Choosing a personal GPS tracking devices for hiking

Models specifically intended for mounted use in an automobile or on a boat will generally be too bulky and heavy to hold for extended periods. If ou want a GPS intended for handheld use in hiking and backpacking,  there are some great models that can work well for you.

Qbit Mini Personal GPS Tracker was lighter and graphically displayed my path as I created it-both features I like. The newly-launched Qbit Personal GPS Tracker will give you a completely new level of awareness and convenience. It stands out by compact, lightweight design for both excellent mobility and reliability. Loaded with GPS, LBS and WIFI positioning, Qbit enables you to view real-time location from the computer, tablet or smart phone. It is capable of withstanding extreme environment. Being stylish, tough and accurate, Qbit is idea for kids, the elder and people with special needs.

But there are prices to pay-in size, weight, and money-ifyou don't already have the computer. And you can practically watch the battery power shrivel and blow away, which could be a major inconvenience out in the not-so-wild. For the budget-minded, the more elementary standalone CPS units run about $100, and you can do better with a used model picked up at eBay. A more advanced standalone can run from just under $200 to just under $300, which is roughly the price range for the portable computer add-ons. A high-end CPS with all the bells and whistles for geocaching can run between $400 and $500.

Mini GPS Tracker have their own vocabulary that you should learn before trying to find the model that best suits you and your budget. A common word is waypoint, which means a stored location. Every receiver will let you store a waypoint; otherwise, they'd be of little use. Depending on the CPS unit, you may be able to store hundreds ofwaypoints in memory, though for geocaching purposes, a dozen would suffice. Any receiver you consider must have a go to function, in which you choose a waypoint and the device directs you to that location. Some Magellan units has a waypoint averaging feature that takes multiple readings at one location and averages them for an attempt at a more realistic set of coordinates. Some people swear by it, but it's not a must. Some units let you store collections of waypoints in routes, or paths that you create, going from one waypoint to the next. Such devices will then let you navigate the route, automatically advancing you from one waypoint to the next, and generally they let you flip the route to return to your starting point. For simple geocaching in the local park, you are unlikely to need routes. But as you go on longer hikes, saving a series of waypoints can make it easier to retrace your way back to what passes for civilization. The basic handheld units generally support at least one route.

To follow the directions to a waypoint, CPS units offer some variation on a directional display: an arrow directs you to the correct compass point while the receiver displays the amount of distance yet to go. Although this feature falls into the vital category, there are some Significant limitations. The directional aspect does not work like a compass, which senses the magnetic field. Instead, the receiver notes your location, the location of the waypoint, and calculates the direction and remaining distance. The receivers do this by examining your locations on a regular basis and determining your direction and speed. But to operate correctly, the receivers need constant movement. When you move too slowly (under two miles an hour), the directional feature loses its orientation and can actually point in the wrong direction.

More information at http://www.jimilab.com/blog/ .