[Az-Geocaching] Garmin Rino 520/530

Thu Dec 14 10:51:52 MST 2006

I would buy them at a store with a good return policy. Try them. If they work
keep em, otherwise you can return them.

------ Original Message ------
Received: Thu, 14 Dec 2006 10:27:52 AM MST
From: "Roping The Wind" <arizcowboy at hotmail.com>
To: listserv at azgeocaching.com
Subject: Re: [Az-Geocaching] Garmin Rino 520/530

> 
> >From: "Bob & Linda Smith" <>
> 
> >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.
> 
> My interest in the Rino 530's is not simply for the radio... but also for 
> it's other obvious features and advantages. I am currently using a Motorola

> 2 way radio with 1 watt. I think this is a higher frequency than the GMRS 
> though (again, not sure). If the Rino has 5 watts of power and can reach 
> much farther than my 1 watt radio... that is one reason (and a big one) for

> wanting the Rino 530. Second, I currently carry 3 electronic devices in my 
> balloon.... an aircraft radio (for air traffic control communications), the

> 2 way ground to air radios and also my GPS unit. The GPS unit is usually 
> around my neck in  my front shirt pocket while I fly and the 2 radio's are 
> in a pouch in the basket and not as easily accessible without having 
> passengers move so I can reach for it. The convenience of having both the 
> radio and the GPS on my person is another advantage of the unit. I also only

> have to carry one less electronic device on board (2 in 1). Also, along the

> same lines.. my Motorola radio frequency KILLS my GPS sattellie reception. 
> When I leave my radios on for more than a minute or two, I lose satellites 
> in my GPS. They seem to interfere with the GPS. This is not only the case 
> with my 60C, but also my Garmin Legend and my old Garmin 3. I cant recall if

> it effected my old Magellan 300 and Blazer 12 or not. So it appears these 
> radios interfere with any GPS. Not a big issue, I only turn my radio on to 
> talk to my ground crew when I need to so I keep my GPS working. But if they

> need to call me, they cant. My radio is off! Obviously this is not an issue

> with the Rino. The third reason, and one of the coolest features of the Rino

> 530 is that it can track other Rino users right on your GPS's color map 
> screen. I can see exactly where my ground crew vehicle is and they can see 
> where I am. Of course, we do just fine now. But, where this feature really 
> comes in handy is when the balloon has landed and we are out of radio range.

> The crew will be able to see on their Rino map where I was last reported. Go

> to that location and they should certainly be back in radio range to 
> communicate again. The way I understand it, everytime you hit the TX or call

> buttons, it sends a position report to my other Rino unit on the ground. 
> This can be done once every 30 seconds (manually, I beleive). Now, Tres 
> Hombres just said it will do it automatically about once every 15 minutes. 
> That is great! That makes more sense for this feature. Having to key up to 
> update your position on the other unit kind of sucks. It also appears you 
> can keep your conversations very private between my two radios. Set a 
> channel, set a code and you can also scramble just my two radios.
> 
> So all this is great and definetly looks like a great device for a balloon 
> operation. The key question is this: will it be a better and farther 
> reaching radio than my current 1 watt Motorola's? I already have a GPS and 
> if the Rino cant live up to my needs, it wouldnt be money well spent. The 
> key thing I am trying to understand is... the motorola radio is a different

> type of radio and I think it is a higher frequency than the GMRS radios. 
> With that, if you have only 1 watt in a higher frequency radio than 5 watts

> in a lower frequency radio... which is going to be more powerful and reach 
> farther out? I know my 1 watt can reach a couple of miles ground to ground 
> (perhaps a bit more). But can reach 30 miles or more air to air. They 
> advertise 2 mile range. The Rino advertises a 14 mile range. But alot of 
> this has to be taken with a grain of salt. It also greatly depends on the 
> terrain you are in.
> 
> I read the entire Rino 530 manual online at Garmin's website and it 
> certainly looks like a nice unit. It looks like it will do all my 60C will 
> do and more, plus its a radio too. Another nice feature of the 530 (that my

> 60C does not have, but a CS does have) is the barametric pressure sensor and

> altimeter. Excellent for my application. It also has an electronic compass.

> Another cool feature yet is it has a sighting compass! There are two little

> marks on the side of the unit that can be used to sight an object. Using the

> electronic compass, you can get a most accurate heading to that object. This

> is very useful when I am sighting a pibal (a small helium balloon used to 
> visualize the wind speed and direction aloft when we are on the ground 
> before a flight).
> 
> Lots of great features and it looks like a must have for a ballooning 
> operations. It is a big investement though considering the alternatives. As

> Petite Elite mentioned, GMRS radio's can be had for MUCH less. Of course, 
> that isnt really what I am after. I have radio's that work good now. I am 
> looking at all the added features of the Rino 530 as well as the potentially

> stronger 5 watt radio. I also need to spend some money right now as a 
> business write off!!! It's the end of the year!!! ;)  LOL
> 
> Thanks for all the comments on this thread!
> 
> Scott
> Team Ropingthewind
> 
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