3rdalarm's Full Review: Garmin Oregon 400t Handheld GPS Receiver
First, some background. I am a 15-year volunteer FF, EMT, Water Rescue Team Leader. I have been using GPS units since about 2001 and have extensive experience in maps and geographic information systems. I use GPS units for search operations, as well as recreation for hiking, biking, geocaching.
My trusty Magellan 315 finally bit the dust. I was shopping for a handheld GPS that was accurate, had reasonable battery life, could handle the elements, and would be functional for biking, hiking and geocaching. My previous experience is with Magellan 315s and Garmin Rino 120/130 models. After researching and pricing, I was nearly settled on the Garmin Colorado 400t in the price range of $300-350, but then REI had a sale on the Oregon 400t for $399 plus a $50 mail-in-rebate, which is a pretty nice deal considering the unit sells at Best Buy for $599. That's almost half price!
The difference between the Oregon and Colorado is that the Oregon has a touch screen and the Colorado has a "Rock - N - Roll" controller. The Colorado also uses a different chipset and is a bit larger, but otherwise, the units are very similar. The Oregon 400 series sells in several flavors, depending on the preloaded map types you prefer. The 400t includes topos, the 400c with Bluechart coastal data, and the 400i with inland lake data. A micro-SD slot allows additional maps and data to be loaded.
The box includes the unit itself, a USB cable, a belt clip with carabiner, a quick-start guide, and a manual. I also purchased the bicycle handlebar mount for $10. This mount was also a great deal. The mounts selling on eBay were $40 mounts with a bolted u-joint and a ball plate. This economic and functional mount from Garmin is simply a clip with a rubber-backed groove with zip ties to secure it to the handlebars! This is a very sturdy setup, though I did place an extra rubber pad I had lying around underneath the zip ties to prevent slippage and rotation.
The construction of the unit is very impressive. It has a solid, well-built heft/feel to it. The casing feels sturdy and comfortable in the hand, and the belt clip secures nicely. The rear battery compartment has a nice positive lock that seals the back against the gasket in the battery compartment. Power is provided by 2 AA batteries (alkaline or NIMH rechargable). The micro-SD slot is located under the batteries. This can hold a Garmin preloaded map/chart card or a blank card for pictures and user data. My only concern in regards to waterproofing is the USB port, which is on the bottom of the unit under a rubber cap. This seams like the most vulnerable point that would be susceptible to moisture or corrosion. I am not planning on testing the unit's waterproof capabilities extensively, but from a confidence standpoint, the unit definitely looks like it can survive a few dunks.
Registration and software update is fairly simple through the Garmin website. You must download a communicator add-on that works with MS Explorer. Power up is fairly quick. I powered the unit up and set it on the dash for the ride home. It initially took about 10-15 minutes to fix position, and I was getting worried, but it has since updated in seconds. This is likely due to the unit's "Hot Fix" feature, where is saves anticipated satellite telemetry data to rapidly acquire a signal the next time it is powered up. Brilliant! The built in map includes topos, points of interest and roads. You cannot navigate by address without a street data card, and even then, make no mistake, this unit will not give the functionality of a dedicated auto unit (e.g. voiced street names, etc.) I am getting accuracy readings in the 10-12 foot range in the open, and in the 15-18 foot range in moderate forest cover.
One of the first things you will notice is that the Oregon screen is not particularly bright. This can make reading tricky in the glare of full sunlight. I researched and was aware of this prior to purchase, but after checking for myself, I felt this was manageable. Battery life is roughly 16-20 hours of battery life for a fully charged pair of NIMH batteries. Cranking up the backlight can help with the glare, but at the expense of battery life.
The Oregon 400t has an internal electronic compass, which is great for getting bearings without momentum. It also has a decent barometric altimeter, which gives fairly accurate (the best I've seen on handheld units) vertical readings, including track altitude analysis and realtime feet per minute ascent/descent. I am looking forward to testing the altimeter out further during my next helicopter deployment later this month.
The map is responsive and accurate. The touch screen works very well, and I am glad I chose this feature. Panning and zooming is quick and smooth.
Geocaching, for the uninitiated, is a treasure - hunting game for GPS users. Users hide a "cache", usually a small, sealable plastic/metal container, and hide it on public land, like in a park. They post the coordinates on websites like http://www.geocaching.com. Other users can then search for caches in their area, and download or program the coordinates and hunt for the cache. There are usually some decodable hints for extra assistance. The cache usually contains a log book to sign in, and some trinkets to exchange. Some more complex caches involve multi-part puzzles, riddles, or similar puzzle decoding. With the 400t, you can download caches directly from http://www.geocaching.com to the unit via the Garmin Communicator browser plugin and a USB cable. Note that with the basic free subscription, you will only be downloading the cache coordinates. You must subscribe ($30/year) in order for descriptors and hints to be accessible. Therefore, you are not necessarily "paperless" without a subscription.
Other features include waypoint and track management, 3D terrain view, calendar, sun and moon phase, hunting/fishing times, stopwatch, alarm clock, and calculator. There are several quick-switch profiles stored for recreation, automotive, marine, fitness, and geocaching. Almost all data elements can be reassigned. The unit can also synch/share data with other Colorado and Oregon units in close proximity, as well as Garmin heart rate and bike cadence sensors.
Overall, I am extremely pleased with this unit. I feel I got a tremendous amount of sturdy technology for the money. I would never have paid full price, and I feel I got a great deal. I expect several years of life from this unit, and it provides me additional opportunities to get on the bike or on the trails and do some exploring. This unit does everything I could ask and then some. Menus are very intuitive. Beginners way wish to consider a less expensive unit to determine their needs before making a more substantial investment. But if you are looking for a sturdy unit for hiking, biking, or geocaching, with a lot of power, flexibility, and (apparent) durability, I highly recommend the Garmin Oregon.
Rugged, waterproof handheld GPS with 3-inch color touchscreen Preloaded U.S. topographic maps, 3-D map view and a built-in worldwide basemap with shad...More at Amazon
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