Garmin's New GPS Two-Way Radios

Getting lost outdoors has never been this fun. Attention hikers, hunters, fishermen and outdoor extremists: This September you can expect an adrenaline rush when Garmin introduces its newest set of handheld rugged two-way radios with built-in GPS. These new devices will have you hoping for detours and trekking down roads less traveled.

It doesn't matter if you're skiing, 4-wheeling, or conquering the highest peaks in your hometown, the key to safety is communication and Garmin knows it. The Rino 520 and the more robust Rino 530 both offer an impressive 12-mile communication range (using 5 watts of transmit power) but the 530 version also includes an electronic compass, barometric altimeter (for accurate elevation checks) and a NOAA weather receiver to keep informed of critical weather changes. Both the Rino 520 and 530 are enabled with the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) which boasts position accuracy of better than three meters 95 percent of the time and BlueChart Compatible, Garmin's exclusive marine cartography, providing interactive viewing of detailed nautical chart data.

So what does all of this mean to you? For starters, the built-in basemap of North America and optional City Select software can combine to create automatic route generation, off-route recalculation, turn-by-turn directions and even a customized map data. The Contact TracBack feature allows you to retrace the path of up to 20 contacts while the Proximity Alarm alerts you if a contact moves out of a specified distance radius, a must-have feature for families with young children. Juiced up with a high capacity 8.4v 2400 mAh Li-ion Battery Pack and with a 16 to 18 hour typical battery life, Garmin is peace-of-mind you can hold in your hands. For those who like to push the limits, these waterproof casings can also withstand temperatures between -4 to 140 f. Both devices come standard with PC/USB interface cables, wrist straps, belt clips, A/C adapter cables and Quick Start Manuals.

The Rino 520 is listed at $482 and the Rino 530 for $535. Please note: The use of GMRS frequencies in the US requires a license from the FCC. Applicable regulatory agencies must be consulted prior to using the Rino radio outside of the US.