GPS Woes

[Mario]

I recently purchased a Garmin Extrex Legend GPS. According to many reviews, it should work fine on the road and in tree cover.

I didn't buy a handlebar mount or carrying case, I simply attached it to my waist with a caribiner clip. I lost signals all the time. I was in deep woods (9 Mile Forest in Wausau and Blue Hills in Bruce, WI).

My buddy has a more expensive Garmin that he puts in a case attached to a messenger bag he wears while riding, he didn't have the same problem.

Would a handlebar mount help in the bad reception? Any other suggestions to get better reception?, the waist option is not working:mad:

[TrailPatrol]

I have a handlebar mount on my Trek 4600, with a Garmin eTrex basic, and I have also carried it on my hydration pack strap and in a pocket. The bar mount is not perfect, but it works a lot better than the other locations. I have used it for patrol, mapping and search and rescue with good (but not excellent) results. For some reason I have had much better, more consistant results in the Minnesota National Forests (Superior and Chippewa) than in Chequamegon. (WI)

The more expensive the GPS, the better the antenna/reception, for the most part. I actually prefer, and own a Magellan 315, but the Magellan handlebar mount is big and "klunky" so I went with the Garmin.

When I get the time I am going to look at the new "Explorist" line from Magellan.

Ride safe,
Hans

[Mario]

Hans, thanks for the info. I just got off the phone with Garmin and they were nice enought to send out a free handlebar mount:banana: . I think it should help dramatically. After talking to him, I realize that with the waist clip option I was using, the antenna is basically pointing straight down to the ground, the antenna is the square chip behind the globe on the Etrex.

Makes sense, because I held it in my hand on the way out of the forest (in a car) and it worked fine.

He said the best position is not flat, but more vertically with the antenna on top of course.

Anyway, hope the mount helps and that is great customer service to offer free 15-20 dollar part.

If it still doesnt work, you're right, the eXplorist 210 or so from Magellan looks nice for the $

[Jackrabbit Slim]

I use a rhino with the manufacture's handle bar mount. This is a Garmin GPS and radio combo (mostly for CAMBA trails where it looses signal occasionally...maybe once every 20 miles).
I love having the GPS mapping feature and being able to mark down waypoints to match up on a trail map. I hate the fact that the handle bar mount broke after only one season :mad: and now I have duct tape holding the thing onto my bike (after it fell off and hit the pavement this spring).
I think next year I'll get a standard GPS and not worry about the radio with the whopping 2 mile range and no emergency channel. Speaking of... is there a product other than an ELT (60 lbs) or satellite phone $$$ that I could take with me in case I need some assistance? I ride solo a lot:crazy: , I know not a good idea but I gotta do it if I want to ride (work weekends), so I'd like to have something in case I needed to get some help getting out of the woods (no cell phone coverage either).

[bikeoutback]

Speaking of... is there a product other than an ELT (60 lbs) or satellite phone $$$ that I could take with me in case I need some assistance? I ride solo a lot:crazy: , I know not a good idea but I gotta do it if I want to ride (work weekends), so I'd like to have something in case I needed to get some help getting out of the woods (no cell phone coverage either).

I read about an emergency device in the last BackPacking magazine that I picked up, it was a PLB: http://www.traditionalmountaineering.org/FAQ_PLB.htm

It also ran on both frequencies they mention in that FAQs article, but I'm not sure what it was called. Seems like it would be a good idea if you were working in remote areas by yourself, but alls I know about them is in that article.

[Jackrabbit Slim]

Thanks, those look pretty cool and a LOT lighter than what I saw at REI.