A “SIRF” Geko replcaement?!

I have a Foretrex 101 that I dearly love. It does have a few shortcomings (modest sensitivity, no USB interface) but more than makes up for them with its very small size and very light weight. It also uses AAA batteries (including Li batts)that I can multi-purpose with my headlamp. I typically don't use the wrist strap, but I just carry it in a hip belt pocket. I use the battery-save mode and only get it out and turn it on when I need to check my position on my paper map (UTM coords.) It actually has decent sensitivity (better than my Magellan Meridian color that weighs about a ton and is huge!)

This new Foretrex 301 sounds almost perfect to me. If I didn't already have a perfectly serviceable GPS I'd buy this one in a heartbeat. The 401 sounds a little gimmicky for me, but others may find the extra gizmos and functions useful. It seems to me that the Foretex 301 may be the "go-to" GPS for UL.

Looks great!

AFAIK, Garmin has not used SiRF technology since SiRF Technology Inc. starting having problems. They were eventually bought out by another company, but I haven't seen any SiRF garmin units since the SiRF Star III chipset.

FWIW, Garmin also touts the forerunner series as having high sensitivity receivers, and they are smaller than the forex (my forerunner 405 is a watch form factor). They are not SiRF equipped.

Whatever they are called, according to the specs they are high sensitivity models.

as the SiRF chipsets are, at least by some, considered the best consumer-level high sensitivity gps chips. So, if they were SiRF, it would be notable beyond being "high sensitivity".

Ah, ok, that's interesting. The standard Garmin H level sensitivity is probably enough for me though.

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Prices are up on Garmin's site.
301 – $199
401 – $249

That is a little more than I was hoping, but give it a short amount of time, and I am guessing we will be able to find these a little cheaper. Still I'm glad that the small simple GPS unit has not been totally ignored. Another plus, the USB cable is in the box. I didn't get that with my Geko.

So – I have a GPS 76CS with quadrifilar internal antenna which 1 dude from REI swears is as good as the high sensitivity in the GPS 76CSx or Oregon 500 (which I am currently looking at buying to upgrade). WA and BC have equally amazing heavy tree cover and I want to figure out the best unit for satellite connectivity as my 76CS constantly loses the signal. Any thoughts? Therese

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