garmin question

madmoose · Nov 23, 2012

what models have the feature where if there are 2 of you with same or compatiable models you can track/ or find each other due to you location being tracked on the others instrument. ?? anybody ever use that feature? i know i sure would, especially if radios were not working due to terrain or distance.

Gator · Nov 24, 2012

HCX530 has that feature. They work great.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
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madmoose · Nov 24, 2012

im pretty sure that was the model i saw that feature on.. that is an older model, a person would think they would build that into newer ones. hows it work for you Gator?

madmoose · Nov 24, 2012

sorry for the redundant question Gator.. ignore it. thank you for your input!

dack77 · Nov 25, 2012

I know the newer Rino models also have this feature. I have used both the 530hcx as well as the 655t. The touch screen on the newer models is by far the better route to go. The old interface on the 530hcx was very cumbersome for me. The gps polling feature of any buddies who use a similar unit is well worth every penny. If you hike a lot, being able to keep a consistent distance from everyone while making a push in really thick cover, or even just being able to know everyone's location in a canyon is a huge benefit.

stumpjumper · Nov 25, 2012

I bought the Rhino 120 about ten years ago, right after they released the peer to peer aspect. I beleive most of the Rhinos have this feature. It has beeen of value numerous times, from an elk hunt in Idaho to this years LE bull hunt in Utah. Great to know your buds with the same feature is there to help with just a push of a button. Recommend it totally.

Ray

llamapacker · Nov 27, 2012

The rhinos all have this feature.
You need to understand its limitations, however. If the radios are out of range of one another, this feature doesn't work. Essentially every time you use the radio, you are transmitting your location as well, and the others in your group with similar radios pick up that signal and display your location on their unit's map. If they don't transmit, the location data isn't updated.
I've used these radios for several years, particularly when hunting with my kids. It is great to call them on the radio, and also see where they are on my map when they respond.
Bill

madmoose · Nov 29, 2012

good point llama. so that would probably be the reason why something like that wouldnt be available on say a "montana" unit.. thats what i was kind of looking at, so if thats the only way of finding each other is radio transmission, then thats just the way it is. thought maybe the newer technology would locate with satelites and keep a watch on each other.
do you owners of these garmins find the radios good and adequate? recommend them?

dack77 · Nov 29, 2012

I think the radios are definitely adequate and hold their own to any Motorola or Midland branded radio. The terrain is always the biggest factor on radios. I hunt with people who have Rinos as well as just regular Motorola and Midland radios. I have yet to see any advantage of the other radios over one of the Garmin Rinos.

stilltrying · Jan 15, 2013

I am thinking about buying a Rhino 120. (My only question is will does it have enough memory to download a state topo map? (map options are somewhat new to me - ideally a top map that also included land boundaries; BLM, State private land. (Is there one software that covers this and could it be downloaded to the 120?

Gator · Feb 24, 2013

the 530HCX work great with GPS Location on them, But it only work if someone calls or returns your call. Great for that thick stuff.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]

coolspringoutfitters · Mar 1, 2013

Gator,
There should be a polling feature on that Rino... The 520 has one so I would assume that the 530 would as well... It allows you to "poll" where someone in the group is.
The higher end Rinos put out 5 watts when transmitting, most radios only put out .5 watts. We have punched through some pretty crazy stuff with the Rinos. And the maps from Hunt Maps have saved us a few times...
Well worth the money!

CSO

It's all about the good times...

Gator · Mar 18, 2013

Had a friend lose one(HCX530) this last fall in AZ, and we couldn't find it on the GPS, because he hadn't pinged us from his end before he lost it we could get his last track. Now I'm not a genuis on them, I'm a novice on them but they sure do work good in the right hands.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]

MudRunner · Apr 26, 2013

Sounds like some people might not know how to use this feature. Every Rino has it. My brother lost his GPS two years back while we were hiking around but didn't realize it until we were off the mountain. We pulled the location of his GPS using mine and were able to go back in two weeks later and pick it up. The location it gave us was spot on.

If the GPS is in range and not dead you wont need a ping from his end to poll the current location of it. That's the point of the feature anyway.