guarantee that it will get you help in a life threatening situation....they are a cool thing to play with though.

So what's gps best at entry level? Etrax 10,20,30?
And is it really easy to find your way back?

On short trails I'm just using iPhone apple made compass app and I seem to find the car easy enough.

But if I want to go back to a few spots and long walks I'm guessing garmin handheld gps is best, does it interfere with gpx minelabs?

vic_nugget wrote:So what's gps best at entry level? Etrax 10,20,30?
And is it really easy to find your way back?

On short trails I'm just using iPhone apple made compass app and I seem to find the car easy enough.

But if I want to go back to a few spots and long walks I'm guessing garmin handheld gps is best, does it interfere with gpx minelabs?

G'day vic_nugget

Hand held GPS units don't interfere with the GPX Minelab detector, nor any of the previous ones either for that matter. GPS units are a receiver not a transmitter, so don't create any EMI.

I use a Magellan Explorist 500 and it will take you back to any waypoint you have stored in it, within 5 to 10 metres of the spot. Garmin Etrax will do the same thing and both Magellan or Garmin are easy enough to use.

Like anything electronic and with batteries there could be a failure when you need it most. I've never had mine fail, but I have left it sitting in the ute and wishing I had it with me.

cheers dave

Years ago I had A Magellan Trailblazer gps......... when I switched it on it used to send my SD crazy.

The Spot Connect thing looks interesting. You can send an SOS distress signal direct from the unit without using your phone. However:
- Standby time not connected to the phone is only 11 days??? Uses AA batteries.
- You can send short email/text/facebook/twitter updates but you can't make a voice call by satellite.
- It requires a SPOT account to work which costs $115 per year.
- The user manual doesn't mention Australian Maritime Safety Authority registration, which is mandatory for all EPIRBS/Peronal Locator Beacons.

I think I'll keep my PLB. No on-going costs and the battery lasts for years until activation. I also don't like relying on a private company for operation of emergency equipment.

I am with Sandy my Etrex h sends my Gpx 5000 crazy if i leave it on all the time.

Some electronic devices such as Garratt probes will interfere with 5000's as well even when switched off. In the case of the GPS it may be the internal oscillator for the receiver which is setting the 5000 off.

allthough I have a smart phone , really I rely on my mapping skills using topo maps and a compass , old school , but I also have an old garmin gps navigator that has no base maps , just use waypoints it,s fool proof anywhere $40 , the problem with the smart phone is no reception no work most of the time in tassy as we have no service where we go just a thought , learn to read maps and use a compass an you will never get lost anywhere



Cheers Starry

Electronic mapping is handy addition but should never replace a compass and paper maps. Part of my job used to be retreiving people lost in the bush because they did not carry paper maps n a compass, or did not know how to use a map.