garmin gps

Garmin Fishfinder 400C with Dual-Beam Transducer

2011-12-23T22:33:00.001-08:00

Garmin Fishfinder 400C with Dual-Beam Transducer

Ultra-Bright 4-Inch Diagonal Qvga Display

4000W Max 500W Rms

320 X 240 Pixels

Streamlined User Interface Offers Easy Selection Of Functions & Features

Sounder Design Features Shallow-Water Performance

Garmin nuvi 350 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator

2011-12-06T23:24:00.001-08:00

The Garmin nuvi 350 comes with 64000-color display and resolution of 320 x 240 pixels. The device offers extremely accurate position data with a high-sensitivity integrated GPS receiver by SiRF and WAAS-enabled 12-satellite reception. The nuvi 350 provides automatic routing turn-by-turn voice directions and touchscreen control.

Compact 700 MB GPS navigator with bundled MP3/audiobook player photo viewer and world travel clock

Small enough to fit in a pocket or purse; mounts on vehicle windshield with included suction cup

Preloaded with City Navigator NT maps of U.S. Canada and Puerto Rico

Turn-by-turn directions automatic routing and 320 x 240 color touchscreen display

Secure Digital (SD) memory card slot; measures 3.87 x 2.91 x 0.87 inches (W x H x D); 1-year warranty

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Garmin Approach G5 Waterproof Touchscreen Golf GPS

2011-11-28T04:37:00.001-08:00

Rugged waterproof golf GPS unit with 3-inch sunlight-readable touschreen display

Preloaded U.S. course maps including fairways hazards and greens

No annual fee; new maps available for download from Garmin.com

Measure shot distance with highly sensitive readings to eliminate guesswork from your game

Digital scorecard for up to four players; save and review the scores on your computer at home

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Garmin Rino 110 5-Mile 12-Channel FRS/GMRS Waterproof Two-Way Radio and GPS Receiver

2011-11-21T06:39:00.001-08:00

Garmin Rino 110 GPS / FRS / GMRS. The Rino 110 is a GPS-enabled handheld that integrates radio functionality to provide 2-way communications. It's waterproof can send communications up to 2 miles using FRS channels 5 miles using GMRS channels and can "beam" your exact location to another Rino user using "position reporting." And because the Rino 110 had standard FRS / GMRS capabilities you can talk to friends or family who own conventional FRS / GMRS radios. Get the specs: WAAS-enabled GPS receiver; 22 communication channels: 1-14 FRS 15-22 GMRS; 38 sub-audible squelch codes per transmission channel for privacy; Transmission distance of up to 2 miles using FRS up to 5 miles with GMRS (using GMRS frequency in the U.S. requires a FCC license); External voice activation (VOX); Ergonomic design for one-handed operation with call press-to-talk (PTT) and page mode buttons on the side power / backlighting button on top and volume and zoom buttons in front; Unique 5-way cursor for channel selection and volume adjustment in FRS / GMRS mode and quick map planning entering and selecting functions in GPS mode; Built-in worldwide city point database with 1 MB of internal memory for downloading additional points-of-interest data from a MapSource "Points of Interest" CD Also includes wrist strap belt clip user's guide and quick reference guide. Order Today! Garmin Rino 110 GPS / FRS / GMRS

Combination two-way radio and GPS receiver

Radio specs: 14 FRS channels for 2-mile range 7 GMRS channels for 5 mile range 38 subcodes per channel hands-free VOX

GPS specs: 12-channel WAAS-enabled receiver up to 500 waypoints trip computer with speed tracking

Beam location to another Rino user within a two-mile range using the FRS spectrum

Waterproof construction includes lanyard and belt clip

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Garmin GPSMAP 76Cx Handheld GPS

2011-11-13T07:16:00.001-08:00

High-sensitivity GPS receiver

Color-handheld mapping ideal for both marine and outdoor use

Bright sunlight-readable color TFT display

128 MB MicroSD card for storage of optional map detail

Fast USB connectivity makes loading charts and maps quick and easy

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Garmin GPSMAP 541s 5-Inch Waterproof Marine GPS and Chartplotter with Sounder

2011-11-01T00:07:00.001-07:00

GPSMAP 541 Series Marine GPS Receiver (GPSMAP 541S; With dual-frequency transducer)

Compact chartplotter with 5-inch QVGA display high-sensitivity GPS receiver and included sounder

NMEA 2000 certified for seamless integration with the Garmin marine lineup; XM weather and radio compatible

Built-in satellite-enhanced basemap preloaded with all U.S. coastal areas as well as detailed charts for the Bahamas

Accepts BlueChart g2 Vision cards for added features such as high-res satellite imagery 3-D views Auto Guidance

Powerful dual-frequency transom-mount transducer clearly illustrates depth contours fish targets and structures

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Garmin eTrex Summit HC Handheld GPS Receiver

2011-10-24T17:03:00.001-07:00

GARMIN eTrex Summit HC Hand Held Receiver w/ Built in GPS Patch Antenna. New high sensitivity GPS receiver. 24 Mbyte of internal memory for storing detailed maps. WAAS enabled 12 parallel channel GPS receiver. Built in GPS patch antenna. Display: 1.3 in W x 1.7 in H 256 color high resolution transflective TFT /176 x 220 pixels.Electronic compass displays accurate heading while standing still. Barometric altimeter with automatic pressure trend recording. LED backlit display and keypad. Battery life: up to 32 hours typical use using two AA alkaline batteries.Includes a built in Americas autoroute basemap with automatic routing capabilities including highways exits and tide data /USA only. 500 user waypoints with name and graphic symbol; 20 reversible routes 50 points per route. Position formats include Lat/Lon UTM Loran TDs Maidenhead MGRS user grid and more. Audible alarms for anchor drag arrival off course and clock. Large numbers option for easy viewing dual position display mode. Trip computer provides odometer stopped time moving average overall average total time max speed and more. 10000 point automatic track log; 20 saved tracks /500 points each/ let you retrace your path in both directions. Elevation computer /Summit HC/ provides current elevation ascent/descent rate minimum/maximum elevation total ascent and descent average and maximum ascent and descent rate. Built in celestial tables for best time to fish and hunt plus sun and moon calculations. Fully compatible with MapSource products including BlueChart City Navigator U.S. TOPO 24K U.S. TOPO and US Inland lakes. Waterproof IEC 60529 IPX7 /Submersible 1 meter at 30 minutes

High-Sensitivity WAAS-Enabled GPS Receiver Provides Peak Performance In Any Environment

Built-In Basemap Includes Lakes Rivers Cities Interstates National & State Highways Railroads & Coastlines

Barometric Altimeter & Electronic Compass

Usb Compatible For High-Speed Map Downloads

Features A 1.7-InchH X 1.3-InchW Screen With 256-Level Color Tft

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Garmin GPSMAP 640 Waterproof Car/Marine GPS and Chartplotter (With BlueChart g2 Marine Charts and City Navigator NT North America Maps)

2011-10-17T10:44:00.001-07:00

GARMIN GPSMAP-640 Car Marine GPS. Garmin International is pleased to announce the new GPSMAP 620 and GPSMAP 640. These two new Garmin products offer elements of the GPSMAP 5000 series marine chartplotters combined with elements of the popular nuvi series for use on the road all in one easy to use device. Portable and powerful the GPSMAP 620 and GPSMAP 640 feature a high sensitivity GPS receiver and boast a large super bright 5.2 in WVGA touchscreen display that reacts as users tap and drag through the intuitive user interface. Out of the box the GPSMAP 640 comes complete with marine and automotive mounts. This true land and sea navigator features preloaded maps such as highly detailed BlueChart g2 marine cartography of the coastal United States /including Alaska Hawaii and the Bahamas/ as well as highly detailed City Navigator NT road maps for North America.

Waterproof Land and Sea Navigator

5.2 in Diagonal WVGA Touchscreen Display at 800x480 Pixels

Preloaded with BlueChart g2 Marine Cartography of the Coastal U.S./Including Alaska Hawaii and the Bahamas

Supports GXM 40 XM WX Satellite Weather XM Satellite Radio XM NavTraffic

Turn by Turn Directions and Text to Speech

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Garmin Fishfinder 160C

2011-10-12T07:39:00.001-07:00

Designed for utility and affordability the new Fishfinder 160C primarily targets inland boaters. The Fishfinder 160C features a sunlight readable 4.5-inch diagonal 128 x 128 pixel 16-color CSTN display. Garmin now offers Ultrascroll which allows boaters to get a much faster refresh rate on their sonar display. The Fishfinder 160C provides dual beam transducer operation for improved performance in shallow water or deep water. The new high dynamic range analog receiver performs in – as little as a foot deep. AutoGain as well as user adjustable gain is standard on all of Garmin’s new fishfinders showing more fish under all conditions.

Affordable waterproof fishfinder with sunlight-readable 128 x 128 pixel 16-color display

See-Thru technology shows weak and strong returns simultaneously; Whiteline shows you how thick the bottom is

Manually adjust the gain or set to Auto Gain which adjusts the level of detail you see automatically

Garmin's Ultrascroll refreshes the screen with lightning speed for the most up-to-date information

Perfect for recreational anglers who fish primarily in freshwater lakes

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Garmin Foretrex 401 Waterproof Hiking GPS

2011-08-11T18:02:00.000-07:00

Foretrex 401 Portable GPS System

Features high-sensitivity GPS receiver with HotFix for improved performance and reception in heavy tree cover or deep canyons

Keeps track of routes tracks and waypoints

TracBack feature retraces user's path on the easy-to-read LCD display

Supports dual position readout so user can view current location in multiple formats

Features trip computer sunrise/sunset times hunting/fishing information electronic compass and barometric altimeter

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Garmin eTrex Legend HCx Personal Navigator

2011-07-30T08:51:00.000-07:00

2.14" Active Matrix TFT Color LCD - 12 Channels

High-Sensitivity WAAS-Enabled GPS Receiver Provides Peak Performance In Any Environment

Lightweight Compact & Waterproof

Built-In Basemap With Automatic Routing Capability

Features A 1.7-InchH X 1.3-InchW Screen With 256-Level Color Tft

Connects To Computer'S Usb For High-Speed Map Downloads

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Garmin Rino 530HCx 2-Way Radio with GPS/FRS/GMRS

2011-06-20T08:39:00.000-07:00

Garmin Rino 530HCX Two-Way Radio and GPS

High-Sensitivity WAAS-Enabled GPS Receiver

Electronic Compass Displays Accurate Heading While Standing Still

Barometric Sensor With Automatic Pressure Trend Recording

Features Built-In Quad Helix Receiving Antenna & Basemap With Automatic Routing Capabilities

5W Of Transmit Power Using Gmrs Frequency Up To 14-Mile Range

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Garmin eTrex Vista HCx Color High-Sensitivity Mapping Handheld GPS

2011-05-20T09:25:00.001-07:00

High-sensitivity WAAS-enabled GPS receiver provides peak performance in any environment

Lightweight compact and waterproof

Features a 1.7-inch X 1.3-inch screen with 256-level color TFT

Built-in basemap with automatic routing capability

USB connection for high-speed map downloads

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Garmin nuvi 465/465T 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Trucking GPS Navigator

2011-03-08T02:03:00.001-08:00

Garmin's first navigator designed for the trucking industry - navigate routes based on your truck's type load and physical restrictions

Pre-loaded with detailed street-level maps of the United States Canada and Puerto Rico; speaks street names so drivers will receive turn-by-turn

Lane Assist guides users to the right lane at the right time built-in FM traffic receiver gives free alerts about traffic delays and road construction hands-free calling with Bluetooth and built-in mic/speaker

Specialized routing to support truck-related restrictions customizable by height weight length width and hazardous materials

NOTE: Model number on the box is 465T because the traffic receiver is included; however the model number on the device itself is 465 as the "T" in 465T refers to the additional component

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Garmin Forerunner 405CX GPS Sport Watch with Heart Rate Monitor (Blue)

2011-02-11T12:31:00.001-08:00

Loaded with serious training features Forerunner 405CX continuously records your time distance pace calories burned and heart rate.

And advanced training features will challenge you to step up your pace race against Forerunner's Virtual Partner

Forerunner 405CX comes with a flexible wireless heart rate monitor to help you make the most out of your training.

With Forerunner 405CX you can share your locations advanced workouts and courses wirelessly with other Forerunner 405 users.

Once you've logged the miles innovative ANT+ wireless technology automatically transfers data to your computer when Forerunner is in range.

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Garmin GPS 60CSx Handheld GPS Navigator

2011-01-29T10:42:00.001-08:00

Garmin GPS MAP 60 CSx. The GPS MAP 60 CSx is one of the most popular GPS models for outdoor and marine use. It incorporates a barometric altimeter for extremely accurate elevation data and an electronic compass that displays an accurate heading while standing still. The 60CSx also features a removable microSD card for detailed mapping memory and a waterproof rugged housing. The microSD card slot is located inside the waterproof battery compartment. You can load map data and transfer routes and waypoints through the fast USB connection. In addition the GPS MAP 60C Sx has a new highly sensitive GPS receiver that acquires satellites faster and lets you track your location in challenging conditions such as heavy foliage or deep canyons. Electronic compass displays accurate heading while standing still; Barometric altimeter with automatic pressure trend recording; New high-sensitivity WAAS-capable GPS receiver by SiRF; Built-in quad-helix receiving antenna with remote antenna capability; Supports English Spanish Portuguese and French languages; MicroSD card slot allows for storage of optional Map Source detail (64 MB microSD included); LED backlit display and keyboard; Up to 18 hours of battery life from 2 AA alkaline batteries; Includes a built-in Americas autoroute basemap with automatic routing capabilities including highways exits and tide data (U.S. only); Internal memory is preloaded with a marine point database Enough memory for 1000 user waypoints with n

High-sensitivity GPS receiver

Bright sunlight-readable color TFT display

Color-handheld mapping ideal for both marine and outdoor use

64 MB microSD card for storage of optional map detail; NOTE: microSD card is located in the device not as a separate additional item

Fast USB connectivity makes loading charts and maps quick and easy

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Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver With Heart Rate Monitor

2011-01-02T21:28:00.001-08:00

Package Includes: Forerunner 305 Heart rate monitor docking cradle expander strap AC charger PC/USB interface cable Quick start guide Garmin Training Center CD & owner's manual

The Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS System combines form and function. This combination running partner and personal trainer is designed for athletes of all levels. It features a high-sensitivity GPS receiver new courses feature and robust ANT wireless heart rate monitor for optimal performance. The super-sensitive GPS tracks your every move even working on tree-covered trails and near tall buildings. The heart device monitors your heart rate speed distance pace and calories burned so you can train smarter more effectively. These taskmasters will continually push you to do your personal best. Courses feature lets you download recorded courses and compete against previous workouts Auto Pause pauses and resumes training timer GPS features - GPS with high-Sensitivity SiRFstarIII architecture Wireless communication between system devices via ANT protocol Display Size(WxH) - 1.3 x 0.8 (33 x 20.3 mm) Lap Memory - 1000 laps Rechargeable internal lithium ion battery - lasts 10 hours (typical use) Waterproof - Submersible in one meter of water for up to 30 mins. Alerts - Time distance pace and heart rate Physical Size(WxHxD) - 2.1 x. 7 x 2.7 (53.3 x 17.8 x 68.6 mm) Weight - 2.72 oz. (77 g)

Heart rate monitor features - Transmission Range - approximately 3m (9.8ft) 3V CR2032 battery - lasts 3 years (1 hour per day) Physical size(WxHxD) - 13.7 x 1.4 x 0.5 (348 x 35.6 x 12.7 mm) Weight -. 74 oz (21 grams)

High-Sensitivity Watch-Like GPS Receiver That Provides Exceptional Signal Reception

1 Piece Training Assistant That Provides Athletes With Precise Speed Distance & Pace Data

Includes Training Center Software Which Allows Users To Download Workout Data For A Detailed Analysis

Used For Multiple Sports Such As Cycling Cross- Country Skiing & Windsurfing

Data Acquired May Also Be Analyzed With Motionbased Which Provides Online Mapping & Route Sharing

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Garmin Forerunner 205 GPS Receiver and Sports Watch

2010-06-18T11:47:00.001-07:00

Garmin 205 vs. the Garmin 201

I've run 4 times a week with the Garmin 201 for the past 2 years so I was anxious to get the 205. After 10 runs with the 205 (some runs with both) here is my take on the new 205:

Pros:

- better form factor (although still big and same weight as the 201)

- Buttons are more intuitive (less guessing in the dark)

- More accurate - If I run the same run 3 times (e.g. a regular 6 miler) all 3 distances are within .02-.09... the 201 varied by as much as .3 miles. The 205 also appears to be more accurate according to "known distances"

- Less satellite drops compared to the 201 (although see the BIG con below!)

- The strap is rubber so it doesn't act as a sweat band (the 201 was harder to clean and smelled for weeks after a marathon)

- Better software

CONS:

- Fonts are smaller (especially on history and other screens)

- The strap is rubber and doesn't fit as well as the cloth/Velcro on the 201 (although the pro I think outweighs the con!)

- BIG CON: On one regular run along the bay in San Francisco (no hills trees or buildings) the 205 lost satellite in a "usual" area (common for my 201 to drop in the same place) one mile into the run but the 205 never recovered during the whole run. So the 205 doesn't drop satellites as much but when it does it might not recover - this is a fatal issue if it continues (note: the 201 drops often but always recovers right away).

Overall I would still highly recommend the unit. I definitely prefer to run with the 205 instead of the 201. I will be watching the drop-recover issue carefully to see if others report a similar problem.

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Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver With Heart Rate Monitor

2010-06-16T21:17:00.001-07:00

Excellent workout tool

I like this thing quite a lot. I've had it for about three weeks and have used it on 12 workouts so far. I use it primarily for running with biking a secondary usage. The main reason I wanted it was for the instantaneous readout of distance running pace and heart rate the latter needed for the speed work I want to do this running season.

The core functionality (distance and heart rate monitoring) works perfectly. There's none of the signal drops I've had with other heart monitors. Once the satellites are initially acquired I've only had one dropout when I was outside. The initial acquisition of the satellites can be quirky and can take some time. The accuracy (according to the readout) is +/- 25ft depending on how many satellites can be found. I've compared the distance measurement on the GPS with a known measured distance on one of the trails I run on (the Chicago lakefront path). The GPS always increments a mile when I'm within 5 or 10 feet of the mile marker sign on the path. Well I guess that's the least I should expect from a $350 GPS unit! Of course it's bigger than a normal running stopwatch but that hasn't bothered me at all. The heart rate strap is also very comfortable and well-designed.

The display is crisp and has one outstanding feature: The information presented on the various pages can be completely user-customized. The default screen layout is rather poor but in just a few steps I could replace it with the information I wanted to see while I run. There are almost 40 different data fields you can choose from for display. Examples: current pace average lap pace average run pace heartrate distance.

The only disappointment is the point-in-time (instantaneous) pace measurement: It varies wildly during a run. I see swings as big as +/- 3 minutes/mile. I'm a marathoner and I know my pace is fairly consistent during a run. I just looked at my run today and according to the data the first mile varied from 5:57/mile to 12:06 mile. I suspect the problem is either in the averaging algorithm (too short a distance?) or in the uncertainty that results from different satellites coming in and out of view. The variations seem to get worse under tree cover compared with an open area. Luckily there's a lap-average pace that can be presented and at least that value is useful and more accurate. The bottom line is that you can't look at the watch and say "right now I'm running 9 mins/mile". There is the ability to specify a pace smoothing factor but I have it maxed out and still see the variations. The elevation readout also seems inaccurate but that isn't important to me.

Upload of workout data to the PC software (Training Center) is transparent. The PC software is very good for presenting time/distance/pace/heartrate/calorie data. However the maps it shows are very crude. I've worked a bit with one of the online subscription services (MotionBased). That looks really good and provides some additional functionality beyond the included Training Center software although I still haven't decided if it's worth the $$$ yet for long-term data storage. MotionBased allows export to Google Earth and it's tremendously cool to see your running path superimposed on a satellite image. You can recharge the unit through the USB port on your computer although it's slower than using the dedicated recharger.

I had hoped that owning this device would prove motivational for me and indeed it has. I can't imagine running or biking without it. Updating my training log is trivial now: Plug this thing into my computer and it's done. My hope is that a future software update will do something about the pace calculation (maybe a few additional levels of smoothing?). If so the Forerunner 305 would earn 5 stars+++.

Positives:

Flawless heart rate sampling

Great distance measuring and lap-average pace calculation

Seamless integration with a PC

Fully-automatic training log update

User-customizable display

Negatives;

Wildly-varying pace readout.

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Garmin StreetPilot 7200 7-Inch Portable GPS Navigator

2010-03-13T21:45:00.001-08:00

FINALLY A GPS UNIT THAT IS WORTH BUYING

About time someone made a proper size screen that makes sense for use in cars. I have a really small vehicle Toyota Prius and this 7200 Streetfinder gps is perfect size for the car. There are many useful functions on the touch screen or you can use the remote control. The screen is big beautiful and bright if you want bright if not you can adjust it. I mainly like to just keep the unit on "map" function so I can see what streets are coming up especially at night when I an not in my neighborhood. The name of the next street is there is big bold letters but if you press the "speak" button on the remote it will announce the upcoming street. This thing is great and I highly recommend it. The cigarette power supply and bracket (one piece) makes it a snap to remove the unit for safe keeping. One easy motion and its off the bracket. Garmin really put a lot of thought into this one. There are so many ways this thing works but I don't want to write a book here. The only thing I can recommend is that if you are not going to mount it directly on top of your dashboard purchase the Garmin "Ga 25MCX Low Profile Gps" antenna that snaps into the back of the unit. It will give you great reception results instead of "searching for satellite" you will get "ready for navigation" in just a few moments. The wire that it comes attached to it is not too big and allows for easy squeezing into small places for easy concealment. I didn't have to mount it outside my car for great reception as a matter of fact just plugging it into the back of the unit made a great difference. For true mobile use I am sure Garmin will be coming out with a suction mount also in the near future. JUST ORDER IT YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED!!!! That is my opinion.More detail ...

Garmin nuvi 270 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator

2010-03-12T07:03:00.001-08:00

GPS With European Maps

The Garmin GPS was a godsend on our trip to Europe. If you have ever driven into cities or small towns in Europe you will know how difficult it is to navigate while trying to read foreign street signs dodging motor scooters and bicylists finding the right exit out of a around-about all the while being pushed along by the very aggressive drivers behind you. But with the GPS most of that stress goes away as you know when and where to turn and you drive through towns like a native. I was very impressed that even going through the miles long tunnels of the alps the GPS must be programmed to keep the unit tracking without a satellite signal because several minutes later coming out of the tunnel it still provides instructions. I purchased the pricier model 270 because of the factory installed European maps. If you purchased a GPS with only North America maps and had to load the European maps the cost of those maps would be another $250. It's less money to get the 270 or 370 with maps already loaded. The windshield mounting is excellent and worked well in the rental car. The Nuvi series GPS is convenient enough in size to be carried in the pocket for walking around the cities. But it does not work as well for pedestrian purposes because it cannot keep bearings well as you tend to rotate the device and it looses it sense of direction. I read all the reviews on GPS's and chose the Garmin because of it's higher ratings for search engine ease of use and maps. You will immediately become an expert user even without reading instructions with this device. It is literally that easy to use.More detail ...

Garmin Colorado 400t Handheld GPS Unit with U.S. Topographic Preloaded Maps

2010-03-11T11:27:00.001-08:00

Wonderful for the Amateur

I'm not one of those extreme high-end geocachers. I just love a walk in the woods. However I want to find the cache when I go to look for it. Last year I upgraded from a Garmin Explorer to a 60CSX and was in love. Unfortunately that got stolen. I've saved my money and now have the Colorado 400t. It's everything my 60CSX was and more. The new rocker control is a lot easier to use than the controls on the 60CSX or the Explorer. The accuracy is fantastic. With the City maps plugged in the road navigation is wonderful. This really is the best GPS unit I've used for hiking & caching. I'm really impressed with the ability to swap between profiles using the Automotive until I hit the trail and then switching back to the Geocaching mode. Start up time & satellite acquisition are good. They're now supporting SD instead of the mini-SD cards and that's a good choice on Garmin's part. A lot of the new interfaces are improved over the old ones plus like the old ones they're customizable.

Like everyone else the fact that only one cache at a time is visible is a pain but all the other features quickly wash that away. I haven't found the maps to be inaccurate but then I mainly use it for off-road hiking and the hills mountains & streams are pretty solidly in place even in Massachusetts. It is a little dim in bright sunlight.

Despite these small shortcomings this is a wonderful GPS unit. I intend to get years of use (and hang on to it more tightly).

UPDATE: Garmin released a software patch that fixed the problem with displaying multiple cache's. That's one less of the few and small negatives to worry about. I'm still loving this GPS unit.More detail ...

Garmin eTrex Legend HCx Personal Navigator

2010-03-10T10:46:00.001-08:00

Best All Around GPS

Excellent and versatile GPS that I use for geocaching driving mountain biking and hiking. I previously owned the Venture Cx and the display cracked due to my carelessness in the airline luggage. I upgraded to the new Legend HCx with the high sensitivity receiver and this unit significantly outperforms the older units. The new receiver fixes your location much faster and provides much better signal coverage. I noticed this as soon as I turned the Legend HCx on as I was able to get a fix inside my house.

The expandable memory option (Cx) of the etrex series allows you to store a tremendous amount of map info. I installed the TOPO and City Navigator Mapsets for the entire state of CA and I am able to switch between mapsets. When I am on the trail I "hide" the other mapsets and "show"/use the TOPO mapset. When driving on the road I switch to City Navigator to get turn by turn navigation to my destination.

The only cons about the etrex series is that they have a small screen to view while driving and the menus/control button configuration are complex. I had to install my unit right on the steering column for driving. It took me awhile to learn and use all the features of the City Navigator and to switch between mapsets. But for a pocket size all around GPS with excellent battery life these are acceptable compromises.More detail ...

Garmin StreetPilot c340 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator

2010-03-05T09:50:00.001-08:00

Accurate and Easy to Use Unit

Pros: Easy to use sharp screen clear voice instructions and less expensive than other GPS units with comparable features

Cons: Needs more dynamic search capabilities for POI (its a little too simple which is good and bad)

The Garmin C340 is a wonderful unit I've tested several other units such as the Navmans & Magellans but the Garmin was the hands down winner.

It has built in street level maps for both US and Canada - so there is no need to download detailed maps from your computer. In addition the interface is a breeze to use - w/o even reading the manual I was able to get it up and running. The screen is razor sharp and the navigation controls are intuitive. Another bonus is that it has a built in rechargable battery so you can walk around with it for a while or even program your next destination while you're away from the car.

I recommend this unit very highly - especially after reviewing the alternatives at this price point.

---------Update--------------

Just an update because I've taken my Garmin C340 to: 1) Toronto Canada 2) Omaha NE 3) Salt Lake City UT 4) Denver CO and 5) Seattle WA. I have to say it worked wonderfully. It NEVER led me astray and got me to my destinations without any problems. This is a definite must have because it's so compact and easy to program that it makes exploring new cities a breeze. Who needs to rent an expensive GPS unit from a rental car agency when you have the Garmin C340 with you! More detail ...

Garmin eTrex Vista HCx Color High-Sensitivity Mapping Handheld GPS

2010-03-02T06:05:00.000-08:00

FANTASTIC

If you are reading this and the other reviews of the Garmin eTrex Vista HCx then you are doing your homework and wondering if this GPS is as good as all the hype makes it out to be. The short answer is YES! I have an old Garmin 12 Map which has served me well but was getting a bit long in the tooth. I wanted something a bit smaller lighter with color screen and was water tight. The Vista HCx meets all of these needs and so many more. It is small in size but with a fairly big and bright screen (easily readable in the sun) for its size.

Every review I read touted the extra sensitive antenna and how it picked up and locked onto satellites inside of homes or buildings. Well I can honestly tell you that it does all this and does it quick. How this happens it Garmin magic. I was always told you had to have line of sight to pick up satellites but not in the case of the Vista HCx it can get them just about anywhere short of being in a bunker.

The menu is intuitive and easy to navigate so much more that my old Garmin 12 map. The long story short this little GPS is the one for everyone else to beat. If you are seriously considering a GPS purchase for hiking or navigating the back country do not look elsewhere this is the one to get!

The base maps in the Vista HCx are of course upgradeable through additional accessories purchases from Garmin (at substantial cost) but worth the money. How Garmin managed to pack so much into so little a package is a mystery to me. Do yourself a favor stop reading the review and just buy one you will not be disappointed.

BTW I purchased mine through Amazon.com and took advantage of the free shipping. It arrived four days ahead of when it was scheduled to arrive which was a nice surprise. Amazon has a very good price and I have always been happy with my purchases through them. And no I am not getting paid to say these nice things about Amazon I am just a very satisfied customer.

Dan...

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Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver With Heart Rate Monitor

2010-02-23T11:40:00.001-08:00

Garmin eTrex Venture HC GPS Receiver

2010-02-22T10:07:00.001-08:00

An outdoor GPS receiver as revolutionary as the original eTrex

Before buying this new Venture HC I had spent many hours trekking with several of the original eTrex models over the years. I think it's fair to say that while the concept of the original eTrex was great the execution was frequently disappointing.

It disappoints no more. The Venture HC is the eTrex perfected. It remedies almost every shortcoming that plagued the original models. The new high-sensitivity receiver is amazingly effective. Countless times I've stood in wide open spaces cursing my old eTrex because it wouldn't acquire a single satellite. Last night I turned on the Venture HC on the bottom floor of my two story house and it locked onto 8 satellites...through the roof and the upper floor! No more "need a clear view of the sky" messages. Amazing.

The old monochrome display has become color and the user interface is now substantially more intuitive while adding even more functionality. The cable which was serial on previous models has been upgraded to USB another welcome improvement. The case is somewhat wider than before but the design bears a strong resemblance to the original eTrex.

A basemap is included but it's just that - basic. It shows the largest highways bodies of water and has some limited capability to display highway exit services. If you need turn-by-turn street directions an eTrex is not for you. This is a GPS receiver true to Garmin's outdoor GPS heritage.

Promised battery life (14 hours) is near the bottom of the range when compared to the existing eTrex models but is still perfectly adequate and has posed no problems.

One weakness that remains is Garmin's waypoint manager PC software. It has the feel and functionality of a software product released circa 1994. Garmin could certainly develop a better PC interface. For $49 you can buy ExpertGPS from Topografix or download the free version (EasyGPS)from their website. Either is far more functional than the Garmin OEM software.

Still the software criticism is a quibble. The Venture HC itself is great. It is a market changing product that renders all previous eTrex models (and many competitors) obsolete. Finally an affordable outdoor GPS receiver that I can wholeheartedly recommend.

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