Garmin's affordable entry level GPS unit tested.
Garmin Geko 201 GPS
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Price:
£80
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Weight:
88g including batteries
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Features:
The Geko 201 is the next step up from the 101, but with
a minimal extra outlay. The addition of routes support and management
tools, linked with a PC interface, make the 201 an ideal entry level
receiver. Full spec below.
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What's It
For?
A GPS receiver uses satellite technology to pinpoint your
location anywhere on the planet and give your position quickly and
accurately to assist in navigation. The Geko 201 is an entry level GPS
unit, but more sophisticated than the 101 in that it can be connected
to a PC and transfer routes data either way.
The Techy
Bits
When it comes to GPS there's no shortage of techy specifications, but
in practise there's really only a few that matter. Once you've got a
fix to the satellites accuracy is pretty much the same for any receiver
and they're all shipped with the datum and grid sets for UK use. The
bits that really matter for the average user are weight, storage
capacity for routes and waymarks and battery life.
Full Specification
Waypoints: 500 with name and graphic icon
Routes: 20 reversible x 125 legs/route
Tracks: 10,000 trackpoints and 20 saved tracks; automatic track log;
TracBack lets you retrace your path
Trip odometer: Current speed, average speed, time of sunrise/sunset,
resetable maximum speed, trip timer, and trip distance,configurable
trip computer screen
Position format: Lat/Lon, UTM/UPS, OSGB and other grids
Receiver: WAAS-enabled, differential-ready, 12 parallel channel GPS
receiver
Acquisition times:
Warm: Approximately 15 seconds
Cold: Approximately 45 seconds
Update rate: 1/second, continuous
Power Source: 2 ìAAAî batteries (not included)
Battery life: Up to 12 hours
Size: 1.9"x3.9"x96" D (4.83 x 9.91 x 2.44 cm)
Weight: 3.1oz with batteries (88 g), 2.3oz without batteries
Display: .92"x 1.44"(2.33 x 3.65 cm), 64 x 100 pixel, high-contrast,
bright LED backlighting
Case: Waterproof to IEC 529 IPX7 standards
Temperature range: -15∫C to 70∫C
Interfaces: RS232 with NMEA 0183, RTCM 104 DGPS data format and
proprietary Garmin
How It
Performs
The Geko 201 was released shortly after the 101, and dealt
with most of the shortcomings of its little brother. Like other older
receivers there are still problems when something obstructs a clear
view of the sky, but once you have a good fix the 201 makes an ideal
entry level GPS.
Where the 101 is best left for emergency use, the 201's added support
for routes and import/export opens up whole new areas for use. Instead
of losing your data as old waypoints and tracks are replaced by newer
ones, you can transfer the data to a PC for storage - freeing up space
for more on your receiver.
The routes can be exported to all the popular digital mapping programs,
so you can plan or review your trips onscreen on OS maps. As with the
Geko 101 the 201 is designed to be simple to operate in the field, and
rugged enough to cope with the odd British downpour. Weight and battery
life are identical to the 101's, and both fit neatly into even a gloved
hand.
Although the 201 has been superceded by more modern devices with more
features the 201 was a groundbreaking device that even years later
continues to offer an affordable entry into GPS, or an inexpensive
backup for emergency use.
Basic entry level GPS but suitable for more than just
emergency use with the capability of transferring data to and from a
PC. Receiver not as good as more modern units, but a good basic
starting unit in a rugged package.
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 Compact, cheap and PC
compatible and quite robust.
 Outperformed by more
modern units, needs unobstructed view of the sky.
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Know more or want to?
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product check out our user review system and post your opinions to
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