GPS: Purchasing Decision

Trying to decide which GPS unit and accessories to get could be overwhelming, especially with the number of choices on the market today. Think about what you mainly want to use the unit for: driving, boating, flying, diving, hunting, fishing, biking, hiking, etc. Since all GPS units can show your position and basic navigation information, an inexpensive entry-level unit can be a great way to enter the world of GPS navigation. All Garmin GPS units also have a backlight feature which will allow you to use your GPS both day and night. Choosing a unit with more features, as mapping detail, can provide an entirely new level of position awareness and navigation capability, while still being easy to operate.

Consider these issues when selecting a GPS unit:

Battery life – If you are going to using the unit away from an auxiliary power source, consider the weight of carrying extra batteries. Units with color displays tend to have decreases battery life compared to grayscale displays, requiring more frequent battery changes.

Size and Weight – GPS units are available in an array of different sizes and shape: small lightweight handhelds, large display chartplotters and panel mounted aviation models.

Antenna Configuration – Are you going to be using the unit mainly in open area? How about in the car? Whether you need a unit with a build-in antenna and the capacity to attach an external antenna, a fixed mount unit with mountable external antenna, or an aviation antenna.

DGPS Capability – Do you need the best accuracy possible? If so, combining a Differential GPS (DGPS) receiver with your GPS unit will give you the best accuracy possible. However, in my experience most of the GPS first time user no need this capability.

Price – What type of unit fit your price range?

Source: modified from Garmin Tips

Garmin 12XL

I bough Garmin 12XL around 11 years ago, this is one of my favorite vintage GPS. At year 2000, I bough the high end version of 12 series; Garmin 12MAP, its look so “hi tech” at that time, and then I realized that a gps map is not available in my country. However, I still like my 12XL and still used it for backup gps. Even though Garmin has stop the production of 12xl couple years ago, I still find some shops selling this GPS with price ranging from US$ 150 up to US$ 180.

The GPS 12XL is all about performance. It features a 12 parallel channel receiver for fast satellite aquisition and tight satellite lock — even under tree cover. More than just an ultra-reliable receiver, the GPS 12XL is loaded with navigation information including 106 map datums and 7 grid formats, plus advanced orienteering features like user datum/UTM/and user grid formats to define your own map parameters. Store your position as one of 500 waypoints or add it to any of 20 routes. The proximity waypoint feature gives advanced warning of nearby hazards, while the position averaging function helps get the best fix possible.

Packed in a rugged case to handle tough conditions, the GPS 12XL uses an ergonomic rocker keypad for easy one-hand operation and features a user-friendly operating system to keep you on the move instead of pushing buttons. Four AA batteries provide up to 24 hours of use, and a variety of accessories can be added like an external antenna and mounting bracket. With the GPS 12XL, getting there won't be half the battle — it'll be half the fun.

Together with my Garmin 75, Magellan 5000 and Garmin 45xl; 12XL and 12MAP become my vintage GPS collection.

Basic navigation for GPS

The sketch above provide a graphic illustration of the navigation terms used by basic Garmin GPS unit.