I need recommendations for a handheld GPS unit for mapping. Accuracy needs to be +-10??. Ease of use and generation of useful data are important. Anyone have a recommendation?
Why Stacy?
Please describe what you want to do. These days you can get +/- 1' without stepping on the property using internet and a computer. I would say the equipment I have to do +/- 10' is at least 25 years old.
Paul in PA
A soil scientist friend is the one in need. He needs to map soil borings
Soil borings is where I last saw a professional doing that accuracy more than 15 years ago. Kids do better than that geocaching. There is so much available today my mind is too old to even think about how many ways to do it. If I had to buy something I would start at Cabelas. Better yet, Forestry Supply.
Paul in PA
I would use my phone, take a picture with location turned on and you have your lat, long and a picture, if you have a little white board write on it a description of the dig and lay it down or prop it up for the pic.?ÿ
@mightymoe has the answer; there's a?ÿplethora?ÿof apps out there that will do what you want, mostly for free.
The biggest problem seems to be extracting coordinates of his points as an ASCII file to be used in CAD. Is there an APP for that? I'm pretty sure he uses an Iphone.?ÿ
If you use a Garmin, then DNRGPS, available here for free https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/mis/gis/DNRGPS/DNRGPS.html ?ÿ will extract your data in a variety of formats including text, shp, Google maps. etc. It also has a library of .prj files that will convert the lat/lon data to hundreds of different flat map formats, including state plane, and you can create and use your own custom .prj files.
Also, ExpertGPS will do the same and let you produce a map on OpenStreetMap or your own custom photo. It does state plane but does not allow custom projections in general. I think it's about $80 a year.
To me, the big problem with Garmin is labeling the points when a waypoint is recorded. If you have more than a few, the time cost is significant.
Lots of options; it's hard to go wrong.
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@paul-in-pa No you can't get 1' accuracy from online maps... to a point that doesn't exist on the map.
@mightymoe Phone won't get you 10' accuracy even in open areas. It's more like 5 to 10m accuracy.?ÿ ?ÿThere's sub meter GIS grade handheld units that can tie into VRS base stations for RTK.
I've recently been looking for the same thing for the same purpose. Phone doesn't cut it in canopy.
Best option I've found so far with ability to post process is Garmin 66 and Bad Elf GNSS surveyor.
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Not a Surveyor, but I play the Garmin / Mapping Grade Game for a living.?ÿ If "accuracy" is the driving option with a way to tag a waypoint (soil boring locations are points), then average for 30-60 seconds with a Garmin Map76/62/64/66 series (oldies, but goodies), for eBay prices hovering around $300.?ÿ Use DNRGPS if you need to tie to NAD83, knowing it uses the equivalent of WGS84_To_NAD83_5 (epoch 1997), and your in around 3 meters or better in open, out to 10 under canopy. Peruse accuracy for this line of receivers by downloading the excel file(and loading into a Pivot table) from this GOTO site for unbiased accuracy comparisons from USFS?ÿ https://www.fs.fed.us/database/gps/mtdcre?ÿ?ÿpt/accuracy/index.htm ?ÿ You will quickly find how the "recreational to mapping grade" gps comparisons under various canopies if that is a concern.?ÿ An older Garmin coupled with DNRGPS (setting projection first) is a bomber solution for simple integration (shp,csv,kml - no CAD output though).
Link got split and attempts to put it together on my phone failed
Self redacted.?ÿ I'm working on just being more quiet, which is more valuable. Carry on.
