9/11/2011

Bushnell 363500 Onix 350 GPS with sensors Review

Bushnell 363500 Onix 350 GPS with sensors
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I got the Onix350 during a wootoff for about $65. The hardware is excellent.The software is incredibly bad.The pros and cons are below:

Pros:

The GPS system is extremely sensitive and unlike the majority of GPS systems, can acquire satellite signals below deep forest canopies.I had read about this capability before I bought the unit, and choose it for that reason.I live in the middle of the woods and wanted a unit that would work while hiking in the heavily wooded areas near my home.In fact, the unit acquires signals inside my house which is surrounded by trees.I am writing this review in my living room, and the unit has acquired seven satellites with three in the green (strong signal).My garmin unit cannot acquire a single satellite when I am inside the house.I do not know whether this is due to the electronics or a good antennae, but it matters not ... this unit has superb signal acquisition.

The display is very good but not outstanding.It is plenty bright, but the resolution is only medium.But the color is excellent and the ability to overlay either topographic maps or aerial maps is a very nice feature.But you will have to pay for these maps, and you should count on adding at least another $20 to collect enough maps to make this unit useful (see below).

Cons:

The web software is terrible.The Bushnell web site is disorganized and seemingly designed to prevent the user from getting to where they want to be.For simply registering the product, you get four free downloads which is enough to get you around your neighborhood, and thats it.The maps are small in area coverage, and hard to download. You will need to use trial and error to get what you want, so only having four free downloads is a tease and an insult.

If you are running Vista, then I recommend you buy another GPS.The combination of Vista paranoia and the Bushnell web site makes it nearly impossible to download maps.There is no Mac support, so forget about that as well.But I was able to download maps using Windows XP, although the process was convoluted and tiresome.The instructions are obscure, and often incorrect.Downloading maps to the GPS is a three or four step process, involves multiple windows, great patience and adequate karma.You will be cussing out the software engineers who designed this junk well before you have achieved success.I am guessing the software development was farmed out to Siberian potato farmers without access to computers or heat.

Summary:

Great hardware, terrible software.Count on adding another $20 for map downloads.This will give you unlimited downloads for 90 days.I paid $30 for one year of "free" map downloads, but in retrospect, the extra $10 may have been a mistake.I will lose patience long before 90 days are up.Nevertheless, after you suffer the indignation of dealing with the obscure and obscenely incompetent map download system, you will have an excellent GPS that works well in the deep forest.I know of no other GPS with comparable signal acquisition capabilities.

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Product Description:
Combining satellite photography and navigational aids on a single screen, the Bushnell Onix 350 GPS navigator lets you plot your course by comparing your surroundings with the pictures in your palm. As a result, you can easily find your way back to the car whether you're hunting or hiking in the woods. The Onix 350 works by layering a satellite photo, topographical map, compass, and other navigational aids on the extra-large, 3.5-inch full-color LCD display. Because you see all the images and aids on the same screen, you eliminate all of the guesswork of GPS navigation. This means you don't have to worry about taking a wrong turn or making an "educated" guess that the tree patch on the left is supposed to be there. The Onix 350 also includes barometric pressure and temperature sensors, helping you predict changing weather conditions. In general, lower pressure brings inclement weather, while high pressure brings stability and clear skies. And fishermen will love the unit's Solunar Edge technology, which provides sun and moon tables to determine optimal animal and fish activity times.
Other details include a SafeTrack battery conservation mode that helps the Onix 350 run for up to 30 hours; a user-friendly interface that provides easy access to all of the features and controls; a self-calibrating three-axis digital compass; an embedded 512 MB microSD card; and a rugged, waterproof rubber armor.
Specifications:

    Receiver: SiRF Star III 20-channel GPS
    Navigation type: TruView screen layering
    Screen type: Full-color LCD
    Display size: 3.5 inches
    Display resolution: 320 x 240
    Battery type: Lithium ion
    Battery life: Up to 30 hours
    Waterproof standard: IPX7
    Dimensions: 3.1 by 7 by 0.55 inches (W x H x D)

About Bushnell
Bushnell has been the industry leader in high-performance sports optics for more than 50 years. The company's guiding principle is to provide the highest quality, most reliable, and most affordable sports optics products on the market. Bushnell product lines enhance the enjoyment of every outdoor pursuit, including nature study, hunting, fishing, birding, and stargazing. Indoors, the company's binoculars bring the audience closer to the action in fast-moving sports or the fine arts at theaters and concerts.


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