You are going to be looking for that Unicorn for a long time.

Here is what you need to makes sure of when you buy it;

Make sure you can change the coordinates between different types.
Make sure you can type in a coordinate and it actually takes you there.
and last but not least get one where you can add in a chip that will show you private property, claims, and other types of boundaries.

To save money buy a previous year model, this time of year is good because hunting and hiking seasons are over and prospecting hasn't picked up yet.

I use a Garmin Dakota 20 and it can do anything I need it to do, and I don't have a manual or have it chipped.

 

Thanks, Benjamin! I appreciate the info.

 

Great advice from Ben. We found that utube is a great resource. Lots of very informative information.

 

As Ben said, get a unit that you can add an SD card to as most units have a very small memory.

 

Garmin is a good bet but shop around. We found that you get what you pay for with these units.

 

Good luck -----------------------------------

 

Chris & Jim 

Instead of buying a "GPS" device...I found it much better to use a tablet....Bigger display and the ability to use GPS as location reporting if you are in an area with out a data connection or wifi. These old tech handheld GPS just dont display as well as a tablet does. You dont need to get a I pad or Samsung expensive tablet......there are plenty cheap versions running the Android OS which will work well too. And yes they have SD card capability .

If you get a Garmin, don't get one with the little joystick input. Get a touch screen. The joystick is a bear to use.

Topo maps is also a good thing to have, which should give public land management boundaries.

Leo,

I do have to ask, is your Starbucks Coffee Shop within WiFi range of your claim? Where my claims are we are a two hours drive to the nearest cell phone signal to call EMS if we need it? Do they also rub your feet after a long day on the river?

Ben

Come on Ben....get with the times..... Solar powered cell signal amplifiers will reveal coverage in many places where it seems invisible. With the right setup, camp can have wifi hotspot. Out in the field, tablet with GPS only enabled works great...with maps on the SD card. No more little display from the hand gps. Back in camp........our starbucks provides it all n/c....you been going to the wrong one.

If I had my way I would go back to my compass, map, and pace count system I learned in the Army, but you cannot even get those maps these days.

Now if I could afford a tablet and signal amplifier, not to mention the rig to pull it around with and power it I might just consider that, but I don't have those kinds of funds. I use a simple GPS on the ground and make sure to bring a digital camera. From different locations I will shoot pictures in a 360 degree pattern and then plug in the Coords using google and then compare my pics with a topographical map once I get back home. It gives me a view and Idea where I should be working the next time I go down if my previous choice of locations was poor.

I can't tell people enough how important it is to sample and explore before you seriously get down to business.

Sorry, but I had to bust your chops about the WiFi, it is a luxury very few of us have or can afford, and I don't even think it would work being 4000ft below canyon walls with no antenna for miles and miles. It seriously takes over an hour to get a web signal with one bar from some of our claims, it's why we rely on each other and all carry arms.

Something I found very useful was an app..(yeah another one of those friggen modern things) for my phone called Jack of Tools and it has a Compass, Level, Position Data, Altitude, Speed, Caliper, Magnifier, and best of all a Geo Cam. When I am out, with no cell service at all, you can take a picture and it will overlay the picture with the GPS Coordinates of your location, along with other data like altitude, bearing.
I checked the accuracy when back home and it was right on target too when viewed with Google earth.....Now that is something worth using.

 

Hey Leo, is the name of the app you mentioned called "Jack of Tools? Did you get it from Google Play or another app store. I can't seem to find it anywhere. Thanks for the info ------------------------- Chris

there are several through the app store, I never used the one mentioned although I did download two different ones. One worked better on my phone than the other, they were free so not a big deal. Download and try just be sure to turn one off before activating the other and vis versa. I keep two on my phone so if one does not work in an area the other I have hope will.

So Walter,what are the names of these apps?
Thanks, Chris

one that I use is GPS status the other which for some areas did not work well does not seem to be available anymore. I would suggest again that you 1st make sure that it does work off of satellites and 2nd try several different apps.

Christine....I use a Windows phone which that alone has limited Apps when compared to Google Play Store....yes the APP was "Jack of Tools" which should be available also for Ios and Android systems. It works great....they have 2 versions one regular and the other Jack of Tools Pro.....I forget if I paid for it because I have had it for 3 years. When I went back to see it has a price....it just kept saying that I already own it. $3.99 might have been the price.

Ok I just went and checked Google Play and it seems that there is none for Android. If you look up Geo Cam you will see others. When using GPS on an Android tablet, its best to disable in the "location settings" the data and Wifi GPS and use ONLY satellite GPS.

 

Thanks, Leo and Walt for the help. I appreciate it -------------------- Chris

 

Jim,

 

I have the Garman GPSmap 62s ($249) (I don't think they sell this one anymore) and the GPSmap 64sc ($400).  They make cheaper ones but I'm not familiar with their reliability.  Neither have touch screen but I don't mind using the toggle pad to type. Especially considering the price difference to those that do have touch pad.  I have all the GPAA and LDMA claim coordinates as well as notes and gold locations with no issue with memory.  They are both great reliable units and I also have the BaseCamp chip (Topo maps) for each one so I know exactly what type of property I am on.  It shows BLM, private, National Forest, State, etc. All color coded. The chip is about $90 but well worth the money.  The chip comes with the BaseCamp application to load on your lap top so you can work on it on your laptop also and can open in Google Earth.  I have also downloaded a compass app, as well as Trail Boss app, GPS Tour app and Google Earth app to assist me when I have reception, which doesn't happen very often out where I prospect all the apps are very useful at times. Solar powered cell signal amplifiers don't work in the areas either at least with my provider.  You need a signal to amplify and if the signal isn't there you can't amplify it. Over the years, I have used other brands as well as models and these are the best that I have found in my opinion.

I have a Garmin Oregon 600, it was not cheap, but I am. I find it hard to dish out another $90 for maps when I already paid $500 for a device. The people working in the store who sold it should be fired for having no clue. I spent several months trying to get the gps to take me to a location and every time it would say something like you cannot get there from here. The store experts had no clue, google and youtube are your friends, you need Maps, I got mine for FREE and the Garmin works as it should. Here is a link for free maps.
https://www.gpsfiledepot.com/

Dennis,

If and when I get a garmin gps could I possibly hit you up with any questions on doing the mapping? I’m in NorCal and want to map the claims I plan on and have been to. (Not use to going to places out of my neighborhood lol)