Best Buy Garmin Foretrex 201 Hands-Free GPS Navigation with Rechargable Lithium Ion Battery

Dec 18th, 2009
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Garmin Foretrex 201 Hands-Free GPS Navigation with Rechargable Lithium Ion Battery Review

This has been a solid GPS receiver for general situational awareness and logging trackpoints. After several years of pretty heavy use while hiking, walking, mountain biking, commute biking, and the occasional trip up in a model airplane, the receiver still works fine and has decent battery life. The only problem I’ve had with it is that sometimes the display will get corrupted on a button push and the system will require a reboot – I honestly can’t tell if it’s a software or hardware problem, but I’ve never had any trouble working around it.

Even with the extension strap it was too bulky to wear on my wrist, I typically leave it attached to the top of my backpack or put it on my handlebars.

Modern GPS receivers have slightly better acquisition and sensitivity, but for the kinds of things that I use this one for I have not been bothered.

I handle the lack of a user-replaceable battery by adapting the charger connection to accept a standard 5V USB plug for charging; I carry a 5V-regulated USB-interface power source and can re-charge and power on the go if necessary.

A GPS alone is never a sufficient plan to keep yourself found, but I’ve been impressed by how much you can do with just a tracklog and waypoints. I would consider carrying just a datalogger with better battery life and such but the basic interface here is just helpful enough to make it worthwhile.

Garmin Foretrex 201 Hands-Free GPS Navigation with Rechargable Lithium Ion Battery Overview

The Foretrex 201 is a wearable Personal Navigator, perfect for outdoor and marine enthusiasts who desire hands-free GPS navigation in a lightweight, affordable package. At a mere 2.75 ounces, this waterproof wonder is lighter than most watches, and its wrist-top mount frees up hands for outdoor activities and sports an ergonomic wristband. The 201 model comes with a recharging unit so you never have to stock up on batteries for all your daily adventures, but consider the Foretrex 101 that runs on 2 AAA batteries if you’re wandering away from the power outlet for a while.

With a user-friendly interface, the rugged Foretrex 201 simplifies navigation, making it ideal for the backcountry or water. Its six dedicated buttons (GoTo, Page, Enter/Mark, Up, Down and Power) make it easy to operate. It offers the most essential navigation data — enhanced GPS accuracy, extensive storage for waypoints, and reversible routes and tracks — on an easy-to-read display. Don’t worry about packing extra batteries, because the Foretrex 201 runs on an internal lithium battery for 15 hours (typical use). Simply recharge and go.

The Foretrex 201 also comes equipped with special features sure to please mariners and hikers alike. It includes a unique application for sailing and paragliding racers that allows them to configure the start sequence of a race. The countdown is displayed in a large-number format that audibly alerts the user at each phase of the start sequence. With the help of Garmin’s exclusive TracBack® technology, hikers can mark a campsite, go trekking all day, and follow the electronic “breadcrumb trail” back to camp in time for dinner.

The WAAS difference

  • 100 meters: Accuracy of the original GPS system, which was subject to accuracy degradation under the government-imposed Selective Availability (SA) program.
  • 15 meters: Typical GPS position accuracy without SA.
  • 3-5 meters: Typical differential GPS (DGPS) position accuracy.
  • Less than 3 meters: Typical WAAS position accuracy.

WAAS is a system of satellites and ground stations that provide GPS signal corrections, giving you even better position accuracy. How much better? Try an average of up to five times better. A WAAS-capable receiver can give you a position accuracy of better than three meters 95 percent of the time. And you don’t have to purchase additional receiving equipment or pay service fees to utilize WAAS.

How it Works
WAAS consists of approximately 25 ground reference stations positioned across the United States that monitor GPS satellite data. Two master stations, located on either coast, collect data from the reference stations and create a GPS correction message. This correction accounts for GPS satellite orbit and clock drift plus signal delays caused by the atmosphere and ionosphere. The corrected differential message is then broadcast through one of two geostationary satellites, or satellites with a fixed position over the equator. The information is compatible with the basic GPS signal structure, which means any WAAS-enabled GPS receiver can read the signal.

Who benefits from WAAS?
Currently, WAAS satellite coverage is only available in North America. There are no ground reference stations in South America, so even though GPS users there can receive WAAS, the signal has not been corrected and thus would not improve the accuracy of their unit. For some users in the U.S., the position of the satellites over the equator makes it difficult to receive the signals when trees or mountains obstruct the view of the horizon. WAAS signal reception is ideal for open land and marine applications. WAAS provides extended coverage both inland and offshore compared to the land-based DGPS (differential GPS) system. Another benefit of WAAS is that it does not require additional receiving equipment, while DGPS does.

Garmin Foretrex 201 Hands-Free GPS Navigation with Rechargable Lithium Ion Battery Feature

  • WAAS-Enabled, 12 Parallel-Channel GPS Receiver
  • 500 Waypoints With 20 Reversible Routes
  • 10 Saved Tracks & 10,000 Saved Track Points
  • Water-Resistant To Iec 60529 Ipx7 Standards
  • Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery Offers 5-15 Hours Of Use (Depending On Backlight Settings)

Garmin Foretrex 201 Hands-Free GPS Navigation with Rechargable Lithium Ion Battery Specifications

The Foretrex 201 is a wearable Personal Navigator, perfect for outdoor and marine enthusiasts who desire hands-free GPS navigation in a lightweight, affordable package. At a mere 2.75 ounces, this waterproof wonder is lighter than most watches, and its wrist-top mount frees up hands for outdoor activities. Sporting an ergonomic wristband, the Foretrex 201 is similar in design to the Forerunner 201, yet is chocked full of GPS navigation features found in Garmin’s popular Geko 201 unit.With a user-friendly interface, the rugged Foretrex 201 simplifies navigation, making it ideal for the backcountry or water. Its six dedicated buttons (GoTo, Page, Enter/Mark, Up, Down and Power) make it easy to operate. It offers the most essential navigation data – enhanced GPS accuracy, extensive storage for waypoints, and reversible routes and tracks – on an easy-to-read display. Don’t worry about packing extra batteries, because the Foretrex 201 runs on an internal lithium battery for 15 hours (typical use). Simply recharge and go.The Foretrex 201 also comes equipped with special features sure to please mariners and hikers alike. It includes a unique application for sailing and paragliding racers that allows them to configure the start sequence of a race. The countdown is displayed in a large-number format that audibly alerts the user at each phase of the start sequence. With the help of Garmin’s exclusive TracBack technology, hikers can mark a campsite, go trekking all day, and follow the electronic “breadcrumb trail” back to camp in time for dinner.

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Customer Reviews

Love the size of GPS – Brian D. Baker –
I was very pleased with the Garmin Foretrex 201, currently in the Marine Corps I love how I can strap it to the front of my gear and just start patrolling, was able to pick up a signal pretty good so far.
Just highly recommend it due to the size.
SSGT Baker
USMC

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Dec 18, 2009 22:08:05

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