wotches man Garmin Foretrex 401 Waterproof Hiking
I bought this primarily for mountain biking and hiking. It is simple to use and works well. Satellite aquisition is very fast and I have had no trouble maintaining a strong signal under heavy tree cover (usually around 5-10' accuracy). The unit is pretty small for what it is and is easy to wear during rides. It seems pretty rugged so far.
I have read complaints about lack of software compliance, but I assure you it is very easy. After each ride, I simply plug the unit into my USB port. I then open Garmin Base Camp, select the GPS device, right click on the track I want to save and select "send to". Just send it to the file and it is saved on my Base Camp. Base Camp is lacking in detailed maps however, so I just click "view" in the Base Camp program and open the file in Google Earth. Works great and allows me to save detailed satellite images of each hike/ride. It takes less than 5 minutes to complete. I can then delete the track from my GPS and transfer the routes from Base Camp to my Foretrex whenever I need it.
My only complaints are very minor. It would be nice to be able to pause my trip data (such as my timer and distance) when I take a break. Accessing the battery compartment is not the easiest but it isn't too bad. Some reviewers complained about how tedious it is to delete tracks and waypoints. It is actually pretty simple. Tracks can be deleted by pressing "enter" on the map page and then selecting "clear track log". Waypoints can be deleted by selecting "setup" in the menu, then "reset" and "delete all waypoints".
Hope this helps. I would definately buy this again and recommend it to anyone looking for a small gps unit that does what it says and does it well. If you are looking for a detailed map and fancy color screen, you should look elsewhere. One last thing, I purchased a SquareTrade warranty with this unit. I have not used it, but it covers defects and accidental damage for 3 years(ie: falls while biking, drops, water damage, etc.)which seems fairly likely to occur when using this for mountain biking and heavy outdoor use. For $35 dollars it seemed like a good idea.
I need it for hiking dirt bike traveling and boating and tons of other things. I would need it to have great resolution.
BalasHapus