Cheapest GPS for grid refs

[Newhythebirder]

Hi, apologies if this is something covered before. I am looking for a GPS that is simple to use and gives 6 fig OS Grid Refs. I had a look on ebay and I am bewildered by the range. I am probably looking at something second-hand as my budget is only c£30. Is this realistic. I read the thread below about the Garmin and it seems hellishly complicated....is it??!!

[Hobjob]

Originally Posted by Newhythebirder

Hi, apologies if this is something covered before. I am looking for a GPS that is simple to use and gives 6 fig OS Grid Refs. I had a look on ebay and I am bewildered by the range. I am probably looking at something second-hand as my budget is only c£30. Is this realistic. I read the thread below about the Garmin and it seems hellishly complicated....is it??!!

I think all the small garmins will do this for you, but
like all things techy there is a learning curve.

Small external GPS receivers that plug into PDAs or
Lapttops usually only give Lat Long (decimal usually),
but are usually used fo Sat Nav, rather than OS.

I know that my techy son has had his PDA working with Anquet
1:50,000 maps OS (the pink ones) giving accurate positoning.

Converting them to OS used not to be that easy, though
I downloaded an excel conversion sheet that had added
functions in it from Bangor Uni (I think!). This was 4-5 years
ago though.

There are some excellent GPS fora about though, and if no one
comes up with anything better than have a trawl through them.

[seamusagleann]

hi there ,i have a garmin etrek and i find it easy enough to operate . you can also toggle between OS six figure grid refrences or lat/long as the need arises.mine was supplied by the forestry commission and we even had a one day course on how to use it , which was really good . it's compatible with memory map too. all in all i would say a good intro into gps

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by seamusagleann

hi there ,i have a garmin etrek and i find it easy enough to operate . you can also toggle between OS six figure grid refrences or lat/long as the need arises.mine was supplied by the forestry commission and we even had a one day course on how to use it , which was really good . it's compatible with memory map too. all in all i would say a good intro into gps

I really would echo everything you say. I would be reluctant to use any GPS without some mapping like Memory Map, and Garmin needs (or did till recently) a serial post and it don't like USB without an adapter.

Can you be more detailed about what you want to do, as that can have a lot of relevance as to how it can be used.

[seamusagleann]

all adapters can be purchased from garmin direct , i got the usb /serial bus adapter supplied but had to buy the gps to serial bus ,cost about £20 but well worth it to see the results. maybe worthwhile to see if local authority will do a gps course as part of a vocational module