[Az-Geocaching] Garmin Rino 520/530

[Bob & Linda Smith]

Scott,

I suggest you invest less money in something like the Midland GXT500 as 
a stand alone radio.  This radio operates on FRS and GMRS with 5 watts 
output on selected freqs.  You will have to get a license, mail order, 
for about $80.  I have a pair of these radios and could bring them in 
February when we take our flight.  In as much as you have a 60c/cs I 
would not spend money for a GPS/Radio combo.  My Midland's work in the 
460 Mhz region as would most FRS/GMRS radios.  These radios are 
available for $50 to $100 when you can find them.  I got mine at Fry's 
Electronics on Thunderbird.

Bob Smith WB6ODR, Team Petite Elite (watch for us in the New Years Day 
Rose Parade in Pasadena)

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Roping The Wind" <arizcowboy at hotmail.com>
To: <listserv at azgeocaching.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2006 10:23 PM
Subject: [Az-Geocaching] Garmin Rino 520/530



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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