Group Test: Hand held GPS for low prices.

Hand held GPS sets may be used as a back-up for a fixed on-board GPS or as the sole GPS for smaller craft or outdoor pursuits.

In their simplest form they give position, speed over ground course over ground and some form of steering instruction to a position you have chosen. They also give a 'map' of the 'trail' you have followed and allow you to backtrack this trail. Although they all have a compass-like display, they are not a magnetic compass. They measure direction by calculating the direction between successive fixes. Unless you are moving they can't show direction.

The Garmin etrex and the Lowrance ifinder Go are WAAS enabled. This means that in an area where there is differential satellite coverage (EGNOS in Europe) potential accuracy is better than 10 metres.

We had hoped to include 4 small sets in this test, but unfortunately the Magellan Sport Track was not available.

GARMIN GEKO 101 - £84.95

This is a very small 12 channel, mobile phone sized, waterproof unit with a potential accuracy of 15 metres. The display is 4 cm high x 2.5 cm wide and the keyboard is minimalist, consisting of a power switch, a page, button, an enter (OK) button and two scroll buttons. Using the OK button brings up a menue specific to the page in use. Despite this, the set passed my standard test in that I didn't need to open the hand book to access the basic functions. Routes cannot be constructed, so you can go to only one point at a time. The screen may be back-lit as required.

Power is provided by two AAA size batteries which are claimed to last 12 hours in power save mode. The battery state is displayed on every page. Powering from an external source is not possible, neither can a data cable be connected.

satellite display page:

This indicates that satellites are being acquired and then tells you when the Geko is ready to navigate. After the initial 'from the box' 'cold start' this took around 45 seconds. The display is pretty basic, not showing a sky view, but it does its job.

map page:

This is not a map page that can display published maps. What it does, is display your waypoints and marks on the screen in their correct relative position. The 'scale' of the map can be changed from 80 ft = 1 cm to 800 miles = 1 cm. This page also shows where you are relative to any mark/waypoint and the direction you are moving. As you move, shown by the icon of a person walking, you lay down a trial on the 'map'. This trail can be followed to return you to where you started from (or any point on the trail) by using 'TrackBack. The 'map' can be viewed 'north up' or 'ahead' up, in which case you are always moving towards the top of the screen.

navigation page:

Once you are moving, the 'compass rose' aligns with magnetic north and your speed over the ground is shown in a box at the bottom of the screen. If you have started to navigate, the large arrow shows you the direction to proceed.

menu page:

This allows you to set up marks, waypoints, adjust time zones and display units, and set up the GPS system. Entering Latitude and longitude without a numeric keypad is always going to be a chore, but the Geko is no worse than most. Waypoints can be named and an icon attached. Waypoints can also be defined as a distance and bearing from a point, a useful attribute.

VERDICT: This is a very simple set and is easy to use. If you are looking for a very small GPS, then consider this one, but for just a small increase in cost you can buy a much more versatile unit.

GARMIN etrex - £99.95

Not a lot bigger than the Geko 101, the etrex has more functionality and a much bigger screen, measuring 5.6 cm high x 3.1 cm wide and is waterproof. Being WAAS enabled, it has a potential accuracy of 3 metres. Initially I thought that having the same 5 keys as the Geko, but mounted on the two sides of the unit would make it more difficult to operate, however, after a few minutes I found it very easy. In fact at night it's actually easier to use! (PHOTOS 5515 & 5516) The etrex uses the same 4 screens as the Geko, but has an additional 'trip computer' screen as well. The screen may be back-lit as required.

Power is provided by two AA batteries, giving about 16 hours use, but it can also be powered via a 12 volt cigarette lighter adaptor. Also available is a PC/power/data cable. Data uses NMEA 0183 v 3.0 and Garmin Proprietary sentences and can be passed in both directions. Surprisingly battery sate is shown only on the Menu Page.

Satellite display page:

As well as the simplified display of the Geko, the etrex can also be set to show a satellite sky view. Hot start acquisition is about 45 seconds.

map page:

This works in the same fashion as the Geko, but surprisingly the largest scale is only 200 ft = 1cm instead of 80ft of the Geko. With the potential accuracy of WAAS, this seems strange and returning to your starting point is not as precise.

navigation page:

This is very similar to the Geko, but also gives time to go.

trip computer page:

This page gives tip distance, maximum speed, moving average speed, time moving and time stopped.

menu page:

This is just like the Geko's, but with the addition of the ability to set up routes. Also available from this page is sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset and moon phase times. These are the major differences between the Geko and the etrex.

Up to 20 routes with a maximum of 125 waypoints each, can be constructed, by linking pre-defined waypoints together. Once constructed the distance between waypoints can be displayed, but not direction, so checking the safety of the route isn't possible. Routes can be loaded from a PC using the optional Garmin MapSource.

VERDICT: Unless the small size of the Geko is important to you, the greeater flexibility and much larger screen of the Etrex is worth the extra £15 on the price.

LOWRANCE iFINDER GO - ££89.95

This waterproof set is WAAS enabled and has 16 channels. The display is 'squarer' than the others at 4.3 cm x 3.2 cm There are 9 keys, one of which is a four-way pad. Once again this set passed my 'no handbook' test. At switch on, the time zone is automatically selected once the position has been acquired. The paper handbook covers the 'simple operation' only, the instructions for 'advanced use' being found on the CD supplied, which refused to open on either of my computers. Fortunately it's also available on Lowrance's website.

Power is supplied from two x AA batteries giving 48 hours of use and external power and NMEA data cables may be connected. There are 5 pages and the menus are page sensitive. Each item on the menu is accompanied by a dropdown box telling you what each item does, rather like a windows PC and a second press of the menu key will bring up a second level menu.. The screen is very clear and there are two levels of backlight.

satellite status page:

This is the standard sky view. This is the only page that shows battery state.

map page:

Range rings can be shown on this page and the scale ranges from 0.02M to 3000M. If you're off to the USA, theres even roadmaps, but their use does slow the machine down. Trails can be laid and followed navigation (compass) page:

This display is much more like a 'fixed' GPS set having cross-track error guidance as well. Up to 100 routes, each containing up to 100 waypoints can be constructed, using the 'find' key. Distance and bearings of each leg of the route are displayed and waypoints can be named if required.

position page:

As well as giving position, this page has 6 user definable boxes.

There's no doubt in my mid that for £89.99 this GPS is a snip. A gem of a handheld. It has great screen clarity, flexibility, operating system and uses minimal battery.

	Pat Manley

Pat is an Associate Fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation and has been sailing dinghies since 1959 and cruising yachts since 1984. He is a Yachtmaster Instructor (sail) and Yachtmaster (power) is the principal of 1 to 1 Navigation and sails a Westerly Oceanquest 35. A member of the Yachting Journalists Association, he is a regular contributor to Practical Boat Owner Magazine, he also writes for Fernhurst Books who have published his Diesel Companion, Electrics Companion and Radar Companion. Just published is his new hardback book, Small Boat Maintenance. www.1to1navigation.co.uk