Bruce
I have been using the Magellan Meridian for a few years with good results. Bought the MapSendTopo package which gives generalized topography for any area you select in U.S. The topography is not real, but averaged. It is, however a damn sight better than nothing at all. It reads either UTM or Lat/Lon, is very accurate when satelites are available, and reads well through canopy. For generalized mapping in areas with few landmarks, it is a godsend. Uses WAAS, keeps 500 waypoints, tracks your route, and is downloadable into a proprietary Magellan program. Still would like a handheld GPS that would display on a quadrangle -- must be close.
Bob Genheimer
George Rieveschl Curator of Archaeology
Cincinnati Museum Center
1301 Western Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45203
513-455-7161
-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Bruce
Dahlstrom
Sent: Monday, October 25, 2004 10:49 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: FW: Digital Recording
I have used both the Garmin E-Trex series and Garmin GPS 12 series for site
recording and navigation. Both units will do UTM or Lat/Long with NAD83,
NAD27 or WGS84. Both units work well in open country and less so in dense
and particularly wet brush, but I think the E-Trex series is better suited
for land based archaeology. For the following reasons:
1. The E-Trex allows one to zoom in map view at 8m resolution while the 12
series is limited to 300m. This allows one to compare points on the map.
2. The joy stick on some of the higher end E-Trex models facilitates data
entry (making it easier to attach a name to a point).
3. The map source data available for some of the higher end E-Trex can be
very useful for navigation. While it is not complete or entirely accurate
it does contain many BLM and Forest Service Roads.
4. The E-Trex is smaller, lighter, and easier to carry than the 12 series.
Two AA instead of four.
I was wondering if anyone has experience with the Magellan Meridian Series?
If one is interested in getting data in and out of ArcView/ArcGIS/ArcInfo
one might look at either DNR Garmin
(http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/mis/gis/tools/arcview/extensions.html) or OZI
Explorer (http://www.oziexplorer.com/). I think OZI Explorer is the better
product but DNR Garmin is free.
-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of David
Babson
Sent: Friday, October 22, 2004 8:08 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Digital Recording
Can the Garmin unit provide UTMs? I have been thinking of getting a GPS
unit, one of these days--my primary use of GPS is to locate sites, test
units, STP transect baselines, etc. during field projects, usually by
UTM. $300.00 is much more accessible than $5,000.00.
D. Babson.
-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Jennifer R. Lynn
Sent: Friday, October 22, 2004 10:57 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Digital Recording
A) What you are looking for is a Trimble GeoXT or GeoXM. It is a
handheld
GPS unit/PDA. You can install ArcPad on the unit and instantly make GIS
shapefiles while out in the field. This unit, which is very bulky, has
great potential. The problem: trying to obtain and maintain a signal,
especially within wooded areas.
B)The Garmin eTrex Vista, although does not have the same features as
the
Trimble, is a great little GPS unit. It has 3-5 m accuracy, which is
the
same as the Trimble unit above. It stores hundreds of waypoints and a
few
track and route logs, which can then be downloaded using a free program
into ArcView 3x. It is small and compact (smaller than my hand);
therefore, easy to carry--wear it around your neck, stick it in your
field
vest/jacket, pants pocket, backpack. The great thing about the Garmin
eTrex Vista or any in the Garmin eTrex family is that they WORK.
Signals
are easily obtained and maintained in a variety of settings, unlike with
the Trimble unit. Plus, this little piece of technology is under $300,
while the Trimble unit costs closer to $5000.
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