Product Description

GARMIN Rino 530HCX Two Way Radio and GPS. Know exactly where you are at all times with Rino 530HCx and the precision of high sensitivity GPS. This waterproof FRS/GMRS radio plus GPS navigator adds a barometric altimeter, electronic compass and NOAA weather radio in addition to the popular features of the Rino 520HCx 5 watts of transmit power, a microSD card slot, brilliant color display and a high sensitivity GPS receiver so you will never be lost again. With its high sensitivity GPS receiver, Rino 530HCx locates your position quickly and precisely and maintains its GPS location even in heavy cover and deep canyons. The advantage is clear whether you are in deep woods or just near tall buildings and trees, you can count on Rino 530HCx to help you find your way when you need it the most. Like the rest of the Rino series, Rino 530HCx offers a unique Position Reporting feature. Position Reporting lets you send your exact location to other Rino users in your group so that everyone can see your position on the map page. And, because Rino is a standard FRS/GMRS radio, you can use it to communicate with any other conventional FRS/GMRS radio around. Rino 530HCx boasts a whopping 5 watts of transmit power, GMRS, which lets you contact others from up to 14 miles away, line of sight. In Canada, you can transmit at 2 watts over GMRS with a range of up to 8 miles.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2470 in Consumer Electronics
• Size: Garmin Part #010-00564-01
• Color: Silver/ Grey
• Brand: Garmin
• Model: Rino 530HCx
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: 1.80" h x 7.50" w x 2.30" l, 4.74 pounds
• Native resolution: 176 x 220

Features

• High-Sensitivity, WAAS-Enabled GPS Receiver
• Electronic Compass Displays Accurate Heading While Standing Still
• Barometric Sensor With Automatic Pressure Trend Recording
• Features Built-In Quad Helix Receiving Antenna & Basemap With Automatic Routing Capabilities
• 5W Of Transmit Power Using Gmrs Frequency Up To 14-Mile Range

Amazon.com Product Description
Amazon.com Product Description Hit the trail in confidence with the Garmin Rino 530HCx, which combines a two-way FRS/GMRS radio with a high-sensitivity GPS navigator. The waterproof unit offers 22 channels and 5 watts of transmit power, so you can contact friends or rescue crews from up to 14 miles away (line of sight) over GMRS channels or up to 2 miles over FRS channels. The high-sensitivity GPS receiver, meanwhile, locates your position quickly and precisely and maintains its GPS location even in heavy cover. The advantage is clear: whether you're traipsing through thick woods or strolling near tall buildings and trees, you can count on the Rino 530HCx to help you find your way when you need it the most. The combined radio and navigator functions make the device a must-have for mountain climbing, alpine camping, back-country skiing, and a host of other outdoor activities.

The 530HCx navigator/2-way radio is compact and lightweight, with a 10.3-ounce housing that won't slow you down on the trail.

Like the rest of the Rino series, the Rino 530HCx offers a unique Position Reporting feature, which lets you send your exact location to other Rino users in your group so that everyone can see your position on the map page. No more worrying about the lagging hikers in your group each time you reach a fork in the trail. Plus, because the 530HCx is a standard FRS/GMRS radio, you can use it to communicate with other conventional FRS/GMRS radios in the area.

The 530HCx is also equipped with a built-in electronic compass that provides bearing information even when you're standing still, along with a barometric altimeter that tracks changes in pressure to pinpoint your precise altitude. You can even use the altimeter to plot barometric pressure over time, which can help you keep an eye on changing weather conditions. And thanks to the NOAA weather radio, you'll know well in advance when a storm is advancing.

Receive detailed mapping information on the navigator's 1.3-by-1.7-inch, 256-color TFT display.

Perhaps the most important feature, however, is the crystal-clear 256-color TFT display, which clearly shows attributes from the built-in basemap, including lakes, rivers, cities, interstates, national and state highways, railroads, and coastlines--in short, a host of helpful details for your outdoor adventures. Users can also expand the mapping possibilities via the microSD card slot, which accepts cards preloaded with MapSource data for your land and sea excursions. Just insert a MapSource card with detailed street maps and the Rino 530HCx will provide step-by-step or turn-by-turn directions to your destination.

Other details include a USB interface, 500 waypoints and 50 routes, a hunt/fish calendar, hands-free voice activation (requires separately sold headset), a voice scrambler, and external temperature recording. The Rino 530HCx, which includes a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that runs for up to 14 hours per charge, measures 2.3 by 5.1 by 1.8 inches (W x H x D) and is backed by a one-year warranty.

What's in the Box
Rino 530HCx radio, Americas Recreational basemap, wrist strap, belt clip, USB cable, lithium-ion battery pack and charger, MapSource Trip & Waypoint Manager, AC adapter, quick-start guide, user's manual.

Customer Reviews

Great Two-In-One
I purchased the 530HCx about two weeks ago to use while deer hunting in East Tennessee. Everyone in our group has GPS and two-way radio to find our way around and communicate when we are in unfamilar territory. I have been searching for a device that will take care of both needs, without having to handle two seperate pieces of equipment, and the 530HCx has worked flawlessly so far.

The satellite positioning seems to be right on and positioning after start-up was quick. I used the unit to mark several deer trails, rub lines, and possible stand placements and I was able to return to those areas very easily. I used the averaging feature to fine tune the locations and was able to get within 5-7 feet of everything I marked.

Everyone in the group said that radio transmission was crystal clear, they could hear my transmissions better than anyone elses. Don't get me wrong the Garmin in definetly a GPS first and radio second but I was very pleased with its two-way capabilities. It performed as well, if not better, than the midlands and motorolas in the group.

I also invested in TOPO US 2008 to install on the unit. I wasn't that impressed with the TOPO map but area detail is alot better than the basemap. We make several trips to Fort Campbell every year and all roads, creeks, and even fire

This is the cat's meow
I just don't know if I can say enough about the rino 530HCX But I am very impressed. I've had it for a few weeks now, but wanted to try it while archery hunting before I made a review. What an neat and handy tool for hunting with a groop. I can concentrate on hunting with out having to wory about where I'm going, where I left my ATV, or where those in the groop are. At anytime I want, I can poll there location, and just like that, there position shows up on my map screen. I know where I've walked, and I know where they have walked. It's great. Defenatly 5 stars.

I searsly doubt that you'll ever be able to comunacate at 14 miles, unless maybe at night and I'm on one mountain peak and someone else is on another mountain peak. But I have been able to communacate for a little over 3 miles during the day, with out much obstruction. Most of the time while archery hunting, the grupe is with in a mile or so anyway, and the radio and location locater works well, even in thick trees. The satellite reciever is exelent, I have yet to lose the signel, it even keeps a lock on the satelltes in bottom flore of my two story house.

I have the topo 2008 maps loaded on the 530HCX and they work great. I have the city navagator maps unlocked for the 530HCX and I know they work, but I haven't used them yet, because I have a Garmin IQ3600 with the city navagator maps on it , and also a Zumo 550 with City navagotor NT on it. Great products also, and I use them for travel in the car and motorcycle. But the 530HCX Is the cat's meow for the mountains, and hunting and those kinds of outdoor recreation, especially with a group.

I really haven't any complaints yet, but If I do, I'll post them.

Bottom line.... If you are out and about, and would like to keep track of those in your group, I don't think you can buy a better product right now than the Rion 530HCX. I totally recoment it. Yes, it is expensieve, but peace of mind is priceless. Get lost, or loose someone in your group in the mountains, spend all day looking for them, or worse yet, all night... And then the price of a good raido with the ability to beam your location to your friends becomes priceless.

battery life info
Just received this unit -- arrived quickly from Amazon, as usual. Display is bright, controls simple to use, sensitivity of gps receiver is excellent (I can get reception in my basement, although I have lost signal inside my local, small-town, one-room grocery store). I have an older Garmin which is working fine, but I purchased this one for the added benefit of the radio capability, in case of emergency in wilderness while treking with my 9 and 12 year old daughters.

With a fully charged, brand new rechargable battery as supplied with the unit, I got 40 hours of continuous use. I turned off the radio during all but 1 hour of this time but had the WAAS enabled. During this time, I took it with me while I ran errands, took 2 short day hikes, and went to work, but did not carry it on my person around the home. With 4 brand new, high quality brand name AA batteries (using the separately purchased alkaline battery pack), I got 19 hours of continuous use under similar conditions. After reading Hinch's book on GPS use, I did turn off the WAAS after about 8 hours into this trial. I did not have the radio on at all during the alkaline battery trial, although I did "fiddle" with the pages and settings more often than the rechargable trial (was reading the Hinch book simultaneous with the alkaline trial, so I tried a couple of the tasks in the book during this time).

The base map supplied with the unit provides minimal street information and (as with any map from any source) some inaccuracies. Lists our grade school parking lot as "Black Partridge Park" -- which is actually a very large prairie/forest preserve located just outside of our little town.

Be aware: you cannot load any map onto this unit except those specifically provided/sold by Garmin. To my knowledge, this is true for all gps units; the units with mapping features will only accept those from the manufacturer of the receiver. You can, however, download waypoints generated from other mapping software programs.

Have not tested the radio capability in the wild, but I see others have reported 5 mile range under typical wilderness conditions. The discrepancy between this irl range and the 14 miles listed on specs (which is always the maximum obtainable under totally optimal conditions) is entirely par for 2 way radio range estimates. If you plan to use the GMRS radio frequencies, you will need an FCC license. No training or test required; just an $85 fee. Easy to obtain online.

BTW: highly recommend Stephen Hinch book, Outdoor Navigation With GPS. I've been a basic-feature gps user for several years, but wanted a better understanding of the more advanced features and the jargon.