Garmin Oregon.....Thoughts/Reviews/Opinions? - Page 7

Emmbeedee · 10-05-2009, 12:54 PM

The only thing I hope Garmin adds to the feature set is the ability to switch the orientation of the display like the old Garmin V did. On the V when you hold in the Page button it switches from vertical to horizontal, and the Oregon could too, I bet.

The camera on the Oregon knows which orientation it's in so if you're viewing pictures you've taken and turn the camera, the picture display switches automatically so I hope they can do the same with the other displays.

I have sent this suggestion today to Garmin asking if they could incorporate it - the support response was that they would bring my suggestion to the attention of the development team.

Now if others did the same, it might convince Garmin to do it. If they can on the V, they must certainly be able to on something as sophisticated as the Oregon.

EmmEff · 10-05-2009, 01:27 PM

That is an excellent feature. I am surprised the Oregon doesn't already have it.

sierra_victor · 10-06-2009, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmmEff

That is an excellent feature. I am surprised the Oregon doesn't already have it.

+1 Its logical..

Brian..

Emmbeedee · 10-06-2009, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cavi

Also, it seems a couple of people did not understand what I asked, I wanted a powercord that got directly wired to my bike, not a ciggarette lighter adapter. ...

...I have a lighter adapter that hookes to a plug like the trickle charger uses, so it will be fast to hook up and unhook

I did end up buying a couple of these:

When I got them I cut one down to about 1.5' and soldered a molded plug to the end, so I can plug it into my Battery Tender type connection. Works very nicely.

I already have a fuse on the BT plug so I was able to dispense of the one on the Garmin cable, and the whole setup is very clean and tidy now. No more lighter adapter plugs for me.

ramz · 10-07-2009, 12:50 AM

I'm confused. Is the right-angle USB plug a problem or not? You don't seem too worried...

Emmbeedee · 10-07-2009, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ramz

I'm confused. Is the right-angle USB plug a problem or not? You don't seem too worried...

Time will tell if it's a problem or not. It's certainly not as substantial as the old round Garmin plug, but it seems to work for me.

markbvt · 10-07-2009, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emmbeedee

When I got them I cut one down to about 1.5' and soldered a molded plug to the end, so I can plug it into my Battery Tender type connection. Works very nicely.

So it's confirmed then that the box near the end is step-down circuitry?

--mark

Emmbeedee · 10-07-2009, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markbvt

So it's confirmed then that the box near the end is step-down circuitry?

--mark

Yes, the cable lists that it can accept 6 - 32 volts on a label stuck to it, and the gps ends up with the correct voltage via magic performed in the box.

Garand · 10-07-2009, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emmbeedee

Yes, the cable lists that it can accept 6 - 32 volts on a label stuck to it, and the gps ends up with the correct voltage via magic performed in the box.

Can you share where you bought the cables? GPSCITY.com on the image seems to be out of stock "Coming soon"

http://www.gpscity.com/garmin-power-and-data-cable.html

Thanks!

Emmbeedee · 10-07-2009, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garand

Can you share where you bought the cables? GPSCITY.com on the image seems to be out of stock "Coming soon"

http://www.gpscity.com/garmin-power-and-data-cable.html

Thanks!

I bought them from the Canadian side of GPSCity, GPSCity.ca in Alberta. But I must have bought the last 2 - next delivery ships on October 12 according to the site. Here's a link to the page with the cables.

This is what my cable ended up looking like:

I left it a little longer than I normally would because I like to pick up the gps/camera and take quick pictures without unplugging it each time. This gives me a little flexibility to frame the shot better.

My wife wants her cable as short as possible when I solder it up for her. She's not as likely to need extra length.

Emmbeedee · 10-07-2009, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garand

Can you share where you bought the cables? GPSCITY.com on the image seems to be out of stock "Coming soon"!

This cable would do almost the same thing, if all you needed was to power the gps and not get data out from it: Gilsson Bare Wire Power Cable

I don't have any experience with this kind of cable but it looks right.

Garand · 10-08-2009, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emmbeedee

This cable would do almost the same thing, if all you needed was to power the gps and not get data out from it: Gilsson Bare Wire Power Cable

I don't have any experience with this kind of cable but it looks right.

the only thing wrong with that cable is I can't see how far down from the USB the transformer is.. makes it difficult to plan my setup.

Emmbeedee · 10-08-2009, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garand

the only thing wrong with that cable is I can't see how far down from the USB the transformer is.. makes it difficult to plan my setup.

This is part of the description from the GPSCity site:

...You can trim up to three feet off of the length of the cable from the bare wire connection, as well.

Total length of the cable: 6'6".

------------------------

So it sounds to me like the transformer is about 3 feet from the USB connector, which is about 2.5 feet too long for my liking.

I prefer the Garmin version.

Piston · 10-12-2009, 06:25 PM

I'm trying to figure out how to make Google Earth recognize my 550T? I had an old etrex and could simply plug it in the laptop, go to the tools menu on GE, select GPS then click GARMIN then hit IMPORT. For some reason it is not seeing my GPS when plugged in? I have tried it in Spanner mode and Serial mode. Either way it is still not seeing my GPS. Do I need to download a driver or something? I ran the latest update from the Garmin site. Thanks for your help.

mbabc · 11-04-2009, 07:45 PM

I was looking at the Oregon 550 for this winter and I just got a Bass Pro Shops flyer today listing the Oregon 400t on sale for $349.94. Looks like screen resolution is the same, 240x400, the 400t has less waypoints & routes (400t 1000 waypoints/50 routes vs. 500t 2000 waypoints/200 routes). I don't really need the camera on the 550 series. I plan to use it almost always connected to the bikes power so I'm hoping the screen brightness is similar.

Any thoughts? I don't really need the topo maps for the most part and I'm going to buy the City Nav. software for the street. I'm coming from a Lowrance H2O so anything would be an improvement feature wise.

10-05-2009, 12:54 PM	#91
Emmbeedee Procrastinators Joined: Mar 2008 Location: Near Ottawa, ON, Canada Oddometer: 5,774	One Feature I'd Like in the Oregon The only thing I hope Garmin adds to the feature set is the ability to switch the orientation of the display like the old Garmin V did. On the V when you hold in the Page button it switches from vertical to horizontal, and the Oregon could too, I bet. The camera on the Oregon knows which orientation it's in so if you're viewing pictures you've taken and turn the camera, the picture display switches automatically so I hope they can do the same with the other displays. I have sent this suggestion today to Garmin asking if they could incorporate it - the support response was that they would bring my suggestion to the attention of the development team. Now if others did the same, it might convince Garmin to do it. If they can on the V, they must certainly be able to on something as sophisticated as the Oregon. __________________ Want to know more about the Garmin Montana? See the Wisdom and FAQ Thread. "Don't play a lute to a cow" (Old Chinese Idiom) "The motorcycle, being poorly designed for both flight and marine operation, sustained significant external and internal damage," police noted.

10-05-2009, 01:27 PM	#92
EmmEff Wannabe Joined: Oct 2008 Location: Innisfil, Ontario, Canada Oddometer: 1,242	That is an excellent feature. I am surprised the Oregon doesn't already have it. __________________ 2008 Suzuki DRZ400S

10-12-2009, 06:25 PM	#104
Piston ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2007 Location: Central MA Oddometer: 133	Google Earth Interface? I'm trying to figure out how to make Google Earth recognize my 550T? I had an old etrex and could simply plug it in the laptop, go to the tools menu on GE, select GPS then click GARMIN then hit IMPORT. For some reason it is not seeing my GPS when plugged in? I have tried it in Spanner mode and Serial mode. Either way it is still not seeing my GPS. Do I need to download a driver or something? I ran the latest update from the Garmin site. Thanks for your help.

11-04-2009, 07:45 PM	#105
mbabc Curmudgeon trainee Joined: May 2007 Location: Louisville, KY Oddometer: 1,233	Oregon 400t on sale, so.... I was looking at the Oregon 550 for this winter and I just got a Bass Pro Shops flyer today listing the Oregon 400t on sale for $349.94. Looks like screen resolution is the same, 240x400, the 400t has less waypoints & routes (400t 1000 waypoints/50 routes vs. 500t 2000 waypoints/200 routes). I don't really need the camera on the 550 series. I plan to use it almost always connected to the bikes power so I'm hoping the screen brightness is similar. Any thoughts? I don't really need the topo maps for the most part and I'm going to buy the City Nav. software for the street. I'm coming from a Lowrance H2O so anything would be an improvement feature wise. __________________ Mark B. "I have never seen a Kentuckian without a gun and a pack of cards and a bottle of whiskey." - Gen. Andrew Jackson '08 WR250R - '12 Super Tenere Little Blue goes looking for Orange mbabc screwed with this post 11-04-2009 at 08:19 PM

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10-07-2009, 12:50 AM	#95
ramz Professional Trail Rider Joined: Dec 2006 Location: Salida, CO Oddometer: 1,719	I'm confused. Is the right-angle USB plug a problem or not? You don't seem too worried...