Any using either of these and are they worth the money? I misplaced my Oregon GPS and am looking for a replacement. The Rhino has lots of bells and whistles but is pricey. I like the InReach ability to send texts but not sure how well it functions as a GPS. I appreciate any comments. Thanks
Garmen Rhino and InReach
- Thread starter searcher
- Start date
Inreach is great (I have the older delorme model not the new GPS version). Much cheaper and more reliable than a sat phone, of course its only a text message compared to being able to talk. But that is plenty for me. The SOS feature is also great. I've used it on accident (somehow was triggered in my pack going thru the airport, this was back before they put in extra steps to activate the device. I can tell you that it definitely works, even though I didn't activate the final SOS, they kept trying to contact all my contacts to see if I was OK when they saw the first SOS step was triggered. You can also suspend your plan in the off-season (big plus for me). I do have a garmin rhino as well, and I love it. If I were in the market to buy either of these things now, I would definitely buy the all-in-one unit.
Thanks Bobby. So what do you mean by the "all in one unit"? Does the InReach have all the basic GPS functions? I have looked at the Rhino before but for $700+ I see no need to include a camera and flashlight when I already have more than one of each in my pack. Is the Rhino what you are calling the "all in one"? Thanks for the reply.
The all-in-one unit I was referring to is the new Garmin Inreach GPS which is what I think you are referring to. I have the delorme inreach SE, and an older Garmin Rhino as two separate units. So from what I can tell the new units combine all the features of the both items I currently have.
dack77
Active Member
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- 209
I use the 755T Rino. If it's only going to be you with one, you will miss out on what I think is the greatest feature and that is having the unit polling the location of other party members. If I could count all of the times I have asked another member of our hunting party where they are at and they proceed to tell you that they are next to the big rock and the small pine tree....Frustration overload! Yes the location polling is an amazing feature!
The radio part works ok, it's just like other radios. Sometimes you get good distance and sometimes it won't because of the terrain you are in. I like the touchscreen a lot as that is a huge upgrade over the older style that used the thumb joystick thingy. With the touchscreen model, the interface has also gotten better. The color screen is also helpful for any onxmap chips to see land ownership clearly.
The only reason I bought the 755T is because it comes preloaded with a TOPO map. If you don't mind downloading ones for free, then gpsfiledepot.com has a bunch of maps that are compatible and you can save money that way. I have always liked the way the Garmin maps look so I just spend the extra money to get what I want. I have no need for the camera on the 755T so it hasn't been used so I cannot comment on that.
The radio part works ok, it's just like other radios. Sometimes you get good distance and sometimes it won't because of the terrain you are in. I like the touchscreen a lot as that is a huge upgrade over the older style that used the thumb joystick thingy. With the touchscreen model, the interface has also gotten better. The color screen is also helpful for any onxmap chips to see land ownership clearly.
The only reason I bought the 755T is because it comes preloaded with a TOPO map. If you don't mind downloading ones for free, then gpsfiledepot.com has a bunch of maps that are compatible and you can save money that way. I have always liked the way the Garmin maps look so I just spend the extra money to get what I want. I have no need for the camera on the 755T so it hasn't been used so I cannot comment on that.
Thanks for all the comments. I appreciate all the feedback. I went ahead and ordered the InReach model from Cabelas since they were having a sale this weekend. It appears to be on backorder so not sure when I will get it. I just wasn't sure how much I would use the Rhino 755T features. I hunt by myself a lot so I usually don't have anyone to talk to on the radio. Being able to text home in case of emergencies is what sold me on the InReach. My buddy is going to Alaska so I may let him use it so he can text me and tell me how his hunt is going. Good luck with all your hunting this fall.
huntfishall1
Active Member
- Messages
- 393
I have both and now only use the inreach. The rino did its job over the years as a gps but like you I also tend to hunt solo and never used the radio. The inreach combines the old rino and a rental sat phone (now I only have text with the inreach but that's sufficient) into one device and saves me some weight. Sat phone rentals also were getting more expensive each year so the inreach will pay for itself.
Maxxy
Active Member
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- 211
Alright, can someone clarify for me, as Im a newb to GPS units. I want the latest and greatest, but don't want to overspend.
What i am looking for
1. To be able to see private land lines, etc. Similar to onX maps.
2. I want to be able to communicate with those close to me that i may be hunting with.
3. I want the text option (emergency only use). And if it is capable of that, is there a cost for the texting options or does it come with the unit?
4. I don't need to be able to make calls
With that being said, what unit would be best for me?
What i am looking for
1. To be able to see private land lines, etc. Similar to onX maps.
2. I want to be able to communicate with those close to me that i may be hunting with.
3. I want the text option (emergency only use). And if it is capable of that, is there a cost for the texting options or does it come with the unit?
4. I don't need to be able to make calls
With that being said, what unit would be best for me?
I'm no expert so you better check around and get a second opinion. Here is the one I ordered from Cabelas last week. It was on sale over the weekend and I had a bunch of points so you could probably find this cheaper somewhere else.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Garm...d=734095080&CQ_search=garmen%2Bgps&CQ_page=20
Sounds like you want the same features that I was looking for. You can text to anywhere in the world. If you are hunting the backcountry and others in your party have an InReach model you could text back and forth. If you have cell service where you hunt you really don't need the InReach.
I am not sure about any additional costs for the texting option but it probably depends on what cell phone service you have or are sending your messages to.
As for the GPS functions, I am hoping this works just like my others that I have had over the years. I mainly use the GPS to mark waypoints in the areas where I hunt. Camping spots, trail heads, kill spots, etc. I already have the landowner chip so hopefully, I am good there.
Good luck
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Garm...d=734095080&CQ_search=garmen%2Bgps&CQ_page=20
Sounds like you want the same features that I was looking for. You can text to anywhere in the world. If you are hunting the backcountry and others in your party have an InReach model you could text back and forth. If you have cell service where you hunt you really don't need the InReach.
I am not sure about any additional costs for the texting option but it probably depends on what cell phone service you have or are sending your messages to.
As for the GPS functions, I am hoping this works just like my others that I have had over the years. I mainly use the GPS to mark waypoints in the areas where I hunt. Camping spots, trail heads, kill spots, etc. I already have the landowner chip so hopefully, I am good there.
Good luck
