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Setting up the GPS III Plus involved nothing more than inserting four AA batteries, turning it on, and running through an initialization process. The unit needs to find its approximate location to gain a first fix, so we simply clicked on "Seattle, Washington," using the unit's built-in initialization map. In under a minute, we had our position and altitude, accurate to within about 50 feet. After initialization, the unit gave us excellent position and altitude data under light tree cover, driving in a city, and from the deck of a ship.

The GPS III Plus displays location on several different user-selectable screens. The satellite status page shows the current location and signal strength of all visible satellites relative to your current horizon. This is useful for checking if you are receiving a good signal or for moving the unit to a better spot for reading. This satellite status page also shows whether you are acquiring a 2-D or 3-D position and what the extent of your estimated position error is. The position page shows your longitude and latitude, your altitude (if at least four satellites are visible), speed and compass heading (if your are moving), a resettable odometer readout, current day and time, and sunrise and sunset data for your location. The map page lets you zoom into a road map of your current location in a U.S. metropolitan city or interstate highway. We were able to follow our progress during a car tour of downtown Seattle and even match most street names from the unit's built-in street atlas.

Additional pages show a graphical map of all currently set waypoints, a graphical bearing indicator, and access to system menus. You can set up to 500 waypoints to be graphically displayed as a road stretching out in front of you--a handy feature for both driving and piloting.

We checked a series of indicated positions against large-scale nautical charts and found that the position, heading, and speed indications were impressively accurate. Altitude indications were generally within 100 feet of the correct value, and if you know your altitude from an external reference, you can enter it to refine the accuracy of your 2-D position.

You can buy a fancier GPS unit for navigation, aviation, or survey work, but it's hard to imagine a situation, whether offshore, in the outback, or downtown, that this unit couldn't handle. Sailors will particularly appreciate the unit's gasketed high-impact plastic case (waterproof to IPX7 standards), support for nautical miles, and large library of nonstandard map data.

Pros

• Lightweight, robust, waterproof case
• Accurate position data
• High-resolution U.S. street atlas
• Intuitive interface

Cons

• 24-hour battery life with continuous use
• International and nautical chart data must be purchased separately

Average Customer Review: Number of Reviews: 7

An electronics enthusiast from Lake Zurich,Il , September 7, 1999
Great unit
Used this unit for the first time in Detroit and it performed beautifully. I found streets with ease it helped find a location with no problems. Downloaded the topo info from a CD rom and it works great not a problem.

An electronics enthusiast from Boston, Massachusetts , September 3, 1999
Never be lost
Carrying the Garmin GPS III+ is like having a map that always shows a 'You are here' arrow. I've used this in the car, while walking through the streets of Boston, and while hiking in dense forest in the mountains of New Hampshire. In all cases, this GPS device has proved extremely useful. I used to get lost ALL the time--it's no longer a concern for me.

Now, before I travel to a new location, I look up the address and enter the latitude and longitude into the GPS 3+. The device doesn't have routing capabilities built-in (it won't find the shortest driving route to a destination), but it does tell you what direction you need to go and how far away it is. For me, that's enough.

I've purchased the US Roads and Recreation CD, which allows you to download detailed road information to the GPS 3+. The maps are accurate, and the GPS device has enough memory to store the entire greater-Boston area (3 or 4 counties).

AlfredSloan@hotmail.com from San Francisco, USA , July 23, 1999
A thing that will answer: Where On the World?...(or, WOW)
In this age of materialism where we encounter tons of new products daily, there are a few precious items that becomes a necessity. For me, during the past three years, it has been the Palm pilot(the very first model from now-acquired US Robotics). Now, as for today, another item has checked in. The Garmin GPS III Plus. For me, many times driving alone, I needed a navigator that would direct me where I am heading to, besides plunging down from the Golden Gate bridge while shuffling through the maps. I bought it on the spot, and what a SURPRISE.

First, you are surprised at its tiny size. Why, your fist can grap around it and also, it is so light. Second. this is one powerful tool. Whenever you turn it on, the system initializes by tracking at least four satellite signals and then pointing out where you are now. MY HAIR stood on its end when this model pointed out the street in which I am writing this currently. Why, you can even zoom in up to 120 ft. There are some downsides. In order to get more accurate address(the model does points out on the map where I am now currently, but it does not say which street I am in), you have to buy CDs that has enough data.

Personally, I think this is more practical than the in-board GPS systems found in top autombiles like Mercedes S-class, since they can only help you during driving only. It cannot help you when you travel, go out biking, or in to the sea. Also, the data in the GPS is upgradable. It can download 1.5MB worth of maps. Too small? 1.5MB means that it can hold upto 1.5 Million characters of data. That is sufficient for a trip. Also, you can change the maps by downloading it from the CD via the PC or, in case of traveling, a notebook.

I still have 14-day trial period, but boy, this will not leave my hand. It BEGS you to be tested. This system will WOW you, or, it will answer a very profound question that billions of people have pondered and is still pondering to this moment: Where On the World am I?

Become the very few that has a highly precise answer to that profound question: "From downtown Manhattan to cold, Siberian plains, I have satellites that tracks and informs me of where I am right now."

dave@nemock.org , July 15, 1999
Great Unit
I have this baby attached to my dash with velcro and have found it to be a great help in the city and in the country. I also use it hiking in the mountains. It's pretty handy for that as long as you keep the antenna high enough. I ended up sewing velcro to the shoulder strap of my backpack and mouted it with the antenna pointing up. Battery life is amazing and the accuracy is pretty good in the car. I usually get a good fix on 6 satellites from my car and that gives me position to about 60 feet--more than enough to tell what road you're on.

ssnewman@worldnet.att.net from Anaheim, California , July 13, 1999
The Best non-routing GPS's on the Market
Most hand held GPS devices do not actually do routing internally. The GPS III Plus has detail maps that can be uploaded to it, and programs like Street Atlas from Delorme add the routing before you leave the house or from your laptop on the road. The III Plus from Garmin is top notch and you get lots of time on batteries or use it with the car cord and sandbag for your dash.

An electronics enthusiast from Colorado , July 13, 1999
When you really need to know.
We train search and rescue dogs in Colorado and map griding is extremely important to what we do. We use this little puppy on a regular basis and it is quite accurate.

The down side is as already mentioned, low cell life. So carry an extra cell and you should be fine.

An electronics enthusiast from New York, NY , July 13, 1999
No better value in the business!
I waited nearly a year for the introduction of the "plus" model and it has been well worth the wait. The folks at Garmin are extremely helpful (even if they consistantly promise delivery dates far sooner than the actual ship dates) and knowledgeable. The unit itself is built quite well. The screen is clear and the backlighting is more than sufficient. Make sure you update the unit's ROM with the most recent version from Garmins web site since they frequently improve the product's capabilities. Also, spend the extra $100 and get the US Roads and Recreations CD ROM. It lets you upload (via a PC) all streets and street names down to the level of dirt roads. For interstates, it has exit info which inlcudes not only whether there are hotels, food and gas there, but which hotels, which gas stations and the names of restaurants....incredible. Otherwise, I use it on my motorcycle, in my car, hiking, and even tried it on a flight from Boston to NYC, that was impressive as you knew exactly where you were and the unit will calculate when you will arrive. It's IMPOSSIBLE to get lost with this unit and for about $400 bucks, you can't beat it or have more fun.