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Update your unit as soon as you open the box and you shouldn't have any issues. Very good for Geocaching.
I asked if I could re-glue the seal without voiding the warranty and was given a go ahead with that. On multi-day trips it would help when logging finds on Geocaching.com. I purchased this GPS for the sole purpose of Geocaching and while I'm sure it will be used for hiking/biking that isn't why I got it. It fits easily and comfortably in my hand. On top of that I would like to be able to see the dates that caches were found. The battery compartment has some flaws mainly the rubber gasket around the case. they were very fast and helpful.
I would like to be able to separate cache types within the unit and load GPX files individually. Lastly the GUI is very nice but I would love to see a few more features added.
There are a few things I would like to see changed on this unit. I also recommend using some clear non conductive silicon grease around the seal to both allow it to slide off easier and give it a bit better water resistance.
The unit is very easy to use one handed thanks to the control dial. So for the time being that problem has been solved.
Outside of those few issues which I consider to be fairly minor since I could easily fix most on my own I highly recommend this product. The battery life is good while using Energizer 2450MAH NiMH rechargeable batteries as well as Li-Ion batteries.
The gasket had started to come unseated so I contacted customer support.
Trust me--you need one.*calibrating the compass is fairly easy the 4th time you try. the comparable Garmin GPS 60SX also offers paperless caching, but only the Colorado has a digital compass. i'm just being honest here--Amazon's got some great deals for GPS, whether they're new or old. so, Here are my thoughts:*compared to the Venture, it's got a larger screen + touch wheel + true paperless geocaching (that means it downloads a snapshot of the webpage off geocaching.com and allows you to read the Logs/Hints and description of the cache including size/terrain/difficulty). to date i've found about 57, about 9 of which are Micro size.
what a HUGE difference that map can make. i checked user reviews, professional GPS sites and even groundspeak Forums on what people would suggest betwixt the two. it's got a pretty strong antenna, and i was able to get a strong fix on my position in about 25 seconds Cold Boot inside my two story house.so overall, based on battery life, backlit screen, compass accuracy and overall user-friendliness, i'd give this unit a 7 out of ten.Pros=paperless caching, large screen, antenna reception.Cons=battery life, back lit screen, battery compartment.if this is your first unit- you're in for a treat with paperless caching.if it comes down to deciding between the DELORME PN-40 (keep in mind the delorme has a free map download and annual 29.95 unlimited map downloads), i'd suggest the Delorme. if this is your second GPS unit--you shouldn't have a problem.*geocaching.com offers Direct-to-GPS data transfer for Garmins (And now Delorme) so transferring caches is so incredibly easy.*i originally loaded the MapSource software that came with this, and my previous Garmin, but after logging all my caches online and on the unit (you can actually Tag a cache as Found and it removes it from your actively-sought cache list) it's really not necessary UNLESS you download additional maps like TOPO or IBYCUS. God help you if you're not strong with your finger tips to release it.
this isn't bad, by any means, but it's just more cost effective in the long run.*backlit feature= pretty average. a few weeks ago i got my tax refund (who needs to pay off car loans when you can get more gadgets). That feature alone is worth paying the extra money for this unit. it's a newer style of card with an increased write-speed to transfer information from a computer/camera to the card. finally, after a week, i gave in and bought the Colorado. First off let me preface this by saying i'm not a world class Geocacher.
i can now see what street each cache is near so no more guessing what street to take when i use only the compass feature. i took a fresh pair of AA's geocaching yesterday and you'll get about 6 hours worth of juice. it came down to the Colorado 300 and the Delorme PN-40. it's a free download, but a large one (877MB) so you have to use the internal SD memory port (though i couldn't find any literature on this GPS that was extensive, i actually used a 4GB SDHC (secure digital High Capacity)card. i'd strongly suggest upgrading--but don't worry about buying a map from Garmin. i started off using a Garmin E-Trex Venture HC about a year ago and logged a good amount of caches.
i'd rate the Colorado backlit feature at 6 out of 10 and the Venture at 8 out of 10.*the user manual was probably written in about ten seconds by a low-end Tech, so if this is your first unit you're gonna be searching forums for a while to figure out how to use it. i downloaded the NC topo and NC IBYCUS20 map set. even in forests with micro caches i've been able to get a better idea where it's hidden if i can judge how far away it is from a nearby creek or stream (data NOT included in the basemap).*the battery life is poor. Trust me--download the map for your state--and any topo map. compared to my previous Venture HC--this Colorado is worse. it's annoying, and they could have done a lot better with it.*receiver==it does have an input for an external antenna, and the built in does have WAAS (wide area augmentation system===it means it uses earth-based receiver satellites to get a better fix on your position) enabled feature.
the battery compartment is a slide-off cover held in place by a latch. the delorme even has Black and White areial pictures, color satellite imagery (think Google Earth on a GPS unit), and the highest durability of most GPS units.[.]. you need mapsource to transfer those maps to the unit.*battery compartment= it's a tricky little bit of mechanics. and did some research. definitely buy rechargeable batteries. i found a site off a groundspeak forum (www.gpsfiledepot.com) and after a little background research, it's legit.
plus using Amazon to get almost $150 off Garmin's MSRP, it was a sweet deal. a small indicator tells you what speed to turn the unit and it can make a huge difference doing it before each hunt.* the basemap is, as it states, BASIC.
I have switched to 2500 mah Energizer rechargeable batteries and have seen improvement to 12-16 hours depending on back light usage. Initial lock was accomplished in about 15 seconds after inserting batteries the first time for a cold start. I purchased mine on Feb 13, 2009 and am very pleased with it. One reviewer said worthless, that's not true in my opinion, because the roads that the basemap does show are good reference points if you become lost.
However Lithium batteries are over $2.00 each, so I think I will stick with my rechargeables. I recommend you buy the map on DVD not the SD Card. However, you can buy this unit for about half of that price now and most of the bugs are fixed.UPDATE:Battery life. That thing crashed all the time till the bugs were fixed. They lasted about 4-5 hours in a low battery condition.
The large screen and 3D views are awesome. The Energizer Ultimate Battery is susposed to be even more powerful than the Advanced Lithium. Entering text is not as fast as I would like but I can live with it. I gave the unit 4 stars due to battery life of about 10 hours on alkaline batteries. Yes, I agree with others that the base map is very, very limited. I have marked almost every deer stand, food plot and landmark on this property, thus creating my own map of the area. I think most of the 1, 2 and 3 star reviews on the Colorado 300 were written before Garmin released several software fixes. Sattellite lock is very fast and will lock on in the basement of my home.
I have not yet tried Lithium batteries and 2900 Mah rechargeable batteries are available but very expensive. Even better with the Topo Map.The ability to customize the screen set up is also a great feature. You can also send info from the PC/Mac to the GPS (or SD Card) memory and vice versa.The learning curve was slight,took me about 2 days fooling with it to master all features and the system works as promised. This unit may have been released for sale before all the bugs were corrected in the software. After that it is about 1 second warm.Accuracy is good I have had 6 foot accuracy in open areas, but most of the time under cover it is about 12 -15 feet. I just carry an extra set of batteries with me to overcome this issue.The gap between the unit and the case that others have mentioned does not give me confidance that the unit is 100% waterproof as claimed. You can do this with any GPS without buying other maps, however the addition of Garmin Topo 2008 map adds elevation, remote roads, streams and other landmarks making the experience so much better. This is my 3rd GPS unit in 8 years and the very best.
The full size SD card reader in the Colorado allows me to view pictures from my game cameras in the field. Kinda like Microsoft Windows 95. Many of the people that reviewed this item bought it when it first came out and paid $500 or more for it. I can access all controls with just my thumb. However, I am not concerned at all about using the unit in a rain shower.Conclusion: I would buy this same unit again. If there are features you don't use much you can move them on the menu and save the frequently used ones for the main menu.What I don't like:Battery life needs to be improved.
I would recommend you buy it along with the Garmin 2008 Topo Map Set. Thats about 7 more hours than I get with my 2500 Mah rechargeable AA's.
I tried Energizer Advanced Lithium batteries and got 22 hours of use from them with limited use of the back light. Unlike some other units, most of the time in daylight, no backlight is necessary at all.I picked the Colorado over the Oregon due to lower price (-$200.00) and the fact that the Colorado uses the full size SD Card.
So, I can understand their disappointment for that kind of money combined with the firmware bugs. I use it hunting and scouting our 650 acre deer lease in a very remote part of Georgia.
I can see this would be a big issue with backpackers that are on the trail for 12+ hours and changing batteries if they use the back light much. In addition, Many of the reviews said the touch screen on the Oregon did not work well in very cold weather, that could be overcome by putting the Oregon in a warm inside coat pocket but it was a factor for me.What I like about the Colorado:The Rock and Roller, is great, it is truly a one hand GPS.
The DVD version allows the PC/Mac, map and GPS to interact and makes for a great experience plotting trails and waypoints. The back light is the critical factor in battery life.
The perfect instrument for anyone seriously interested in sneaking into our country and being able to save and share the route with your buddies via the exchangeable card.
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