What is the most accurate GPS device?

9-29-05 | delphinium

[Protagoras]

Maybe you could use it to help you find the right category to post vanities under.

[kinsman redeemer]

eTrex - 8.43-feet
GPS60 - 9.58-feet
GPS60 - (with external antenna) 6.82-feet

Please note: this is no statistical error at all!

[1stFreedom]

Most accurate GPS device?

JDAM bombs...

LOL

[Joe 6-pack]

I normally just have a friend shake a small tree while I look at the map to see which one moves.

[Delphinium]

None are that accurate except differential devices like those used by surveyors,

I guess that might be what I am looking for? I wonder how $$$?

[GOPJ]

Two meters?? Ya gonna call in air strikes?

I think civilian GPS is intentionally off -- for a reason.

[Delphinium]

THanks, I will search.

[Protagoras]

I use a map and a compass. No batteries needed.

I just wander around until someone tells me where I am and where to find my wife. Then she tells me where to go.

(Funny, it's always the same place)

[TChad]

This is a 12 channel WAAS mounted unit

The truth at last. "Jupiter's moons," indeed.

[Tarpon]

Provided the GPS works properly, there is no difference. The accuracy is encoded in the GPS signal.

Two technologies increase the consumer accuracy, WAIS and Differential GPS. I use differential GPS on my boat it's good down to about 3 meters. If you want the most accuracy out of a consumer unit, then get the WAIS enabled receivers -- although WAIS does not work at all times and is more susceptible to outage, it's the best that can be done for most applications. The brand name doesn't matter, although I am partial to Garmin because of the software that works with their receivers.

Surveyors get down to inches by using a form of differential GPS with local transmitters located on surveyed points.

[caver]

I've used a GPS for 6 or 7 years doing cave locating and surveying. We locate the entrance with the GPS. After we have done the in-cave survey, it gets entered into a cave mapping software. This software will then convert all survey stations into UTM or lat-long coordinates. These coordinates can then be used to locate the cave passages while walking above ground. We also use the GPS to tell us whether we are on private property or state or federal. I can't imagine being without my GPS.

[Delphinium]

GPS60 - (with external antenna) 6.82-feet

this is what Garmin recommended just now.

But I might have to drive to Spokane to get it. Too bad, I 'll have to shop while I am there, he'll love that.

[TChris]

This is not true with commercial GPS receivers. The more channels the receiver has, the greater the accuracy.

That is true, but every modern GPS receiver of which I am aware has sufficient channels to max out the accuracy of plain GPS. Whether or not a particular receiver has WAAS capability is a factor, but it still ain't gonna get a guy to reliable 2-meter accuracy.

[stuartcr]

ok

[Delphinium]

Surveyors get down to inches by using a form of differential GPS with local transmitters located on surveyed points.

Thanks I will give that information to him.

[Delphinium]

but it still ain't gonna get a guy to reliable 2-meter accuracy.

I was told by atleast tthree different gurs yesterday that you can get them to be that accurate, but that is not what I have found as I am searching for information.

[PAR35]

He is also an Idaho hunter.

He needs more than a GPS if he can't find something as large as a state. I-15 north from Salt Lake City or I-90 east from Spokane should get the job done.

[petro45acp]

Geo-caching?

[vikzilla]

Seriously thought I'd like to find a decent low-cost GPS too.

Check out the Lowrance Ifinder Series. I use their H2O version for ice fishing. The Mapcreate software is downloadable to removable chips making it extremely versatile. Also handheld or mountable with a RAM mount.

I purchased the Navionics Northern region chip that has over 3000 lakes defined to go with it. Best darned money I ever spent.

[RightWhale]

For hunting purposes, and fishing, too, any unit would probably do. Fish are particular and maybe 15 feet makes a difference. I would consider not just the readout, but how the unit interfaces with the computer back home or a laptop in the field. Can you load a day's worth of waypoints onto a screen map that is good enough to be useful? Is it easy to connect the two and is the software a snap to use? Some units are well-supported this way, and some are next to useless. Garmin, Magellan have top models with all the bells and whistles. Or a cheap unit will have the basic readout, possibly a simple map display, and not much more. Then, too, you need to look at what is running on the computer and whether the GPS will interface to that particular program without a lot of hacking.