Garmin GPSMAP 4210 10.4-Inch Waterproof Marine GPS and Chartplotter Network Bundle Review

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(More customer reviews)This GPS is excellent - Definately the best GPS on the market. Deciding on a sounder unit and accessories is a little complicated. I'm very happy with the purchase even with the high price. I wish Garmin had better depth-sounding technology - the regular unit works well but is not as good as the Lowrance HDS. And Lowrance now has side-scan sonar. When buying this, I considered Garmin, Lowrance, and Humminbird. Hummingbird was first to market with side-scan, but their units felt cheaply made to me, and their GPS was not nearly as good as Garmin. Lowrance is decent, but their GPS lacks many features of the Garmin and their UI is not intuitive at all. I decided the GPS features and intuitive UI in the Garmin were worth not having the cool high def and side-scan sonar capabilities. Maybe one day they'll release a competitive depth sounding module which I would gladly purchase, but their current sounder does work and provides decent visibility up to the 500' depths I've fished.

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Garmin Nuvi 1490TV GPS with European maps, 5.0" Touchscreen, Bluetooth, DVB-T Tuner - Europe maps ONLY on this unit Review

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(More customer reviews)Purchased our Nuvi for a European vacation. We have been driving around the UK for the past week and it has been a life saver.. particularly with all the round abouts. Pros - excellent at getting you where you want to go Cons - European points of interest seem to be missing.. many restaurants, pubs and attractions don't show up... but you can always work around that if you have an address.

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Bendix King 066-01209-0007 AV8OR ACE System with Americas Aero Only Review

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(More customer reviews)The Bendix King 066-01209-0005 AV8OR ACE System with Pacific Aero and Australia Driving instrument has been a disappointment with the absence of the Aviation Charts. The very thing wanted and oops NO CHARTS!
John Wood
.


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The new Bendix/King AV8OR ACE Portable Multifunction Display is based on the highly acclaimed AV8OR Handheld GPS navigator. Just like the successful AV8OR Handheld unit, the AV8OR ACE has airborne weather and traffic information (requires separate WxWorx XM Satellite and Zaon Portable Collision Avoidance System receivers), built-in automotive navigation capability, and a suite of multimedia tools. The AV8OR ACE gets you to the airport and packs some serious entertainment options along the way.

This Flight Bag Is Already Packed
Own Ship Position on Your IFR Charts The AV8OR ACE portable MFD offers a large sunlight-readable 7-inch display, and is as easy to use as the AV8OR Handheld, thanks to its touchscreen user interface. The AV8OR ACE provides detailed geo-referenced FAA charts, qualifying it as a Class I or Class II EFB (depending on installation). Used in compliance with FAA guidelines, this makes it possible to leave your paper charts behind.

Lighten Your Load The AV8OR ACE display enables pilots to easily read detailed maps, en route charts, and approach plates. The AV8OR ACE includes FAA IFR charts for reference, and it even displays your aircraft position and route on Hi/Lo En route Charts, Approach Plates, and Airport Diagrams.

Airport Services The AV8OR ACE allows pilots to view airport services information--including fuel pricing--while still in the air. This optional service is available for a nominal fee and is provided via Web download, updated daily from Flight Guide. Subscribers have access to the latest fuel pricing and on-field services data, restaurants, taxi services, and hotels, even noting free pick-up and discounts at thousands of locations across the U.S.

XM Weather and Entertainment AV8OR's simple connection to your Bendix/King KDR 610 or WxWorx XM satellite receiver (sold separately) delivers true graphical weather to your cockpit. A full range of Weather products can be displayed, including NEXRAD Composite Reflectivity, Lightning, METARs, AIRMETs, SIGMETs, Convective-SIGMETs, PIREPs, TFRs, and more. Weather is available for U.S. and Canada. AV8OR ACE also includes XM radio tuning.

Traffic AV8OR's simple hookup to your Zaon Portable Collision Avoidance System (PCAS) XRX (sold separately) provides a variety of traffic advisory options. Traffic can be shown as an overlay on the moving map or displayed on the dedicated Traffic page. As an added safety feature, traffic alerts can be enabled to "pop up" the traffic page regardless of what is presently being displayed. Knowing what's ahead puts you ahead of the rest.

On the Ground AV8OR ACE's optional automotive navigation system provides both 2D and 3D navigation views to get you where you need to go in the most efficient way possible. With more than 10 million points of interest (POIs) in the U.S. and two million POIs in Canada, you'll always be able to find the nearest stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more. Available driving regions include U.S./Canada, Europe, Southern Africa, Australia, or Mexico/Brazil. Visit www.bendixking.com for detailed coverage maps.

Relax at Your Destination When you're not flying or driving, sit back, relax, and listen to music, view pictures, read an electronic book, or watch a movie with AV8OR ACE's built-in media players. The standard 8 GB SD card has room to spare to add your own media library. AV8OR ACE also includes ports for video input and audio output.

Easy to Use, Easy to Access
The AV8OR ACE incorporates an exceptional sunlight-readable touchscreen user interface and dedicated hard buttons for aooming, going direct-to, changing chart views, and accessing the menu. Panning, scrolling, zooming, and even looking up waypoints are all simple and intuitive, meaning you will be spending less time accessing information and more time flying your aircraft.

Database and chart updates are easy to access by simply connecting to your PC. Flight plans created in programs such as Seattle Avionics Voyager and Jeppesen FliteStar can be easily loaded to your AV8OR ACE.

GoFly Americas Database Pre-Loaded
This version of the AV8OR ACE comes pre-loaded with the GoFly aviation databases for the entire region of North and South America (no GoDrive automotive database is included).

The AV80R ACE is available with eight different pre-loaded database combinations, along with corresponding SD cards for updating your existing device:

AV8OR ACE System with GoDrive and GoFly Databases

Americas Aero and U.S. and Canada Driving
Atlantic Aero and Europe Driving
Atlantic Aero and Southern Africa Driving
Pacific Aero and Australia Driving
Americas Aero and Mexico and Brazil Driving

AV8OR ACE System with GoFly Only Databases

Americas Aero Only
Atlantic Aero Only
Pacific Aero Only

SD Cards for AV8OR ACE with GoDrive and GoFly Databases

GoFly Americas and GoDrive U.S. and Canada Databases
GoFly Atlantic and GoDrive Europe Databases
GoFly Atlantic and GoDrive Southern Africa Databases
GoFly Pacific and GoDrive Australia Databases
GoFly Americas and GoDrive Mexico and Brazil Databases

SD Cards for AV8OR ACE with GoFly Only Databases

GoFly Americas Aero Only Database
GoFly Atlantic Aero Only Database
GoFly Pacific Aero Only Database

What's in the Box AV8OR ACE Base Display Unit, standard battery and slimline battery, 12V-28V DC adapter, 120/220V AC adapter, PC to USB cable, earphones, carrying bag, display mounting bracket, aviation yoke mount, automobile windshield mount, CD with user's manual, quick reference guide, stylus, database update coupon, and AV8OR ACE quick start tip sheet.

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KENWOOD DNX9960 eXcelon In-Dash 2-DIN AV Navigation System w/ Built-in Bluetooth 6.95" Review

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(More customer reviews)I had high hopes for the successor to the most excellent DNX9140 (which I own in my pick-up truck). The DNX9960's new UI is quite slick, and it works really well. Kenwood is shooting for an iPhone-like UI on the main screen. They did a decent job with it. Other than that, the basic features and functions of the stereo, iPod integration, Bluetooth, and navigation system are all identical to the aforementioned 9140...
Except: The "free" NAVTEQ traffic add-on isn't free. It comes with a catch: advertisements. On the main navigation screen, you will get pop-up ads for local businesses. They are, in my opinion, very tedious, distracting, and bothersome. And there's no way to disable them other than to disable NAVTEQ.
Consider this point very carefully before purchasing this unit. I really think Kenwood screwed the pooch with this move, and had I known this before hand, I'd have just purchased another 9140 for my car. Caveat Emptor, as the saying goes...

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Garmin GPSMAP 441s 4-Inch Waterproof Marine GPS and Chartplotter with Sounder Review

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(More customer reviews)If you are looking for a compact, user friendly GPS Chartplotter/Sounder; buy this one. Garmin is the best, most fairly priced plotter/sounders available. My only regret was not buying the 541s. That 1 inch make a difference. I've been on the water ny whole life and for the money the 441s and 541s are the best plotters available. Amazon has the best prices on them too. WOuld have recieved 5 stars but add and tech infor doesn't state how long the transducer wire is. I took a chance and it fit with some room to spare. Transducer wire is 25-30 ft long. I also recommend buying the transducer with speed and water temp.

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JVC KW-NX7000BT Double-DIN Navigation Receiver with 7-Inch Widescreen Detachable Touch-Panel Monitor, DVD/CD/USB/SD Card, iPod USB 2.0 with Bluetooth Adapter Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Had this unit installed by someone who knew what they were doing. Added Sirius Radio & Bluetooth. Works fanstatically! Best feature is the removable head unit. Received no help in the actual setup, but it was a breeze, a little help from the book, and rest was very easy to figure out. It is joy to operate. The Bluetooth phone works perfect with the unit, paired first time. Sound is great both directions. Minimal steps (touch screen) to go from one source to the other. USB plays my MP3 player, and works great playing my 1800+ songs off of my SD card. The NAV is as good as Garmin's if not better. The street pronounciations are much more understanable, the female voice clear and pleasent. Split screen, etc, etc. It was a real joy to have everything work right out of the box. So many great features, it may take me 2 months to set them up...but 10 minutes to get working to use it...Love it. No, I don't work for JVC, I am a retired old Army Sergeant Major who's loving it! Best money I ever spent. Bought it at Amazon (Barney's) excellent service. Postscript...had this unit 7 months now..(1/16/2010) still totally pleased. Not a single problem.

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This double-DIN all-in-one navigation system gives precise navigation with built-in RDS-TMC tuner, high sensitivity WAAS GPS, and 7-inch wide touch panel. The unit features map coverage of the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico, Voice Guidance in 16 languages, Text-to-Speech, 12 million P.O.I, Lane Guide, and Speed Limit Display. Enjoy audio and video from your iPod, USB devices, and SD cards. Experience a new style of operation with the Proximity Sensor--control keys will appear as your hand approaches. The unit includes the JVC KS-BTA200 Bluetooth adapter for fully functional Bluetooth Wireless Technology, HD Radio, and SAT Radio with optional devices.


Widescreen With Proximity Sensor The KW-NX7000BT features a 7-inch touchscreen monitor. It's motorized to get just the right angle, and its low-reflection surface means you'll see it in the brightest sunlight.
The unique Proximity Sensor function will detect as your hand approaches to operate, and the unit changes from navigation to operation mode, with Menu, Zoom and Function keys immediately displayed on-screen.

Precise Navigation The KW-NX7000BT gives you full-featured GPS touchscreen navigation on its detachable 7-inch wide monitor, with pre-installed coverage of the U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, Canada and Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and 12 million points of interest.
The KW-NX7000BT includes a wealth of competitive GPS features:
Memory Navigation (Whole map coverage preinstalled)
High-Sensitivity WAAS Capable GPS
Built-in RDS-TMC Tuner (NAVTEQ Traffic RDS)
Text-to-Speech (English/Spanish/French/German/Italian/Dutch/Portuguese/Dannish/Swedish/Russian)
P.O.I. (12 million: infoUSA.)
Buit-in 7-Inch Wide Monitor
Multiple Destination Search Functions
Search by P.O.I. (Category/Name/Vicinity/Phone Number)
Destination Memory (up to 100 favorites)
Last 50 Destinations


Quality Entertainment
CD/DVD Playback Play back your favorite CDs, CD-R/RWs, and MP3/WMA/WAV/AAC CDs to take advantage of the four channels of 50-Watt sound.
If you're taking a break from driving, enjoy some DVD video, along with all the standard DVD controls you'd expect. Use the composite video output to send video to an external monitor.
Enjoy DTS and Dolby Digital sound to accompany your movies, and a 7-band EQ to dial things in.
Bring Your Digital Media Enjoy MP3/WMA/AAC/WAV audio files from CD, DVD, or USB devices. ID3 tag info such as artist/track is displayed on the monitor.
For movies, DVDs aren't the only option. View DivX and MPEG1/2 content as well. You can also check out JPEG images.
AM/FM Radio Tune into the radio and store your favorite preset stations for quick access.
iPod/iPhone Ready Add the KS-U29 cable or other JVC iPod adapters to enjoy the contents of your iPod or iPhone in your vehicle. Plug directly into the front of the stereo.
The KW-NX7000BT provides full charging and video display for iPod video and iPhone. Allows full audio category and song function operation with the stereo controls.
A/V Input Check out content from an external device--camera, DVD player, video game device, etc.-- with the included A/V input.
SAT/HD Radio Ready Purchase an add-on adapter and easily add SIRIUS/XM or HD radio to your entertainment options.

Bluetooth Technology The KW-NX7000BT includes the KS-BTA200 Bluetooth Adapter for hands-free calling.
Transfer your phonebook via Bluetooth to the KW-NX7000BT (up to 100 numbers). Enter a number directly from the unit's screen, or dial by phonebook, dialed calls, received calls, or POI info.
Included is a high-sensitivity external wired microphone to get you set up right away.

Plenty of Power and Room to Grow You'll get a wild ride out of the on-board MOS-FET amplifier, with 50 Watts peak through four channels (20W RMS x 4). But if you do want more, six gold-plated preamp outputs are included (front, rear, and subwoofer) for connecting to external amps.
On the video front, you'll get a composite output. Add a second monitor to the back seat and you're set.
You can also make things more safe and convenient with a rear-view camera.
What's in the Box KW-NX7000BT Main Unit, Sleeve, Brackets, Monitor Panel and Soft Case, Trim Plate, Power Cord, AV I/O Cord, Crimp Connector, GPS Antenna, Remote Control and Batteries, KS-BTA200 Bluetooth Adapter, Installation Hardware, User's Manual, Installation Manual

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Garmin Astro 220 Dog Tracking GPS Bundle with DC40 Wireless Transmitter Collar Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This astro should be pointed out that its fixed many of the bugs those of us early adopters encountered (like using velcro to attach anything to a dog was mistake 1).
The early versions featured an orange "box" with a non-amplified antenna built into the top of it, plus a li-ion battery. You got a velcro harness to hold it on the dog and keep it pointing skyward. After 2-3 trips the velcro was full of hair and the antennas were being broken by anxious dogs racing through brush.
Garmin re-designed the astro and fortunately for us all we had to do was buy the upgraded collar design. The (now black) collar works the same but features an amplified antenna on top, the electronics box down below where it naturally hangs, and an improved longer antenna with better range (about 25% better in my testing)
From the top of one mountain I can now find my dog 7.48 miles away with almost full signal strength, so this really works. Getting to the dog is another matter.
The collar transmits either every 5, 10, or 30 seconds. 10 is a good value as you get about 2 days of use from the transmitter before the battery dies. 5 seconds will die in under a day (about 18 hours). These settings are made by placing the collar in close proximity to the handheld tracker and uploading them.
Finally for the radio folk the collar transmits on the MURS VHF frequencies at 2 watts digital. The frequencies are 151.82, 151.88, 151.94, 154.57 (old analog radio channel - not a good choice) and 154.6 (same as 154.57) [all in MHZ]
The 151 frequencies provide the best range near towns becuase every fast food drive through uses the 154 frequencies to talk around. These correspond to the last 2 sets of 10 channels in the Astro.
If you are wondering how they get 10 channels on one frequency, its simple - both the receiver and transmitter have GPS inside, so they know EXACTLY when a second clicks by to a great precision. They then divide a time period (1 second) into 10 parts, each 1/10 of a second long. Channel 23 for example specifies frequency 2 (151.94) and timeslot 3 - the 3rd 1/10 of a second after 0.00 seconds. Since the radio and the transmitter both know when the transmission will happen the radio tunes frequency 2 at 0.3 seconds after a second "ticks" to listen for the 1/10 second transmission from the collar.
The only problem with this is you can not put multiple collars next to each other as the receiver needs time to process the data it receives (about another 1/10 second) so if 151.94 is a good channel for you, pick dog numbers of 21, 23, 25, 27, and 29 if you have multiple dogs on one system or are hunting with another astro user. Also, you can't have the radio tune different channels at the same time, so don't pick dog A on channel 14 and dog B on channel 24 because their transmissions will be at the same time on 2 different freqencies.
Keeping those simple rules of separation in mind you can track alot of dogs a long ways with Astro.

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Tired of searching for your hunting dog in tall grass or dense cover? Now you can leave the hunting entirely to him. Astro is the premier high sensitivity GPS-enabled dog tracking system for sporting dogs. This unique system pinpoints your dog's position and shows you exactly where he is, even when you can't see or hear him.

Tall grass. Short dog. Game on.
See Your Dogs' Every Move The Astro system includes a bright color-screen handheld GPS device and the rugged, orange polyurethane DC 40 collar. The collar accommodates most e-collar receivers--eliminating the need to put two separate collars on a dog. Plus, Collar Lock creates a four-digit PIN number that helps prevent others from seeing your dog's whereabouts--a useful feature in field trials to ensure that an Astro is used only as a recovery tool when a dog in competition becomes lost.

To get started, just take Astro outdoors and turn on the handheld and transmitter to acquire GPS satellite signals. Then attach the DC 40 to your dog. Now you're ready to turn him loose--no other setup required.

The rugged, all-weather collar is made of durable one-inch orange polyurethane, ready to stand up to the elements and the hunt.

Track Dogs in Dense Cover As often as every five seconds, your dog's DC 40 transmits his position to your handheld, and you can see his current location and a trail of where he's been on the Map page of your handheld. Switch over to the Dog Tracker page to view a compass pointing to your dog's location as well as his current status: whether he's running, sitting, on point or treeing quarry. Astro can also sound an alarm to let you know instantly when your dog goes on point.

Astro boasts a high-sensitivity GPS receiver that can track your dog's position even in the densest cover. You can track up to ten dogs at one time with Astro, at a distance of up to seven miles away (depending on terrain). The system transmits information by line-of-sight, so it reaches farthest in flat, open territory.

Count Your Coveys After you've captured your quarry, mark the exact spot with Astro's Covey Counter, a special waypoint that tells you the exact location, time of day and elevation where you found your prey, as well as the number of birds you flushed and took from that location. Astro lets you save other special waypoints, such as "Truck" and "Lodge," so you can save the location of these places quickly and easily for each hunt. Astro also offers special waypoint icons to represent food plots, tree stands and other hunting-related points.

Experience Full-Featured GPS Astro shines when you're out on the hunt, but it also excels in getting you back to your truck at the end of the day, or even back home again. In fact, the Astro handheld has all the features of Garmin's top-line handheld outdoor devices.
The barimetric altimeter provides elevation profiles for climbers and hikers, and the electronic compass ensures you get a good bearing. Handy tools like an area calculator and celestial information help you plan your day. With optional detailed city street maps, you can search for over 6 million points of interest and create a route on roads with exact turn-by-turn directions; or download TOPO maps complete with elevation information. Finally, the Astro 220 features a rugged, IPX7 waterproof exterior, ready to take on incliment weather without a hitch.

What's in the Box
Astro 220 Handheld, DC 40 Wireless Transmitter Collar, Carrying Case, AC Adapter for DC 40, Vehicle Power Cable for DC 40, USB Cable, Wrist Strap, Belt Clip, Owner's Manual, Quick Start Manual

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GARMIN 010-11049-00 Astro DC 30 Wirelesss Collar Transmitter Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The original astro came packaged with a small rechargable orange transmitter and a velcro harness to put it on your dog. Anyone mixing velcro and dog hair knows what happens next. There was also a plastic clip you could use to screw the transmitter onto your dog's existing collar, but my dog broke 2 of those clips giving chase.
When the DC30 came out it was a major improvement. Garmin realized that the heavy transmitter would sag down where the dog tags hang, so they put it there intentionally instead of trying to force it on top.
The passive antenna in the original unit was replaced with an active amplified gps antenna sewn into the collar facing the sky. A small thin cable is hidden in the collar to carry the gps signal down to the transmitter below.
Finally, the transmit antenna was redesigned for vhf frequencies and realizes 1dB more gain over the previous transmitter - not alot but still an improvement.
In short, the DC 30 makes the astro a real dog tracker. I bought the collar separately and was immediately impressed. No longer did I have to scrape dog hair from the velcro on their earlier design!


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Garmin Astro DC-30 GPS Dog Tracking System Review

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(More customer reviews)Double UPDATE - Garmin has now introduced the DC 30 dog collar + gps transmitter. It fixes many of the bugs in the old design. It uses a metal backplate behind the gps instead of plastic. The gps is black instead of orange. The antenna is longer and more flexible allowing for better range and less breakage. And since the GPS hangs DOWN by default, the new dc-30 puts a tiny GPS antenna into the dog collar itself that faces UP towards the sky. Overall it works better, in the country it adds about 2 miles to your trackign range if you are using the car mounted antenna. Those 2 miles could mean finding your dog. The new kit is sold with the DC 30 and costs about $60 more than the old model (this one) which will most likely be discontinued as my dog has broken one antenna and two plastic mounting plates. Note however that the new collar has no rings for attaching tags or leashes. This means your dog will wear 2 collars when being tracked, but gone are the days of broken parts and tracking down your GPS unit without the dog attached.
Update - I ordered the car mount antenna and found the range boost phenominal. In CITY range went from .7 miles to 1.7 miles, almost the full 2 mile rating. In Country range went over 4 miles. It is the best $25 spent plus amazon's price on the accessory is heavily discounted over garmin's. If you think you may have to use your 4WD to find your dogs, start using the external antenna accessory option from the beginning.
I got my Astro about a month ago and from the start the 2 mile range wasn't there (more like .33 miles maximum). I checked it with a pulse wattmeter from HP/agilent and it was outputting only 0.45 watts for .38 seconds, not the 2W rating (and the battery lasted alot longer than it was supposed to for some reason!). I shipped it to garmin, got it back and it was now putting out 2.2 watts. Range was still disappointing at 0.6 miles (city - granted - but my rino's do far better and they aren't digital!)
Next, I found that there are 5 channels Astro can use of which 2 of them are used by every jobcom radio in construction etc (154.57 and 154.600 are the worst and are in use all over the place) - my unit was on one of those channels which was almost always in use, so using another RF tool (spectrum analyzer) - I found a much better channel and suddenly the in city range went up to 1.5 miles which wasn't bad.
Mounting -
You get 2 mounting options - a screw bracket that will mount the transmitter to the dog collar which works really well, or a velcro pocket to put the transmitter in, strap it around the dog's breast and put a tab under the dog collar to keep it upright. I tried the vest option first and when the dog came back, the whole assembly was swinging around the dog's neck (and velcro fills up with hair if your dog sheds - the gripping effectiveness goes to zero).
The collar I thought would be better because the tags are always at the ground, but now the heavy part is up high. My guess was to put a lightweight fishing sinker in the dogtag strap which would keep it verticale - without that weight the dog comes back with the collar rotated sideways and the antenna horizontal, which hurts your range again.
Once factory adjusted to full power, put on a clean freqency, and mounted with a counterweight it works really well - 1.5 mile range in the city and 2.0 mile range or better in the country are not uncommon. I found my dog had gone on a 5 mile chase one time from the truck.
There is a problem in the few bits that garmin uses for "dog status" like "treed" or "quarry", etc - when the gps has moved a bit they are meaningless so I ignore that and leave it on the doggie detail page which tells you how far away your dog is, where it is, and the battery level/gps coverage in the dog's GPS, along with the radio signal you are getting. I would have preferred "moving" or "stable", which you can get from the map if the signal reaches.
You can get a nice VHF (marine type) antenna if you become car bound and unscrew the garmin antenna and connect the outdoor antenna which more than doubles range or better right away - great for end of the day searches for the dog. Both the dog and user antennas are SMA and removable unlike the rino which by law must have a permanently attached antenna unless you are good at soldering on external jacks yourself, which allows you big outdoor antennas and high power amplifiers on one radio. Dog transmitts at your programmed time interval, the handheld transmitts when only when you need to adjust the dog parameters, making it a 2way link temporarily on the AA batteries.
The GPS(s) in both the dog and handheld use the highly sensitve SIRF chipset (which is dirt cheap because the entire gps is in one chip, but because of the indoor usability of it garmin sees fit to charge almost 2x more e.g. the rino520HCX is also using the sirf chipset for gps, which costs them less!) - it trades sensitivity of getting a signal for accuracy compared to their old 12 channel receiver garmin made (like putting a ford engine in a corvette). Anyways they are very sensitive, the handheld allows you to load 2GB of map data on a micro-SD card like your cellphone uses so there are alot of nice features in the set, plus you can use the handheld without any dogs.) I've put highway and topographic mapping data for the western USA, along with the entire roads CD. I have GPS mapping in my car and garmin really has a poor algorythm on this one - it will insist you drive 5 miles backwards to get on the freeway, to drive 5 miles forwards to the destination 1/4 mile ahead. It's better for 4wd or marine navigation than on-road accidents. ON-Road navigation probably is a feature to avoid.
MY ONLY "STRONG" NEGATIVE is that they use 2-AA batteries in the GPS handheld. Worldwide there is a push away from disposable batteries due to price - countries like Germany and Switzerland charge more than the battery for a disposal fee - if you are caught putting them in the trash look for $500 fines. Most of europe has adopted this, hence the move to li-ion standards. I've been evaluating some 3000-3500 mah prototype AA cells in my lab from a battery company. The combination is really good - better in all cases than alkalines. I'm accustomed to the Li-ion cells on the Rino radios I use which last forever. Garmin could have fit some sort of Li-Ion pack into the battery area making it charge from both the dog charger (which is li-ion) and the dog's car-charger (included in the kit). But alas, we are stuck with kids' toys AA batteries.
The waterproofness will outlast any rainstorm and the worst weather - for both you and the dog. Overall, knowing what direction and how far my dog is is great information. I have not found any geo-fencing yet which would be nice to keep your dog out of problem areas on the map like traintracks or highways.
In summary you are getting 2 really sensitive GPS units (one rechargable and one AA powered) that communicate one way their location. To top off the system, Garmin gives you a nice hard case to seal it all up and keep the wet soggy stuff out of the dry stuff with a clever X strap holder on the outside of the case
Be sure to get it working good in the city before going on a hunt with it - you'll know what buttons shortcut to where, and what limitations are in the unit, and what the beeps decode to.
Happy Hunting!

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The Garmin Astro GPS Dog Tracking System lets hunters and sportsmen spend their time looking for game, rather than looking for their dog. This unique dog-tracking system pinpoints your dog's position and shows you exactly where he is, even when you can't see or hear him.
This system includes a bright, color-screen handheld Astro 220 GPS device and a wireless transmitter, called the DC 20. Simple and easy to use, you just take the Astro outdoors and turn on both units to acquire a GPS satellite signal, then attach the DC 20 to your dog, either via the included neoprene harness or by threading it onto an existing 1-inch e-collar, and you're ready to go.
The DC 20 transmits your dog's position to your handheld every five seconds, showing current location as well as where he's been on the Map page. The Dog Tracker page shows you a compass that points to your dog's location, and lets you see your dog's current status, such as running, sitting, on point or treeing quarry. The Garmin Astro can even sound an alarm to let you know instantly when your dog goes on point.
The Astro 220's high-sensitivity GPS receiver can track your dog's position even in the densest cover, and lets you track up to 10 dogs at one time, up to five miles away in open territory. The Astro features a Covey Counter, which lets you place a special waypoint that tells you the exact location, time of day and elevation where you found your prey, as well as the number of birds flushed and taken from that location. The Astro also lets you save other important waypoints, such as Truck and Lodge, and choose special icons to represent food plots, tree stands and other hunting-related items.
The full-featured Astro handheld has all the same functions as Garmin's top-line handheld outdoor devices, including a barometric altimeter, a microSD card slot for maps, celestial information and an area calculator, as well as optional detailed city street maps, over 6 million points of interest, and exact turn-by-turn directions. This unit has an extremely rugged construction, with an IPX7 waterproof exterior that can withstand full immersion in water up to 1-meter deep for up to 30 minutes, and a revolutionary 3-axis compass that works no matter how the handheld is oriented.
What's in the Box Garmin Astro 220 handheld with VHF antenna and DC 20 wireless transmitter with VHF antenna, a neoprene harness, a collar attachment plate, a carrying case, a lithium-ion battery pack for the DC 20 transmitter, a vehicle power adapter and AC adapter for the DC 20 transmitter, a trip and waypoint manager CD, a USB cable, a wrist strap, a belt clip, an owner's manual and a quick reference guide.

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Kenwood KNA G510 - Navigation system Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have the Kenwood KNA-G510 Nav. hooked up to the New 2009
Kenwood KVT-514 DVD receiver. The Nav. is surpurbe, like a Garmin should be. There are other receivers out there that offer navigation, but you can't beat Kenwood and Garmin's track record. I doint have the Bluetooth conected yet, but I understand when you are looking up a place of business(Restaurant) You can press on the phone number and it will dial the phone number of the place (very cool). I think this is a GREAT product and will add one to my other car as well.
1 word of CAUTION...KENWOOD ONLY HONORS THERE WARRANTY IF YOU BUY FROM THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALERS..(Crutchfield).


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Kenwood Excelon DNX6960 6.1" In-Dash Double-DIN Navigation DVD Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)UPDATED REVIEW: My earlier review only gave this unit 4/5 stars because it wouldn't download the address book from my iPhone 3G. Please read on and see how this issue was resolved.
I got this unit yesterday at Mickey Shorr (Canton, MI). They installed it in my 2006 Eddie Bauer Ford Explorer in about an hour and I was off and running. The iPod integration is top notch. Using the touchscreen controls I instantaneously scroll back and forth between songs. So for the guy who installed this unit in his F-150, I'm not sure why you're experiencing the latency issue of 10-15 seconds to scroll to the next song, or go back one track. I feel bad for him because I'm thrilled with the speed and ease of use. The GPS is from Garmin who I believe to be the best. GPS in the unit is very accurate and could NOT be easier to use. Overall, with 15-20 minutes of fooling around I was able to master all the controls of the DNX6960 and same with my wife (since it's in her car).
I formerly had an issue with the unit in which it couldn't download the address book from my iPhone 3G (software version 4.1). The phone paired with the unit instantly (AWESOME!) but would not download my address book. The letters "DL" would show up at the top of the telephone screen for 3-4 seconds and disappear. This told me the address was being downloaded, but the address book touch screen icon was still greyed out. Low and behold, by mistake I found where the installer hid the bypass switch and it was set to "ON." So I figured this meant the unit was in bypass mode, meaning the parking break IS BYPASSED from having to be engaged to watch videos and download the address book. Apparently not because when I flipped it to the "OFF" position just for the hell of it, the address book touch screen icon became active. I said if I was able to figure this out I would let everyone know and rate the unit 5 stars. So here we are. I figured it out and I have no reluctance giving the Kenwood DNX6960 5/5 stars. I hope this helped someone out who was experiencing the same issue.
AC

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Getting there is now more fun thanks to eXcelon AV navigation systems. With full-featured navigation from Garmin, a brilliant 6.1-inch touchscreen, support for a variety of media, and expansion options aplenty, the Kenwood DNX6960 will keep on track and well-entertained.

Navigation Features
3D Building Map 3D Building Map displays realistic images of prominent landmarks and buildings in major North American cities. This function provides an appealing birds-eye view that makes getting to your destination more enjoyable.
Lane Assist with Junction View Enjoy advanced notification using Lane Assist with Junction View: As the name suggests, Lane Assist guides you to the appropriate lane to be in for upcoming directional changes such as at junctions or interchanges, and Junction View displays a view of upcoming road details to enable smooth driving as you approach.
Built-in NAVTEQ Traffic Data (Requires KNA-NT100) NAVTEQ provides real-time traffic data for over 80 major cities in North America. This means that if traffic is congested up ahead, the navigation system will automatically re-navigate the route to get you to your destination in the shortest amount of time.
Additional Navigation Features
Easy-To-Use GUI (Graphic User Interface)
Over 6 million points of interest
Program Up To 500 waypoints For long trips
Text-To-Speech (TTS) Voice Guidance (English, French, Spanish)
Selectable 2D or 3D Map Display
Track Log Display
Trip Computer
ecoRoute

AV Features
Control of iPhone, iPod and Video Playback The DNX6960 is compatible with iPhone and iPod models as well as video playback. In addition to conventional searches for playlists, artists, albums and genres, additional search commands can also be performed for music videos, TV shows, movies, video playlists, etc. via the convenience of Voice Control Command.
Flick Through and Browse A function similar to iPod�s Cover Flow is now featured on the DNX6960, allowing users to flick through and browse for music albums, video titles, photographs, etc. on connected media; the contents or titles of selected sources on the screen can also be viewed.
Split Screen An improved GUI makes split-screen operation easier to operate. For example, the split screen displays two different screens side by side while the primary and secondary screens allow you to toggle between two frequently used screens via touch-screen operation.
Built-in Bluetooth The eXcelon DNX6960 comes equipped with built-in Bluetooth capability to enable handsfree operation so you can keep your hands on the steering wheel where they belong and concentrate on the road ahead.
6.1-Inch Touchscreen with Variable Illumination The DNX6960 puts intuitive control right at your fingertips with its 6.1" TFT Active Matrix Display and powerful, easy-to-use graphical user interface. Customize the unit's front panel illumination by choosing from a large palette of colors--match your interior tones, dash lighting, or whatever tickles your fancy. Selectable wallpapers and customizable backgrounds offer further personalization.
Enjoy Your Favorite Media The DNX6960 is a media powerhouse, letting you play your favorite CDs and DVDs, along with several digital audio and video formats. The unit accepts DVD, DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW, CD, CD-R/RW, VCD and DTS-CD discs. It plays back AAC, MP3 and WMA audio files; MPEG1 video files; and can display JPEG images. Throw your files on a disc or a USB device and enjoy them in your vehicle wherever you are.
And of course, you can still listen to the AM/FM radio. Use Auto Memory to automatically add stations with good reception to presets, or enter them manually. The DNX6960 displays FM radio text when available, traffic information, and allows you to enter station names.
USB Direct Control You can enjoy your favorite music, video or images from USB devices like flash drives or MP3 players. When connecting a USB device, playback starts automatically. When a battery-powered USB device like an MP3 player is connected to this unit, it also gets a charge, so it's ready to go with you when you exit the vehicle.
Input and Output In addition to the iPod and USB support, you can use the DNX6960's front auxiliary A/V input to connect external audio/video sources like video game systems.
The unit also features an A/V output for sending content to an additional screen in the vehicle.
Plenty of Power, Room to Grow The DNX6960 features an on-board 50W x 4 MOSFET amplifier, but also offers three sets of 5V preamp outputs (front/rear/subwoofer) for building your system.
System E's+ Crossover System A single IC that allows the user to select from 8 different high-pass filter crossover frequencies plus pass-through, with independent selection for front and rear outputs. This makes it easy to optimize the performance of all amps and speakers in a car audio system without needing an external electronic crossover. System E's+ also incorporates a phase switch and low-pass filter for the non-fading output. The low-pass filter has selectable cutoff frequencies of 50Hz, 80Hz, 120Hz and Through.
System Q EX Sound Control Five factory pre-set equalization curves (Rock, Top40, Pops, Jazz and Easy, plus a flat setting) and three speaker matching curves (OEM, 6x9, 5/4 plus a flat setting) that can be combined to give the user extreme flexibility over the sound's tonal character. The preset curves include midrange contouring, giving music more clarity and presence. System Q EX allows the user to modify the preset curves by changing the amplitude of the bass, midrange and treble compensation, and the Q of the bass and midrange compensation. The new curves can then be saved as presets for future recall
HD and SAT Radio Ready The DNX6960 allows you to enjoy SIRIUS (requires CA-SR20V cable + Sirius Tuner) or XM (requires KCA-XM100V + XM Mini Tuner) radio in your vehicle. Enjoy a multitude of channels featuring music, news, talk shows, sports and traffic information with CD quality sound.
You can also add an HD Radio tuner (requires KTC-HR300). When you connect an HD Radio, Tuner features of the unit are disabled and changed to HD Radio tuner features.
Rear Camera Input The DNX6960 is ready for a rear camera, allowing you to monitor behind your vehicle as you back up.
What's in the Box Kenwood DNX6960, GPS Antenna, Sleeve, Trim Ring, Wiring Harness, Installation Tools/Hardware, Installation Manual, User's Manual, Navigation Manual, Warranty Card.

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Garmin aera 510 Color Touchscreen Aviation GPS (Americas) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have owned numerous Garmin GPS units and was excited to try an aviation version of their product.
Aviation:
The aviation part is okay. You can search for the closest airport but there is no direct to button.
Weather:
This is a nice feature, though not a cheap monthly payment. There is no way to change the speed of the animation (which is miserably slow). Also, it takes forever to get enough history in it to animate anything.
Auto:
I'm impressed with this part. Compared to the 350 and 255W, this one blows them away.
Overall, this is an okay unit.

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Featuring crisp 4.3-inch QVGA wide-format displays with touchscreen interface, Garmin's aera series of GPS portables are the perfect fly/drive navigation solution. All four aera models come with preloaded automotive maps, a built-in terrain/obstacles aviation database, Garmin's patented Panel Page, and more. So, you can transition smoothly from runways to roadways with the aera model that best matches your needs and budget.

The Garmin aera 510 Stepping up from Garmin's base model aera 500, the 510 version adds support for NEXRAD imaging and all the other great XM WX satellite weather capabilities (subscriptions required). Plus, you can use the XM Radio capability to enjoy 170+ channels of digital music, news and other programming through your headset or cabin audio system. (The GXM 40 smart antenna is included with your aera.) In addition to the XM satellite access, the aera 510 comes fully preloaded with detailed aerial mapping of terrain contours and structural features. So, you'll have a wealth of information resources at your fingertips, to help you make better flying decisions. What's more, the simplicity of a single integrated cabling solution for power, music and datalink weather antenna options makes for easy, clutter-free aera connectivity in the cockpit.

In the Air, It's a "Mini-MFD" Your aera 510 comes ready to fly, right out of the box. Its detailed chart-style shaded mapping and extensive terrain and aviation databases (including private airports and heliports) help you visualize your flight path in relation to nearby navaids, terrain, SUAs, obstructions, and so on. To help keep pilots aware of special airspace activity, over 683 parachute drop zones are detailed in the Americas navigation database. Terrain/obstacle detail is shown in standard 30 arc-second resolution on the aera 510 display. And, as in all the aera models, GPS updating is provided at a super-fast 5 Hz rate. For added safety, a database-driven terrain advisory feature offers TAWS-like color coding and pop-up alerts when possible obstructions or ground proximity conflicts loom ahead.

Reach New Levels of Awareness The aera 510's graphical Terrain page offers both overhead and vertical profile views of the landscape beneath your wings. And an IFR map mode lets you display and navigate on high or low enroute airways--while using your touchscreen map cursor to reference MEAs (Minimum Enroute Altitudes) and distances between intersections. For traffic awareness, an optional power/data cable (sold separately) makes it easy to interface your aera with the Garmin GTX 330 Mode S transponder in your aircraft, thus enabling you to access and display TIS traffic alerts in busy terminal airspace. What's more, you can also use the aera to load communications frequencies into your Garmin SL 40 Comm or SL 30 Nav/Comm transceiver.

Out of the Heavens, Onto the Highways When you arrive at your destination runway, aera lets you hit the ground running--with full automotive GPS capability and preloaded City Navigator NT street mapping. Operating much like Garmin's popular n�vi line of touchscreen auto navigators, your aera 510 offers voice-guided turn-by-turn directions with text-to-speech audio technology that calls out streets by name. In addition, there's built-in Bluetooth support for wireless hands-free calling with your compatible mobile phone. And the aera's built-in "points of interest" database offers helpful guidance to millions of motels, restaurants, gas stations, ATMs, and other local attractions. You can use the aera's XM satellite capability to watch the weather or listen to XM Radio entertainment while driving. And to speed your transition from aircraft to automotive mode, a unique "smart mount" for the aera offers instant clip-and-go car navigation.

About the Jeppesen Database The aera includes an internal Jeppesen database that provides location and facility information for thousands of airports, VORs, NDBs, and more. Updates to the Jeppesen database are available every 28 days online, and the database includes the following information:

Airport--identifier, facility name, city/state/country, latitude/longitude, field elevation, available fuel types, runway designations and layout, runway surface, runway length, runway width, runway lighting, communication frequencies, and published approaches.
Weather--frequencies associated with an airport (ASOS, ATIS, and AWOS).
VORs--identifier, facility name, city/state/country, location (latitude/longitude), frequency, service volume (high, low, terminal), and type (such as VOR-DME, TACAN, and VORTAC).
NDBs--identifier, facility name, city/state/country, location (latitude/longitude), and frequency.
Intersections--identifier, nearest VOR, radial and distance from nearest VOR, location (latitude/longitude), and region/country.
ARTCC--Air Route Traffic Control Centers.
Airspace--boundaries (Class B, Class C, Control Zones, SUAs, and MOAs), controlling agency, and vertical boundaries.
FSS--Flight Service Stations.

Americas Terrain Database Enhance situational awareness with the Terrain Aviation Database. This digital database contains the elevation data which represents the topography of the earth. Using this information, your Garmin aviation GPS monitors your current position in relation to surrounding terrain to provide alerts--giving you additional time to make critical decisions regarding the flight path. Since Terrain data does not include man-made objects (towers, airports, VORs etc.), updates to Terrain data do not occur on a regular basis.

The download process for Terrain updates is simple and convenient. Simply plug in your aviation device, download and go.

About City Navigator NT With nearly 6 million points of interest and road coverage for U.S., Canada and Mexico, plus Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands and the Bahamas, City Navigator North America NT gives you everything you need to travel North America. Powered by NAVTEQ, a world leader in premium-quality digital map data, City Navigator brings you the most detailed street maps available so you can navigate with exact, turn-by-turn directions to any address or intersection.

Provides nearly 6 million points of interest, including hotels, restaurants, parking, entertainment, fuel and shopping.
Includes new extended coverage for Mexico.
Includes highways, interstates, and business and residential roads in metropolitan and rural areas.
Includes turn restrictions, roundabout guidance, speed categories.
Gives turn-by-turn directions.
Includes postal code support for Canada.
Speaks street names (example: "Turn right on Main Street.").

What's in the Box aera 510, Free Single Database Update, GXM 40 smart antenna, Yoke Mount with Power Cable, Battery Pack, Portable Friction Mount, USB Cable, AC Adapter, Vehicle Power Cable, Pilot's Guide and Owner's Manual

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Garmin GPSMAP 546s Marine GPS Receiver with Dual-Frequency Transducer Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have an older Garmin chartplotter with a black and white display that is used every day on a water taxi and tour boat in Alaska and it has worked flawlessly for the last eight years. I got this new one for a different boat and it works as advertised but I can't customize the display as well as I could the older one. The display is nice and bright and is readable in bright sunlight with dark glasses. The unit is mounted inside the cabin and the built in antenna has no problem tracking satellites. The standard charts already installed for North America seem to be adequate for my needs so I don't know how it would work with the BlueChart g2 Vision. Reading the tide tables are not as easy or convenient as on the older one. The depth/fish finder seems to work fine. It is nice having the duel frequency transducer. I would have rated it five stars but I really didn't see any mprovement in functionality in eight years.

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The GPSMAP 546s is a compact chartplotter that features a high-resolution, super-bright 5-inch VGA color display along with an improved high-speed digital design for increased map drawing and panning speeds. It's ready to go with an easy-to-use interface and a built-in, satellite-enhanced basemap preloaded with all U.S. coastal areas, including Alaska and Hawaii as well as detailed charts for the Bahamas. The GPSMAP 546 also accepts BlueChart g2 Vision cards for added features and functionality such as high-resolution satellite imagery, 3-D views and Auto Guidance technology.
A compact chartplotter with a 5-inch screen, preloaded U.S. coastal maps, a high-sensitivity GPS receiver, and included sounder. Click here for a larger image

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Humminbird 161 Combo 4-Inch Waterproof Marine GPS and Chartplotter Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have a 25' sailboat that's older thus most electronics are NG. I needed a unit with depth and a basic GPS. Installation went well, including caulking the sending unit to the inside bottom of my hull (caulk not suggested per manufacturer). It works and can be removed if I had an issue.
I had to speak to customer service for an issue I had (my bad, not thiers). They were VERY helpful and knowledgeable and even sent me a new sender specifically designed for inside the hull.
It was VERY comforting to excperience a manufacturer that supports their products, which is increasingly rare these days. Bravo!

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The Humminbird 161 Combo Fish Finder and GPS Combo is an all-in-one fish finder for the serious recreational angler that offers incredible ease of use and GPS chartplotting. The 161 is compact, but full of already built-in capabilities, with the ability to add advanced accessories, making it the perfect companion for your fishing outings.
The Humminbird 161 Combo provides full GPS navigation, chartplotting and sonar right out of the box. This unit has a built-in 16-channel WAAS GPS receiver, and a four nautical-mile resolution UniMap of USA inland lakes, rivers and coastal areas. The 161 uses a precision 20-degree sonar beam optimized for definition and coverage, and reliable down to 600 feet with a target separation of only 2.5 inches. This fish finder includes real-time sonar at up to 40 times per second, and Sonar Echo Enhancement sensitive enough to track a jig to over 40 feet. This unit's high-speed, micro-dynamic transducer is reliable up to 70 mph, and even includes water temperature and GPS speed.
The 161 Combo has a high-contrast, 4-inch FTSN LCD screen with 640 x 320 lines of resolution in 16-level grayscale for crisp images with high visibility, and an adjustable backlight. This system features Bottom Lock and one-touch 2x, 4x, 6x and 8x zoom to enhance resolution and separate fish from structure, and X-Press Menus for faster access to important controls. This unit also features fresh and saltwater set-up options, TruArch for actual fish returns or selective Fish ID+ with target depth, a selectable large digital readout for easy viewing, and an adjustable backlight for night fishing, making it one of your most complete fish-finding systems.
The 161 Combo comes as a Transom Mount with a tilt-and-swivel, quick-disconnect mount system, for either Gimbal or in-dash mounting. This unit measures 5.25 x 7.4 x 4 inches (WxHxD) as a Gimbal mount, or when in-dash mounted requires three inches of behind-dash clearance. Providing such big performance, especially in such a compact design that is ideal for small spaces, the 161 Combo system also includes 750 waypoints, 20 routes, and 10 tracks with 2,000 points each. The Humminbird 161 Combo is built with fully gasketed and waterproof construction, and is backed by a manufacturer's one-year warranty.
What's in the Box 161 Combo fishfinder with internal GPS, transducer, mounting hardware, and product manual.

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Garmin GPSMAP 640 Waterproof Car/Marine GPS and Chartplotter (With BlueChart g2 Marine Charts and City Navigator NT North America Maps) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The 640 could/should have been so much better, had Garmin enabled the XM Weather capability in Automotive mode, in addition to the Marine mode, which does support XM Weather (WHY would they do such a stupid thing?!), and kept the Tracks/Tracks Management feature of the 276C/378/478 models, which are also geared toward Marine/Auto users. The unbelievable thing is that these missing features are all features that Garmin has implemented in older units - it is baffling why they would eliminate them in newer models, particularly at a time when this basic GPS functionality in the 640 is so widely available in smartphones. They also reduced the number of saved Routes. As the 640 is currently configured, I will stick to my trusty 478 for a long time, despite the fact that I would have liked to upgrade to a larger screen and updated GPS receiver technology found in the 640.

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Garmin Zumo 550 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
People complain about the Zumo not having a built in speaker. Well, you wouldn't be able to hear it while riding your bike it if it had one, so it's a bit of a moot point.
On a side note, I think there are some features the unit lacks that can be somewhat annoying. First, and definitely the most annoying for me, the elevation by which you view your position on a GPS determines the amount of detail you see, i.e. POI's, street names, distance of road to travel, etc. The units I have used previously (factory nav in a Honda, other Garmins and the Mio 310 to name a few) had the ability to select zoom/elevation from the main nav screen allowing you to choose your "view" of the road so to speak, at anytime. With the Zumo, you cannot change elevation/zoom from the main nav screen, you can only adjust it while in map mode searching for a destination. The second you go back to the main navigation screen you loose the elevation you chose and go back to a default level of zoom, which for me is real irritating.
Another annoying feature is the keyboard for text input does not offer a QWERTY layout. I have not had to type on an ABCDEF style keyboard since the invention on the PC. In fact, I have a Garmin IQue 3600 that's 4 years old and it has a QWERTY keyboard?
Also, the search function on the Zumo is relatively slow at times. I once waited 4+ minutes while searching for a popular restaurant. It found it eventually, but for a while I thought the unit just froze up. I happen to be sitting in my driveway so it was only a minor annoyance, but if you were parked on the roadside with cars buzzing by it would seem more like an eternity.
One other issue, the built in hard drive is pretty much full with maps right out of the box, which isn't that big of a deal with the open SD slot. The SD slot lets you slip in a SD card for expanded memory capability (MP3 storage etc.), but when loading routes from your PC (which is a great feature I'll touch on below) you must save the data directly to the units hard drive in order for the Zumo to be able to read it. Well, that's going to be an issue when the hard drive fills up from firmware updates, etc.
While I'm at it, I think the icon that marks your position on the map is annoyingly large. It makes your car or bike look the size of a lake, or some other large map detail.
On the plus side, I believe that all of the issues I mentioned are correctable via a firmware update and a few bugs are to be expected to some extent given this is the 1st generation of a new model. Although, you can also argue that with the price this thing sells for combined with the experience Garmin has building GPS devices there is really no excuse for the Zumo lacking anything.
A nice feature, which is common on Garmins top units, is that you can map out routes on your PC, load it to the Zumo (again, on the built in hard drive though not the SD card) and away you go. This comes in handy if you're in sales for example and need to hit a few clients on a particular day or if you're going to be cruising on your bike and have a bunch of places you want to stop at during the trip. Rather than having to wait and program destinations one at a time as you make your stops, you can knock them all out the night before on your PC so you're entire trip is planned before it's even begun.
Also, the Bluetooth feature is sweet and works flawlessly. Pairing the Zumo with my Blackberry was a breeze. The Zumo was able to read my address book and displayed the contacts on the phone screen so there was never a need to touch the Blackberry once paired. When in the car, the speaker worked well and people on the other end seemed to have no trouble hearing me. I disagree with the one reviewer that said the mount looked weak. I think the mount would successfully support a cinderblock on rough road.
Installing the Zumo on my ZZR1200 took me about 30 min. It takes some time to run the wires and connect to the battery. You will need to crimp connectors (that are not supplied) on the end of the wires that go to the battery. The Ram mount is real solid. The Zumo does not move once you're locked in and on the road.
Now for the justification of the 4 star rating given I beat the Zumo up quite a bit. The build quality of this thing it second to none. It is literally built like a tank. I'd bet it would outlast anyone who buys it. Again, firmware updates will likely take care of all its shortcomings over time. And last but not least, Garmin tech support is second to none. No matter who you speak to they are knowledgeable, professional and will provide answers to anything you can throw at them (and I come up with some good ones) all without making you feel like you're annoying or a technological moron.
Therefore, I don't think you can go wrong with any Garmin, if you can swallow the price of the unit.


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Born to ride, the Garmin zumo 550 brings all the power of a GPS navigator, wireless communicator, multimedia entertainer, and tour guide all into one device. And it's made just for motorcycles. Designed by bikers, zumo's motorcycle-friendly features make it easy to operate while in the saddle. From back roads to rallies, its preloaded maps and high-end navigation features give you the freedom to go where you want.
View the zumo 550 in action. You can also see a demonstration of the product's features. (Best viewed with Internet Explorer)
Made for Two Wheels The zumo is made for extreme durability; it's vibration-tested, waterproof, and built with fuel-resistant plastics to withstand the elements. It's also intuitive, with a glove-friendly touch screen with left-handed controls that make it easy to operate. There's a bright, sunlight-readable, UV-resistant display that makes it easy to view, as well as a unique motorcycle console for trip information, including a fuel gauge to warn you when its time to fill up. The display measures 3.5 inches diagonally and features 320 x 240 pixel resolution.
Measuring 4.8 x 3.9 x 1.6-inches (WxHxD) and weighing just 10.6 ounces, the zumo is small enough to carry with you while you're off the bike. The high-sensitivity GPS receiver is powered by the SiRF Star chipset, which offers extreme accuracy, even when you're riding under dense foliage or between tall buildings. The unit also features Garmin Lock -- an advanced anti-theft feature that disables the unit from performing any functions until you type in a specific four-digit PIN or take the unit to a predetermined location.
The zumo comes with a motorcycle mount with universal mounting hardware so you can mount it anywhere. An automobile mount is also included, and it features an integrated speaker. Garmin also provides custom caps, which are available in a variety of colors, so you can reflect your style.
Navigate the Open Road The zumo 550 comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator NT street maps and a hefty points of interest (POIs) database, including motels, restaurants, fuel, ATMs and more. Simply enter a destination, and the zumo takes you there with turn-by-turn voice directions that speak street names. In addition, zumo accepts customized points of interest such as school zones and safety cameras, and it also includes proximity alerts to warn of upcoming POIs. Plus, the unit is fully compatible with Garmin's Tour Guide feature, a free utility that allows you to build and upload a database of POIs that are encoded with photos and MP3 files. A rechargeable, removable lithium-ion battery that offers up to three hours of use is integrated into the zumo for trip planning or use on foot. In addition, the zumo even accepts electronic maps, making it the ultimate off-road navigator.
Hands-Free Calls and Wireless Voice Prompts With the zumo's Bluetooth wireless technology, you can talk on the phone safely without removing your gloves or helmet. Connect the device to your Bluetooth-enabled headset/helmet and cell phone to make and receive hands-free calls. You can even make phone calls to POIs through the zumo's Bluetooth interface. In addition, The zumo transmits navigation voice prompts to your headset so you can listen wirelessly.
Traffic, Weather, and Radio With optional XM subscriptions and an XM antenna, you can check the weather, move ahead of traffic and listen to the radio when you travel with the zumo. As an alternative, the zumo can receive optional TMC traffic alerts (in select cities) when used with a compatible traffic receiver. Simply press a button on the screen, and the zumo recalculates your route to avoid traffic tie-ups.
Route Planning, Sharing, and Entertainment The zumo makes it easy to plan your next trip and share routes with your riding buddies. Plan trips on your computer before you start. Search for food and fuel stops and local attractions. Then, transfer your route to your zumo and go.
At the end of the day, share your favorite places and rides with other zumo riders, and review your travels in Google Earth. SD card expansion makes it easy for storage and route sharing, and you can download routes to share with your riding buddies. You can also load MP3s onto the unit so you can enjoy music while you're riding. Plus, a JPEG picture viewer lets you share photos of your adventures with friends and family.
What's in the Box zumo 550, preloaded City Navigator NT North America, MapSource City Navigator NT DVD (full-unlock), motorcycle mount with RAM mounting hardware, automotive suction cup mount with integrated speaker, dashboard disk, carrying case, AC charger, vehicle power cable, motorcycle power cable, USB interface cable, security screwdriver, custom caps (silver and black), Garmin stickers, owner's manual on disk, and quick reference guide.

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Garmin GPSMAP 541s 5-Inch Waterproof Marine GPS and Chartplotter with Sounder Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this from the GPS Store,Out of the box I had issues with this unit and the seller refused to take it back nor exchange.,was able to resolve the problem with the help of Garmin technecal support.I downloaded the correct software.

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The GPSMAP 541s is a compact chartplotter that features an ultra-bright 5" QVGA color display along with an improved high-speed digital design for increased map drawing and panning speeds. It's ready to go with an easy-to-use interface and a built-in, satellite-enhanced basemap preloaded with all U.S. coastal areas, including Alaska and Hawaii as well as detailed charts for the Bahamas. The GPSMAP 541s also accepts BlueChart g2 Vision cards for added features and functionality such as high-resolution satellite imagery, 3-D views and Auto Guidance technology.
A compact chartplotter with an improved high-speed digital design. Click here for a larger image

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