GPS Receiver Selection Guide
The following table describes the GPS receiver families most suitable for recreational outdoor navigators. It does not include families primarily designed for highway, marine, or aircraft navigation. Click on the manufacturer's name to jump to the manufacturer's home page. Click HERE or on the word Recommended to jump directly to the receivers recommended by Annadel Press.
Last updated 2/9/06
| Mfgr | Receiver family | Highs | Lows |
|---|---|---|---|
eTrex family Recommended |
Wide range of prices and feature sets. Basic yellow eTrex, mid-range Legend, and full-featured Vista are recommended. |
Patch antenna is slightly less sensitive than larger units. No memory slots for increasing or exchanging memory, no external antenna input. |
|
eTrex Legend C, -Vista C Recommended |
Improved members of the eTrex family come with color displays, USB interface, and 24 meg memory. Vista includes barometric altimeter and magnetic compass. Larger screen and slightly wider body than classic eTrex. | Although antenna sensitivity is apparently better than previous eTrex models, it is still reported to be less sensitive than other models such as the 60C. No memory slots for increasing memory, no external antenna input. | |
| NEW eTrex Legend Cx, NEW eTrex Vista Cx Recommended |
Newest members of the eTrex family are identical to the Legend C and Vista C, but with removable microSD memory cards. Units come with 32Mb card and can accept all larger memory sizes (currently up to 512Mb.) | Does not use the new SiRF receiver, so sensitivity is still an issue. Removable memory can only be used to store maps and tracklogs. (Waypoints are stored in separate internal memory and limited to 1000 points.) | |
| GPS 76 family | Performance similar to equivalent eTrex models but antenna is slightly more sensitive. Larger display is easier to see in a vehicle. Includes input for external antenna. | Large physical size less convenient for hiking. Only the 76Cx and 76CSx have removable memory slots for microSD memory. | |
Geko |
Smallest, lightest receiver currently on the market. |
Small screen impractical for vehicle use. No mapping capability. Only the 201 and 301 are recommended. |
|
Rino |
Unique combination of GPS receiver and two-way radio. You can transmit your position to another Rino user. |
Small screen display for the size of the receiver. |
|
GPSMap 60C/60CS |
Great combination of features for outdoor users. 60C/60CS have an indoor/outdoor viewable color display and full mapping capability with 56 MB memory. New GPSMap 60 is grayscale display with 24 MB memory. GPS 60 is non-mapping with grayscale display. | No memory slots for increasing or exchanging memory. A bit large for serious backpackers and others who want to travel very light. |
|
NEW GPSMap 60CSx |
Improved versions of GPSMap 60C and 60CS, now with removable microSD memory cards and much more sensitive SiRF receiver that can often lock onto satellites even indoors or under tree cover. Comes with 64Mb card, and can accept all larger memory sizes (commercial microSD now comes up to 512Mb.) | A bit large for serious backpackers and others who want to travel very light. Removable memory can only be used to store maps and tracklogs. (Waypoints are stored in separate internal memory and limited to 1000 points.) | |
Quest |
Color display with 115meg memory makes this ideal for use within automobiles. With some MapSource software, can give audible driving directions, e.g. "Turn right in 100 feet." |
Although advertised as an "all-purpose" receiver suitable for hikers, it lacks important capabilities: no compass page, very small lat-lon display, limited configurability. |
|
eXplorist 100, 200, 300 400, 500, 600 |
Six versions from entry level to full-featured mapping with altimeter and magnetic compass and color display. Size similar to Garmin eTrex. Mapping units have 8 mb fixed memory. 400, 500, and 600 have USB interfaces and can accept removable SD memory cards. | Small screen for size of receiver. 100, 200, and 300 can not interface to a computer. It is not possible to transfer waypoints, tracks, or more detailed maps. Only the 400, 500, and 600 are recommended. | |
Good range of prices and feature sets, including full mapping units. |
Slightly larger than otherwise equivalent eTrex. No memory slots for increasing or exchanging memory. |
||
Meridian family Most units discontinued 1/06 |
All Meridian products are mapping receivers. Include memory slot that accepts SD memory cards. |
Large physical size less convenient for hiking. |
|
iFinder |
Several family members with a range of features and price points. All are mapping receivers that include a memory slot to accept MMC memory cards. |
Not waterproof, except for iFinder H2O. Other models must use included travel pouch to protect from rain. |
|
Atlas |
Mapping receiver with a good range of features. Includes a memory slot that accepts MMC memory cards. |
Not waterproof. (Must use included travel pouch to protect from rain). |
|
|
GPS 100/500 |
18-channel receiver can lock onto satellites faster in certain cases. |
Unproven track record. |
