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View Full Version : When "Kewl" just ain't Cool enough... enter the Garmin Oregon™ 400i


Backwater Eddy
07-15-2008, 06:22 AM
Nothing in the sporting gadget world has impressed and excited me more than the marine sonars and GPS units rolling out from the Garmin labs over the past few years.

Admittedly in the past I was the first to say..."Look at the Meroons" when I seen folks standing in line a block long, or bivouacked in tents the week before Thanksgivings Black Friday shopping spree to get new release gadgets like Playstations, games, or phones, yet looking at the new toys Garmin has in store for us this fall...Um...I kinda starting to get it.

So getting with the spirit I now have identified my new "Red Ryder B-B Gun" type obsession for the pending holiday season, the new Garmin Oregon™ 400i hand held GPS. Although I'll have to wait tell the 3rd Quarter of 2008 to start leaving my runny nose smears on the display glass case's, that's kinda a bummer. But that gives me plenty of time to drop...hints.

So whats all the Hub-Bub...Bub? Ok... the new Garmin Oregon™ 400i is redefining "Kewl", no doubt about that. This next-generation handheld features a large rugged touchscreen display along with preloaded U.S. Inland Lakes, a high-sensitivity receiver, barometric altimeter, electronic compass, microSD™ card slot, picture viewer and more. Even exchange tracks, waypoints, routes and geocaches wirelessly between similar units. And the Oregon 400i...comes with built-in U.S. Inland Lakes and a worldwide basemap with imagery nifty for all your outdoor pursuits. Map detail includes shoreline details, depth contours, boat ramps and mile markers for thousands of lakes in the continental U.S.

If that ain't "Kewl" enough, than add select topographic maps to take advantage of Oregon’s 3-D map view which gives you a better perspective of your elevation. With BlueChart® g2 Vision (Very KEWL!), you’ll get everything you need for a great day on the water including depth contours, navaids and harbors. To upgrade you road mads simply add a micro SD for mapping for detailed roads,and you all set.

Kewl is only good if a guy can figure the stuff out right, and that is where the new Garmin lines really impress me. They have went the extra mile in recent years to make Kewl stuff easy for folks to use....imagine that Eh. Each new generation is easier to use than the previous one. If you do not go out of your way to confuse yourself, it's a no-brain'r. You have to love that, in anything.

The complete list of Kewl tools packed in the Oregon series is way too long to list here, but you get my point. We have plenty of time to look them all over and compare the 5 different models offered in the new Oregon line. Garmin offers a excellent web site to peruse and compare all their products so finding the right fit is easy. I recommend snooping around it and see what Kewl gadgets trip your trigger and become your new "Red Ryder B-B Gun".

Here is a link to my new obsession if you wish to check it out.

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=&pID=14906

Ed "Backwater Eddy" Carlson
"ED on the RED"
><,sUMo,>

"I would rather go fishing and think of GOD, Then go to church, and think of FISHING"

*Grandpa Art Carlson*

Raybob
07-15-2008, 10:38 AM
Hi Ed

"Oregon™ 400i
Part Number: 010-00697-04

Manuals

No manuals are currently available for this product. Please check back for updates."

- I do have one 'Q ... can lowrance Trails, icons & wp's be converted to this Garmin unit? My main interest is in the many pull trails I have stored in different quads and by season that I call up from different named files for my home lake. Also, can the needed software plot data be massaged on the puter & then loaded on chips for garmin use?

I went over the info but I could not find the needed detailed info on the new unit/s at present...

lookin' to upgrade a pair of lowrance units that I only use for gps 'pulls/use cuz I got tired of buyin' ducers for the recorders & went to a raymarine ds600x recorder for plottin'...

da old fart,
Bebob da I-Bobray

Backwater Eddy
07-15-2008, 10:51 AM
Wow...you know how to stump a guy don't ya?

Crossing formats from Lowrance to Garmin may be difficult? Yet with the Waypoints Manager softwear that Garmin uses it may be doable?

I would try calling the Garmin help line and see what the tech's say. I have had great service from them when stumped on such concerns. They have an excellent live staff on hand during regular biz hours.

What I do know is the new marine units by Garmin, such as the 5212 we installed on out big water rig, can wireless communicate with the new handheld units. Makes it a simple matter of point and shoot to upload or share POI's, pictures, and waypoint data.

I also like the fact that these units are there own card readers, drop in a Micro SD and burn it. No need for a separate card reader to intermediate software exchange.

Drop them a call...they are much smarter than I am on this stuff.

Ed "Backwater Eddy" Carlson
"ED on the RED"
><,sUMo,>

"I would rather go fishing and think of GOD, Then go to church, and think of FISHING"

*Grandpa Art Carlson*

perchjerker
07-15-2008, 10:56 AM
lots of 3rd party programs out there will convert the files from Lowrance to Garmin, etc

heres one thats free

www.easygps.com


;)

Backwater Eddy
07-15-2008, 11:08 AM
Nice tip...Thanks!

Ed "Backwater Eddy" Carlson
"ED on the RED"
><,sUMo,>

"I would rather go fishing and think of GOD, Then go to church, and think of FISHING"

*Grandpa Art Carlson*

Raybob
07-15-2008, 08:21 PM
Thanks guyz :) ... I'll check it out this winter again ~ I had problems w/Lowrance Icons & Trails, but no-problems w/Way point conversion in the past...


da old fart,
Bebob da I-Bobray

Backwater Eddy
07-16-2008, 07:08 PM
Raybob I have a Rhino 530 HSX FRS/GMRS/GPS and would be lost without it. A very handy dandy tool for a guide or for party group fishing/hunting situations.

Love it's versatility and durability. I suspect, since they had a rebate on them recently, that there will be a new version of the Rhino rolling out soon too. Now...If... it also is touch screen, and wireless transfer capable, than that will really be something.

It wouldn't surprise me any if it gets a XM weather face lift on the next version? That would really be sweet!

That may be something to look for too in the 3rd quarter releases by Garmin?

Ed "Backwater Eddy" Carlson
"ED on the RED"
><,sUMo,>

"I would rather go fishing and think of GOD, Then go to church, and think of FISHING"

*Grandpa Art Carlson*

Raybob
07-18-2008, 04:40 PM
Thanks Ed ~ I'll have a new unit this winter to replace the two lowrance units by Ice-out 2009. I'll do my homework cuz I hate the warr bs & want the unit to work w/no problems for at least 5 years. I also hate upgrades & learnin' new features to get the most bang outta the new unit w/dollars not a problem, but such is life findin' a solid made unit anymore :)

Backwater Eddy
07-18-2008, 06:08 PM
Your very welcome RayBob.