gibsons
Active VIP Member
are those preset watts for those chanels or just changed automatically? curious because I go into settings, choose radio, and can change watts from 5, 2 or 1/2.
garmin 5 watt rino
- Thread starter imdoo'n
- Start date
thegeneral
Active VIP Member
It will change automatically based on the channel but the actual settings on your radio will not change
so when you go back to an unrestricted channel the radio will automatically go back to the settings you previously selected.
Thegeneral
06 Dragon
Active VIP Member
I have one new in box, Garmin Rhino 650 5 watt, with Canada topo maps for sale $ 550.00.
gibsons
Active VIP Member
Sent you a PM.
Have a 530. Just so you all know, the higher the channel # you are using the higher the W will be. Also I find better reception between devices if I am on a High channel. For example, if channels 15 & 16 both say I am on 3W, I have better reception on 16. Usually run on the highest I can.
We have gotten about 23-25km on the flat between two 655t. won't get that on the 530 tho.
We have gotten about 23-25km on the flat between two 655t. won't get that on the 530 tho.
aircanam
Active VIP Member
Rhino 650 are on sale at gps central for $399. May look at grabbing one even if they are the low watt Canadian ones
thegeneral
Active VIP Member
lloydguy
Active VIP Member
I found afew youtube vid's that may be usefull to others like me that don't know shyt about
radio's
FRS Radio - More Range.AVI - YouTube
How-To Pick the Best Channel and Code for your Talkabout Radio - YouTube
radio's
FRS Radio - More Range.AVI - YouTube
How-To Pick the Best Channel and Code for your Talkabout Radio - YouTube
Cdnfireman
Active VIP Member
The rule of thumb is for reliable two way comms, 1watt per mile. You'll get better in differing terrain, but you can usually count on the 1watt per mile rule to be true. This is assuming an omni-directional antenna 2m above ground level. Also, the higher the frequency, the shorter the transmit distance for the same amount of transmit power.
Add trees, buildings, etc into the mix and it gets worse. The hand held GMRS and FRS radios we all use are the fisher-price of the radio world. Proper comms are a technological problem that requires serious money and proper installation to work reliably. Every RCMP cruiser out there has about $7k in radios in the trunk, and if you watch soldiers on TV in combat, none ever carry a handheld radio. They carry the radios on their back with a big battery and a long antenna.
dont expect too much from the radios we all bought and use. They're short range transmitters at best, with lots of shortcomings. 5W, or 2-3W, they will perform pretty much the same. 5W will carry farther on the prairie, but that's about it. Any questions fire away, I've done lots of work with RF stuff.
Add trees, buildings, etc into the mix and it gets worse. The hand held GMRS and FRS radios we all use are the fisher-price of the radio world. Proper comms are a technological problem that requires serious money and proper installation to work reliably. Every RCMP cruiser out there has about $7k in radios in the trunk, and if you watch soldiers on TV in combat, none ever carry a handheld radio. They carry the radios on their back with a big battery and a long antenna.
dont expect too much from the radios we all bought and use. They're short range transmitters at best, with lots of shortcomings. 5W, or 2-3W, they will perform pretty much the same. 5W will carry farther on the prairie, but that's about it. Any questions fire away, I've done lots of work with RF stuff.
- Thread starter
- #30
imdoo'n
Active VIP Member
didn't think the rinos would transmit at 3 watts. they list the tansmit power of the rino 530/530hcx/ 655hcx as 2 watts max wattage in canada, in the usa they max at 5 watts on the higher end gmrs channels. frs is 1/2 watt as far as i can tell. from what i can find 25km line of sight( from hill top to hill top) is possible, don't think so on flat land?
would like to see a real life side by side test between the different rino radios, same frequency same power 2 watt and with the 5 watt verses the 2 watt. i think the 5 watt would give a better signal than the 2 watt over the same distance though.
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lloydguy
Active VIP Member
I was suprised that youtube has millions of viewers and video's and almost nothing
for info on frs/gmrs radio's.I thought I would be able to find lot's of head to head
comparisons.My uncle and I are in the market for some GPS/radio's.So'I'm trying to
read all the thread's I can find on what's on the market and what people think.
Imdooin,you used your oregon much yet?I think that's what I read that you bought.
for info on frs/gmrs radio's.I thought I would be able to find lot's of head to head
comparisons.My uncle and I are in the market for some GPS/radio's.So'I'm trying to
read all the thread's I can find on what's on the market and what people think.
Imdooin,you used your oregon much yet?I think that's what I read that you bought.
- Thread starter
- #32
imdoo'n
Active VIP Member
bought the montana 600 for the larger screen 4" diag, has a learning curve. I was wobbling between the oregon 450 and the montana 600. the oregon 450 is $199 at gps central and is a very nice unit, takes the map cards and quick to acquire signal in the trees. it is being discontinued by garmin though. has a smaller screen 3" diag, the rino 650 has a smller 2.5 " diag. The montana was $449 at communication group, about the best price out there. Largest screen out there so far. I have the backroad maps and they are well worth the money for the info provided. even shows the sled and quad trails, camp sites, fishing holes etc. i felt the larger screen was better than squinting to tey and make out anything on the rino.
i already have 2 rinos and a third 530hcx i will have to go see if i can find in the spring? otherwise i may have went with the rino 650. you just can't get a real world comparison, guy claims 25 km radio ranges on the flats is BS in my world. then claims his rino 530 not the same. is the 530 a 5 watt unit as the 650 or a 2 watt unit.
biggest thing is people don't want to spend the 4-500 dollars for the rino650. and i couldn't get the info to tell me if the canadian version 2 watt could be upgraded to the 5 watt us model. gps central had the rino 650 on at $399 before christmas.
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DaveB
Active VIP Member
With my ol nasty Rino 120 (been in the mud, leave it on the quad at the car wash, buried in snow, 6 yrs old) I once yacked with a guy at Griffen when we were at Sale. Figure that out. LOL. When it comes time to replace 'er, it will be another Rino.
sledderdoc
Super Senior Member
I have the 5W version we purchased from the states a couple years back now. I would highly recommend it, there is a bit of a learning curve but it has performed the best out of any radio i have tried.
- Thread starter
- #35
imdoo'n
Active VIP Member
yes, the rino 650, 5 watt waswhat i was looking for. price in canada for the rino 650 2watt was $399. would have bought it then, but no confirmation if it was just a coftware change up to the 5 watt, that is supposed to be available to canada this year, maybe. the radio's are still limited by line of sight transmission, the higher wattage will give a clearer signal and will travel further with nothing blocking the signal: ie mtns.
i have only limited experimentation with them though, 4miles between a rino 130 and a 530hcx 2 watt radio. as soon as there was a hill in the way at 4.5 miles there was no signal. so the 5watt models may get 20km from hill to hill, would be nice to get a comparison between all models at the same time though.
i have a spot with a confirmed 6 mile view, i can test on when i get a chance.
i have only limited experimentation with them though, 4miles between a rino 130 and a 530hcx 2 watt radio. as soon as there was a hill in the way at 4.5 miles there was no signal. so the 5watt models may get 20km from hill to hill, would be nice to get a comparison between all models at the same time though.
i have a spot with a confirmed 6 mile view, i can test on when i get a chance.
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lloydguy
Active VIP Member
I would assume Dave B is right.I can't remember if it was on this thread or another where he said
you can go to Garmin's site and change the software in the unit,to change the GMRS channels
from 2 watt's to 5 watt's.I wouldn't think that Garmin would invest in building 2 different circuit
boards for one model.
you can go to Garmin's site and change the software in the unit,to change the GMRS channels
from 2 watt's to 5 watt's.I wouldn't think that Garmin would invest in building 2 different circuit
boards for one model.
tex78
Active VIP Member
Only thing I find with my rhino 120 it's super hard on battery's, even with the gps turned off
Where the newer ones are way better, less draw
sent while I should be drinking tea's
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lloydguy
Active VIP Member
Am I correct in saying that the rino is the only unit that garmin has that will show you
on the screen where your riding partner is?That is an awsome feature,I suppose the
rino is the only unit that can transmit a signal,so that would make sence.
on the screen where your riding partner is?That is an awsome feature,I suppose the
rino is the only unit that can transmit a signal,so that would make sence.
- Thread starter
- #39
imdoo'n
Active VIP Member
yes. it is as far as i know.
I had a 2 watt model and spent hours searching the web to find a way to change the transmit power. I've never found a solution.
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