Garmin rino 530hcx

[steeleywhopper]

Well I found a garmin rino 530hcx for a smoking deal and had to buy it. Now I am wondering what some of you Rino owners are doing for your mapping? I checked out this place and it has the public lands Sd card for $100 or you can download it and have updates for $129. If anyone has purchased this download one, how easy is it to use? I am not the most computer literate guy in the world so I would hate to buy something that will make me end up throwing my computer across the room. here is the site I checked out.

http://www.huntinggpsmaps.com/washington/gpspubliclandownership.html

[BlackTail]

Don't have an answer about your mapping question, but I've been looking at this gps as well and was just wondering where you found the smoking deal?!?

[bowhuntersd]

I have the Garmin Etrex Vista and I bought the pre-programed topo SD card for the "west coast". It is BAD A$$, it have 4 of the western states already programed, just insert card and go. It gives me the confidence to dive into any area with out concern.
I got mine from Cabela's for under $100. check them out. You don't have to hook it up to a computer for anything.

[spin05]

i just picked up the 520hcx...I found this place to download free maps.I have not got a SD card yet so i have not got the map onto the rhino yet. I did get the washington map to my computer thou. Here is the website.  http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/maps/view/95/

[MIKEXRAY]

I bought the Washington / Oregon Topo sd card ( called 24K ) , it was like $ 89. It just installs in seconds & is very detailed. My buddy down loaded software & is pretty detailed . His takes longer to draw the map & update than mine does. He likes my mapping a lot better when we compare. Mike

[steeleywhopper]

Don't have an answer about your mapping question, but I've been looking at this gps as well and was just wondering where you found the smoking deal?!?

Craigslist for $250!

[SkookumHntr]

I bought the Washington / Oregon Topo sd card ( called 24K ) , it was like $ 89. It just installs in seconds & is very detailed. My buddy down loaded software & is pretty detailed . His takes longer to draw the map & update than mine does. He likes my mapping a lot better when we compare. Mike

Thats what I got too! Snap in your preproggramed card and your good 2 go!

[sisu]

I got the same question about which one to buy?
I have a relative that can get one unit for me at factory cost plus shipping handling. Which GPS is the one to get and has the most loadable features to use in the field?

For instance this summer I met this Canadian that used his for hiking, climbing, fishing, hunting AND he was able to use it for road trips to see where he was at and where he was heading!!!! I want that one. It looked like the Rhinos I've seen as it had two antennae.

Someone please post up suggestions and links!

Side note: I was in a large hunting sports store in Montana and I was offered a "free" state map for my GPS if I had one of the newer ones! The store sales person said it had all the public and private lands listed in color just like they had for their 6 dollar maps per quad.

[Bob33]

You can't go wrong with a 60CX or 60CSX.  They are still considered the gold standard by many.  The map software you are referring to is from http://www.huntinggpsmaps.com/

[bighorns2bushytails]

ive been eyeballing one of these units too... gunna have to pick one up when i get the cash.

--bh2bt

[spin05]

Does anybody know if you can change the color of the map itself. Mine is yellow.  Wich is well yellow......

[finfeatherfur]

We have used these for the past two years and I really enjoy the functionality of an all in one unit.  I bought the garmin topo software for the US and chose the areas I wanted.  My father in law bought the preloaded chip.  For some reason the topo maps on the preloaded software is better.  His showed more roads and detail than mine.  If other people in your party are using the rhinos I would definitely recommend them.

[steeleywhopper]

Went up to Wharehouse sports yesterday and bought the Washington chip for $99 we will see how it works tomorrow while out Moose hunting.

[elkslare]

 I bought the rino 530hcx in august do not have the mapping on it yet. But I do have question for everyone that has one.My son has one as well and when we were out hunting in September I had a problem with the walky talky. It would work just fine, then next time I would use it, it would send out my talking but I could not receive anything from him??
  Once we were back together we compared the setup page for the walky talky and they were the same. Pissed off I shut it off to turn it on later and then it worked just fine.Again we checked the setup page and it was the same.
  Anybody else have this problem. Thought I would ask  before contacting Garmin.

[Bob33]

We have used these for the past two years and I really enjoy the functionality of an all in one unit.  I bought the garmin topo software for the US and chose the areas I wanted.  My father in law bought the preloaded chip.  For some reason the topo maps on the preloaded software is better.  His showed more roads and detail than mine.  If other people in your party are using the rhinos I would definitely recommend them.

The detail should be the same. There is a setting for map detail: Lowest, Lower, Normal, Higher, Highest.  Check that out on both units and see if that's the issue. 

[Bob33]

I have nothing to gain by posting this, since I have both products (Garmin's and the other).

This product not only has topographic detail; it has public/private land detail:
http://www.huntinggpsmaps.com/states/washingtondownloads.html

I've got several of the states now and it's great to know where public land is.