Hi,

Just spent a (quite a) few happy hours learning a bit about GPS and making my brain hurt. I have a few questions that you people might be able to help me with. I'm looking for a handheld unit that can be mounted to the bike because I would like to carry it with me if I go off hiking or whatever and I don't want to carry a supercomputer. I haven't used a GPS in anger before so consider me a total novice...

Do all GPS provide altitude? Some seem to mention it as a feature linked to an inbuilt barometer but I'm guessing that this just provides a more accurate reading?

Are the barometer features useful? It would seem so to me because it would allow some short-term weather forecasting that could avert misery. Altimiters and barometers are available in watches so perhaps that is the way to go?

Some have digital compasses. How important is that? It doesn't feel very essential to me given that you have to carry a compass anyway?

I was originally quite taken with the Garmin Etrex units but I have read quite a few bad reports of reliability and robustness (and company attitude towards it) so I looked further afield. The Magellan Meridian's (especially the Platinum)look good, and sturdy, but has anyone really given one a hard life, there doesn't seem to be much in the way of comments on Magellan?

The Silva multi navigator looks good too in that it seems to have all the features you could want but keeps the package simple e.g. no colours or icons or fancy mapping. I like this 'tool for the job' approach but has anone out there tried one? are they easy to use or have they gone too far in the quest for simplicity.

I have begun to get a bit suckered by the mapping features. I know they will be useless for the remote regions I am planning to visit but do they become really useful when you approach civilisation e.g locating embassies etc or are they a complete waste of money? If they are useful then the Magellan looks top banana because it takes SD cards so you don't run out of memory. BTW, I don't plan on taking a laptop, just a PDA and a mobile phone.

I guess my shortlist if I went for all the above features would be

Magellan Meridian Platinum (expensive)
Garmin 76S (even more expensive)
Silva Multi Navigator (don't know the price yet)

If the voice of experience says 'forget the barometer, compass and mapping' then I guess ther are plenty of other cheaper (but still robust) units that do the job?

Thanks Andy.