The Garmin RINO series is a long time member of the Garmin line up that takes their core GPS capability and extends it by addressing the needs of consumers in the field. GPS answers the “Where are you” question and help out where you go, but if you’re outside you want to know where your friends.

The device combines a fully functioning GPS with an FRS / GMRS radio so you not only talk to your hiking or biking partners but with the special polling features, it will show the GPS location them. In concept, it is a great starting point for the RINO series, and I will say that in practice, it’s like Instant Messaging for the outdoors enthusiast. I wish I present the possibilities when I first started the first FRS radios years ago. For this review I was able to get the new RINO 530HCx and the older RINO 520 to take a trip to the White Mountains and a number of general “Playing around” hikes. They performed well, and gave more confidence and convenience for our tours.

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The RINO 530 HCx has a high sensitivity GPS chipset, and it was a step above the older RINO 520. The RINO 530 HCx GPS satellite signals that consistently took the RINO 520 could not get in huts, huts, narrow valleys and notches, and under heavy trees sitting on my belt. If you are going to invest this money in a unit like this, one gets the new HCx units in the line, and be sure that you’re going to grab and hold the GPS signal.

The RINO 530HCx is a slim pocket receiver, as it has a lot going for it and it took a lot into this device. The unit has FRS and GMRS radio capability that is user adjustable for different transmission power levels (1/2, 2, and 5 watts). On top of that, the device has a high quality GPS as the foundation, with a large screen, and a high sensitivity receiver. When comparing the RINO 530HCx vs. the Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx, the basics are the same, but the RINO adds many features with the FRS and GMRS Radio feature.

The base is essentially the GPSMAP 60CSx series, with rubber buttons, GPS and radio antennas on top, and a rocker button on the front that acts as a mouse to move around the screen and select options. The toggle switch is smaller than the 60CSx to the speaker on the front panel fit. The on/off switch is a small button on the top of the device fits between the two antennas. Pressing the power button briefly, you get the backlight control, and the slider to the desired level of brightness with the rocker.

The Garmin RINO 530HCx is a great tool for the outdoors, you can not just get there but you get there, along with the rest of your party while they are fully informed and in constant contact. The navigation elements on the RINO 530HCx are solid and remains an easy way to navigate easily with the back-up power to a much higher order activities to be carried out. You just need to get from here to there with confidence and you may not need to project a waypoint and then send it to you on their buddy RINO, but you can.

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The ability to constantly in touch and have your buddy’s GPS location information and allows for a highly informed approach to being in the outdoors. Whether on a hunting or a stroll on a long trip on a bike, coordination capabilities add an extra dimension to what you are able to perform outdoors. It is not hard to imagine that having your party with a RINO can just save your life. I would like to have had RINO on my bicycle last week to coordinate with the rest of the party.

The problem with all these plans and hopes just comes down to cost, the RINO 530HCx is not cheap, and you can not afford to a large group with RINOS rest easy. The RINO 530 HCx features are great and if you RINO line considering, I would recommend the RINO 520HCx and RINO 530 HCX, such as high sensitivity receivers and the ability to more memory for more cards to store add is worth for the few extra dollars.

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Suunto Vector Wrist-top Computer watch with an altimeter is just great. An indispensable tool for outdoor enthusiasts, the Suunto Vector wrist-top computer combines an altimeter, barometer, compass and thermometer, so you can plan and execute almost any activity with confidence and security. Regardless of your excursion, be it mountain climbing, riding a muddy bike path, or off-piste skiing, you must provide accurate, real-time information about your environment to pull off a successful trip. The Vector contributes not only by providing important data but also track your activities so you can make rational decisions at key moments.

The built-in altimeter, which has a range of up to 29,500 meters, put all 14 of 8000-plus-meter world top within reach of avid climber. Among the functions of the altimeter are an altitude measurement function that allows the vertical progress between stages, an automatic 24-hour memory that the height and ascent / decent rate for each hour, and an adjustable altitude alarm. Climbers will also dig the logbook function, which lets you record total and cumulative vertical ascents and descents and the number of runs skied.

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The Vector also displays the current barometric pressure and temperature, a must for activities that the weather plays an important factor. The device automatically records barometric data for the previous four days, with the first six hours manifested in one hour intervals and the remainder in six hours. When the reference altitude is set correctly, the instrument displays the current air pressure at sea level, making it easier to read and understand the barometric pressure at high altitude.

And a few things are important when exploring unknown territory than a compass. electronic compass of the vector contributes by guiding you with cardinal or half cardinal points and a North-South arrow. The compass can also be set at a given price, which helps you follow a chosen path to follow. Meanwhile, the unit DECLINATION CORRECTION feature allows you to correct the difference between true north and magnetic north.

Besides the variety of outdoor functions, the Vector also displays normal time, with such add-ons and three daily alarms, a calendar for the year 2089, a stopwatch with split-time measurement and a countdown timer. The entire design is unified by an intuitive user interface and convenient, accessible buttons, a handy extra when hiking or climbing in difficult circumstances. Additional features include an electro-luminescent backlight, a user-replaceable battery, and an attractive black casing. In addition, the Vector backed by a two years warranty on parts and labor.

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Features:

• Versatile wrist-top computer with altimeter, barometer, compass, thermometer and stopwatch
• Built-in altimeter measures vertical progress, stores hourly ascent / descent rate, and offers altitude alarm
• Automatically displays air pressure and sea level pressure for accurate weather readings
• Electronic compass guides with cardinal or half-cardinal points, intuitive user interface and controls
• Electro-luminescent backlight, user replaceable backlight, attractive black casing, 2-year warranty

General, for the price they charge for this, you will not find better dive computers. Sure there are better ones out there, but you’ll have much more for only a slight increase in capabilities.

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The two new models of Oregon, which are 550 and 550t to work closely with the touchscreen Oregon 300 and 400 models, used the Garmin released a year ago. They are identical in size and similar functions with a few notable improvements on the x50 models with a 3.2 megapixel digital auto-focus camera, support for geotagged photos and a 3-axis compass. The main difference between the two new models is that the 550T includes U.S. 100k topo maps, which are identical to the topo maps pre-installed on my Oregon 400t. The 550t is a 4 GB internal memory with about 1 GB free (850MB Garmin product information) after you take a seat for the topo maps and other files. I suspect that as the Oregon 300 only one of the 550 base card, 1 GB of RAM leaving a roughly 900 MB is free.

Hardware and GPS receiver

The Oregon 550t I was running software 2.10 and GPS Software 3.40. I took the machine apart and I can confirm that with the ST Cartesio chipset as the Oregon x00 series (see photo below of 550t). I was for a different chipset, given the problems that Cartesio under trees has hopefully at walking speeds, but this is an area where Garmin continues on improvements for the entire line of Oregon work so I hope we will be more improvements have seen.

Externally, there is not much other than the location of the camera on the back above the rail to report familiar. The latch that closes the battery cover is now spring-loaded and there are more positive compared to the x00 series Oregon. The carabiner that comes with the 550 is a little shorter than the Oregon x00-series carbines, so it does not get in the way of the camera lens. The good news is that all existing Oregon and Colorado Rail Mounting accessories should be the same with the 550 models.

In addition to the newly designed clasp on the 550T comes with the manual on CD (also known as an updated manual for the x00 Oregon), a Quick Start Guide, a four-cell NiMH AA battery charger and two low-pressure discharge 2000mAh AA NiMH batteries . As I suspected Garmin Alkaline batteries recommended in 550t, if you are to use the camera. I have noticed that allows the use of the camera, the batteries are discharged faster, but I will need more time to complete some tests battery.

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Screen

When switching on the 550t, the first thing you notice is that the screen looks a little different than the x00 Oregon. I suspect we are at the same touchscreen as x00 Oregon with another protective layer that looks shiny, instead of a matte cover as the x00 series. The end result is brighter screen than the x00 series, I would estimate 10-15% lighter, and much like the Colorado. Do more with reflections of the shiny surface can be seen and I also wonder about its scratch resistance, but overall this is an improvement on the Oregon x00′s. Although it is almost impossible to have a “typical” picture on the screen the photos below show the unit is running with full backlight outdoors indirect light to capture bright sunlight and low light at Oregon 400t compared.

3-axis compass

The 3-axis compass is another feature that I wanted to try it. I’ve never liked the 2-axis on the older models because of the need to hold the device flat compass. The 3-axis compass is similar, except calibrate once on each axis, which is about the same amount of time as to calibrate the 2-axis compass. The compass turns on/off by 1-2 mph as the x00 Oregon, but it is much easier to trust because you no longer care about how you hold the device. Garmin has changed the look and feel of the compass, not only that they “Super Size” The compass (you can even choose the thin pointer), but the rotation of the compass is much smoother. The hands are no longer jumps to a new position, it glides like a real compass. Although I am not a compass page navigator I think those that are on the compass tool to leave these changes as.

UserDataSync

There have been changes in the 550 to how the data were managed, but I have to spend a little more time with this function, to understand it fully. The GarminDevice.xml file mentions a “UserDataSync” mode for the contents of Garmin GPX that is different than the x00 Oregon. Based on my initial tests it looks like it will be created on the device, stored in daily files in GPX Garmin GPX from waypoints and routes. Deleting these files or the waypoints and routes contained in these files from the items on the device itself. If this is the case it would be a hidden, but something radically different, the x00 Oregon is separate internal databases that do not live on the Internet by external programs such as Base Camp and Mapsource. remove from a user perspective this would be a lot of questions about how to manage the data.

High Speed USB

The High-Speed USB interface is also a very nice “sleeper” function. I have it yet, but time-card, the device transmits much faster than my 400t. The 550T also supports “any name” Map file support added to the x00 Oregon, that escapes the limits apply only to a few very specific file names can load maps (ie gmapsupp.img).

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Miscellaneous

Geocaching, Wherigo, on-board computer, 3D view, profile management, wireless, altimeter and other tools that the x00 to Oregon in the last beta took all seem the same work. The map page does use a new series of large high-color icons easier to see, but until the card can be in urban areas.

Conclusion

Even if an image could be worth a thousand words, the question whether the Oregon 550t with a value of $ 599 and the 550 is worth $ 499 be? There is no question that these devices are expensive and ultimately you must decide whether the camera with geotagging, improved visibility of the screen, 3-axis electronic compass, High-Speed USB and other minor improvements worth it. I suspect that most people who are money for an Oregon 300 or 400 fork last year, not the need to see now just an upgrade. But the Oregon earned 550 serious consideration if you are in the market for a GPSMAP 60CSx, Colorado, Oregon or Delorme PN-40 and think that the integrated camera is something you use.

When geocachers with a camera with geotagging support is my primary motivation for getting the 550T. I already carry a separate camera for recording notes, coordinates, interesting containers, damaged containers, and maps at departure points. None of these require a nice camera, but all of these applications could be improved if the photos were geotagged be. For that reason alone was enough to push me up to the 550t series. For other outdoor activities, recreational or professional, the need to collect data by using photos, geotagging, a real time saver and Garmin all-in-one Oregon 550t makes it very easy and fun.

In the coming weeks I will thus adding content deals on the Garmin Oregon Wiki versions including one side, Issues List and FAQs for Oregon are 550th In particular, I am concerned at the clock for the stability, as the first models of both Colorado and Oregon were to be plagued by crashes and bugs. So far, my experience with good stability other than the problems with the compass, but longer term is required. I am going to be posting again on GPSFix the 550T as I get more information on the stability, GPS receiver, battery life (it is definitely worse), USB transfer rates, DataSync feature, and all other differences, to take the I get.

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The Garmin 60CSx is one of the most popular outdoor GPS devices. It is the latest iteration of a design that was refined over a number of years and is the definitive Outdoor Garmin GPS in the lineup.

Hardware

The 60CSx compared with two other high-end mapping units: a Colorado and Oregon. The 60CSx is a little thicker than the other two models. The 60CSx is the heaviest of the three at 213g – the Oregon, the lightest at 192g. The unit feels safe in the hand and the rubber grips on the bottom make it easy to operate with one hand.

The unit will display with a rocker switch direction and 8 function keys. IN /OUT zoom the map and altimeter views on and off. FIND take you to the site search pages. MARK creates a new waypoint. MENU, ENTR and exit will be used in conjunction with the cradle to the unit to navigate menus. PAGE to move between units different screens, map, altimeter, setup menu, travel and so on.

The back of the unit is covered by a hard removable battery. By turning the metal clip releases the cover for changing batteries. The slot for the microSD data card under the battery. The retaining clip for the microSD is not particularly safe. If the clip can come to open the data card from falling out. On the back is a 4-pin Garmin serial port, USB port and MCX connector for an external antenna. Rubber to protect the connections. The external antenna allows you the unit in a vehcile or boat, where there is no clear view of the sky.

There is a connection point for a lanyard on the top left hand near the antenna and USB ports. With the metal clip on the battery cover for a lanyard is not a good idea as it open the cover and pull the GPS drops out. The power switch is on top of the device. To turn the power on/off hold the button for several seconds. Press the power switch in rapid succession, the brightness of the backlight can.

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Battery life is better than the Oregon or Colorado. The Garmin manual says up to 18 hours. 2500 mAh NiMH batteries I was always use to 12-16 hours some difficulty. How much do you use the backlight, you draw the maps and the compass turned on etc will affect the life span. If you have NiMH batteries, you should have a set of batteries per day if you plan on continuously with the device.

The 60CSx uses a high-sensitivity GPS chipset. Unscientific tests under difficult conditions, similar results were compared to the 60CSx with Oregon and Colorado. Others have reported that the Oregon receiver is not as good, but that did not seem to be the case. The time to first position fix was similar to the other units. The receiver is really extremely sensitive. You can expect that in all but the most difficult situations. You can upgrade under dense canopy under tall buildings in a car and often inside buildings.

For use in the car, there is a car kit with a suction windshield mount and a special lighter power cord that plugs into the 4-pin connector on the device. The car mount is not as easy to use as the rail on the Oregon or Colorado to install.

Screen

The 60CSx screen is 38mm wide and 56mm high. The Oregon and Colorado screens are 38mm x 63mm. Physically, the difference is not great, but the Oregon and Colorado have a much higher pixel density. The Oregon-screen has two and a half times as many pixels on the display. In addition to the display can display 60CSx only 256 unique colors, while Oregon and Colorado’s much more to (the specs do not say how many).

This difference is difficult to convey on a computer screen. The Oregon and Colorado maps are clearer. But do not be deterred leave the 60CSx as the assignment is very useful. The Oregon-screen has the brightest backlighting of the three units, making it the easiest to read, which is significant in terms of the backlight. But in bright sunlight and overcast, the readability is reversed – the 60CSx is easiest to see, and at least the Oregon. The 60CSx screen is very sensitive to viewing angle. Tilting it slightly can make a big difference for readability. With heavy use, a stick-on screen protector would be a good idea.

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User Interface

The user interface is easy to use and learn. The 8 buttons, and rocker-pad give you access to the GPS functions. The functions are in a series of pages, main menu, map, organized trip computer, compass, etc. About 15 pages in total. These sites are either accessed from the main menu or in a series of pages that will appear when you are pressing the PAGE button. The Trip screen displays detailed information about your position and travel. The data on each position can be displayed on the screen to be adjusted. You can set the value of a large list of data such as speed, distance, position, etc. are displayed There is also a great option with less pressure values. This is Greta for use in a vehicle.

called on each side more features to this page by pressing the MENU button. There are many options that allow you to customize the device the way you want it. can display almost every aspect of the card are set up, the way you want.

Text entry is serviceable, if somewhat cumbersome. If you enter text for a search or have a waypoint, etc., a keyboard appears on the screen. To enter text, move the yellow highlight to the next letter or number to enter, with the rocker pad. Then enter the key with the ENTR key. Once your entry is complete, select the “OK” button on the keypad. The full-screen touch keyboard on the Oregon is easy to operate much faster. On the other hand, if you collect a lot of waypoints is that much?

Maps

There are a variety of cards for this device. For outdoor activities in detail, topo maps, like MapToaster Mobile/NZ offer topographic mapping. The 60CSx also supports shortest path-car GPS with suitable cards. Garmin City Navigator offers maps for them. For maritime use, there is the Garmin BlueChart series. If you have multiple sets of cards can change microSD cards. If you select CD/DVD versions have the cards, composite card sets can be loaded on a single card with Garmin MapSource software.

The FIND button will take you to the screen that allows you to look for waypoints, place names, addresses and Points of Interest (POI). If the Search button to see the search screen. The 60CSx has excellent search tools. Select a category symbol, such as “Geographical Points”. The GPS displays all items in the selected category in a list, starting with those near you. This may be to search for, say, the nearest gas station or ATM or cottage useful.

To find a particular item, press the MENU button. There are two modes. Search by name, the name, with the text that you type to find the entire name database on the GPS start. This is a very powerful tool, as you view the card everywhere possible position in the map database. This very useful type of search is not on the Oregon/Colorado GPS available. Find Nearest investigated with a near by name, the entered text anywhere in their name. You can change the Reference menu item to look to select a new location around – very useful for finding points of interest and places to your destination.

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Did you find what you are looking fnd in the list, use the Rocker pad to the item and press ENTR. These contain information about the place as it is possibly a place name and address or phone number. The 60CSx has found a special category for geocaches, but offers nothing like the paperless geocaching bodies found in Oregon.

Summary

This is a very well proven and robust GPS, its design and features have been refined over many years. The user interface is easy to use when entering text and numbers is much easier on the Oregon-touch screen. The search is very useful search by name mode, which is missing in the Oregon. Of the high-end Garmin mapping GPS units, the edge of the screen visibility in bright light. But, for the Oregon and Colorado, the screen is small compared, and has a lower pixel density, so that the cards do not look so good, and you can not see as much as once.

If you have a 60CSx or Oregon? Both are great units and you are not likely to be disappointed by. For hard-core outdoor use, expecially if you are a professional, probably tips the balance in favor of the 60CSx. If you plan on using the GPS for a mix of activities, such as stamping, and Geocaching in the vehicle, the Oregon better his suit. If you’re buying a GPS-thinking, take a look at our guide to buying a GPS

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The Garmin eTrex Venture HC is a portable GPS device designed with the outdoor enthusiast. This device is ideal for hikers, geocachers and those who know where they are and how to where to go. If you are wondering whether this is the right hand held GPS for you, read on to learn more about this device, the functions and capabilities.

The eTrex offers WAAS-enabled GPS receiver, the very sensitive, even to cover the journey in deep canyons or dense overhead. In fact, no matter what the terrain, this unit can receive a signal. There is no need for a clear view of the sky have to get a satellite signal lock than was necessary, even on older devices.

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With the eTrex is thanks to the intuitive menu system and side-button design. It can use a single hand, which are operated ideal for active users. Mapping functions are good and users can connect up to 500 waypoints and track 10 track logs. The base map that is included with the eTrex is for a standard card details and you can optionally load more cards with 25 MB memory, which owns the equipment. This unit is compatible with all of Garmin’s MapSource line of products.

The display on the eTrex Venture HC is a 256-color TFT display that is bright enough to read easily even in direct sunlight. The screen size is generous by the construction of the device. Battery life is around 14 hours of operation possible on a sufficient set of batteries.

The Garmin eTrex Venture purchased for $ 199 to Garmin web site, but offers online which will be located the device for about $ 170. Compared to similar hand navigators, Garmin, this model is very reasonable priced for the features and quality. For beginners and users who generally do not need the additional features of the advanced units, this model is a good value.

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Key Features

• High sensitivity, WAAS-enabled GPS receiver offers top performance in all environmental issues
• Basemap contains lakes, rivers, cities, highways, national and state highways, railroads and coasts
• 1.7 X 1.3 InchH InchW screen with 256-color TFT
• USB compatible for high speed map downloads
• 24 MB internal memory allows the user to load, waypoints and routes from the included MapSource Trip & Waypoint Manager software

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