Posted: 1/12/2008 6:18:13 AM EDT
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If you are going to be running convoy security in Iraq what hand held GPS would you guys recommend if any? Semper Fi |
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Understand and thanks for the info on DAGR/BFT + being inside his vehicle. As a Marine it kills me that I'm too old for them to let me go and fight beside him. I'm frickin reduced to trying to be sure he has every single piece of gear I can think of that might help him. He's becoming a "gear queer" thru no fault of his own LOL. L/Cpl Rocketman Jr will be with a USMC Combat Logistics Battalion - Security Company, and will probably spend most of his time in an up armored humvee as a gunner/driver/dismount. |
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If you are only interested in storing waypoints, tracklogs and creating routes a simple garmin etrex is a good idea for the first time user. I started with an etrex then upgraded to a Rhino 220. The Rhino comes with a base map, you can pan the map screen, has a hand held radio, and a few other fu-fu items. I believe the rhino allows you to store more way points, track logs and routes. The rhino also has many waypoints(towns/cities) ready for you to "go to" I only use mine to keep from getting lost in the woods. I hope this info helps. |
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No Go on the Rhino. we are in Iraq now and were told numerous times any thing with a transmitter isn't allowed out of the wire. it won't work as a radio any ways due to some safety devices now in service. Any of the basic Garmins work great. They do have mapping software for the middle east available but its way expensive and unnecessary. maybe go the extra mile and get the antenna so it can be used in a vehicle |
funny, my dad says the same  -Roth |
By the way my sincere thanks for all of the info you have sent about Camp Fallujah etc. I passed it along. I'm sure my son will look you up if you are still there when he gets in country. Semper Fi |
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Rocketman: If you go with a Garmin eTrex, let me know. I wrote a period of instruction in its use for my PSD team a few years ago after my shift leader noted that I was actually using the features it offers. It's in powerpoint, and I'd be glad to share, especially with a Marine. SL: "Dude, how did you figure out how to do all that?" Me: "RTFM!" SL: "You're giving a class." Me: "F*(#!"
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| I use a Garmin Etrex. I know a few other guys that use them as well. I mainly use it for Grid Coordinates, Built in Compass and tracking travel distances. I'm a little weary of marking waypoints on it in case I lose it and who knows might find it. But it has a lot of features for such a simple to use unit. It's really durable and the battery life is good. |
| I was a convoy commander in a Transportation unit in Iraq in 04-'05. I used a Garmin Etrex. It was one of the best pieces of equipment that I had. If you put it on the "dash" it would usually still acquire satellites. It was simple and did what I needed it to do. (Waypoints, routes, and position in MGRS ...even used it a speedometer a few times) I'm sure that the newer models are even better. |
| Hey folks let me ask what you would actually use the etrex for? I am al into having gadgets but what is the practical use of it for an Infantryman? I have a Magellan explorist 500 that rocks so I could take it with me if I could see a purpose for it in light of the use of Blue Force tracker |
The blue force tracker is great for most of what the e-trex can do. We had "MTS" which predated the blue force tracker. I found the e-trex handier at times and at other times it was a "backup system". Sometimes the soldier on the MTS was busy doing something else with it and I needed info to relay via radio. I could get the info. without disrupting what the guy on the MTS was doing. We had our MTS antenna take a round one time and it went off line. The E-trex still worked. The E-trex also comes in handy if you are away from your vehicle and need to call in your position for CASEVAC or QRF. The e-trex also allowed me to monitor the driver's speed surreptitiously. (Some drivers just want to drive too fast and have to be reminded  )
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testedone good question, My initial thought was that a GPS and maybe even a Sat Phone might come in handy in the admittedly very very remote chance that he was separated from his unit/humvee or if his Blue Force Tracker was damaged etc and he needed to direct a relief effort. I would want his silly ass to be rescued because I'm planning to whup said silly ass when he returns for volunteering for this CLB Security Company mission. (assuming that ass is in one piece when he returns of course.....) Actually all of that is Marine dad talk for "I'm very proud and honored to be his father" but concerned and a bit frustrated that I can't help. (Other than offer to throw gear at every potential threat I can dream up of course.) The GPS is a relatively cheap way to make the old man sleep better so he may get one of those whether he wants it or not. The Sat Phone probably won't happen unless he tells me he needs it after gets in country. Sincere thanks for all of the input. Semper Fi |
I wish my dad was willing to throw gear at me...for now I have to be my own gear queer Good to see support such as yours! |
Yea he's way ahead so far. Tactical Taylor mag pouches and dump pouch with some drop pannels, Hatch CQB gloves, some Tactical Tourniquet's from TacMed, Surefire light, Gear Sector slings, BUIS, Benchmade folder, even some PMAGS if I can get 10 of em in his seabag without him knowing about it LOL |
My wife and I have 6 acres of grass to mow and 4 horses with no kids at home to help. You might want to reconsider. I think that's why L/Cpl Rocketman Jr volunteered for Iraq. In the mean time I'll be sending you the allotment paperwork so you can send your checks home to dear old dad..... Stay safe Gents |
I'll be taking you up on that offer if that's the way we roll. Thanks!! |
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If you have the time and want to take the effort make contact with the National Geospatial Intel Agency. They made up some CDs for me that have maps that I can download to my etrex and maps that I can use on my laptop called GeoPDFs. You can link the etrex to the computer and display your location on very detailed maps of the AOR on your laptop. Since it is gov software it is free to mil units. And NGA has always been very willing to help and get more info out to the troops. |
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Garmin 76S works well, has external antenna connection with a small puck magnetic antenna so you can run it out side the vehicle and attach to the armor. There's also a vehicle mount for them. If you got a laptop with falcon view it will work real nice as a moving map with Imagery from whereever you're at. You can also get Iraq maps for it. The unit I deployed with in 2005 we had about 100 of them. The color version is nicer if you can afford it. It also is small enough to use dismounted as a hand held. |