I need a good GPS !! Any suggestions?

I have finally given up on my Garmin Vista HCX.. It is less than two years old but will not take me to waypoints that I either "mark" myself or enter the coordinates from somewhere else. The electric compass arrow will point in the correct direction until I get within @ 200 feet and then it will go wild and point all over the place. I have talked to Garmin many times and can't get the issue resolved. This is a handheld unit. I have read on other forums that electric lines can mess up a gps. There is a 500 KV transmission line crossing the Illinois Bayou on Lake Dardanelle, so I use this there a lot. Does anyone else have this problem with their GPS in this area? What kind of GPS do you use that you really like? I need some advise and would prefer a handheld- so I can use it for hunting- but would consider a permanent mount unit. I for sure want the compass feature on any unit I get. Thanks.

First, there are apps for smart phones that do an amazing amount of stuff (if you can get a data connection where you need it).

I have a Rino 130......and like it. But I don't know much about how to use it other than finding brushtops I have marked. To have made a living in a technical field, I'm pretty untechnical.

I use an old Garmin E trex Ledgen C and haven't had any trouble in the area you are talking about.

I used to use a handheld GPS , yea they work but I like to keep my huntin stuff separate from fishing waypoints , I have a 898 side image chart plotter in my boat , if you ever use one you will see what a difference these type units make , on the water looking at a detailed map of the entire lake , all saved waypoints are visible on the map and your current boat location is also shown , motor in close to a waypoint and fish it as we'll as others in the immediate area , then look at the map and see what else is kinda close by, quickly find them as well and then on to the next one , if you vertical jig brush tops its a huge advantage and time saver !! I've not noticed any trouble from the power lines in that area at all. If your not familiar with these type of units shoot me a p.m. And we'll go sometime!

Harold, does your unit have the "electric compass" feature where you hit the go to button and follow the arrow to the next waypoint? How accurate is it- say within 30 feet or so? I just want a gps that will get me within castine distance and don't need all the fancy features of the combo chart plotters/depth finders.

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Originally Posted by Harold

I use an old Garmin E trex Ledgen C and haven't had any trouble in the area you are talking about.

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You finally got it figured out ?

Cheapest unit has no magnetic compass. I have 3 of the old yellow etrex and they serve me well.

Have u calibrated the compass and installed the updates?

No it doesn't have the "electric compress"

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Originally Posted by Harold

No it doesn't have the "electric compress"

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Harold the expensive models have magnetic compass. The inexpensive models have to be moving for directional arrow to point correctly.:twocents

Yea It has one, I bet it needs to be calibrated. Of garmins I have had the same one, a legend, etrex, and now the Oregon 550. Seems like I have to calibrate mine once a year. Where are you located gobler?

Oregon 450t. Bought on eBay for less than$200. Has topi map already in it. Love it....

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Originally Posted by NIMROD

Cheapest unit has no magnetic compass. I have 3 of the old yellow etrex and they serve me well.

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My dad always said if it pointing it working:Rofl then he say it not where it said i am it need new batteries, darn it's not work now.

I have not had any issues with the power lines in Illinois bayou.

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Originally Posted by buck_jackson75

Yea It has one, I bet it needs to be calibrated. Of garmins I have had the same one, a legend, etrex, and now the Oregon 550. Seems like I have to calibrate mine once a year. Where are you located gobler?

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I live in Russellville. I have calibrated the compass- multiple times a day. I have gotten all the updates from Garmin and just spent 45 minutes on the phone with them last week to make sure all was supposed to be well. The Compass feature on this unit lets you pick a waypoint, then hit "go to" and switch to Compass mode, and then you are supposed to be able to follow the red arrow on the compass to that way point. It starts counting down the distance in miles at first , and then in feet starting at about 500 feeet, and stays in feet until you reach the waypoint.It used to work well- say within 15 feet- but now it works only to within 200 feet and the arrow will start pointing all over the place. I don't know about you guys, but 200 feet in any of four directions ain't that close in my opinion !! I guess I don't know how to use the Map mode to find anything, coz the map is in such large scale, I figured it would not get me close at all. Is there a way to Zoom In on the map screen? I have not been able to find that even in the owners manual.

2 buttons on the side will let u zoom. you are holding it level while in the go to mode, right?

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Originally Posted by goblerblaster

It used to work well- say within 15 feet- but now it works only to within 200 feet and the arrow will start pointing all over the place.

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It's working right. You just gotta understand what it is trying to tell you. When it does this on Lake Dardanelle, what it is trying to say to you is "there's fish everywhere".

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Originally Posted by buck_jackson75

2 buttons on the side will let u zoom. you are holding it level while in the go to mode, right?

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Thanks, Yes I hold it level. I'll try the map feature and see if I can get it to zoom in next time I'm out. I appreciate the help.

You need to be moving in order for the pointer to function properly, greater than 1mph typically.