AudioVox PG300 Sport GPS Personal Location Finder Review
Garmin GPSMAP 60 Personal Navigation Unit Review
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 Compass page. View larger. |
 The Garmin GPSMap 60 packs GPS navigation into a compact, waterproof device. |
The device offers a high-contrast, four-level grayscale LCD (160 x 240 pixels) with backlighting for the display and the keypad. A large-numbers option provides easy viewing. You get 1,000 user waypoints with name and graphic symbol and 20 reversible routes; position formats include Lat/Lon, UTM, Loran TDs, Maidenhead, MGRS, and user grid. Memory is non-volatile for permanent user data storage, requiring no memory battery.
A handy trip computer provides an odometer, stopped time, moving average, overall average, total time, max speed, and more. The unit also comes with a 10,000-point automatic track log, and 20 saved tracks (500 points each) let you retrace your path in both directions.
Other features include course and speed filtering; built-in celestial tables for best times to fish and hunt (plus sun and moon calculations); an alarm clock wake-up and stop watch; audible alarms for anchor drag, arrival, off-course, and proximity waypoint; and a geocaching navigation mode. Navigation instructions can be shared with repeaters, plotters, and autopilots using NMEA protocols through the serial port.
The GPSMap 60's rugged, fully gasketed case is waterproof to IEC 60529 IPX7 standards, meaning it's submersible in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes. The device derives up to 28 hours battery life using 2 AA batteries (not included).
What's in the Box
GPSMAP 60 receiver, basemap (Americas Recreational), MapSource Trip & Waypoint Manager CD, PC/USB interface cable, wrist strap, belt clip with button, quick-start guide, and owner's manual.
The GPSMAP 60 is completely waterproof, with up to 28 hours battery life using two AA batteries, this new product will target the marine and outdoor recreation markets. The GPSMAP 60 has up to 24 MB’s of internal memory for detailed maps that can be transferred to the unit using the USB interface. The GPSMAP 60 also includes a built-in Americas basemap with automatic routing capabilities. The GPSMAP 60 is fully compatible with MapSource products like BlueChart, 24K Topo and City Select, which provides detailed streets for turn-by-turn guidance (there is no voice output). The GPSMAP 60 provides separate serial and USB interfaces. Navigation instructions can be shared with repeaters, plotters and autopilots using NMEA protocols through the dedicated serial port. Includes: unit, USB interface cable, lanyard, belt clip, manual, quick start guide
Audiovox ECCO Personal Pocket GPS Locator Review
The ECCO from Audiovox is a handy little keychain GPS that easily helps you find your way back to your car or other spots. Store up to three locked locations and you'll be guided by a simple interface to where you need to be.
 Find your way back to three stored locations at the press of a button. |
 Brilliant blue LCD display with simple, intuitive interface. |
 View a feature diagram. Click to enlarge. |
Easy to Use
ECCO, the Personal GPS Locator is simple to use. Push the "lock" button to store your location and be on your way. When you are ready to return, push the "return" button and ECCO will guide you back to your saved location from as far away as 9,999 miles.
Brilliant Blue LCD Display
The blue LCD features an ultra-intuitive user interface, displaying an arrow and direction along with count down distance to your saved location.
LED Feedback
Colored LEDs provide additional visual feedback, with green indicating an active GPS signal and red indicating movement in a wrong direction. The red LED also indicates if you've lost sattelite connections due to tall obstructions.
Store Three Locations
ECCO can store up to three separate locations at the press of a button. Your stored locations remain in memory until replaced with a new locked position.
Speedy GPS Reception
The sensitive GPS receiver provides faster acquisition times and improved tracking capabilities, and is able to track up to 32 satellites within 60 seconds. Provides a tracking distance up to 9,999 miles.
Long Battery Life
The ECCO provides about 10 hours of typical use during active tracking, with 16 full days of power on standby. Charging the battery takes about 1.5 hours.
What's in the Box
ECCO Personal Navigation Device, User's Manual, AC Charging Adapter, USB Cable
SPOT Personal Tracker Review
The most important feature, however, is Spot's ability to call 911 in the event of a life-threatening or other critical emergency. Once activated, Spot will acquire your exact coordinates from the GPS network, and then send that location along with a distress message to a GEOS International Emergency Response Center every five minutes until cancelled. The Emergency Response Center will then notify the appropriate emergency responders based on your location and personal information. Responders may include local police, the highway patrol, the Coast Guard, an embassy or consulate, or other emergency response and search-and-rescue teams. Even if Spot can't acquire its location from the GPS network, it will still attempt to send a distress signal--without your exact location--to the Emergency Response Center, which will still notify your emergency contacts of the signal and continue to monitor the network for further messages.
Spot works around the world, including in virtually all of the continental United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Australia, and portions of South America, Northern Africa, and Northeastern Asia. And provided you're in a good coverage area, Spot offers a 99 percent probability of sending a successful message within 20 minutes. As a result, Spot is ideal for anyone with a taste for outdoor adventures, including boaters, kayakers, sailboarders, archaeologists, skiers, climbers, pilots, business travelers, snowshoers, and just about anyone else.
Spot requires two AA lithium batteries, with a battery life of up to one year in standby mode, 14 days in SpotCasting mode, or 7 days in 911 mode. And thanks to the water-resistant housing (safe in 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes), you needn't worry about using Spot in adverse conditions. Spot measures a compact 2.75 by 4.38 by 1.5 inches (W x H x D), weighs 7.37 ounces, and carries a one-year limited warranty.
Communication Functions:
 Spot employs a GPS satellite network to acquire its coordinates, then sends its location to the recipient of your choice, complete with a link to Google Maps and a pre-programmed message. |
Battery Life:
Specifications:
The SPOT Satellite Messenger, the world's first satellite messenger, uses both the GPS satellite network to determine a customer's location and the SPOT network to transmit that information to friends, family or an emergency service center. SPOT is a revolutionary product that is designed to raise the safety factor for hundreds of millions of people around the world.
Garmin eTrex Legend HCx Personal Navigator Review
Besides appreciating its small size, users will also be happy with the Legend HCx's unique button layout, with five buttons located on either side of the unit. The benefits of this design are twofold: First, the Legend HCx is a breeze to operate with just one hand, and, second, with the buttons on both sides of the unit, the bulk of the front is dedicated to the 256-color, sunlight-readable TFT display. This makes it easy to distinguish map details regardless of the time of day.
The Legend HCx basemap, meanwhile, contains lakes, rivers, cities, interstates, national and state highways, railroads, and coastlines--in short, a host of helpful details for your outdoor adventures. Other details include an IPX7 waterproof housing that withstands inclement weather, a speedy USB interface, 1,000 waypoints with names and graphic symbols, a track log with 20 saved tracks, a hunt/fish calendar, a built-in patch antenna, and a geocaching mode. The Legend HCx, which runs for up to 25 hours on a pair of AA batteries (not included), measures 2.2 by 4.2 by 1.2 inches (W x H x D) and is backed by a one-year warranty.
What's in the Box
eTrex Legend HCx, basemap, MapSource Trip & Waypoint Manager software, USB cable, wrist strap, quick start guide, user's manual.
Garmin eTrex Legend HCx Hiking Handheld GPS. Neither deep foliage nor canyons faze the rugged eTrex Legend HCx. Its high-sensitivity receiver holds a GPS signal in the toughest environments. Similar to the Legend Cx, this handheld navigator also has a bright color screen, microSD card slot and automatic routing for wherever adventure takes you. Enjoy clear reception. With its high-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled GPS receiver, eTrex Legend HCx locates your position quickly and precisely and maintains its GPS location even in heavy cover and deep canyons. The advantage is clearwhether youre in deep woods or just near tall buildings and trees, you can count on Legend HCx to help you find your way when you need it the most. Expand your memory. Adding maps is easier than ever with Legend HCxs microSD card slot. Conveniently plug in optional preloaded microSD cards with MapSource data for your land and sea excursions. Just insert a MapSource card with detailed street maps, and Legend HCx provides turn-by-turn directions to your destination. The card slot is located inside the waterproof battery compartment, so you dont have to worry about getting it wet. Take it anywhere. Like the rest of the eTrex series, Legend HCx is lightweight and compactthe perfect size for all your travels. Other Legend HCx Features: * Waterproof, so it can withstand the elements or an accidental dunk in water * Crisp 256-color, sunlight-readable display makes it easy to distinguish map detailsplus, it looks fantastic. * Fast USB computer connection so you can transfer waypoints and other data to your computer Dimensions: 1.2"L x 2.2"W x 4.2"H Weight: 0.35 lbs.
