GPS Navigation

GPS – BEACON Guides give a list of key waypoints for GPS users (generally to 8 figures, i.e. 10 metre resolution) and the map is designed to be easily used with hand held GPS units – unique National Grid references with a two letter prefix are used. Given a suitable map, a good GPS receiver can be a very useful supplement to mountain navigation and make a map even more useful but should never be used as the only means of navigation at the expense of conventional map reading and compass skills. Check the batteries are fresh and take a spare set (or two). Lithium cells make good (but expensive) back-ups because they have a high capacity, long life, and work well at low temperatures.

Ideally store key route waypoints into your GPS (from your Beacon guide-map for example) before you set out. Waypoints may be entered into the GPS manually or via a computer using a suitable interface cable and software.

At the start of a walk check that the position report from your GPS receiver agrees with your known position, then at suitable points during the walk use the GPS to confirm your position on the map. If you are using stored GPS waypoints follow the ground (or path) between the waypoints, i.e. don’t expect to walk in a straight line, point to point. Become familiar with the operation of your GPS before using it in a serious situation. See the Mountain Navigation pages for more information.
Garmin is most famous handheld GPS that availabe, from eTrex family, to their newest handheld gps product Garmin GPSMAP 76 CSX and GPSMAP 60 CSX.
Magellan is good too. Magellan Explorist offer so many model from Explorist 100 to 600 and their other model for Meridian and Sportrak.