justal
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| posted on 6-12-2004 at 07:33 |
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Handheld GPS
I've added a handheld GPS to my Xmas list, has anyone here used one for windsurfing / kiting etc.
I won't be after one that is all singing and all dancing, but obviously it has to be waterprof and has to have good 'speed' recording
features.
So far the Garmin eTrex for about £85 looks pretty good and records current speed, average speed and max speed.
The Garmin GPS72 looks good as well, and has better accuracy than the eTrex and records trip distance, stopped time, moving average
speed, moving time, overall average speed, max speed... It's a bit more expensive though at around £125, but it does float which
could be useful!
Is there anything in particular I should look for, anyone know which would be best, and just HOW waterproof are they, the specs say
submersiable to 1m for 30 minutes... Do you guys that use them keep them in an aquapac whilst on the water??
Al.
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mNeil
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| posted on 6-12-2004 at 12:48 |
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if you are getting lost going from your house to the beach Al you could always try using a bread- crumb trail and that way you are
bound to find your way back and its far cheaper! or are you thinking of using a really really long board? but then you will need a
bigger van!
A KITE IS FOR LIFE!! THAT IS IF ITS A YARGA.
founder of storm'n Normans van club!
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justal
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| posted on 6-12-2004 at 16:25 |
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A bit if string would do between my house and the beach! P
Al.
URL: Pixelwave Design - Website Design Wales
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Personal Weblog: A Simple Life of Luxury in West Wales
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Jonny
A Force-of-Nature **  
Member #: 394 Posts 308
Registered: 6-10-2003 Location: North West Member Is Offline Mood: waitin for the next blow!
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| posted on 6-12-2004 at 17:57 |
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Ive got a Garmin GPS 12 that I use for hang gliding. Its quite old now - about 6 years old that cost around £300 in its day. An
essential tool but I dont think its waterproof so no good for Windsufing unless I keep it in a plastic wallet. It has all the usual
facilities and the one I like is the searching facility where it finds the nearest petrol station, restuarant etc etc.
My dads got a Garmin Emap that is great, easy to use and can be used as a traffic master so you have no excuse to get lost trynna find
your destination.
A GPS would be a great present for u Al. You'l be playing with it whilst eating your xmas dinner
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mNeil
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| posted on 6-12-2004 at 18:26 |
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aha if its waterproof you want ,put it in one of those waterproof mobile phone bags; i've got one from when i used to have a boat. got
it in the van so have a look at it when i'm next up then it will be totaly waterproof and floats as well still just another gadget, and the peice oif string dont need batteries. C.C.
A KITE IS FOR LIFE!! THAT IS IF ITS A YARGA.
founder of storm'n Normans van club!
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bucski
A Force-of-Nature *** 
Member #: 275 Posts 622
Registered: 8-7-2003 Member Is Offline Mood: i'm never in a mood
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| posted on 6-12-2004 at 19:13 |
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neil a breadcrumb trail is a good idea in theory, but you are forgetting about all the seagulls which will munch away at the trail,
thereby leaving Al lost after his session.
I suggest unravelling the wool on an old jumper, which is far more bird proof.
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justal
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| posted on 6-12-2004 at 21:06 |
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We discussed this option the other day, but as I want it as a speedometer, I'd then have to wind the wool up, measure it and time how
long I was out on the water for, then divide the length of wool by the time on the water to get my average speed.... I'd also have to
add a few knots to my speed to account for the drag of the wool of course!
Al.
URL: Pixelwave Design - Website Design Wales
Shop: Website Templates
Personal Weblog: A Simple Life of Luxury in West Wales
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bucski
A Force-of-Nature ***
Member #: 275 Posts 622
Registered: 8-7-2003 Member Is Offline Mood: i'm never in a mood
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| posted on 6-12-2004 at 21:17 |
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ah, I see now, so we need some wool with a low drag resistance, and markers on it so you can calculate how long it is, I'll see if
there's anything like it on ebay.
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shawn
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Member #: 403 Posts 255
Registered: 15-10-2003 Member Is Offline Mood: Chilled
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| posted on 7-12-2004 at 16:09 |
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I think dental floss would work really well - it's super tough, floats, and comes on a handy little roller - u just need to mark it off
in 50cm sections and yer laughing..
Don't have a cow man!
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badexcuseforasailor
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| posted on 7-12-2004 at 21:23 |
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I was gonna post something but started watching Jonny's avator and fogot what I was gonna say :O
http://brogboroughlake.windsurf.me.uk/
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paul
A Force-of-Nature ** 
Member #: 5 Posts 445
Registered: 24-7-2002 Member Is Offline Mood: Well Chuffed
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| posted on 7-12-2004 at 21:48 |
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indeed, just had the same problem myself with that avatar !
Home Page
http://www.nationalwindsurfingweek.org
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bucski
A Force-of-Nature ***
Member #: 275 Posts 622
Registered: 8-7-2003 Member Is Offline Mood: i'm never in a mood
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| posted on 8-12-2004 at 00:03 |
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damn, I wish she wouldn't keep taking my camera and recording pictures of herself like that, must remember to tell her off next time
she comes home.
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AndyW
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| posted on 8-12-2004 at 11:38 |
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Can someone repeat what Jonny said 'cause I still haven't managed to read his entry ;-)
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justanna
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| posted on 8-12-2004 at 12:16 |
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Hi everyone,
thanks for your extremely constructive comments on and advice on GPS 
You've made my choice of what to get him a lot easier! 
I suppose I could just go with the dental floss....definately a lot cheaper than the Garmin eTrex and how fast can he go with a baby in
tow??! 
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paul
A Force-of-Nature **
Member #: 5 Posts 445
Registered: 24-7-2002 Member Is Offline Mood: Well Chuffed
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| posted on 8-12-2004 at 15:28 |
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what gps ? thought this was a thread about that avatar
[Edited on 8-12-2004 by paul]
Home Page
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mNeil
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| posted on 8-12-2004 at 15:50 |
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havn't we got on to tooth decay yet?
A KITE IS FOR LIFE!! THAT IS IF ITS A YARGA.
founder of storm'n Normans van club!
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markh
Hot shot 
Member #: 42 Posts 56
Registered: 15-8-2002 Location: London Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 13-12-2004 at 09:34 |
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Hey there al,
Just having a dip in to FON. I've been using a Garmin Forerunner quite a bit for my running training and it's got all the various
features you're looking for in a nicely contained wrist mounted unit. An alternative is the Foretrex which is more sailing orientated
and has less of the lap/pacing functions needed for running. I'd think the 201 version would be your model as you can download all the
data in XML format and make excellent graphs showing speed and so on.
If you get them from Tracklogs.co.uk you get a digital OS map thrown in. Alternatively another cheap online source (which I used) is
www.sportextreme.com
Someone over on the Boards forum did mention using it for windsurfing without an aquapac but I'd be a bit wary of that myself.
hth
Mark
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justal
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| posted on 31-12-2004 at 19:01 |
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Just ordered a Garmin Etrex. Had a look at the foretrex and forerunner, but they were more expensive and a bit difficult to put in an
aquapac whilst on your wrist... Also I thought it was more likely to get damaged whilst on my wrist rather than shoved inside my
wetsuit.
Hopefully it'll arrive sometime next week then I'll be able to see just how slow i'm actually going!! 
I've ordered an Aquapac for it as well...hopefully it'll fit inside a normal mobile phone aquapac.... Toys toys toys!
Al.
URL: Pixelwave Design - Website Design Wales
Shop: Website Templates
Personal Weblog: A Simple Life of Luxury in West Wales
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leonardo
A Force-of-Nature *** 
Member #: 634 Posts 613
Registered: 8-4-2004 Member Is Offline Mood: Chillin' ya bloodclot mahn
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| posted on 2-1-2005 at 15:18 |
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hey there Justal&justanna...only saw this post today..just thought i'd mention that when i was down in South Africa I spoke to a
dude at the SA Windsurfing championships who owned a Garmen Fortrex 201. He showed me what it could do and i was amazed, in fact its
something i will be buying sometime this year! I highly recommend it!
LEN10 LOOPING..
www.sskiteboarding.com
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Pixelwave Web Design.
justal@forces-of-nature.co.uk