Garmin Oregon 550 Series

Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 11:07 am

Pulled the plug today and put in an order for an Oregon 550.

Can't wait to play with my new toy. Very Happy

Thanks to everyone for your reviews here on the unit. It helped.

Hoping it will last longer than the last Garmin I bought.

Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 11:24 am

-cheeto- wrote:

Pulled the plug today and put in an order for an Oregon 550.

If you need help with it give me a hollar.....plus I'm up your way quite often as well if you need hands on help....though it will likely be at least three weeks the next time I'll get out that way...I do so love to visit the HuHot

-cheeto- wrote:

Hoping it will last longer than the last Garmin I bought.

I have made a few hundred finds on the unit without significant issues....it's loads of fun....now if only it had an MP3 player built in...

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 5:07 pm

-cheeto- wrote:

Pulled the plug today and put in an order for an Oregon 550

Have had my new unit in hand for a few hours. (yep I paid the big bucks for shipping)

I have already updated the unit's firmware, downloaded the white based backgrounds, rearranged the menu, loaded my closest 500 caches to home, changed the power on message, and played around with the compass.

Only one question thus far. Can I tell it to go directly to the compass instead of the map when using the Geocaching function? Like older GPS units? I will never use the base maps and have a Nuvi for vehicle navigation purposes. It seems a bit awkward to have to go back to the menu to switch to the compass pointer from the map. Will it not do this if your closer to ground zero? Or does it always jump to the (useless) base map.

Another question, can I take screenshots of what I see on the unit and save them to jpg's? Like if I want to writeup a "review" in my new blog. or do I have to use a digital camera to snap pics?

Other observations:

This is the most user friendly GPS I've ever laid my hands on. Holy cats.

It doesn't take very good pictures in my living room in less than ideal light conditions.

It gets a signal in my house similar to my prior vista Hcx unit. Perhaps it's not as good at getting a signal in some of my rooms..

I like that it keeps count of geocaches found once you set the starting tally.

I was glad to see the menu can be rearranged.

The batteries included and charger must be slow charging. I use rapid charging batteries already so it's not an issue but they've been charging for 4+ hours. My other batteries charge in 15 minutes from empty.

I like the included carbiner (sp?).

I have ordered a screen protector from the only site found via google. Including shipping this added another 20 bucks to the investment but from experience with an ipod touch I knew I wanted to get one.

Can't wait to find some caches with it and try out the field notes upload feature, oh and try out one of those Wherigo caches wink

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 5:13 pm

-cheeto- wrote:

Pulled the plug today and put in an order for an Oregon 550

So many questions...for one post.

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 5:20 pm

-cheeto- wrote:

...can I take screenshots of what I see on the unit and save them to jpg's? Like if I want to writeup a "review" in my new blog. or do I have to use a digital camera to snap pics?

Here's how to do this:
SETUP>DISPLAY>SCREEN CAPTURE>ON>OK

Then a quick push to the button on the side of the unit captures the image.

In the Oregon's folders:

OREGON>GARMIN>SCRN

The images are Bitmap Images (.bmp) not JPG.

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 5:25 pm

-cheeto- wrote:

It doesn't take very good pictures in my living room in less than ideal light conditions.

There are three capture settings you can choose from be sure to use the highest quality (3.2 I believe). Also there are on screen lighting settings for low lighting...but I have not played with them.

SETUP>CAMERA>PHOTO RESOLUTION

The lighting settings are accessed from the sun setting on the live photo screen in addition to the zoom function.

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 5:30 pm

-cheeto- wrote:

The batteries included and charger must be slow charging. I use rapid charging batteries already so it's not an issue but they've been charging for 4+ hours. My other batteries charge in 15 minutes from empty.

I never use their batteries or charger. My NiMH batteries take an hour or two to charge but I have a couple dozen with at least 4 charged at all times...but be aware as a side note that NiMH batteries have a self-discharge rate of 5–10% on the first day and stabilizes around 0.5–1% loss per day at room temperature thereafter...so charge them right before you need them to get top performance.

...also be sure you have the correct battery type selected in the units settings...

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 5:33 pm

-cheeto- wrote:

Can't wait to find some caches with it and try out the field notes upload feature...

That feature is possibly the best part about the unit aside from the paperless caching...so long as you mark the caches as found (on the unit)each time.

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 5:35 pm

-cheeto- wrote:

Only one question thus far. Can I tell it to go directly to the compass instead of the map when using the Geocaching function? Like older GPS units? I will never use the base maps and have a Nuvi for vehicle navigation purposes. It seems a bit awkward to have to go back to the menu to switch to the compass pointer from the map. Will it not do this if your closer to ground zero? Or does it always jump to the (useless) base map.

I'm not following you on this question perhaps someone else can chime in on this one?

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 5:36 pm

Lostby7 wrote:

-cheeto- wrote:

...can I take screenshots of what I see on the unit and save them to jpg's? Like if I want to writeup a "review" in my new blog. or do I have to use a digital camera to snap pics?

Here's how to do this:
SETUP>DISPLAY>SCREEN CAPTURE>ON>OK

Then a quick push to the button on the side of the unit captures the image.

In the Oregon's folders:

OREGON>GARMIN>SCRN

The images are Bitmap Images (.bmp) not JPG.

Excellent. Exactly what I was looking for.

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 5:38 pm

Lostby7 wrote:

-cheeto- wrote:

Only one question thus far. Can I tell it to go directly to the compass instead of the map when using the Geocaching function? Like older GPS units? I will never use the base maps and have a Nuvi for vehicle navigation purposes. It seems a bit awkward to have to go back to the menu to switch to the compass pointer from the map. Will it not do this if your closer to ground zero? Or does it always jump to the (useless) base map.

I'm not following you on this question perhaps someone else can chime in on this one?

From the menu:

Geocaches
Find a Geocache
Select Cache
Go
Then it shows me the map.

Can I make it show me the compass rather than the map?

That is what I am referring to.

Otherwise I have to 'X' out to the menu and select the compass.

I have rearranged the menu assuming I will have to do it this way so the compass is handy.

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 5:41 pm

-cheeto- wrote:

Lostby7 wrote:

-cheeto- wrote:

Only one question thus far. Can I tell it to go directly to the compass instead of the map when using the Geocaching function? Like older GPS units? I will never use the base maps and have a Nuvi for vehicle navigation purposes. It seems a bit awkward to have to go back to the menu to switch to the compass pointer from the map. Will it not do this if your closer to ground zero? Or does it always jump to the (useless) base map.

I'm not following you on this question perhaps someone else can chime in on this one?

From the menu:

Geocaches
Find a Geocache
Select Cache
Go
Then it shows me the map.

Can I make it show me the compass rather than the map?

That is what I am referring to.

Otherwise I have to 'X' out to the menu and select the compass.

I have rearranged the menu assuming I will have to do it this way so the compass is handy.

Not the way I have mine set up....There are tons of settings to monkey with on this unit so I wouldn't be surprised if it were possible, but I couldn't tell you how to accomplish it...plus I'm not optimistic that the functionality exists. I have my compass on the same screen as the Geocaching function for the easy switchover.

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 5:42 pm

Lostby7 wrote:

-cheeto- wrote:

It doesn't take very good pictures in my living room in less than ideal light conditions.

There are three capture settings you can choose from be sure to use the highest quality (3.2 I believe). Also there are on screen lighting settings for low lighting...but I have not played with them.

SETUP>CAMERA>PHOTO RESOLUTION

The lighting settings are accessed from the sun setting on the live photo screen in addition to the zoom function.

I didn't notice that sun icon. Very cool.

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 5:45 pm

Lostby7 wrote:

-cheeto- wrote:

Lostby7 wrote:

-cheeto- wrote:

Only one question thus far. Can I tell it to go directly to the compass instead of the map when using the Geocaching function? Like older GPS units? I will never use the base maps and have a Nuvi for vehicle navigation purposes. It seems a bit awkward to have to go back to the menu to switch to the compass pointer from the map. Will it not do this if your closer to ground zero? Or does it always jump to the (useless) base map.

I'm not following you on this question perhaps someone else can chime in on this one?

From the menu:

Geocaches
Find a Geocache
Select Cache
Go
Then it shows me the map.

Can I make it show me the compass rather than the map?

That is what I am referring to.

Otherwise I have to 'X' out to the menu and select the compass.

I have rearranged the menu assuming I will have to do it this way so the compass is handy.

Not the way I have mine set up....There are tons of settings to monkey with on this unit so I wouldn't be surprised if it were possible, but I couldn't tell you how to accomplish it...plus I'm not optimistic that the functionality exists. I have my compass on the same screen as the Geocaching function for the easy switchover.

That's what I figured. I do like the geocaching compass view too. I will get used to switching to the compass from the map. Not a biggie. This is sort of handy to have the map at some times (and with the topo/street maps it would make much more sense)

Thanks for all your help.

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 5:46 pm

-cheeto- wrote:

This is sort of handy to have the map at some times (and with the topo/street maps it would make much more sense)

Thanks for all your help.

I have the street maps so I use the map (I'm Nuvi-less) and the compass...all the time.

Yer welcome...have fun.