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GPS

Garmin Oregon 200
Garmin-Oregon 200-GPS-image
Approximate retail price:
$300
Summary: This model has been tested by our experts.
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Community icon3 people have reviewed this model.
User Reviews
Consumer Reports User Reviews
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By
from
(15 of 15 customers found this review helpful)
 
4.0
A decent unit for the money
5/11/2011
Pros
Accurate
Quick Navigation
Quick Signal
Reliable Reception
Cons
Best Uses
Geocaching
Hiking
Comment:
I saw a few previous comments that forced me to respond:<br /><br />-this is a handheld unit, mounting it in a vehicle and using it while bouncing down a trail is outside the scope of it's use. Stop the ATV to look at the screen. It's only 3! You can't really even walk and look at it properly at the same time. I mean honestly if you were having a problem seeing the screen would you just keep right on driving down the trail if you didn't know where you were? No, you'd stop and look at the perfectly readable 3 screen to get your bearings.<br /><br />-the screen is readable in sunlight regardless of what the other reviewer says. I keep my screen a little on the dim side to conserve battery but even then I can read it in sunlight. Direct sun right on the screen? Well it is a backlit LCD, what do you expect? On the odd occasion where direct sun can't be avoided by turning my body a bit I use this free accessory I call a sun shield...I cup my hand around the screen. Usually though (99% of the time) reading the screen when out and about during daylight hours is not an issue.<br /><br />-I'm not sure why the specifications say it doesn't come with topo maps...mine did.<br /><br />-this is the bottom of the line in the Oregon series. It lacks a bunch of features that the rest of the line have (I won't go into that here, research the Oregon line to compare the features at Garmin's website). For what I wanted to use it for (mainly hiking and geocaching) it is perfect. I have even used it on the odd occasion for driving and I'm thinking of buying the City Navigator maps for it even though I have navigation in my car (it will occasionally come in handy if I'm in a rental or on my bike)
How long have you owned it:
More than six months
Bottom Line
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.
By
from
(2 of 9 customers found this review helpful)
 
3.0
Thank God [...]took it back
11/2/2010
Pros
Accurate
Intuitive Menu
Large Screen
Quick Signal
Cons
Hard To Read
Short Battery Life
Best Uses
Cycling
Hiking
Comment:
On my ATV while moose hunting it was hard to see in direct sunlight. Thank God I really knew where I was going having travelled these routes many times before. It was visible during twilight hours but a universal screen would be an advantage.
How long have you owned it:
A month or less
Bottom Line
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
By
from
(39 of 40 customers found this review helpful)
 
5.0
The best hand held unit on the market
8/29/2009
Pros
Finds satellites v fast
Great Screen
Long Battery Life
Micro SD for maps
VERY Accurate
Well built unit
Worldwide uses
Cons
A little Heavy
Best Uses
Awesome for bike riding
Great for Hiking
Comment:
This is the best hand held unit I have seen to date. Given that it is a little heavy because it is built like a rock, its performance is nothing short of spectacular for a hand held GPS unit. It finds satellites within seconds of turning on the unit. It holds the satellite signal indoors if you can believe that, wow!!! Not that you would really to use it indoors. But with the addition of the North American 2010 micro SD card you have all the info you could imagine in such a small unit, 2 GB worth of detailed maps, shopping malls, restaurants, and even some businesses that your neighbors own which are registered to their home address complete with telephone numbers. I would recommend this unit to anyone considering a hand held unit who is looking for value and expandability capability.
How long have you owned it:
One-to-three months
Bottom Line
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.
The Garmin Oregon 200 is part of the GPS test program at Consumer Reports. The Garmin Oregon 200 GPS features and specs include Topographic maps, Electronic compass, Battery life (hrs.), Screen size (in.). In our lab tests, GPS models like the Garmin Oregon 200 are reviewed on Extras, Geocaching, Guidance, Portability, Power, Display, Overall score. Consumer Reports subscribers share reviews of the Garmin Oregon 200 based on personal experience. The Consumer Reports user reviews of the Garmin Oregon 200 include star ratings, pros, cons, best uses, and a bottom line review to help guide your purchasing decision of the Garmin Oregon 200.
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