Handheld GPS for Recon

I recently purchased a Garmin Oregon 550t hoping to use it to navigate to section corners, and such, where I had picked the section corners from a georegistered topo.  My 20lb Trimble Pro XRS does it well but I'm tired of lugging it up the mountains.

The Garmin 550t ($550 dollars by the way) seems like a toy, and navigation to a point is painful. I only bought it because it has a camera to photograph and date-stamp positions if I need to.  Luckily Cabelas has a 60 day return policy.

Can anyone recommend a good handheld. I've briefly looked at the Juno's on the Trimble website and don't mind paying the $800-$1100 if I have to, but wouldn't mind something cheaper, and I don't really have to have the camera.  Even my $99 Garmin etrex navigates to the point easier, but it's a pain to enter the coordinates.

I don't need SPC capability.

Thanks

Steve Lappin

I have been very pleased with the magellan units. I personally have the Magellan Meridian (the very basic version). I has the SPC capability, many different preprogrammed datums, and the ability to enter user defined datums.

It has served me well for about 8 years or so. I know there newer, fancier units out there, but I don't need anything more than what this unit does. I think I paid around $100 for it. I did pick up the cables to connect it to the pc, and the dashmount cradle and external power cable.

I have a few GPS points in the yard, and it can navigate me to them within 6 feet easy.

Hope this helps.

Edit: I just did a quick search for the Magellan handhelds on ebay, and there are many, many listed, some color display units for under $100. Mine is the monochrome unit.

Jimmy

Thanks for the information on the Magellans.  I took a look at them on ebay and I'm thinking about a Sportrak, which is an older model, but I also have been looking at the new Delormes for the same price that can hold 32g of memory and supposedly a few states of 7.5 quads.  I'll post when I have some experience with one of them.

Steve Lappin

Steve,

Glad to help. Be sure to do a comparison side by side with the Meridian. I did, and the Meridian series seemed to be the more capable series, in my opinion, however you will hjave to make your own choice.

Whatever you chose, it will be a benefit to your field practices. It has been for mine.

Good luck,
Jimmy