Chiming in really late! but I have used a fair number of different GPS loggers so I thought I'd add my experience. First off, like cameras, the best one is the one you have with you (and can be powered up). For me, that disqualifies the Garmin 60 series - too bulky to always carry around with me. Also I haven't found a really compelling reason to spend the additional $$ on this unit over, say, a Vista or Legend. The dedicated waypoint button is a plus, for sure, but not an $150-200 one. (For those looking to purchase, REI currently has the GPSMAP 62s for $199.)
I have always been impressed by the accuracy of the Garmin units, they are consistent performers. I haven't noticed a great deal of difference between the Legend, Vista and GPSMap types in that respect. The ability to load and display OSM maps onto these units sets them apart from the lower end units and no-screen track loggers. I have made numerous hiking route decisions in the field based on which trail was not on the map yet. Powerful. I have also used the touch screen Dakota 20 quite a lot. The accuracy seems to be on par with the other Garmin units, but the touch screen is a pain to use and can be hard to read. I would not recommend it. Lately, for no other reason than to experience a different type of GPS unit, I have resorted to using a Columbus V990. The one really nice and pretty unique feature this device has is motion detection. If you're not moving, the device will suspend logging until it detects you're on the go again. This makes the Columbus a 'set-and-forget' unit - just put it in your backpack and go. I get up to four days of life out of it this way. It does not emit GPX for reasons unbeknownst to me, but JOSM will load its CSV format just fine. The accuracy is not on par with the Garmin units I feel, but I haven't done any side by side testing. When I'm out of options I will use my phone for track logging. This is always a poor choice because the quality of the tracks is noticeably poorer, to the point of being unusable sometimes. Logging on your phone will also eat your battery. On Android I have used OSMTracker mostly, because it offers direct OpenStreetMap upload and waypoint / photo / audio tagging. JOSM will automatically load georeferenced pictures and voice clips recorded, which is cool and helpful. Google's own My Tracks is decent, too, but of course offers no such OSM specific features. I have yet to find a decent track logging app for the iPhone that has some OSM integration. Best Martijn On Tue, Nov 26, 2013 at 5:59 AM, Martin Koppenhoefer <dieterdre...@gmail.com> wrote: > > 2013/11/26 Dion Dock <dion_d...@comcast.net> >> >> I've used a Garmin GPSmap 60CSx. I think it records a point every >> second--or maybe it's every 5--I can't find the setting in the menus at the >> moment. Saving tracks to the micro SD card will strip off their timestamps >> and OSM rejects tracks without timestamps. You could still trace them or >> import them with JOSM, probably. > > > > I'm using this same unit. You can set the recording intervall in the track > recording page (I am using and promoting 1 second, there are also other > settings like per distance or less frequently but this only reduces > usefulness because stuff gets simplified and you get less "raw" data). I do > get the timestamps in the recorded track on the micro SD card, how do you > copy it? You have to mount the device as a disk and copy it like you would > with any other file (requires to set "record on card" in the device settings > from the tracks page, settings). > > The track recording admittedly is a bit confusing, as you get the good > recording on the SD Card, but there is also a simplified (if you "save" it, > the "active log" is the same like the one on the SD card) trace on the > device's internal memory together with the custom way points. Both tracks do > have time stamp information if downloaded correctly (as gpx). > > cheers, > Martin > > _______________________________________________ > Talk-us mailing list > Talk-us@openstreetmap.org > https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-us > -- Martijn van Exel http://oegeo.wordpress.com/ http://openstreetmap.us/ _______________________________________________ Talk-us mailing list Talk-us@openstreetmap.org https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-us