Comments on: Garmin Oregon 550t – A (Geotagged) Picture is Worth A Thousand Words http://www.gpsfix.net/garmin-oregon-550t-first-impression/ The Garmin Outdoor GPS Information Resource Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:05:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: David Chagnon http://www.gpsfix.net/garmin-oregon-550t-first-impression/comment-page-3/#comment-1406 David Chagnon Sat, 06 Mar 2010 16:51:56 +0000 http://www.gpsfix.net/?p=883#comment-1406 Hi All, Scott, thank you for answering my Feb 26 post. I just came back from 5 days outdoor cross country ski trip. I used my new Oregon 550T and a friend of mine had his Vista Csx. As far as the reception or positioning goes, the oregon was perfect, despite my initial fear on day one trying to get a position. As far as batteries are concerned, I used a mix of rechargeable 2500mAh (with good results), rechargeable 1700 MAh, with expectably much lower results as well as alkaline 1,5V, with good GPS results (but unacceptable from an environmental point of view, with two batteries out every two days of use). So thanks for the advice, I will look for these rechargeable NiMH batteries, and prices will go down if more of us do! Enjoy the outdoor! David Hi All,
Scott, thank you for answering my Feb 26 post.
I just came back from 5 days outdoor cross country ski trip. I used my new Oregon 550T and a friend of mine had his Vista Csx. As far as the reception or positioning goes, the oregon was perfect, despite my initial fear on day one trying to get a position. As far as batteries are concerned, I used a mix of rechargeable 2500mAh (with good results), rechargeable 1700 MAh, with expectably much lower results as well as alkaline 1,5V, with good GPS results (but unacceptable from an environmental point of view, with two batteries out every two days of use). So thanks for the advice, I will look for these rechargeable NiMH batteries, and prices will go down if more of us do!
Enjoy the outdoor!
David

]]> By: Roy http://www.gpsfix.net/garmin-oregon-550t-first-impression/comment-page-3/#comment-1389 Roy Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:44:23 +0000 http://www.gpsfix.net/?p=883#comment-1389 Thanks for your advice Scott. I wasn't aware of the filedepot website, I'll give it a try. Roy Thanks for your advice Scott. I wasn’t aware of the filedepot website, I’ll give it a try.
Roy

]]> By: Scott http://www.gpsfix.net/garmin-oregon-550t-first-impression/comment-page-3/#comment-1388 Scott Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:40:34 +0000 http://www.gpsfix.net/?p=883#comment-1388 Roy, For driving the only real option you have is Garmin's City Navigator maps. They provide turn-by-turn directions while you are driving similar to an auto GPS except you don't get verbal commands -- just beeps for upcoming turns. This runs about $70-$90. For your outdoor activities I would suggest trying some of the free maps at http://gpsfiledepot.com . If you get the 550t the built in topos would cover you for hiking and they might be good enough for kayaking although if you want Marine data (depth, etc) you'll need to go for Garmin's BlueCharts. Roy,

For driving the only real option you have is Garmin’s City Navigator maps. They provide turn-by-turn directions while you are driving similar to an auto GPS except you don’t get verbal commands — just beeps for upcoming turns. This runs about $70-$90.

For your outdoor activities I would suggest trying some of the free maps at http://gpsfiledepot.com . If you get the 550t the built in topos would cover you for hiking and they might be good enough for kayaking although if you want Marine data (depth, etc) you’ll need to go for Garmin’s BlueCharts.

]]> By: Roy http://www.gpsfix.net/garmin-oregon-550t-first-impression/comment-page-3/#comment-1387 Roy Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:04:23 +0000 http://www.gpsfix.net/?p=883#comment-1387 Driving would be minimum. I intend to use it mostly for hiking and kayaking in the coastal waterways on Long Island as well as rivers and lakes upstate New York. As far as hiking I would be using it on Long Island and again upstate New York. Thanks again, Roy Driving would be minimum. I intend to use it mostly for hiking and kayaking in the coastal waterways on Long Island as well as rivers and lakes upstate New York. As far as hiking I would be using it on Long Island and again upstate New York.

Thanks again,
Roy

]]> By: Scott http://www.gpsfix.net/garmin-oregon-550t-first-impression/comment-page-3/#comment-1386 Scott Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:38:18 +0000 http://www.gpsfix.net/?p=883#comment-1386 Roy, Let us know where you'll use the GPS most frequently and for what kind of activities (hiking, driving, kayaking, geocaching, etc) and I can make some suggestions. -Scott Roy, Let us know where you’ll use the GPS most frequently and for what kind of activities (hiking, driving, kayaking, geocaching, etc) and I can make some suggestions.

-Scott

]]> By: Roy http://www.gpsfix.net/garmin-oregon-550t-first-impression/comment-page-3/#comment-1385 Roy Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:19:02 +0000 http://www.gpsfix.net/?p=883#comment-1385 I am considering one of the Oregon units, probably the 550T. I want to use it not only for hiking but also for kayaking on both inland as well as coastal waters. I see several different maps available for the units but am not sure which I should purchase. Thanks, Roy I am considering one of the Oregon units, probably the 550T. I want to use it not only for hiking but also for kayaking on both inland as well as coastal waters. I see several different maps available for the units but am not sure which I should purchase.

Thanks,
Roy

]]> By: Scott http://www.gpsfix.net/garmin-oregon-550t-first-impression/comment-page-3/#comment-1382 Scott Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:43:34 +0000 http://www.gpsfix.net/?p=883#comment-1382 David, When you first get a new GPS you should let it sit outside with a clear view of the sky for 20-30 minutes. This allows to build some internal databases that it can use later to make signal acquisition faster. You will probably want to invest in 4-8 2700mAh AA NiMH batteries and charger for the the 550t. It is more power hungry than the Vista, but you still can get 10-12 hrs of use on a pair of well charged NiMH batteries. -Scott David,

When you first get a new GPS you should let it sit outside with a clear view of the sky for 20-30 minutes. This allows to build some internal databases that it can use later to make signal acquisition faster. You will probably want to invest in 4-8 2700mAh AA NiMH batteries and charger for the the 550t. It is more power hungry than the Vista, but you still can get 10-12 hrs of use on a pair of well charged NiMH batteries.

-Scott

]]> By: David Chagnon http://www.gpsfix.net/garmin-oregon-550t-first-impression/comment-page-3/#comment-1380 David Chagnon Fri, 26 Feb 2010 07:06:23 +0000 http://www.gpsfix.net/?p=883#comment-1380 Hi All, I was very excited to purchase an Oregon 450T to replace my Vista HCX. The excitement went down when the unit repeat ably could not identify where it was, quite worrying for a GPS unit. Of course, the day is very cloudy and I was inside the house (it's cold out in Montreal in Feb). I changed the batteries to put new Alkaline instead of the rechargeable I am using in the HCx. I put the unit outside and it eventually catch enough satellite signals to find where it was. My old HCx could find it's way right away beside the new unit, while the Oregon could not. So, is it normal for the "first" positioning to be more difficult? Could my wireless network interfere more with the new Oregon? Does the Oregon need a lot more power for its antenna to work properly? Will I need to bring two GPS or a ton of batteries? I will test it out outdoor for 4 days so I hope it will work! Please let me know if I can improve the reception a way or another? Thanks, David Hi All,

I was very excited to purchase an Oregon 450T to replace my Vista HCX. The excitement went down when the unit repeat ably could not identify where it was, quite worrying for a GPS unit. Of course, the day is very cloudy and I was inside the house (it’s cold out in Montreal in Feb). I changed the batteries to put new Alkaline instead of the rechargeable I am using in the HCx. I put the unit outside and it eventually catch enough satellite signals to find where it was. My old HCx could find it’s way right away beside the new unit, while the Oregon could not.
So, is it normal for the “first” positioning to be more difficult? Could my wireless network interfere more with the new Oregon? Does the Oregon need a lot more power for its antenna to work properly? Will I need to bring two GPS or a ton of batteries? I will test it out outdoor for 4 days so I hope it will work! Please let me know if I can improve the reception a way or another?
Thanks,
David

]]> By: Scott http://www.gpsfix.net/garmin-oregon-550t-first-impression/comment-page-3/#comment-1377 Scott Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:36:43 +0000 http://www.gpsfix.net/?p=883#comment-1377 Yes, here's the link to the wiki FAQ: http://garminoregon.wikispaces.com/Geocaching#toc18 Yes, here’s the link to the wiki FAQ:

http://garminoregon.wikispaces.com/Geocaching#toc18

]]> By: sleth2054 http://www.gpsfix.net/garmin-oregon-550t-first-impression/comment-page-3/#comment-1376 sleth2054 Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:47:46 +0000 http://www.gpsfix.net/?p=883#comment-1376 scott is there a way to get my geocaches on the 550, entered as waypoints thanks scott is there a way to get my geocaches on the 550, entered as waypoints thanks

]]>