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Dave Senesac 
Group: Members
Posts: 3027
Joined: Jun. 2002
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Posted on: Feb. 25 2013, 5:09 pm |
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Am interested in obtaining a small GPS data logger. Have searched this board "gps AND logger" but shows just 5 hits of no use. Also poked about on web for GPS product reviews and buyer's guide. If on a 5 day backpack might need to have it running 16 hours a day or 80 hours total if such is possible. I have never owned a GPS and have no interest in the usual GPS navigation tools with LCD screens, maps, etc, but rather the simplest data logger gadgets that simply memory log:
location waypoint coordinates along hiking/skiing/ routes
timestamp
altitude
A product that:
Connects to a PC via USB.
runs from AA or AAA batteries a long time
Prefer to turn it on during morning when starting on trail or day hike routes and leave it so until at destinations or long stops like lunch.
Enough waypoint memory for typical 10 day backpack.
Small size.
Note will later download logged data to a PC and use standard gps software to overlay onto a topographic map.
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...David
http://davidsenesac.com
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| Post Number: 2
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SW Mtn backpacker
Born to hike, forced to work ...
Group: Members
Posts: 6720
Joined: Jul. 2006
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Posted on: Feb. 25 2013, 6:46 pm |
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nm
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Usually Southwest and then some.
In wildness is the preservation of the world. - Henry Thoreau
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| Post Number: 3
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big_load
Group: Members
Posts: 21832
Joined: Jun. 2004
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Posted on: Feb. 25 2013, 6:59 pm |
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There are tons of USB GPS data loggers out there. I've never used one for the kind of application you have in mind, but they are ubiquitous.
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| Post Number: 4
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bbobb169
Group: Members
Posts: 674
Joined: May 2009
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Posted on: Feb. 25 2013, 7:21 pm |
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Why not GPSr? My 60csx goes for 8hrs easily, 1 1/2 days per alkybattery set, longer on lithiums. Hooks to PC via USB and loads route, altitude to PC. I use it on our treks of 9 days no problem. Works pretty good in canyons, under trees. Seems like that would be cheaper or easier to find than a logger per say. Don't know maybe I am not clear on this one.
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| Post Number: 5
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High_Sierra_Fan
Group: Members
Posts: 39564
Joined: Aug. 2005
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Posted on: Feb. 25 2013, 8:20 pm |
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A benchmark might be an etrex 10? $110 or so.
25 hrs per AA pair, 5 ozs.
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| Post Number: 6
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wildlifenate
Group: Members
Posts: 5830
Joined: Jul. 2004
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Posted on: Feb. 26 2013, 8:56 pm |
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look at photo sites.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c....7634548
like here for example. some of these dataloggers only work with specific cameras because they plug into a port on the camera body. the cheapest is $50 and works with any camera.
there are some very nice ones that work with bluetooth GPS receivers, and they sell some of those BT receivers as bundles with the dataloggers. I have heard good things about Holux's BT GPS receivers. They are compatible with most smartphones and even some laptops FWIW.
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The GPS Geek
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Floppy
Group: Members
Posts: 47
Joined: Oct. 2008
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Posted on: Feb. 28 2013, 7:44 pm |
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I use the Qstarz BT-Q1000X. The software that comes with it isn't great, but it's enough to get the tracks off the thing.
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| Post Number: 8
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Dave Senesac
Group: Members
Posts: 3027
Joined: Jun. 2002
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Posted on: Mar. 01 2013, 12:56 am |
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Well just ordered this from Amazon for $100 including S&H:
I-gotU GT-800 GPS Data Logger Computer
http://www.bobatkins.com/photogr....er.html
Really was expecting to buy something simpler and cheaper maybe about $50 that was just a data logger but most such bare bones gadgets also tend to be poorly designed with users posting various issues. And did not want to get one of the usual GPS mapping LCD display gadgets that often run at least $150 and up and are at that price larger/heavier than I want to deal with, so this is something in the middle. Again my main interest is simply to graph out routes on my desktop PC AFTER I return from activities and not use it for route finding. Nor am I interested in using it for geotagging images. I know where I take my pictures even months and years later because I am always looking at paper USGS topographic maps.
The same manufacturer also makes the I-gotU GT-600 data logger which is 1.3 ounces and was my prime choice after mulling over a lot of products for several days. However the GT-800 has more practical functionality out in the field and weighs just 1.9 ounces or hardly much more and notably less than other products that are just data loggers. Significantly it takes the same Lithium ion batteries that my old broken Nikon Coolpix used of which I have several spares so I can make use of both the old batteries and charger.
Besides the GPS waypoint data logger, it has a stopwatch, a battery level indicator, motion sensor to reduce battery consumption when still, variable GPS logging from 1 second upward, a GPS compass and altimeter, and what reviewers report is rather excellent software for such a low price unit.
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...David
http://davidsenesac.com
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GoBlueHiker
Obsessive Island Hopper...
Group: Members
Posts: 14069
Joined: Jul. 2006
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Posted on: Mar. 01 2013, 10:02 am |
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Cool.  I never even knew they made something specifically like that (makes sense, I guess, just never thought about it). I learned something today.
Glad you found something to work for ya', Dave!
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Wealth needs more. Happiness needs less. Simplify.
www.RainForestTreks.com
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CampinCarl
Group: Members
Posts: 248
Joined: May 2003
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Posted on: Mar. 01 2013, 12:02 pm |
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Just saw this thread and wanted to chime in. I bought the i-gotU GT-120 off of amazon and I have to say that the reception is sketchy. It does fine in open areas, like my neighborhood park, but as I live in the PNW, it has a hard time getting signals in dense forests or canyons. I can't speak to your specific model, hope the reception works out better for you.
Looks like your battery options are better, the one I have can only be charged via USB. However, the reason I bought it in the first place was that it was so tiny and I wanted to play with creating tracks and geotagging photos after my hikes.
The software is actually pretty decent, it gives you some nice choices for displaying trip stats, and of course you can always export to .gpx for use in other map applications. You can also clean up the track in the software, but that has been of limited use since some of my hike tracks look like spaghetti. All that said, I consider it an inexpensive toy at present.
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"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where Nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul alike." - John Muir
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wildlifenate
Group: Members
Posts: 5830
Joined: Jul. 2004
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Posted on: Mar. 02 2013, 10:06 am |
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(SW Mtn backpacker @ Mar. 01 2013, 4:29 pm)
QUOTE
(CampinCarl @ Mar. 01 2013, 10:02 am)
QUOTE .. I have to say that the reception is sketchy. It does fine in open areas, like my neighborhood park, but as I live in the PNW, it has a hard time getting signals in dense forests or canyons. That's a function of antenna of any single recreational GPS receiver. Forests, tight canyons and even leaves will scatter or block GPS signals.
not so much anymore. Most modern receivers handle difficult situations very well.
The cheaper you get, yes, the more that becomes an issue.
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The GPS Geek
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