Garmin Handheld Navigator Digital Topographic
The only negative with this GPS is that the user's booklet doesn't give very much information. The manual on disk is a "4" on a scale of 1 to 5 (5 being the best). However, the GPS is easy to use and most of the menu items are pretty much self-explanatory. Having the TOPO maps included is a big plus. If you were to buy the more inexpensive 450T and have to buy the maps for various regions you could easily spend far more to have maps for the entire U.S. than what this device costs. The scale is acceptable, the contour intervals are not as good as a USGS map of course, but you do have the option to purchase more detailed map (at at least $99 a "pop"). I've found that I don't really need that much detail. As a backpacker, I found setting a route using my own waypoints to be a great asset. I've also used this GPS for geocaching and it is pretty accurate. The camera is another plus, the detail is good enough unless you want to print an 8X10 photo. Downloading the photos was relatively simple and I was able to easily bring pictures into my Kodak Easyshare program as well as my Nikon program. Again as a backpacker I like to only take items with me that have more than one purpose (I use a frisbee as a dinner plate, but I have yet to find more than one use for my toothbrush). Anyway, I'm pleased with this GPS and reccommend it.
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My primary reason for getting this GPS was so that my 6 year old son and I could start Geocaching. After analyzing the 450 vs. 550 (and the 450t vs 550t) - I went with the 450. The only difference between the 450 and the 550 is the camera - which at first you might not think is all that important, but after our first GeoCaching expedition today, I think I should have gotten the 550. The GPS is of course very accurate and gets you to within a few feet of your location, but I think it would help if I had taken a picture of the location cache and included that as part of the Waypoint - it would have worked much better for my son.
BalasHapusAlso, I would to with the "non-T" version and instead purchase the Topo24K map for your region of the country.
One more thing - Garmin's are fantastic products with incredible US based tech support. But I found both the unit and the BaseCamp Topo24K product are not documented. THe basics are certainly there, but I had to call support and spend 30 minutes with them answering my specific questions - which were definitely not covered in the documentation.
I purchased this to replace my failing eTrex. I have been watching the Oregon since the 300/400 series. Took a chance that the display on the 450 would not be as bad as many have said. Must say that the display is acceptable in all lighting conditions. Could be brighter in clear sun but is by no means unreadable. In fact in direct sunlight it is very good. Everything about this GPS is brilliant. Highly recommend. I have been using it for several weeks with zero problems and nothing but satisfaction. The compass is spot on...I have three very expensive compasses to compare against.
BalasHapusThis is our first handheld GPS...we have been using it for almost 2 months now and over 200caches......we love it. very easy to use, and the paperless caching feature it great, the only thing i would consider doing differently is using high grade batteries, the cheap ones dont last very long but that is not the fault of the gps. It was very easy to learn to use and has so far been very accurate. we have not had any problems reading the screen even in the brighest sun. I can load a ton of caches on for the trip or load and we can cache in the city. either way it has been great! would recommend this to others who are cachers for sure.
BalasHapusI just recently got my 550t as a replacement for a Colorado 400t. The topo maps are the same, the user interface is similar, but that is where it stops. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed the Colorado, but REI doesn't carry it anymore. On to the Oregon. I love it. It is the simplest piece of electronic equipment I own (and I own an electric razor). I have not had the problems that other users seem to have had. It works great in all conditions, and mine works well under trees (light-medium). I think the geotagging feature with pictures is awesome. I have already used it to ensure I could get back to the exact same mud puddle in my Jeep. Speaking of vehicles, I also installed City Navigator for North America. The Oregon works seamlessly with the map-set, and directions are almost perfect. I guess my only suggestion would be to allow me to have a picture of a Jeep instead of an arrow when I am driving like you can do in the dedicated auto GPSr's. Anywhoo, a great little unit, kinda pricey, but well worth the money, in my opinion.
BalasHapus
BalasHapusI have suffered over handheld, off-road GPS for a long time. I tried a Oregon 400t which has many features in common with the 550t but the difficulty seeing the screen and the 2 axis compass made it difficult for me. Prior to that I had a Deloreme which was completely unreliable.
BalasHapusPros
I found The 550t to be completely reliable when I needed it.
Satellites were picked up almost instantly.
The 3 axis compass and waypoints got me back to where I needed to go while cutting trails in the snow. (I certainly would have had trouble getting back without it)
Amazon price very good. You can find it a bit cheaper but Amazon is so reliable... And with 1 day shipping.
Battery life was a LOT better than expected based on some of the prior reviews. Not sure if this is due to newer firmware or what. But I used it for 10 hours with the included rechargeable batteries including taking a few pictures and was still able to use it for another 6 hours a few days later without recharging, and without hitting red on the battery gauge.
Cons
The user interface is still a little clunky, having to traverse so many screens, but much better with the addition of the dashboards.
The PC software, basepoint and others seem inadequate for managing tracks and waypoints... I started using EXPERTGPS which is for sale on the Internet instead.
Still some difficulty reading the screen in bright sunlight but a lot more usable than the 400t
I had hoped the lat / long would be superimposed on pictures but it was only stored in the file properties
UPDATE:
This thing is so good at picking up signal... I tried to turn it on and NOT get signal (saving a track) I hid out in a bathroom in the center of the house with no windows. Still got full signal in seconds. My old GPS wouldnt pickup a signal in the house even near a window.
My wife has a hard time seeing the screen in the sun. While it is not the brightest I can see it.
PS I also tried a Delorean pn-40 after the guy at REI raved about it. I returned it 12 hours later when I found the 3 axis compass varied by 45 degrees or so, spinning while being held stable... I had previously sworn I would never buy another Delorean. I was righter than the REI store guru.
I ordered the Garmin 550 for a deployment to Iraq. This GPS does everything I want a GPS to do. It even tracks satellites indoors if you are under a thin roof, and I forsee it having NO trouble maintaining at least 20m accuracy in the woods. The compass is very accurate as well, and I have checked it against my military compass. I have seen GPS systems that have trouble with compass accuracy while standing still, but the Oregon 550 is dead on the money even sitting still inside a vehicle.
BalasHapusThe camera is incredible. The pictures are clear and crisp, and the system allows you to take the picture (it geotags the location you were standing at), and then assign it to a waypoint if you wanted to tag something with a picture taken in the distance. The only downside is sometimes the camera is sort of slow to start up. This is only an issue if you're on the move.
The unit itself is rubberized and very durable. I have put it through quite the beating. Its screen has also held up surprisingly well. I was expecting a number of times to look to see my GPS screen spiderwebbed, but it just absorbs punishment. I have heard people say it is hard to read in sunlight, but I've found that tilting the screen sideways allows the user to view it clearly even in the brightest desert sun. The touch screen is HIGHLY customizable, and very easy to use.
The onyl complaint i would have about my Oregon 550 is that i did not get the 550t with the US topo maps. I downloaded them and they were very easy to install, but I could have saved a step by getting the 550t.
All in all, the only reason i would not recommend this GPS is to someone who cannot afford it. It is absolutely rock solid and possibly the best GPS I've used. Well done Garmin!
This is the 3rd GPS we bought for geocaching and by far the most userfriendly, don't even need to look at the directions and I'm pretty much computer challenged. It makes geocaching so fun, gets us within 6 feet every time without doing the fish hook dance that the magellan has us doing, you know, go forward 5 feet, now turn 180 degrees and go 6 feet and turn 180 degrees and go 9 feet now do this about 10 times, My son was holding the GPS and I was following him looking like Mrs. Gomer Pyle. The Oregon just omits the little dance so you blend in and no one was wanting to call the guys with the white jacket to pick me up. The only complaint I would have would be it is not very bright in the sun light but I can work with that. You get all the hints and logs when you download from [...], it saves the title (which the Vista did not) can mark it as found or not found, easy on batteries, can't get much easier then this. When my son goes off to college he gets to keep the Magellan, momma gets this one, lol. If you're on the fence this is the one I would buy again, no hesitation.
BalasHapus