FYI - Handheld GPS Evaluation

[18rabbit]

I can’t image there being any interest in this but the new issue of Powerboat Reports (Oct '04) has side-by-side evaluations of eight handheld GPS units.<br /><br />All units are “excellent” for accuracy. All units are “good” for display, except the Garmin 76 was given an “excellent” for its display. All units rated only “fair” for marine friendly, except one Garmin and one Magellan rate “good”.

 

[Luna Sea]

Re: FYI - Handheld GPS Evaluation

My handheld Magellin, "Meridian Marine", helped me get my new boat home from Maine this past spring, in the fog. Didn't know how to use the Si-Tex DGPS that was on board, learned the radar pretty quick though! Couple of new charts and the handheld got me through the 144 mile trip home, with pretty good accuracy I might add.....

 

[18rabbit]

Re: FYI - Handheld GPS Evaluation

If that’s the Magellan SporTrak Pro Marine, that’s one of the units they rated “good” for ‘marine friendly’. Overall, Garmin 76 was top pick, that Magellan STP Marine was second: “Our runner-up; it lacks some of the ergonomic niceties of the Garmin 76.”<br /><br />In the grand scheme of handheld gps, PBR isn’t impressed. “Another area of concern is the continual reduction in the size of these units. At some point, especially for mariners, who have no real need for the smallest screens available or pushbuttons sized for children’s digits, it all becomes rather ridiculous. Our preference is for units that fit and feel solid in hand, have pushbuttons big enough for adult fingers, and screens we can read without a magnifying glass.”