Quote:
Originally Posted by CSB
As in so many other procurement decisions (including governmental):
Do you want:
1 - The lowest priced unit that meets your minimum specifications, or;
2 - The best possible unit you can buy for a fixed number of dollars?
Minimum specifications would include:
a) No less than 12 channel/all satellites in view capability.
b) WAAS
c) 500 waypoints / 10 routes
etc.
and then add:
High sensitivity receiver (active antenna)
Color display (of increasing numbers of pixels/resolution).
Size of display (bigger is definately better).
Cable and Software for map / image / waypoint upload/download. preferably a generic USB plug/port rather that a proprietary cable or RS-232 that may not directly interface with legacy laptop computers.
External Memory (typically an SD chip).
Waterproof / Floating.
and then add:
Glonass (Russian) satellite capability. Maybe Gallieo if the EU gets its act together.
Differential GPS capability (secondary receiver) / post-processing capability.
Firmware upgrades.
and so on.
Bare minimum might be a $99 Garmin Etrex, while upper echelon receivers with disks and subscriptions for updates can exceed $600.
|
Good points you brought up there CSB..let me do some research and get back to you..cheers