Garmin RINO 750 & 755T
Mon, 07/03/2017 - 10:37am
 |
    18 years
|
I have looked at Garmin RINOs in the past, but I really could never justify getting them. Yesterday, however, my wife and I went ATVing with some friends of ours. My wife mentioned that it would be nice to be able to talk with one another while we are riding.
Our friends had some Baofeng radios with wired speaker and microphones. That made me wonder if the Garmin RINOs would be up to this challenge. I would really like to get devices with Bluetooth connectivity. Anyway, I am wondering if anybody here is doing this and how well it works? Typically, we wouldn't be more than a mile apart on the trail.
My Experience With The Rino
A few years back, I had a pair of Rino 530 HCX units. I bought them for a camping trip to Yellowstone to keep in touch with others in our party. They worked fairly well but were a bit bulky to carry.
Later, I used them at our hunting camp. It was handy to keep track of other hunter locations and to communicate silently via text. Unfortunately, due to the steep price of the units, I wasn't able to convince enough of our members to get them and I scrapped the idea.
Most recently, I used them when bicycling with my wife and brother. We found them to be too heavy to use as a GPS and too awkward to use as an FRS radio when riding. I eventually sold the units and switched to a lighter, larger screened handlebar mounted GPS. We wear smaller, lighter FRS radios on neck lanyards to communicate.
I realize the 530 Rino's are 2 generations removed from the current 750 series but most of the functionality remains the same. Like you, I've had an interest in the Rinos and keep track of the improvements.
AFAIK, the only bluetooth connectivity with the 750 series is for smartphones and remote sensors. A wired speaker / microphone option is available however. As you probably know, wind / engine noise is a problem with any open air vehicle. I have several friends into ATV's and motorcycles who use helmet mounted FRS radios to solve this issue. Perhaps the Rino could be adapted for use in this manner.
In my case, I find it hard to justify the expense of the Rino's when separate, cheaper and arguably better GPS / FRS units are out there. This is of course my own opinion but the concept of the Rino is still very appealing.
Legal use, I hope
Our friends had some Baofeng radios with wired speaker and microphones.
I hope the Baofengs are being used legally; i.e., legal amateur radio bands if all users are licensed hams, or the proper no-license frequencies and power/antenna limits, etc.
FRS
I own a set of Midland FRS radios and find them quite good.
Walmart sells a pair of Midland radios, I believe to be 5 watt for $ 70.00 complete with headset/microphone.
Take the 36 mile range with a grain of salt, possibly across open water???
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Midland-GXT1000VP4-36-Mile-Waterp...
Nuvi 2797LMT, DriveSmart 50 LMT-HD, Using Windows 10. DashCam A108C with GPS.
Line of Sight
I own a set of Midland FRS radios and find them quite good.
Walmart sells a pair of Midland radios, I believe to be 5 watt for $ 70.00 complete with headset/microphone.
Take the 36 mile range with a grain of salt, possibly across open water???
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Midland-GXT1000VP4-36-Mile-Waterproof-Two-Way-Radio/11015293#about-item
Yeah, that's theoretical as all get out. That would have to mountain tops, since that's below the line of sight.
Frank DriveSmart66 37.322760, -79.511267