[Az-Geocaching] Garmin Rino 520/530

[Roping The Wind]

Anyone on the listserv using the Garmin Rino 520/530... I am interesting in 
picking up a couple and would like lots of comments and reviews on them. I 
of course would like to know how well the GPS functions work and how well it 
would work for geocaching. I dont plan to use it for geocaching, just want 
to know if it works as well as any other GPS for things such as geocaching 
(how does it compare to the 60c/cs). Also, and most importantly, am VERY 
interested in knowing how well the radio's work. The 520 and 530 boast 5 
watts (!) of power for a range of up to 14 miles. I currently use 2 Motorola 
Spirit radios with 1 watt. I think they advertise a 2 mile range. But I can 
easily talk 10-12 miles or more with these Motorola 1 watt radios. They are 
VHF radios. Which I 'think' is a higher frequency than a GMRS radio. If that 
is so, perhaps a VHF would 'reach out' farther with 1 watt than a GMRS would 
with 5 watts??? Is this so? Or not? Anyone with lots of radio expertise can 
chime in here. I am not interested in the Rino 530 if it cant reach out at 
least as far as my current radios do. I also know that with line of site, I 
have been known to talk over 30 miles (air to air) with my 1 watt motorola 
radios. Will the Rino 530's do that with 5 watts?? Or are these whopping 5 
watt radio's capable of much more? I dont know too much about radio's so 
anyone with knowledge on that can chime in too.

Two of these 530's will run me almost $800. I currently have a good GPS 
(60C) and two good Motorola Radios. So I am only interested in the 530's if 
they can give me a MUCH better radio range. Radio range is most important. 
Its use as a GPS is secondary, but still important, since I will be using 
them as a GPS also. After using my 60C for 2 years, will I be dissapointed 
in the 530's GPS abilities? I love the idea of having the ability to track 
my other radio. This is a big reason for wanting the 530's as well.

Anyways, I am hoping there are a few on the listserv that are using these 
and can give me some reviews on them. If anyone is using the 130's or less, 
chime in too. Curious to know how they do with their max 2 watts.

Thanks!

Scott
Team Ropingthewind

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