Garmin Rino 600 Series

[rittem1]

Any one have either of these? I am pretty much down to the 650 or the 655T but I wanted to get the opinions of some hunters who have actually used them before I pony up the $475+ for them.
Thanks,
Eric

[washelkhunter]

655T. i like it.

[philepe]

I have not used any other GPS units so I cant compare to others, but I LOVE my Rino 650.  IIRC the 655t has pics and will mark them on your map that would be nice.
 I really need my friends to buy a rino also so we can communicate while in the woods, but as soon as they see the price they say no thanks.   If you don't have hunting partners that are buying units you could probably get another unit that will work just as well.  But......it was really nice hunting the Entiat unit a few years ago and I could see other hunters positions when they talked on their Rino's and then use that info to my advantage.

[dscubame]

......it was really nice hunting the Entiat unit a few years ago and I could see other hunters positions when they talked on their Rino's and then use that info to my advantage.

I like it for this reason too and I set mine up so it does not transmit my location.  Need to upgrade this year so I can get the hunting maps then I will have a extra however most who I hunt with do have one.  Super convenient and worth every cent.

[pianoman9701]

I've had the 655T for two seasons. I don't see owning anything else.

[ghosthunter]

I have 8 GPS all Garmins. From one of their first models the GPS 38 to the 650. They all still work. Several years ago I got two 110 Rhinos and never looked back. last year I bought a 650 because my buddy who had been barrowing mine stepped up. We have 8 Rhinos in our camp. Work great.

The 650 takes a little more getting use too than the older models I think. But a very good unit. I do not miss a camera fuction as I already have little camera in my pack.

[ghosthunter]

Buy the 650 now and put one of the lesser Rhinos on your Birthday Christmas list. Bill it has a safety feature. You can leave the lesser model in your truck on and hunt with the 650 every once in a while key the mic and your postion will be logged by the truck unit. Good idea if hunting alone and something happens.
When hunting with a buddy you can loan him your lesser Rhino and it will not be long before he buys one. Thats how I got my camp to buy them. I loaned one to a camp member taught him how to use it and he was hooked, than moved on to the next camp member.

[dscubame]

I've had the 655T for two seasons. I don't see owning anything else.

How do you like the camera on it Pianoman?  I figured for $60 bucks more than the 650 the camera and preloaded maps may be worth it.

[kerrdog]

I've got the 655T.  It's super cool to be able to see where your buddies are.  It's not 100% reliable where we hunt (wet side jungle) but it's still worth having and comes in handy.  The two way radio works if you're pretty close to your buddies, but sometimes not….. or you can hear one buddy perfect and not the other one…..or you can hear them, but they can't hear you…etc….  Still worth having.  And it could save your butt, so it's worth it just for that. ……..

Having said that, my cell phones (android and iPhone) have a camera that's soooo much better, it makes the garmin camera pointless. It doesn't zoom, flash, or take video. In perfect light, it's just OK.  Otherwise, doesn't really work.

Cell phones also have a display that are soo much easier to see and navigate with, that the garmin display is…. pathetic, both size and resolution. But it's still good enough to see where your buddies are and it seems to be rugged and reliable.

For what I paid for it (right when it came out)….it's pretty bad really.  I guess Garmin has no competition?
It would be a lot cooler with a blutooth earpiece, since the wire is always snagging on brush and rips the ear-piece out of the ear. Yeah, my cell phone has that too. 

While I'm complaining, the tracks feature, and the garmin base camp software are frustrating and lame. The overall interface(s) is/are archaic. Unfortunately, as far as I know it's still the best one out there. 

Honestly, a good gps cell phone with a good app, and some two way radios would suffice. But my buddies have garmins, so I sorta had to buy it.

[onX Hunt]

If you have any questions on Garmin units feel free to ask. We personally recommend the Rino 650 with our chip. The 650 will not have a camera or the topo that comes on the 655t. What I tell our customers when asked, is that most people carry a camera or a smart phone with a higher resolution camera than on the Rino. Our chip comes with 24k topo while the Rino 655t comes with 100k topo.

In the long run a Rino 650 with our chip would cost the same as a 655t. You wouldn't have a camera but you would have better topography and a land ownership map to help you on your hunt!

http://www.huntinggpsmaps.com/store/gps-maps $99.99

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/on-the-trail/two-way-radios/rino-650/prod82798.html $499.99

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/on-the-trail/two-way-radios/rino-655t/prod82799.html $599.99

Thanks,

Nick

[arrowflinger]

  I carry the 650 with the chip and love it.

[dscubame]

If you have any questions on Garmin units feel free to ask. We personally recommend the Rino 650 with our chip. The 650 will not have a camera or the topo that comes on the 655t. What I tell our customers when asked, is that most people carry a camera or a smart phone with a higher resolution camera than on the Rino. Our chip comes with 24k topo while the Rino 655t comes with 100k topo.

In the long run a Rino 650 with our chip would cost the same as a 655t. You wouldn't have a camera but you would have better topography and a land ownership map to help you on your hunt!

http://www.huntinggpsmaps.com/store/gps-maps $99.99

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/on-the-trail/two-way-radios/rino-650/prod82798.html $499.99

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/on-the-trail/two-way-radios/rino-655t/prod82799.html $599.99

Thanks,

Nick

Nick,

Are there different landowner chips available and if so are they all the same?  Or just one chip sold by various companies?

[pianoman9701]

Both units come with the 100K topo as standard. You can find the 655T and the 650 cheaper with a Google search. I got my 655T two years ago for $499. I'm getting the GPSmaps chip this year for it.

[HighCountryHunter88]

Both units come with the 100K topo as standard. You can find the 655T and the 650 cheaper with a Google search. I got my 655T two years ago for $499. I'm getting the GPSmaps chip this year for it.

only the 655T has preloaded topo maps, the 650 in my opinion is the better option. you can put better maps on them for as much or less than what the difference between the 655T and the 650

[et1702]

I carry the 650 with the chip and love it.

Me too!  I like the 650 better than the 655, cause you can get the 650 & map chip for the price of the 655.  Great unit.  Plus, there are web sites where you can download topo's for free.

ET

[kerrdog]

My buddy has the older 530 hcx (or whatever it is) with the buttons instead of the touch screen.  For some reason his maps are better resolution.  I've tried to adjust settings on my 655 to make the maps look as clear as his, but no luck. Maybe the preloaded maps are not as good?

So I bought the chip last year. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it seems to only show land ownership (go figure  ) Even though we pretty much hunt the same spots, it's nice to know 'for sure' where you are; it could solve a lot of problems before they begin.  And could solve a dispute.

[pianoman9701]

Both units come with the 100K topo as standard. You can find the 655T and the 650 cheaper with a Google search. I got my 655T two years ago for $499. I'm getting the GPSmaps chip this year for it.

only the 655T has preloaded topo maps, the 650 in my opinion is the better option. you can put better maps on them for as much or less than what the difference between the 655T and the 650

I didn't know the 650 didn't come pre-loaded. Sorry for the misinformation, but the 100K topos are all but worthless anyway. The 24K USGS topo subscription through Garmin is around $20 for a year for WA, but it doesn't come with the landowner details that GPSmaps comes with.

[HighCountryHunter88]

the only down side to the GPS maps that i see it if you hunt multiple states, it adds up. if just regular 24k topo is good enough for you, you can get multi state regional maps from gps maps as well as garmin. garmin also has dvds with larger regions that allow you to make your own cards.

[KFhunter]

My buddy has the older 530 hcx (or whatever it is) with the buttons instead of the touch screen.  For some reason his maps are better resolution.  I've tried to adjust settings on my 655 to make the maps look as clear as his, but no luck. Maybe the preloaded maps are not as good?

So I bought the chip last year. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it seems to only show land ownership (go figure  ) Even though we pretty much hunt the same spots, it's nice to know 'for sure' where you are; it could solve a lot of problems before they begin.  And could solve a dispute.

love my 530hcx

If I ever find a reason to upgrade I'll pass it on to a kid,  otherwise I might just pick up some 120's

but I need to make sure the 120's have automatic polling so I can toss it in his snowmobile and track him weather he hits the button or not.   It's so easy to get seperated I'm anal about keeping a constant eye on him and not riding for myself

good discussion on amazon reviews
http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Rino-650-US-GPS/product-reviews/B004XJEQTA

[CementFinisher]

Love my 655t, and hate my big fingers, the touch screen can be very difficult to use when your extremely cold and wet and have compromised dexterity.

[KFhunter]

well I don't have to take my gloves off to use the 530 rino,  but I still need dexterity

[rittem1]

Well, thanks to the great feedback from this site and a little research I have decided the 650 is definitely the handheld for me. I am definitely going to get earbuds with PTT and a AA battery back up pack. Down the road I will add the huntinggps app. The best price I have found so far is Amazon for anyone else looking to add one to their pack. ($408, includes shipping).

Thanks guys, very much appreciated!
Eric

[Mudman]

Cabelas puts them on sale for around 359$ occasionally.  Cousin got his this way last year in July I think. The huntwa map is a must!  Budget it in!

[HighCountryHunter88]

Well, thanks to the great feedback from this site and a little research I have decided the 650 is definitely the handheld for me. I am definitely going to get earbuds with PTT and a AA battery back up pack. Down the road I will add the huntinggps app. The best price I have found so far is Amazon for anyone else looking to add one to their pack. ($408, includes shipping).

Thanks guys, very much appreciated!
Eric

ive done the AA battery packs, they are handy if all you have at the time are AAs but the pack it self is more bulky than the lithium pack. i just carry an extra lithium pack now

[pianoman9701]

I've got a AA pack and haven't had to use it yet. $20 is a small investment for it.

[kerrdog]

My buddy has the older 530 hcx (or whatever it is) with the buttons instead of the touch screen.  For some reason his maps are better resolution.  I've tried to adjust settings on my 655 to make the maps look as clear as his, but no luck. Maybe the preloaded maps are not as good?

So I bought the chip last year. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it seems to only show land ownership (go figure  ) Even though we pretty much hunt the same spots, it's nice to know 'for sure' where you are; it could solve a lot of problems before they begin.  And could solve a dispute.

love my 530hcx

If I ever find a reason to upgrade I'll pass it on to a kid,  otherwise I might just pick up some 120's

but I need to make sure the 120's have automatic polling so I can toss it in his snowmobile and track him weather he hits the button or not.   It's so easy to get seperated I'm anal about keeping a constant eye on him and not riding for myself

good discussion on amazon reviews
http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Rino-650-US-GPS/product-reviews/B004XJEQTA

I tried to buy a 120 and returned it.  It didn't have a chip, and the only way to get data into it was with some way-outdated cord with a plug that no computer has anymore.  If you buy one, make sure they've at least upgraded the cable to USB, because mine was unusable.

[Mudman]

Battery life is good with 650s.  Mine last few days.  Manage it, turn off radio and weather if you dont need em. AA pack good emerg. insurance, I need to get one. Other rinos like 120 and even the 610 dont have the power/range radio as 650s and 530s!

[Bob33]

If you're going Rino the 650 with the Xmaps GPS chip is the way to go. Buy one for every state you hunt. You will not regret it.

The AA battery pack is handy but you can't transmit at full power with it.