Need GPS Unit

Gizmo0417 · 12-29-04, 11:38 PM

We would like to purchase a GPS unit to include software in order to assist us in finding a certain coordinates for a piece of land that my family has to save us in paying a surveyor to locate the exact locate of this land. We use to know but the landmark is now gone.

Does anyone know any good GPS unit and software that we can us for my Dell Axim 5 or suggest something that will work for us?

We would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you in advance.

JakeRich · 12-30-04, 09:26 AM

Any good GPS unit should be able to help. Bear in mind, though, that a consumer GPS unit will only be accurate to 10-15Meters, which is not accurate enough for surveying purposes. If you are looking for a marker and have the lat/lon, you can go to that lat/lon based on the GPS and it should be within 30-40 feet of that location. If you get a WAAS enabled GPS receiver you might be able to cut that variation down to 10-15 feet.

For software, if all you want is to find a lat/lon, then you don't need mapping software, just something to find that position. There are some free utilities at Haicom's website that will let you do that. Vito Navigator also will direct you to a lat/lon.

mrdinks · 12-30-04, 09:57 AM

I have been GPS shopping for a while and I think about any new GPS unit you buy now will be WAAS enabled. Maybe not the low end I don't look at them. As JakeRich said WAAS (wide area augmentation system) will let you be accurate to about 10' at best. If there are markers and you have the Lat/Lon positions it will get you close. Maybe a metal detector will help find a pin. I had a Magellan and now have a Garmin and both are great units. The cheap end is $100 and a good one with nice features will run $450-$1000. I also have the Dell GPS for my Axim and find the accuracy to be real bad compared to my hand held.
If you boat or would like to start Geocaching (www.geocaching.com)
buy a nice one to start with.

Gizmo0417 · 12-30-04, 10:17 AM

We would like to purchase a GPS unit to include software in order to assist us in finding a certain coordinates for a piece of land that my family has to save us in paying a surveyor to locate the exact locate of this land. We use to know but the landmark is now gone. We do have a map that has the long/lat on it so now we need the GPS unit and software to go and locate this piece of land.

Does anyone know any good GPS unit and software that we can us our Dell Axim 5 or suggest something that will work for us?

We would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you in advance.

mrdinks · 12-30-04, 01:24 PM

All GPS units will show you Lat/Lon without any additional software. You don't need to enter them either just follow them until they match. I don't think your going to find what your looking for if it has not been answered in any of these threads.

Gizmo0417 · 12-30-04, 01:46 PM

Thank you for the great information.

v2drinkers · 01-01-05, 07:21 AM

And thank you for nicking my Avatar - Don't nick my new one!!!