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GPS for lovers of the great outdoors

GPS - handheld GPS for walkers and ramblers

Hand-held GPS devices are growing in popularity with walkers and ramblers – and the best news is you can now get them for free, writes Andrew Stucken

For many, GPS (Global Satellite Positioning) equals Sat-Navs, but GPS itself has a narrower meaning. Sat-Nav, or Satellite Navigation, uses GPS to monitor the vehicle’s position.

Mobile phone manufacturers are now producing handsets with a built-in GPS facility – and some retailers are now offering the handsets free on signing airtime contracts.

Even for those not blessed with such an advanced mobile phone, hand-held devices can be found at bargain prices.

GPS takes advantage of a constellation of satellites originally developed by the US military. Signals sent from space enable GPS devices to determine users’ location, speed and direction.

For some fans of the Great Outdoors, the idea of using hi-tech devices on away-from-it all rural trips will be abhorrent. And many will anyway prefer to rely on their own skills using a compass and an OS map.

But if you decide to invest in one of these newfangled electro super- compasses, which model to plump for?

Garmin and Magellan eXplorist are the major hand-held GPS brands. Falling prices and cut-throat price competition from online discounters mean basic devices are incredibly cheap. I have seen one model, a Garmin eTrex, advertised online for just £14.99 (plus postage and packing). Where you buy can be as important if not more important than what you buy, when seeking value for money.

Beware that some cheaper models provide co-ordinates only - users still require a paper map. To ditch the paper completely and use on- screen maps you can expect to pay upwards of £100. You get what you pay for, and the most expensive brands available on the high street cost upwards of £300. A feature-laden eXplorist XL costs around £320, for example.

Some simple measures to protect your investment are wise. Basic household re-sealable freezer bags are good for basic waterproofing of all manner of electronic gizmos, GPS devices included. A silica gel sachet will help to absorb moisture – but do bear in mind the contents are toxic and dispose of them safely.

For a more durable solution, UK companies such as OverBoard and Aquapac manufacture much tougher, 100 per cent waterproof cases from about £15 upwards.

Major high street Sat-Nav retailers tend to stock a limited hand-held GPS range, while a plethora of online stores exist. Similarly, good mobile phone retailers should have a limited selection of GPS-enabled phones.

GPS batteries meanwhile tend to be built-in and rechargeable, and prone to running out at inconvenient times. Portable chargers are available, whether wind-up, battery powered or solar. In-car chargers are another option for those in range of their vehicles.

And it is worth remembering that any fragile and expensive electronic equipment, taken into a rugged environment, is subject to all kinds of hazards.

But for those who feel they need it, GPS can provide an inexpensive boost to outdoor confidence and security.

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