Earlier this afternoon, DeLorme gave us a sneak peek at the forthcoming DeLorme inReach, which allows two-way messaging in the absence of a cellular connection. With plans starting at $9.95 per month, it sounds a bit pricey, but when you consider that the basic SPOT plan costs $99.99 per year, that’s not so bad (depending upon what the basic plan allows and the cost of the device). The device will work as a stand alone unit, or paired with the DeLorme PN-60w or Android smartphones. It’s late and I’ve got family obligations pressing, so for more info hit the link above and read all about it.
Archives for 2011
DeLorme inReach GPS to bring 2-way messaging
June 3, 2011 By 8 Comments
Garmin GPSMAP 62sc and 62stc to feature geotagging camera
June 3, 2011 By 2 Comments
UPDATED to add product links, availability dates and MSRP.
UPDATE 2: Garmin 62s(t)c series to include NiMH batteries, charger and adds (of course!) a picture viewer.
UPDATE 3: I’ve now put up resource/review pages for the Garmin GPSMAP 62sc and the 62stc.
Garmin has announced two new 62 series models this morning, featuring 5MP geotagging cameras. The Garmin GPSMAP 62sc and 62stc appear to closely mirror the 62s and 62st, adding only the camera and expanding internal memory to 3.5GB (the 62s offers 1.7GB, while the 62st has only 500MB). Of course all these models offer a micro-SD slot for expanded memory.
Garmin Astro 320 announced
June 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment
UPDATE: We now have up a dedicated Garmin Astro 320 page, with links to hands on reviews.
Garmin continues to roll out more handheld love this week, announcing the Garmin Astro 320 dog tracker. A niche product designed for hunters with hunting dogs, the Astro 320 is based on the very popular Garmin GPSMAP 62s, bringing a range of new features to the Astro. These include BirdsEye imagery and Garmin custom map capabilities, a tri-axial electronic compass, wireless data transfer and a new interface.
Additional improvements are a 30% increase in effective range (up to 9 miles in flat, unobstructed terrain), a vibration feature and keypad lock. The Astro 320 alone will have an MSRP of $499.99. Coupled with a DC 40 tracking collar and accessories, it jumps to $649.99 (MSRP). The Astro 320 is expected to be available in July 2011.
Seeing the news this morning makes me think about all the dog owners (non-hunters) who take their dogs on leash-free hikes in National Forest areas and other public lands where it is permitted. I wonder if Garmin can expand their market to these canine fans.
Garmin Rino 610, 650 and 655t announced
June 1, 2011 By 42 Comments
UPDATE: I’ve posted Garmin Rino 650 and Rino 655t pages with more details and screenshots.
Garmin is announcing three new Rino two-way radios this morning, the Garmin Rino 610, 650 and 655t. The Rino 650 and 655t GPS receivers feature a 2.6” touchscreen, the same size found on the Garmin Dakota series. It’s unclear from the news release, but I’m assuming the 610 uses the same touchscreen. UPDATE: The Rino mini-site confirms that all three models are touch screens. All three models accept BirdsEye imagery and Garmin custom maps, and are expected to hit store shelves in the third quarter of 2011.
Loading multiple maps to Garmin devices
May 31, 2011 By 68 Comments
Loading supplemental maps (such as the free topos from GPS File Depot) to Garmin units often confuses people. If you use MapSource or MapInstall to load a map, it works fine. But load another map, and the first one you sent is overwritten. Here’s how you get around this…
Older Garmin units
For older models, select the portions of the map you want to send to the unit, then use the drop down Map Selection box and choose another map, as shown below. Select the portions of this map that you wish to transfer to the device. Rinse and repeat. Once you’re finished, transfer the maps all at once. Unfortunately, if you decide the following week that you need another map, you’ll have to repeat the process again.
Garmin eTrex 10, 20 and 30 announced
May 31, 2011 By 44 Comments
UPDATE: Garmin UK has confirmed that the eTrex 20 and 30 will support BirdsEye imagery.
UPDATE 2: Read my hands on reviews of the eTrex 10 and eTrex 20.
Garmin has announced three new models this morning, the Garmin eTrex 10, 20 and 30, updating the popular eTrex line with paperless geocaching and other new features. The new eTrex models sport up to an estimated 25 hour battery life and are expected to hit store shelves in the third quarter of 2011.
Garmin BirdsEye Topo US and Canada
May 28, 2011 By 102 Comments
UPDATE: It’s now live and available, and I’m enjoying the hell out of it!
UPDATE 2: How to transfer Garmin map downloads after your subscription expires.
Yesterday morning, I noticed there was a new product, Garmin BirdsEye Topo US and Canada, on the Garmin website. Pretty sweet – for thirty bucks, you can load USGS and NRC topos to newer Garmin handhelds for a year. I’ve been expecting and wanting this for awhile, so I subscribed right away, thinking I’d put it on my 62s and grab a few screenshots for this post. It didn’t quite work out that way, but let’s go over the product details before I get into my experience with it…
Most topos for handheld GPS units are vector maps; they are made up of lines and points, and look nothing like the USGS topos we know and love. BirdsEye maps are different. These are raster imagery, actual image files, that put USGS topo map images right on your Garmin. Up till now, you’ve had to use Garmin’s custom map process to do this, which can be a hassle, and then there’s that limit of 100 tiles (images) too.
Bad Elf GPS for iPad, iPod and iPhone
May 25, 2011 By 2 Comments
The Bad Elf GPS Receiver
Preserving cellphone battery life in the backcountry
May 24, 2011 By 4 Comments
I imagine that a lot of our readers are trying out their smartphones in the backcountry, using mapping applications for navigation. One of the problems with this (and there are several), is that few things will drain your battery faster than your phone searching for a signal where there is none, or where reception is marginal.
Garmin GPSMAP 62s on sale
May 20, 2011 By 4 Comments
REI has the Garmin GPSMAP 62S GPS on sale for $279.99 through May 30. This is a great price, a full $70 lower than the best deal we’ve seen before. Don’t let that end date fool you though; the last time they had a great sale (on the Oregon 450), they sold out.
