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Posted: 1/22/2009 3:36:18 PM EST
I'm thinking of going with this garmin 530Cx.

It seems to offer just about everything I want except a temp gauge?

Does anyone know if it has a sensor in it to tell you the temp?

This seems to be the top dog on the market...

I was thinking of a hand held ham radio and was going to get a Yaesu,

But apparently hand held Hams & these Rinos will reach equally as far and the garmin has a nice big screen for a map.

Thoughts?
Link Posted: 1/22/2009 4:06:18 PM EST
[#1]
My 530's have a temp sensor, and according to this, the 530HCx's do also.

We have 6 of the 530's, and they work great. We also use an ICOM 621 as a Base Station up at the house in Breckenridge CO to communicate to all of our ski party when they are on the hill.
Link Posted: 1/22/2009 4:25:06 PM EST
[#2]
What is an ICOM 621?

is it like a Ham base station?

Thats aweome it has an external temp gauge... this thing literally have pretty much everytrhing except for blue tooth like the yaesu does.

Link Posted: 1/22/2009 4:26:56 PM EST
[#3]
My 530HcX has a temp sensor.

I absolutely love this device. You won't be disappointed by it.
Link Posted: 1/23/2009 6:34:41 AM EST
[#4]
What is an ICOM 621?


It is a mobile radio (45 watts) that can be programed to the frequencies used on GMRS that the 530's use. We use it on a power supply as a base station at the house, with an antenna up about 30', to talk from the house to basically anywhere on the mountain we want, to people staying/skiing with us.

It also allows us to talk down into the town when someone goes to market or just out driving around.
Link Posted: 1/24/2009 8:59:55 AM EST
[#5]
Quoted:
What is an ICOM 621?


It is a mobile radio (45 watts) that can be programed to the frequencies used on GMRS that the 530's use. We use it on a power supply as a base station at the house, with an antenna up about 30', to talk from the house to basically anywhere on the mountain we want, to people staying/skiing with us.

It also allows us to talk down into the town when someone goes to market or just out driving around.



Hmm.  But I didnt think mobile radios were allowed to go above 5W, how can that one be 45W?

It seems the Rino is what I'll be getting...

Now as I understand it, it has a rechargeable battery correct?

But isnt an adapter or something that allows you to use regular batteries instead of the rechargeable?

Now does this adapter go inside?

Or is it an external adapter that makes the Rino more bulky?

Is there a way to shut off the screen and only use the radio to help save down on battery life?

Or is the screen/map always going?

I can see where the Yaesu would be better on battery life as it does not have the large screen to light up... but thats also one of its down sides.


Link Posted: 1/24/2009 9:15:55 AM EST
[#6]
Quoted:
Quoted:
What is an ICOM 621?


It is a mobile radio (45 watts) that can be programed to the frequencies used on GMRS that the 530's use. We use it on a power supply as a base station at the house, with an antenna up about 30', to talk from the house to basically anywhere on the mountain we want, to people staying/skiing with us.

It also allows us to talk down into the town when someone goes to market or just out driving around.



Hmm.  But I didnt think mobile radios were allowed to go above 5W, how can that one be 45W?

It seems the Rino is what I'll be getting...

Now as I understand it, it has a rechargeable battery correct?

But isnt an adapter or something that allows you to use regular batteries instead of the rechargeable?

Now does this adapter go inside?

Or is it an external adapter that makes the Rino more bulky?

Is there a way to shut off the screen and only use the radio to help save down on battery life?

Or is the screen/map always going?

I can see where the Yaesu would be better on battery life as it does not have the large screen to light up... but thats also one of its down sides.




The battery pack is rechargable and removable. To use the AA battery pack, you just take the standard one off and put the AA pack on.


You can turn off the backlight for the LCD so that it uses very little power.
Link Posted: 1/24/2009 9:56:08 AM EST
[#7]
Nice, I like this Rino more and more...

Now I have heard you can use the GMRS frequency on the Rino and you can actually reach hundreds of miles using a repeater system making it almost as useful as a Ham...

Is this true?
Link Posted: 1/24/2009 10:11:43 AM EST
[#8]
Quoted:
Nice, I like this Rino more and more...

Now I have heard you can use the GMRS frequency on the Rino and you can actually reach hundreds of miles using a repeater system making it almost as useful as a Ham...

Is this true?




nope

basically line of sight

1-2 miles sometimes, 3-5 with good conditions (mountain to valley, over water) and the 20miles on the package?  no way

you would be better off with a ham license and a seperate GPS
read up on it, the material you need to learn to past the test would do you good

Link Posted: 1/24/2009 10:57:59 AM EST
[#9]
But if a repeater system is involved... that is what will allow you to reach much much further correct?

So how do you know if there is a repeater in the area and if you can use it?
Link Posted: 1/25/2009 6:24:06 AM EST
[#10]
Quoted:
But if a repeater system is involved... that is what will allow you to reach much much further correct?

So how do you know if there is a repeater in the area and if you can use it?

Does it somehow show up on the screen to notify you to switch frequencies?


Link Posted: 1/25/2009 4:07:11 PM EST
[#11]
Check the Internet to see if there are any GMRS repeaters operating in your area.....or set one up yourself. You need the offset to gain access to the repeater though, but yes the 530's are repeater capable.

As for the battery pack, I bought my AA battery holders at Bass Pro...you remove the rechargeable battery, and replace it with the AA holder/pack.

As for the radio and map question....yes, you can use the radio by itself, with the maps turned off, and/or with the GPS off.

45 watt mobile or base...completely legal.
Link Posted: 1/25/2009 7:40:04 PM EST
[#12]
Quoted:
Check the Internet to see if there are any GMRS repeaters operating in your area.....or set one up yourself. You need the offset to gain access to the repeater though, but yes the 530's are repeater capable.

As for the battery pack, I bought my AA battery holders at Bass Pro...you remove the rechargeable battery, and replace it with the AA holder/pack.

As for the radio and map question....yes, you can use the radio by itself, with the maps turned off, and/or with the GPS off.

45 watt mobile or base...completely legal.


these 530's are pretty impressive.

Where can I get a good price on the 530Cx?  It seems to go for 500 on their website.

Is there any other platform that can rival the rino?

Is there a new model of the Rino coming out soon?

I'm not going to buy these for a couple of months so I can wait longer if need be.

What hand held units are 45W?

What what kind of distance would you be looking at with a 45W hand held?
Link Posted: 1/26/2009 5:53:40 AM EST
[#13]
What hand held units are 45W?


None, that I know of...I was referring to the ICOM 621 in my earlier post. The ICOM is a 45 watt mobile that we use in a house, as a base station.

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