Hi All it’s been a while but I am now in the position to start going out /P again from SOTA sites.
I am thinking of getting some kind of GPS device for when out n about, route planning that kind of thing can anyone recommend any kind of GPS device.
thanks in advance
Keith M1VHT
In reply to M1VHT:
Hello Keith,
I use a Garmin Etrex 30 - small, light & a colour screen. Once you have the appropriate mapping data, you can use Garmin BaseCamp (free) for planning. I have not purchased the VK mapping package from Garmin but purchased a package called OzTopo. Unfortunately, the OzTopo does not have the elevation data built in (despite contours at 10 m intervals) that BaseCamp can use. I think that the Garmin map packages include elevation data, but I have not tried those packages.
I am sure that there are other options, but I find BaseCamp and the Etrex a good combination.
Good luck,
Peter VK3PF
In reply to M1VHT:
This going to sound a bit like a cheap shot, but it isn’t. It’s meant from the heart.
I’d suggest this book and a basic navigation training day.
There are lots of other books out there - but this one has been pretty much continuously in print for about 20 years and rightly so. On about its 7th edition I think.
Once you can do it manually then think about a mapping GPS (I do have suggestions about this).
73
Gerald
MW0WML
(Mountain Rescue Team member in North Wales)
In reply to M1VHT:
No replies yet, so I’ll start the ball rolling Keith. I guess a lot depends on how much you want to spend. I’ve only ever tried two - the first was a Garmin CS62x (pre OS mapping) which has never been able to find the satellites after getting too wet in the Lake District (it had also been dropped in the past) - not recommended!
The 2nd, 2 years old yesterday, is a Satmap Active 10 Plus bought with full GP 1:50,000 mapping - this has been up every summit in all weathers and has been used and abused. I download my routes and take it even up the smaller summits because I like to record my tracks and compare. I took out a mortgage and bought an horrendously expensive Satmap silicone case at the same time. I hate to say it was well worth the money but it was - apart from increasing it’s ‘waterproofness’, it gives it a certain amount of ‘bounce-ability’ (tested by me on several occasions). The cases do come on offer from Satmap fairly regularly. I find it straight forward to use even with numb fingers and thick gloves in the winter and the LiPo battery is great - a 10 summit SOTA/WOTA round lasting from 9am to 11pm was no problem, (using the display quite heavily on a trotting descent to save putting head torch on and avoid any errors) along with half the following day’s walking (without going in to all the power saving options). I have since added a spare LiPo battery for 2 or 3 day trips where I have no mains back up for charging. The ‘Plus’ model is the one which comes with the LiPo battery, car charger and numerous electrical adaptors. Neil and I prefer the rugged button operated GPS to a touch screen but that’s a personal preference. It has always been possible to find it about £150 cheaper if you look - at the moment it appears to be OS and Amazon that are offering the best deals with the full GB mapping bundle (helped of course by the very recent massive price reductions in OS mapping). There is an Active 12 model due out any day for an additional £150 but for the increased resolution mapping, Bluetooth for heart rate monitor and a couple of other changes I don’t think it’s worth the extra money for fell walking. Satmap also offer a complete service, replacing casing etc as required for a not unreasonable charge - although I have not yet tried this. It is quite user friendly and I would definitely buy another should the need arise. (They also fetch pretty good prices on E-bay should you decide to sell).
Hopefully a cheque or a free Active 12 will be winging it’s way to me from Satmap hihi.
73
Karen 2E0XYL
In reply to M1VHT:
Hello Keith I use an etrex 30 also with the Aussie map card inside and it works well. I use it mobile on the way to a summit and once I arrive to see how much further I have to suffer on the walk up. Probably the only thing I find is entering the long lat digits in before going out is a bit fiddly working around the screen entering info. Once I get to the summit I reset the saved way point at the trig point then I have the co ordinates correct. I use a couple NiMH rechargeable Batteries which last quite well over a couple activations before recharge.
73 di Ian vk5cz …
In reply to M1VHT:
i use a GARMIN DAKOTA 20 for all my hiking activities … the optional garmin-maps are very expensive, so i looked for a cheaper/free alternative and found this site some time ago:
http://www.freizeitkarte-osm.de/en/index.html
73 de martin
www.oe5reo.at
In reply to M1VHT:
Hi Keith,
I have a SATMAP ACTIVE 10 + for sale on the WOTA forum site the GPS has been updated and serviced and comes with a lot of extras.
Terry
G0VWP
In reply to 2E0XYL:
I too use a Satmap Active 10, an absolutely brilliant piece of kit. You can get standard UK 1:50000 mapping, regional 1:25000 with 1:10000 street map and you can even purchase custom mapping for areas in the UK you wish to explore. Great battery life too.
73 Andrew G4AFI
In reply to MW0WML:
Good idea.
Been a long time since I had any training. Book ordered.
Can you suggest a days course?
Based in sunny Stoke on Trent by the way…
I’m also a happy SATmap Active 10 user. It’s a bit long in the tooth but still a good bit of kit.
73 Richard G3CWI
In reply to M1VHT:
Hi Keith,
For my tuppence worth, I use the ViewRanger app on my Android smartphone, (also available for iPhone). This gives most of the facilities of a handheld GPS without the need for an additional device, you get great definition, can record tracks, plot and save routes in advance, download 1:50,000 or 1:25,000 maps by area or individual tiles and have a good sized display. I keep the phone in a waterproof case (Aquapac or similar) or there are waterproof hardshell cases available.
Usually, I also carry a paper map & compass, because if all the electronic gizmos stop working hopefully the Mk1 human brain & eyeballs will still function.
73
Victor GI4ONL
In reply to M1VHT:
Keith,
If you have an Android phone a smashing free/cheap App to look at is Locus Map. It is compatible with OS maps to 1:25000 loaded from Bing and can store them for use off-line. Track recording is well covered too.
Simon, G4TJC
In reply to MW0WML:
In reply to M1VHT:
I’d suggest this book and a basic navigation training day.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mountain-Navigation-Peter-Cliff/dp/1871890551
I bought this book as recommended in an earlier thread, and I found it invaluable.
I enjoy using paper maps and compass, but have a Garmin Etrex 10, which is the basic model with no maps etc. I use it to confirm my location eg in poor visibility, and as it will track my route, I can use it to lead me back out the same way when that is the best option!
I have imported tracks from mapping software just to see, and it does work, but not something that I use normally.
Adrian
G4AZS
In reply to G1STQ:
In reply to MW0WML:
Good idea.
Been a long time since I had any training. Book ordered.
Can you suggest a days course?
Based in sunny Stoke on Trent by the way…
How are you going to find your way there 
73 Mike
2E0YYY
In reply to GI4ONL:
Usually, I also carry a paper map & compass, because if all the
electronic gizmos stop working hopefully the Mk1 human brain &
eyeballs will still function.
A good point, Victor. Personally, I acquired my navigation skills in the pre-satnav days and enjoy using those skills so much that I can’t conceive of ever taking a satnav out with the intent of using it. That’s just me though, but I do think it is essential that the satnav users should be able and ready to navigate by the old methods “if all else fails”, say if the sun throws a major wobbly!
73
Brian G8ADD
In reply to 2E0YYY:
The YHA used to put on some good weekend navigation courses. Plas y Brenin may do some also.
In reply to G1STQ:
Well, as you have asked, I will recommend someone. But I am going to declare an interest and say that I sometimes work for this company… teaching and assessing navigation on their Silver and Gold NNAS courses. Fairly rarely though so you are unlikely to get me.
I do know that Guy cares a lot and does a good job. He uses good people to deliver his courses (well I would say that wouldn’t I!) if he is not available himself.
He is based in the Peak District, so easier for you to get to than the Lakes or Snowdonia.
This is a link to the basic NNAS Bronze course, but there are others.
http://www.pureoutdoor.co.uk/courses/149/Beginner-Navigation-Course-bronze-nnas/
If you do speak to Guy tell him I recommended him.
73
Gerald
MW0WML
PS as everyone else has said - SATMAP is probably the best mapping GPS.
In reply to GI4ONL:
I also carry a paper map & compass, because if all the
electronic gizmos stop working hopefully the Mk1 human brain &
eyeballs will still function.
Hear, hear to that.
The Mountain Rescue stats in the UK show that there are a lot of people who cannot navigate when their “electronic friend” fails for whatever reason.
My MR team does use Viewranger though. It can be used without expensive mapping to record your position in real time. The Buddy Beacon facility is good for lone walkers. But again, is no substitute for other emergency plans that don’t rely on electronics. It also relies on you having a mobile signal. But if all else fails someone coming to find you would at least know where you had headed towards until your phone died or you dropped out of mobile coverage.
http://www.viewranger.com/en-gb/features/buddybeacon
Be aware that this needs a data plan on your phone contract or you may find yourself with a surprising bill.
73
Gerald
MW0WML
In reply to MW0WML:
Thanks all very much for all your suggestions, I wasn’t expecting this many replies so will trawl through the net and see what I can dig out
cheers to all Keith M1VHTY
In reply to M1VHT:
Hi, I also use an android phone with Viewranger and would recommend it. The mapping is relatively cheap and you only need to buy the bits you need. I use 1:50000 mapping on the phone (but then I generally carry a 1:25000 map anyway.)
One additional item I have invested in is a Nokia LD-3W external bluetooth GPS unit. No doubt other equally good ones are available but it was the best available at the time I looked.
It will run off one charge for more than 24 hours and can thus be left on for a full day. It resides in a plastic bag at the top of my rucksack where it can ‘see’ the sky properly and has a sensitive GPS receiver. It means that I can always obtain an accurate position whenever I need it without having to wait for my phone to find the satellites etc. I can thus conserve mobile phone charge for essential purposes such as self-spotting, and calling for help.
73 Rick