Which GPS Dakota 20 or Oregon 300

Discussion about software such as GSAK, OziExplorer etc, as well as all things hardware, GPSrs, laptops, PDAs, paperless caching, cables etc
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which unit

Dakota 20
7
44%
Oregon 300
7
44%
other?
2
13%
 
Total votes: 16

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mtrax
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Which GPS Dakota 20 or Oregon 300

Post by mtrax » 14 January 10 9:22 am

I'm starting to think I should go for an upgrade to make life simpler with paperless caching, and my current choices are the Garmin Dakota 20 or Oregon 300.

The main points seem to be these

300 / 20
1. Price ( $570 vs $410 )
2. Screen size (240 x 400 pixels vs 160 x 240 )
3. battery life (16hrs vs 20hrs)

I'm pretty much thinking the Dakota 20 is the best value .

you thoughts?

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Map Monkey
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Re: Which GPS Dakota 20 or Oregon 300

Post by Map Monkey » 14 January 10 1:18 pm

4. Electronic compass (2-axis vs 3-axis)
5. Picture viewer / Background image (no vs yes)
6. Large fingers compatible (yes vs not ideal)
7. Moving map through PC programs (yes vs no)
8. WherIgo (yes vs no)

Hope that helps.

mm

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mtrax
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Re: Which GPS Dakota 20 or Oregon 300

Post by mtrax » 14 January 10 1:22 pm

Map Monkey wrote:4. Electronic compass (2-axis vs 3-axis)
5. Picture viewer / Background image (no vs yes)
6. Large finger compatible (yes vs not ideal)
7. Moving map through PC programs (yes vs no)
8. WherIgo (yes vs no)

mm
how large do you fingers need to be? :)
what does#7 mean? is that like a tethered connection to the PC?
thanks

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Map Monkey
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Re: Which GPS Dakota 20 or Oregon 300

Post by Map Monkey » 14 January 10 1:54 pm

Large finger compatible means that the same information eg alphanumeric keypads when typing etc are crammed into a smaller screen resolution. Whilst the width of the keypad might be very similiar, the height of the keys are noticably smaller on the Dakota. See the section on Screen at the following link: http://www.gpsfix.net/gamin-dakota-20-f ... pressions/ . I have found that it can be frustrating sometimes as one tends to hit the incorrect letter. ](*,)


YMMV

The Dakota doesn't transmit data out either in NMEA0183 format or using Spanner mode. [-( There is no means of running "moving map" concepts on Programs such as Oziexplorer. If you don't use a laptop etc to display the location data from your GPSr whilst moving, then it should be of little concern. :P

For what it's worth, i believe that the Dakota is still a better choice IF you don't need some minor features which are missing and can handle a smaller screen size.

Hope that helps

mm

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Derringer
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Re: Which GPS Dakota 20 or Oregon 300

Post by Derringer » 14 January 10 2:33 pm

4. Electronic compass (2-axis vs 3-axis)
The Dakota 20 is a 3 axis Electronic compass.


The Dakota 20 is smaller than the Oregon 300 and is not suited to in car use.

IMO an ideal handheld GPS.

Kevin

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caughtatwork
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Re: Which GPS Dakota 20 or Oregon 300

Post by caughtatwork » 18 January 10 11:27 am

Johnny Appleseed has the Oregon 300 for $329
http://www.ja-gps.com.au/Garmin/handheld-oregon-300/

The Dakota 20 for $410
http://www.ja-gps.com.au/Garmin/handheld-dakota-20-gps/

I'm also looking to buy to replace my etrex yellow which has served me well.

I like the bigger screen on the 300, but I like the 3-axis compass on the Dakota 20.

How painful is the 2-axis compass? Really.

I don't care about NMEA or Whereigo, but ability to find a cache without having to hold the damn thing perfectly parallel to the ground could be a problem.

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mtrax
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Re: Which GPS Dakota 20 or Oregon 300

Post by mtrax » 18 January 10 12:23 pm

bought from Wiggle $395 including shipping,
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Garmi ... 360045258/

on the down side have to wait a week for shipping to Aust.

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Geodes
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Re: Which GPS Dakota 20 or Oregon 300

Post by Geodes » 18 January 10 12:26 pm

caughtatwork wrote: I don't care about NMEA or Whereigo, but ability to find a cache without having to hold the damn thing perfectly parallel to the ground could be a problem.
It doesn't have to be perfectly parallel to the ground. I don't recalibrate mine very often - maybe sometime during every other caching trip - usually in a situation where there's overhead cover and it starts complaining to hold it level and it seems to be having trouble giving a consistent pointer to GZ. It only takes a few seconds and the Dakota compass would require periodic recalibration too.

For what it's worth, I think the $329 for the 300 makes it a bit of a steal and, if I was going to spend more for additional functionality, I'd favour the camera in the 550 (which I think has the 3-axis compass anyway). Since getting the Oregon, I find I tend to just take it when I leave the car (whereas I used to grab my backpack with my pda, camera, waterbottle and lots of other stuff in it) and, when I get to GZ, I've wished I had my camera with me on a number of occasions (and, sometimes, my waterbottle too 8-[ ).

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