Showing posts with label gpsmap. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gpsmap. Show all posts

Garmin US TOPO 24K Topographical Maps of Washington and Oregon (microSD/SD Card) Review

Garmin US TOPO 24K Topographical Maps of Washington and Oregon (microSD/SD Card)
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This software was purchased to be used with the Garmin Rino 530HCX units, but this review may apply to other units as well, so beware.
First to note: You can only use this on one unit, and you are not able to backup the software for safekeeping or for use on more than one unit if you happen to own more than one. One card per unit. If you overwrite it, you loose it. You cannot use this card for viewing on your computer, or back it up for safekeeping. It has a lock code that prevents you from using it in any manner but inserting it into the gps unit. Technical support will not help you with this issue.It does not state any of this on the box. It is a micro SD card with an adapter, so it is small.
Second: On the Rino 530HCX, this product only gives the elevation contour of the area, with roads and some trails. No DEM shading, no 3-D modeling, etc. These limitations are not noted on or in the box, or anywhere on the Garmin website. Technical support said the flat contour map may be more detailed than the US topo map on CD, but they were not specific as to the differences, if any.
I visited the Garmin website, and it did say it had limited capability, and gave a few examples:
From the Garmin website:
" "Limited capability" may mean that a unit may be able to draw all the map features from the MapSource software, such as roads, lakes, nav-aids, depth contours, wrecks, etc., but the interactive capability of the maps may be limited. For example, you may not be able to "find nearest marinas" or look up additional text about a specific mapping feature. "
So before you purchase this product, or any other software product of this nature from Garmin, realize that they may not be fully disclosing all of the pertinent information.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Garmin US TOPO 24K Topographical Maps of Washington and Oregon (microSD/SD Card)

Outdoor enthusiasts: your adventure is waiting — in vivid detail. TOPO U.S. 24K – Northwest brings you the highest level of topographic detail available, with maps comparable to 1:24,000 scale USGS maps. These highly detailed maps include terrain contours, topo elevations, summits, routable roads and trails, parks, coastlines, rivers, lakes and geographical points — and they also display 3-D terrain shading on compatible devices. TOPO maps are ideal for hiking, hunting, camping, cycling and communing with nature. Coverage includes topographic detail of Washington and Oregon.

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Garmin MapSource Inland Lakes Continental United States Freshwater Map DVD (Windows) Review

Garmin MapSource Inland Lakes Continental United States Freshwater Map DVD (Windows)
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I bought this software for my Garmin Etrex Vista HCx GPS mainly for use while kayaking in Minnesota and Wisconsin. After checking the maps of lakes that are among the more fully detailed, however, I find them not up to par for my mapping needs, and I don't have the option of using another company's map program with my Garmin GPS since the format is proprietary.
I knew ahead of time that only about 8% of Minnesota's 15,000 lakes were represented, and not all 1200 lakes included in the software were shown in great detail. I wasn't happy about that, but at least I knew about it up front.
The most glaring omissions in Inland Lakes is where the map fails to show connections between some lakes in a chain, such as where Lake Calhoun connects with Lake of the Isles via canal in Minneapolis, rivers that connect to lakes but not on the map, such as where the Sauk River connects to Kraus Lake near Cold Spring MN, and rivers that are missing sections on the map where in reality they are contiguous, like the Sauk River again, between Cold Spring and the Mississippi River. If you are exploring inland lakes and rivers with these maps in your GPS, you would likely also need other maps that fill in the gaps in the electronic map. To me, if Garmin is going to charge as much as they do for a map, the lakes and rivers they include should at least be accurate. If I get in trouble in the wilderness while kayaking, an accurate map is a must. At the very least it is expected. Paper maps have less errors.
Because of these issues I am thinking of buying a Delorme PN-40 GPS which comes STANDARD with Topo USA including topographic, lake and street maps, and comes with a $100 credit toward their USGS Quad maps, aerial and satellite maps for about the same cost as my Garmin Vista HCx and one set of flawed optional maps. That way if one map isn't 100% accurate, I can check another one to fill in the blanks, and I'm quite sure that between Delorme's standard topographic and lake maps, I'll be able to find more than 1200 lakes in Minnesota. I'll have an even better chance of finding those hidden lakes with USGS Quad, aerial and satellite maps at my fingertips.
So in summation, I've found Garmin's Inland Lakes maps to be useful, but it's not as precise as I need it to be. That's too bad, because I like my Garmin Vista HCx GPS. Yet if I'd known about the flaws I found ahead of time, I never would have bought the maps or the GPS from Garmin. I'm still using the two for now, but I'll be checking Google Maps or Google Earth first, before I leave on a trip.

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Spend the day fishing, boating or just enjoying the water on thousands of lakes and waterways. U.S. Inland Lakes contains comprehensive coverage of freshwater lakes throughout the region. Most maps include contour lines, high-definition shoreline and bathymetric detail. They also contain navigation aids, wrecks and obstructions, river and creek channels, boat ramps, rivers and streams, and major roads and highways.

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Garmin LakeMaster CD-ROM for Garmin GPS Units, Minnesota Review

Garmin LakeMaster CD-ROM for Garmin GPS Units, Minnesota
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Pros:
The maps provide good contours, even in the boundary waters and small lakes that you wouldn't expect. Excellent 1 foot contours are available on popular lakes.
Cons:
I really didn't realize that I'd only be able to use this with just one unit. So, don't install this on your old GPS, because you're not able to transfer the maps to another unit. I think the sd card version solves this problem since you can just migrate it to other units.

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Native Minnesotans and other devotees of the land of 10,000 lakes will delight in this Minnesota LakeMaster CD-ROM from Garmin. Specifically designed for Garmin GPS navigators, the LakeMaster maps are a must for fisherman, but also provide valuable data for recreational boaters and other Minnesota water enthusiasts. The maps include high-definition 3-foot contours and underwater structure details of 51 of Minnesota's most popular fishing destinations, including Pelican, Vermilion, Winnibigoshish, Leech, Whitefish Chain, White Bear, Clearwater, and North Long Lakes. Map specifics also include islands, reefs, points, bays, access points, marinas, and more--all gathered from meticulous on-the-water surveys. Your Garmin GPS will use LakeMaster to accurately locate your boat on the map, as well as show detailed tracklines and waypoints. So quit cruising blindly when looking for the perfect Minnesota fishing spot and let Garmin do the work for you.

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TOPO National Geographic USGS Topographic Maps (California) Review

TOPO National Geographic USGS Topographic Maps (California)
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UPDATE 1/1/08: I just got a Mac after always previously using Windows. Great news--when I installed this 4.0 software, not only did it work fine, but it also corrected the two most serious objections I previously had with it. I now have no problems importing waypoints from my Garmin GPSmap 60CSx, and the software is now compatible with all the states I own from the previous Version 3 software. I don't know whether this is unique to Mac or whether it now works just as well with Windows, but when I did the installation, it automatically went to the National Geographic web site and downloaded a software update. I still give it 4 stars because of some of the other non-standard user interface choices, but these are easy enough to get used to. I didn't change the rest of the review, so keep this update in mind as you read it.
National Geographic topo maps are great if your understand their strengths and limitations (I have the Nevada version but they all work the same). First, don't expect to import the actual maps into a GPS receiver. These maps are raster-scanned directly from USGS 7.5' topos; GPS receivers use vector-graphic maps that are only available from your receiver's manufacturer (and they are much less detailed than NG maps). But you should never expect your GPS receiver's display to completely replace a paper map anyway. It's too small to show much detail, and if your receiver fails, you'd be out of luck. NOTE: Magellan has just introduced the Triton series, which is the first product designed to import maps from Topo!. This is a great advancement, but I haven't yet evaluated it to see how well it works.
Since these are based on USGS maps, they have the same high quality including tons of detail, but since many USGS maps are more than 10 years old, you won't necessarily get up-to-date information. Since topographic features don't ordinarily change as frequently as man-made features, you're usually OK, but keep this in mind.
These maps allow you do a lot of other things with your GPS. You can create waypoints on the computer, either by placing a marker on the map or by entering in the latitudes and longitudes of your points, then transferring them to the GPS. This is much easier than manually entering the info through your GPS user interface. You can also download tracks from your GPS receiver onto the map to see where you've been. And you can draw intended journeys directly on the map screen, then measure the distance and elevation profile of the route. The elevation profile is a bit noisy, but you get a pretty good idea of how much elevation change you'll experience on a hike. The tool you use to draw the route on the screen could benefit from an improved user interface, but with a little practice you can get pretty good at it. If you make a mistake, hold down the right mouse button to erase the error. One thing I like is that you can print out a custom paper map, and if you print using your inkjet on NG's waterproof paper, you can get a custom color map that really is waterproof. This latest edition is designed to work with USB receivers like the Garmin GPSMap 60-series. This is a tremendous advantage compared to the previous edition. BUT please note that it isn't completely compatible with the new GPSMap60CSx. It doesn't import waypoint names properly, they end up being simple numbers starting at 001. For some reason this isn't a problem with the older GPSMap60Cs.
The main objection I have is that it isn't easily compatible with the previous edition. In my case, I had the prior edition for California, and expected the California CDs to work with the new software. But for some reason they don't. So I have to leave the old edition installed for the California maps and the new one for Nevada maps. Fortunately I can use the USB capability of the Nevada software to download the California waypoints and tracks from my 60CSx. I then have to save the .tpo file, launch the old edition software and pull up the California map, then import the .tpo file. Very inconvenient, but at least there is a way to make it work. I guess they would prefer I buy a new edition of the California maps.
The only other thing to note is that they still haven't completely adopted Windows user interface conventions. For example, there are no scroll bars on the side and bottom of the map to allow you to move the map on your screen. You have to move your cursor to the edge of the map, watch for the cursor to change to an arrow, and hold down the mouse button. The direction of scroll depends on exactly where on the screen your cursor is. Another observation is that there is no EDIT menu, so I can't easily cut and paste data into other applications. But these are relatively small concerns that you can quickly adapt to. All in all this is a very valuable tool that I highly recommend.

Click Here to see more reviews about: TOPO National Geographic USGS Topographic Maps (California)

National Geographic's TOPO! State Series CD-ROM equips backcountry explorers with the maps they need to reach mountain peaks, secluded lakes, and every road in between. Just pop this CD-ROM into your computer, and with easy-to-use tools, you can create your routes, generate elevation profiles, and view maps and trails in 3D. You can also transfer routes and waypoints between your computer and your GPS. The State Series uses the most detailed USGS topographic maps available, showing essential landmarks and navigational aids, so you'll know where to go on your backpacking, mountain biking, kayaking, and fishing adventures.

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Garmin City Navigator North America for Detailed Maps of the United State, Canada and Mexico (DVD) Review

Garmin City Navigator North America for Detailed Maps of the United State, Canada and Mexico (DVD)
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The software is OK, but not great. Other reviews mention its limitations and shortcomings. The main problem is that the unlock process is complex and has draconian restrictions. You don't get an unlock code with the product. Instead you get a certificate with an 8 digit code. Then submit this 8 digit code, in combination with a serial number for a GPS unit, to Garmin in order to obtain a 25 digit unlock key. Finally you enter the 25 digit unlock key. (Got all that?) Since you can't use the maps on a PC unless you also enter the serial number for a portable device, you can't buy this software just for PC use.
Garmin makes good products and I've been a longtime customer. Between work and home I own 7 of their units. But I'm losing my loyalty to them because they're constantly nickel-and-diming us for updates and making us jump through crazy hoops. Avoid this product unless you REALLY need the updated maps (which are not truly up-to-date, as others have mentioned). Instead try finding the old MetroGuide, which was much more user friendly.
Being a software developer myself I can sympathize with Garmin's concern for piracy. But they need to weigh that against the burden they are putting on honest users. I regret buying this product and will start looking at other vendors for my home and business GPS applications.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Garmin City Navigator North America for Detailed Maps of the United State, Canada and Mexico (DVD)

Thanks to the Garmin MapSource City Navigator North America NT Version 8, which gives you access to all the data you need to navigate North America, you may never have to ask for directions again. This software automatically creates point-to-point routes in MapSource and on your NT compatible Global Positioning System (GPS), and includes detailed, premium street maps of North America, plus a hefty points of interest database at your fingertips.
Featuring full coverage of the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, including metropolitan and rural areas, the Garmin MapSource City Navigator North America NT Version 8 makes it a snap to travel to a new city, look up your hotel, restaurants, and other services, and then use your compatible Garmin GPS to guide you there. For added convenience, you'll be able to take advantage of detailed maps containing highways, interstates, business and residential roads with attributes such as turn restrictions, roundabout guidance, speed categories and other navigation features. Ideal for vacation-planning, the Garmin MapSource City Navigator North America NT Version 8 also displays nearly six million points of interest, such as postal offices, attractions, shopping, and emergency services. The Garmin MapSource City Navigator North America NT Version 8 and data cards include the same detailed maps, points of interest and coverage areas as the traditional City Navigator North America data, just compressed differently for your NT compatible unit.The Garmin MapSource City Navigator North America NT Version 8 is designed for use with StreetPilot 2720, 2730, 2820, 7200, 7500 and the StreetPilot C-Series. It's also compatible with the StreetPilot i-Series, iQue 3000, M3, M4, Quest 2 and various handhelds such as GPSMAP 60Cx/60CSx/76Cx/76CSx and eTrex Legend Cx/Vista Cx.

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Garmin TOPO Topographical Maps (Canada) Review

Garmin TOPO Topographical Maps (Canada)
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The topo maps are fine on this product, but for hiking I wouldn't bother - there are no trails. I searched around Jasper National Park and Cape Breton in Nova Scotia, and couldn't find *any* trails in this map set at any level of zoom or detail. If you're used to the US Topo maps by Garmin, you'll be disappointed. The disks I received from Amazon said "Version 2.0", which were ordered in August, 2007.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Garmin TOPO Topographical Maps (Canada)

We've mapped every hill and valley for your next great adventure. TOPO Canada covers the finer details of the outdoors, including terrain contours, topo elevations, summits, routable roads and trails, rivers, lakes and geographical points. TOPO maps are ideal for hiking, hunting, camping, cycling and communing with nature. Coverage includes topographic detail throughout Canada. Available on DVD.

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Garmin GPSMAP 430S 4-Inch Waterproof Marine GPS and Chartplotter Review

Garmin GPSMAP 430S 4-Inch Waterproof Marine GPS and Chartplotter
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We installed this unit on our boat and got it working immediately, no problems whatsoever. We bought it for all the inland lakes in Michigan and it has details on all the ones that we boat on. However, we are going to have to pay an additional $130 for Lake St. Clair! Granted it is not an inland lake.
The included lake maps do provide useful outlines of the lakes.
The depth sonar and gps both work well on the lakes and we have had no problems.
However and but... Here are the reasons why I only rated it 3 stars and not higher.
1) Garmin customer support is seriously lacking. It is way too difficult to get a straight answer out of Garmin if you can even get an answer!
2) Garmin's advertising is misleading. We have found this to be true on every Garmin unit we have bought (and returned some for that reason). If you buy a Garmin unit, be absolutely certain what the Return Policy is from where you bought it. One place wanted a 15% restocking fee (which was NOT clearly displayed) but I discussed this with the manager, stating the the salesclerk said it was returnable and did not state that there was a restocking fee and the unit itself did not perform as advertised. In that case the manager acquiesced.
3) The biggest problem with this particular unit is that the detail displayed for the inland lakes is insufficient for navigation! Many of our lakes have very shallow areas (less than 5 feet) and you do not want to be at speed when traversing those areas. This unit will NOT show the lake depths, on the Navigation display screen, to any degree of usefullness even if you zoom in/out! I carry both printed maps and satellite views of any of the lakes we go out on. But with Garmin's statements, descriptions and pictures, I was led to believe that I would not have to refer back to paper maps!
If you want some good printable lake maps, go to Sportsman's Connection https://www.sportsmansconnection.com and they have some very good topo lake maps at a reasonable cost.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Garmin GPSMAP 430S 4-Inch Waterproof Marine GPS and Chartplotter

The Garmin GPSMAP 430s Chartplotter with Dual Beam Transducer provides big capability in a small, sleek package. With plenty of built-in functionality and compatibility for upgrades or expansions, the 430s is the perfect companion for any boater looking to get out on the water and start exploring, or to simply plot a safe course from point A to point B.
The Garmin 430s chartplotter uses a crisp, ultra-bright, full-color 4-inch QVGA display with 320 x 240 pixels of resolution and over 800 nits of brightness that lets you easily distinguish bottom detail and fish from background structure. The 430s lets you view your position with pinpoint accuracy to within less than three meters via its powerful, WAAS-enabled GPS antenna, and comes with a built-in, satellite-enhanced worldwide basemap, as well as detailed maps of inland U.S. lakes. What's more, compatibility with the optional BlueChart g2 Vision card allows you to further enhance this unit's mapping capabilities with features such as high-resolution aerial reference photos for help navigating tricky harbors and channels, or locating spots like area marinas or fuel stops. The g2 Vision card also lets the 430s provide graphical depictions in a true 3D mariner's-eye topside view, or fish-eye underwater perspective.
The Garmin 430s features intuitive navigation with fewer buttons to push and operational steps to traverse, and a simplified menu format that makes it easier for you to see and select the data you want to access on-screen, as well as a tilt and swivel mount bracket that lets you set it for optimum positioning. The 430s also features a backlit keypad for easier operation at night, and a new night mode function that provides optimum readability in low-light conditions. The 430s can also provide auto guidance via the optional g2 Vision card, which searches all your chart features in order to suggest the best known charted route for navigation, so you always have a knowledgeable guide to local hazards and waterways on deck with you.
The 430s is designed to be easily adaptable to various conditions with a choice of dual-beam or dual-frequency sonar to clearly portray depth contours, fish targets, structure and more. This unit comes with dual-beam, transom-mount transducer with a wider coverage especially suited to spotting more fish underneath your boat in fresh water. Made to be upgradeable and expandable, the Garmin 430s includes built-in CANet connectivity that enables its sonar data to be shared with other chartplotter displays on your boat. This unit weighs 1.5 pounds, and measures just 5.7 x 5 x 2.7 inches (W x H x D) allowing it to be placed virtually anywhere.
What's in the Box Garmin 430s chartplotter, dual-beam transducer, tilt/swivel mount bracket, power and data cables, protective cover and owner's manual.

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Garmin City Navigator North America NT (microSD Card) Review

Garmin City Navigator North America NT (microSD Card)
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The maps are very detailed and they contain a plethora of POI's (Points of Interest). On very important point though any buyer should be aware of.
You can't download the maps contained on this Micro SD card to your Mapsource Software, which pretty much makes the Mapsource software useless.
I contacted Garmin and the very friendly customer service rep. said that the Micro SD cards maps can't be downloaded off the card on to your PC. She recommended (as I would) that if you want to be able to view the maps on your PC and use the PC to map routes, edit waypoints etc. buy the DVD's not the Micro SD. They are the same price.
Bottom-line. If you want to just pop the card in your GPS device and use it then this item is probably the way to go. If you want to do more, especially with your PC, then get the DVD instead. I wish I had known this before I ordered non returnable software.


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Garmin MicroSD Map Cards feature digital geographic data that can be used in many Garmin products. This mapping detail supplements the unit's existing basemap data and improves navigation.

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Garmin Rino 130 5-Mile 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio and GPS Receiver Review

Garmin Rino 130 5-Mile 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio and GPS Receiver
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available all over in the low to mid $200 range.
i have the 120 also. great for motorcycling with wife. between communication n decent gps
(neither great alone,one futzes with the optimal performance of the other,but not enough for me not to stay with the rino model come upgrade time) i think its a usefull product.
UNLESS i get around to getting a cell phone. my wifes has bluetooth w/cordless headset,as does my son.that makes the best person to per talking setup ive seen,,gps too!
only thing missing,and for motorcycling or backpacking is the "friend location finder" rite there on the rino screen.
say she is having a problem with the rite channel or whatever,,i can still "see her" on my screen and find her.
it happened once,and we hooked up in less than 20 minutes..we were on the highway,and she took a exit,by the time i turned around and got to her exit,i could find her down the road. we lost sight of each other,and she thought i was way up ahead of her,but i was just a bit in front,but hidden by a truck,i saw her turn off in my mirror,and ya ya ya,,found her in no time.
also great i think is at the fair for handing to one of the kids. then if they arent talking,,you can still find/see them.
they are a bit pricy though. i wonder why no one else hasnt tried to make a similar one??


Click Here to see more reviews about: Garmin Rino 130 5-Mile 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio and GPS Receiver

The the most feature-rich device in the Rino family, Garmin's Rino 130 (bilingual edition) 2-way FRS/GMRS radio and GPS receiver comes fully loaded with an electronic compass, a barometric sensor, a weather receiver for 7 NOAA weather channels, and 24 MB of internal memory for downloading and storing MapSource detail--including data from products like U.S. Topo 24K, U.S. Topo, Recreational Lakes, BlueChart, and MetroGuide (MapSource products sold separately). The Rino 130 is also outfitted with a marine-point database and a basemap of North and South America. The database includes nautical navaids for North and South America. The Americas Highway basemap includes the United States, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, and Central and South America, and covers an area from W180 to W30 Longitude and S60 to N75 Latitude. Also included is a high-level worldwide map with political boundaries and major cities. Among many other included elements are oceans, rivers, and lakes (greater than 30 square miles), principal cities and many smaller cities and towns, major interstates and principal highways, and political boundaries (state and international borders). The Rino 130 also offers 10,000 tracklogs versus 2,048 with the Rino 120. The 130 also comes ready with amassive 24 MB of memory unlike the Rino 120 with 8MB. Lastly the 130 shines with the very useful electronic compass, altimeter, glide ratio, glide ratio to destination, and vertical speed to destination features that the Rino 120 lacks.
Integration has its advantages: the Rino 130 sends and receives GPS locations using FRS channels and shows them on the map. The GPS device is a 12-channel, WAAS-enabled GPS receiver. WAAS, which stands for Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), is the global-positioning-system of choice for mariners. The handheld's built-in electronic compass give a heading while you're standing still, and its barometric altimeter provides accurate elevation and pressure readings to help you identify and analyze weather conditions.
The Rino 130 also provides two-way radio communication with a transmission range of up to two miles using FRS channels and up to five miles with GMRS (be aware that use of GMRS requires an FCC license). The integration of two-way radio and GPS lets you transmit your position with a simple button press, so others can easily navigate to your position. The Rino 130 also has a polling feature so you can manually request GPS location information from other Rino units.
You get 14 FRS channels, 8 GMRS channels, and 8 GMRS repeater channels, as well as 38 sub-audible squelch codes per transmission channel for semi-private radio communications.
The unit's ergonomic design grants single-handed operation, with its Call, Page mode, and Press-To-Talk (PTT) buttons mounted on the side, Power/Backlighting button on top, Volume and Zoom buttons on front, and a Thumb Stick positioned in the center. The thumb stick allows channel selection and volume adjustment in FRS/GMRS mode, as well as quick map panning, enter, and selection functions in GPS mode.
Other features include a backlit display (160 x 160 pixels), external voice activation (VOX), waterproof construction to IPX-7 standards (immersible in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes), storage for up to 500 waypoints with graphic identification and 20 reversible routes, 10,000 trackpoints and up to 20 saved tracks to retrace your path or a companion's path via the location-reporting feature, trip computer with speed tracking, sunrise/sunset read out, trip time, and trip distance, and multiple grid formats including MGRS and Loran TD. The Rino 130 even sends and receives short text notes for quiet communication.
The Rino 130 has a battery life of 14 hours (typical use) on 3 AA alkaline batteries (not included).

The WAAS differenceWAAS is a system of satellites and ground stations that provide GPS signal corrections, giving you even better position accuracy. How much better? Try an average of up to five times better. A WAAS-capable receiver can give you a position accuracy of better than three meters 95 percent of the time. And you don't have to purchase additional receiving equipment or pay service fees to utilize WAAS.
How it Works WAAS consists of approximately 25 ground reference stations positioned across the United States that monitor GPS satellite data. Two master stations, located on either coast, collect data from the reference stations and create a GPS correction message. This correction accounts for GPS satellite orbit and clock drift plus signal delays caused by the atmosphere and ionosphere. The corrected differential message is then broadcast through one of two geostationary satellites, or satellites with a fixed position over the equator. The information is compatible with the basic GPS signal structure, which means any WAAS-enabled GPS receiver can read the signal.
Who benefits from WAAS? Currently, WAAS satellite coverage is only available in North America. There are no ground reference stations in South America, so even though GPS users there can receive WAAS, the signal has not been corrected and thus would not improve the accuracy of their unit. For some users in the U.S., the position of the satellites over the equator makes it difficult to receive the signals when trees or mountains obstruct the view of the horizon. WAAS signal reception is ideal for open land and marine applications. WAAS provides extended coverage both inland and offshore compared to the land-based DGPS (differential GPS) system. Another benefit of WAAS is that it does not require additional receiving equipment, while DGPS does.What's in the Box Rino 130 receiver, a PC-interface cable, a wrist strap, a belt clip, a user's manual, and a quick-reference guide.

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TOPO National Geographic USGS Topographic Maps (Arizona) Review

TOPO National Geographic USGS Topographic Maps (Arizona)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
UPDATE 1/1/08: I just got a Mac after always previously using Windows. Great news--when I installed this 4.0 software, not only did it work fine, but it also corrected the two most serious objections I previously had with it. I now have no problems importing waypoints from my Garmin GPSmap 60CSx, and the software is now compatible with all the states I own from the previous Version 3 software. I don't know whether this is unique to Mac or whether it now works just as well with Windows, but when I did the installation, it automatically went to the National Geographic web site and downloaded a software update. I still give it 4 stars because of some of the other non-standard user interface choices, but these are easy enough to get used to. I didn't change the rest of the review, so keep this update in mind as you read it.
National Geographic topo maps are great if your understand their strengths and limitations (I have the Nevada version but they all work the same). First, don't expect to import the actual maps into a GPS receiver. These maps are raster-scanned directly from USGS 7.5' topos; GPS receivers use vector-graphic maps that are only available from your receiver's manufacturer (and they are much less detailed than NG maps). But you should never expect your GPS receiver's display to completely replace a paper map anyway. It's too small to show much detail, and if your receiver fails, you'd be out of luck. NOTE: Magellan has just introduced the Triton series, which is the first product designed to import maps from Topo!. This is a great advancement, but I haven't yet evaluated it to see how well it works.
Since these are based on USGS maps, they have the same high quality including tons of detail, but since many USGS maps are more than 10 years old, you won't necessarily get up-to-date information. Since topographic features don't ordinarily change as frequently as man-made features, you're usually OK, but keep this in mind.
These maps allow you do a lot of other things with your GPS. You can create waypoints on the computer, either by placing a marker on the map or by entering in the latitudes and longitudes of your points, then transferring them to the GPS. This is much easier than manually entering the info through your GPS user interface. You can also download tracks from your GPS receiver onto the map to see where you've been. And you can draw intended journeys directly on the map screen, then measure the distance and elevation profile of the route. The elevation profile is a bit noisy, but you get a pretty good idea of how much elevation change you'll experience on a hike. The tool you use to draw the route on the screen could benefit from an improved user interface, but with a little practice you can get pretty good at it. If you make a mistake, hold down the right mouse button to erase the error. One thing I like is that you can print out a custom paper map, and if you print using your inkjet on NG's waterproof paper, you can get a custom color map that really is waterproof. This latest edition is designed to work with USB receivers like the Garmin GPSMap 60-series. This is a tremendous advantage compared to the previous edition. BUT please note that it isn't completely compatible with the new GPSMap60CSx. It doesn't import waypoint names properly, they end up being simple numbers starting at 001. For some reason this isn't a problem with the older GPSMap60Cs.
The main objection I have is that it isn't easily compatible with the previous edition. In my case, I had the prior edition for California, and expected the California CDs to work with the new software. But for some reason they don't. So I have to leave the old edition installed for the California maps and the new one for Nevada maps. Fortunately I can use the USB capability of the Nevada software to download the California waypoints and tracks from my 60CSx. I then have to save the .tpo file, launch the old edition software and pull up the California map, then import the .tpo file. Very inconvenient, but at least there is a way to make it work. I guess they would prefer I buy a new edition of the California maps.
The only other thing to note is that they still haven't completely adopted Windows user interface conventions. For example, there are no scroll bars on the side and bottom of the map to allow you to move the map on your screen. You have to move your cursor to the edge of the map, watch for the cursor to change to an arrow, and hold down the mouse button. The direction of scroll depends on exactly where on the screen your cursor is. Another observation is that there is no EDIT menu, so I can't easily cut and paste data into other applications. But these are relatively small concerns that you can quickly adapt to. All in all this is a very valuable tool that I highly recommend.

Click Here to see more reviews about: TOPO National Geographic USGS Topographic Maps (Arizona)

TOPO! harnesses the power of authentic USGS topographic maps in an intuitive software product that recreation enthusiasts and professionals use to customize and print photo-quality topographic maps. TOPO! includes five levels of seamless mapping, including USA maps from the National Geographic World Atlas, USGS 1:100,000 scale mapping - perfect for back road navigation - and USGS 1:24,000 scale maps, also known as 7.5 minute quads. Users can custom-center the map in any location, add their routes, trails and notes. In addition, users can transfer waypoints and routes between TOPO! and their GPS units. TOPO! includes added content and features not on USGS maps: updated streets and roads, shaded relief, 3D views and fly-throughs and elevation profiles. Users can download map and software updates, and can print waterproof maps on their inkjet printers with Adventure Paper. The USA Placefinder locates more than a million places and natural features.

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Garmin MapSource 2008 Topographical U.S. Map DVD-Rom Review

Garmin MapSource 2008 Topographical U.S. Map DVD-Rom
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(More customer reviews)
First, I'm not knocking the TOPO US too much. It is expensive and does not have high resolution but it fills a niche. If you need a TOPO map in a hurry, I suppose it is the best alternative.
I've had my Garmin Legend HCx for several months now. During this time, I've hunted for a reliable alternative to TOPO US, rendering 24K resolution and not limited to a few National Parks.
Looking really paid off. The best solution that I've found is the following:
* Free Maps from USGS Seamless Server (24K TOPOs as GeoTiff files) $0
* Any graphics editor program that can handle .tif format$0
* Mapwell (Basic) Google to find(includes raster/vector conversion) $45
* TrackMaker (free version) Google to find $0

Total: $45
Process:
1. Search, select, download GeoTiff map from USGS Seamless Server (15 minutes)
NOTE ADDED 4/2010: Mapwell Basic can now read coordinates on GeoTiff files, making steps 2,3, and part of 4 obsolete.
2. Review the .xml data, downloaded with the map to determine the extent of the map: Northwest and Southeast boundary. (5 minutes)
3. Open GeoTiff file in graphics editor. Save as new .tif file, stripping out the embedded geo data. (5 minutes)
4. Open the new .tif file in Mapwell. Add extent information from Step 2. Add graphics features and waypoints(optional). Run vectorization option, creating a new set of Garmin IMG files (10 minutes - more if you want to add your own art)
5. Upload new map set into Garmin. Mapwell has a great Garmin upload/download manager. No need to use Mapsource although you can use it to add Mapsource maps. (1 minute)
Time burned: 36 minutes
TrackMaker (free version or licensed) is also a great product for creating tracks, waypoints, many more features. It also has a fine Garmin upload/download manager. So you can either load waypoints and features directly into the Garmin or embed them in the map itself while using Mapwell.
The only disadvantage that I've discovered in the process is that Mapwell works too well. That is, the vectorization of 24K maps produces superb quality maps that take 10-20 seconds to render in the Garmin (at 1 mile). The closer in you go, the faster the rendering.


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Explore every nook and cranny of the U.S. with the help of Garmin's Topo U.S. 2008 topographical mapping software. The DVD features digital topographical maps for the entire U.S., including Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, with a host of valuable details. It's also easy and convenient to load data to your compatible Garmin device. Just pop the DVD in your PC, then connect your Garmin GPS receiver via its USB port. Once connected, you'll have access to topographical mapping detail no matter where your adventures take you. Details include:

Digital topographic maps, comparable to 1:100,000 scale USGS maps
Terrain contours and topo elevations
Summit locations with elevations
Trails and rural roads; city neighborhood roads
Interstates and major highways
National, state, and local parks, forests, and wilderness areas
Coastline, lake and river shoreline; wetlands; perennial and seasonal streams
Searchable database of cities, geographic names, summits, lakes, and more
Elevation profile on PC and compatible units; estimate terrain difficulty
Allows you to plan your next outdoor adventure on your PC and download routes, waypoints, and map detail to your compatible Garmin GPS
Lakes, reservoirs, waterways, rivers, and streams with icons to represent boat ramps, dams, campgrounds, and trails


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Trimble GeoXH Handheld GIS Data Collector, Geo XH Review

Trimble GeoXH Handheld GIS Data Collector, Geo XH
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I am posting this because i dont want some body to think they are getting the latest 2008 model of Geo XH, that the picture shows,the product description is for a 2005 model GEO XH. I told Amazon but they sent me a reply and said they didnt see the need to change it, Go Figure. A new 2008 Model is over $5,000.00. The Price is OK for a Used 2005 or a 2008. just wanted to tell the difference

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For high-accuracy GIS data collection and asset relocation, the Trimble® GeoXHTM handheld is the ultimate integrated solution. Engineered with Trimble H-StarTM technology, the GeoXH handheld delivers the accuracy you need when you need it. It is ideal for electric and gas utilities, water and wastewater services, land reform projects, and other applications where on-the-spot positioning is crucial.The GeoXH handheld provides real-time subfoot (30 cm) accuracy with the internal antenna, and decimeter (10 cm) accuracy with an optional ZephyrTM external antenna. Because high accuracy positions are available in real-time, you can track down buried and hidden assets with ease, and excavate cables and pipes without wasted effort or risk of damage to nearby assets. Back-office data processing is eliminated, streamlining asset inventories and as-built mapping jobs. The handheld gives you all the power you need to work with maps and large data sets in the field, and its high resolution VGA display allows for crisp and clear viewing of your data.With the GeoXH handheld you have the flexibility to work exactly the way you want to. The handheld is powered by the industry-standard Windows Mobile® version 5 operating system, so you can choose a software solution designed for your field requirements, whether off-the-shelf or purpose-built. And you can use the built-in wireless LAN connection to access your organization's secure network and get the most up-to-date information. With Bluetooth® wireless technology, the GeoXH handheld offers wireless connection to a Bluetooth-enabled cellular phone for access to the Internet to receive real-time corrections from a VRSTM network and background map data. You can also wirelessly connect to other devices such as Bluetooth-enabled laser rangefinders and barcode scanners for convenient cable-free solutions that keep you productive in the field.

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Garmin Rino 520 14-Mile 22-Channel Waterproof FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio and GPS Navigator Review

Garmin Rino 520 14-Mile 22-Channel Waterproof FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio and GPS Navigator
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For the longest time, I resisted geting a GPS. Any soldier worth his stripes should be able to figure out his ground position to within 100m just by comparing the ground to his map, and maybe shooting a bearing with his compass.
But then I picked up a cheapie Garmin Etrex, and while it doesn't replace the map and terrain reading skills (by a long shot) the ability to generate an exact position fix at a moment's notice comes in very handy, especially when one is operating in an unfamilliar area. GPS may be a crutch, but it is an *effective* crutch.
There were a few small problems with the Etrex though. It was very sensitive to sky view, such that it often lost signal inside a vehicle unless it was on the dash. It didn't do mapping, and it would eat AA batteries at a ferocious rate. With the newer, fancier units on the market, I started thinking about upgrading.
Many of the troops in my unit have Rino 120 FRS/GPS units. It can be handy to have an additional means of communication other than the issue radios, and the position reporting function was interesting, so I bought a Rino 520 - specifically a 520 vice a 530 because of reports of better battery life, and the extra geegaws on the 530 didn't seem to have much practical purpose.
Wow!
1) The 520 has tons of memory, such that I could upload topo maps for every area I was likely to operate in and still have room to spare. The detail and accuracy has been outstanding, and having street names (which the issue 1:50k maps lack) has been a godsend.
2) It is much less sensitive to sky cover than the Etrex was. It'll still lose signal if (say) stuffed in a glovebox, but it'll work on your lap in a vehicle, where the Etrex would not.

3) The "breadcrumb" track mapping means I can record everywhere I go, and then download the tracks to my computer later via Mapsource - which can then be overlaid on satellite imagery via Google Earth (which has already proven useful in proving that I was at a certain place at a certain time)
4) The routing function and the turn-by-turn instructions were recently tested on a 900km road move, and worked - although the unit made a couple of odd suggestions, and I think it may have been hampered by not having detail maps loaded for the entire route.
5) It has a nifty "alarm clock" mode, where you set the alarm, and the unit shuts off - and then turns itself on and screeches at the appropriate time. Cool!
6) The data pages are customizable, meaning you can set up pages that contain just the info you need.
7) The radio and position location/transmit functions work exactly as advertised. I don't yet have a good feel for the max range of the radio (even in 5W mode) but it's not huge. The speaker gets all distorted at max volume, but when used with an earbud it is just fine. My gut tells me the radio is fair to good.
8) The only real concern I've had has been battery life and the fact that it uses a proprietary batty pack that must be recharged from wall current - which can be tough to find sometimes. But so far, battery life has been exceptional (a three day exercise with heavy radio use only dropped to 60%, and a 2-day road move with the radio turned off finished at 90% used) and an add-on pack that uses normal AA batteries (at the cost of dropping max transmit power to 2W) is availible.
Overall, this is a great unit, and highly recommended.
DG

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No matter where your outdoor activities take you, the Rino 520 keeps you on track and in touch. This rugged, two-way radio with GPS packs a bold color display, 12-mile communication range, and turn-by-turn directions -- giving you peace of mind in the great outdoors. Exclusive position-reporting capability and a host of other unique features, make the 520 one of the best all-in-one two-way radio and GPS receivers around. As with other members of the Rino family, the 520's patented location-reporting feature allows you to send and receive GPS positions with other Rino users in your group. One call to your partner's Rino, and your location shows up on the map page. You can even poll another Rino user's location in emergency situations. Additional features unique to the 520 include:Whopping 5 watts of transmit power (transmit power limited to 2 watts in Canada with a range up to 8 miles). Bold color TFT display makes it easy to see and navigate to family or friends with Rinos at an amusement park, lake, or other outdoor group activity. Automatic route generation, off-route recalculation, turn-by-turn directions with alert tones, and icon-driven menus for finding points of interest (when combined with Garmin's optional MapSource City Select software) navigate you safely to your next outdoor adventure. Mini USB and 56 megabytes of internal memory for rapid download and lots of map storage of Garmin's entire line of outdoor cartography. Rechargeable internal lithium-ion battery provides up to 16 hours of outdoor use. Customize map data for your adventures on land or sea with Garmin's entire line of optional outdoor cartography including U.S. Topo 24K, U.S. Topo, Recreational Lakes with Fishing Hot Spots, and BlueChart. Rino 520: Two-way radio with GPS keeping you on track and in touch.

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Magellan GPS 310 1.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Review

Magellan GPS 310 1.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
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The Magellan 310 holds 100 waypoints in memory. Higher priced units hold 500, but since I am not a "world traveler" 100 is fine with me. The unit does not come with an NMEA cable to connect to a PC, but Magellan will send you one free if you pay the 5 dollar shipping charge. The owners manual explains all of the features of the unit in sufficient detail that even I can operate it.
The manual is overly pessimistic in regard to the time the unit takes to "fix" a location. The manual says 2 to 5 minutes for a location fix, but I get a "lock" in 30 to 50 seconds most of the time. Sitting on my sofa, in front of a window, the unit obtained a postion fix in 45 seconds with the venetian blinds only partially open. Venturing into a desert canyon the unit performed even faster. With most of the horizon blocked by the canyon walls the 310 locked in a postion fix in 30 seconds.
The 310 also performed well in a moving car, with the unit propped up on top of the dashboard. In the moving car the 310 maintained a lock on enough satellites to register speed of travel and a working "North" arrow.
It doesn't have the bells, whistles, moving maps, etc. of the higher priced units, but it does what I wanted it to do when I bought it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Magellan GPS 310 1.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator

The Magellan GPS 310 is an affordable 12-channel global positioningsystem receiver with an NMEA 0183 output for downloading map data from optionalCD-ROMs via your PC. This GPS unit's quadrifilar antenna locks on to satellitesfor accurate positioning in all kinds of terrain.
View your navigation information on any of three graphic screens with a powerfulbacklight for dim conditions. Other GPS features include 100 waypoints, onereversible route with 10 legs, and a resettable trip odometer that tells you howfar you've traveled so you can estimate the time you need to start back.Distance, bearing, heading, direction, steering, speed, time to go, elevation,XTE, time, and satellite elevation are all displayed on the high-resolution LCDscreen. Tough rubber armoring protects this unit in the field, and waterproofingallows it to float.
The GPS 310 runs on two AA alkaline batteries for up to 20 hours. It comes witha wrist strap and quick-reference guide. It is covered by a one-year warranty.

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Garmin GPS GPS MAP76 CSx - Garmin Part #010-00469-00 Review

Garmin GPS GPS MAP76 CSx - Garmin Part #010-00469-00
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After having used my friend's Garmin eTrex I wanted a GPS of my own. I chose this one thinking it would be substantially better since the price was substantially more. This one is better (display, memory, battery life) but it still has small inaccuracies. Maybe all GPS units are that way or maybe it is just the mapping software. I like that it is water-resistant because I can be a clutz. Once I learned how to use all the buttons it wasn't so intimidating. I just wish it had more city streets downloaded on it but again, maybe that is something else I need to purchase separately.

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GPS, GPSMAP 76CSX, 128MB MICROSD,

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Garmin MapSource WorldMap (CD-ROM) Review

Garmin MapSource WorldMap (CD-ROM)
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I bought this to use with my Garmin eMap. For the USA the detail level is the same as came preinstalled on the unit--major highways. I've used it in London, Cambridge, Paris, Tokyo and Munich. There isn't really enough detail to find your way around any of these cities but it is useful for e.g. finding your way from suburb to suburb. The River Cam wasn't very close to where the map had it so it helps to use one's eyes. The maps are dated. We are developing a site in the high Andes near San Pedro de Atacama for the ALMA telescope--the map of that region did not show the Jama Road from Calama to Salta Argentina, a major international route (admittedly less than a decade old--but paved!).

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Garmin's WorldMap MapSource CD-ROM provides worldwide coverage with basemap-level detail, including political boundaries, cities, towns, major motorwaysand/or interstates, and principal highways; lakes, major streams, and rivers;and urban areas and railroads. WorldMap displays excellent coastline detail thatincludes many offshore islands, as well as worldwide nautical navigation aidssuch as day beacons, radio beacons, RACONs, fog signals, lights, and buoys. Alsoshown are U.S. interstate exit information, such as service stations, gasstations, restaurants, hotels, campsites, hospitals, banks, and more. WorldMapincludes management functions that allow you to transfer waypoints, routes, andtracks between your PC and nearly all Garmin GPS units (excluding the GPS100family and panel mount aviation units) while viewing base map-level maps on yourPC screen.
It is recommended for use with the GPS III Plus, NavTalk, GPS 12MAP, and GPSMAP162/168. It is compatible with StreetPilot GPS, StreetPilot ColorMap, GPSMAP295, and eMap, which require a blank 8 or 16 MB cartridge for loading map data.

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Gilsson - GPS cable - DB-9 (F) - 6 ft Review

Gilsson - GPS cable - DB-9 (F) - 6 ft
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I bought this to go with my Garmin E-Trax H that I bought at Amazon. No direcions, but I had it working in about ten minutes. I can download my waypoints very easily. Just make sure you have a older computer to use with a serial port, or you have to buy a cable to fit to this one that plugs into a hsb port.

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PC Interface cable for Garmin eTrex, eMap, Geko GPS receivers. Allows you to download the latest Garmin software updates, routes, and waypoints from your PC to the GPS receiver. Fully compatible with Garmin eTrex, eMap, and Geko 201, 301 GPS units. NOT for VISTA C or LEGEND C. Comparable to Garmin part #010-10206-00.

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