The Global Positioning System (GPS) is the only fully functional Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). Utilizing a constellation of at least 24 Medium Earth Orbit satellites that transmit precise microwave signals, the system enables a GPS receiver to determine its location, speed, direction, and time. Other similar systems are the Russian GLONASS (incomplete as of 2008), the upcoming European Galileo positioning system, the proposed COMPASS navigation system of China, and IRNSS of India.ONIX 400
Today, the autonomous recreational handheld navigator is often overshadowed by what we have in our cars: the sleek PNDs with the big screens, loads of maps, and streaming traffic updates — all of which are useless in the backcountry. God forbid if you drop one on a rock while you're hiking or taking a fast turn on your all-terrain vehicle. For these reasons alone the market for recreational GPS devices remains brisk, with unswerving devotion from millions of outdoor types. Along these lines, a plethora of popular products are available from Garmin, Magellan, Lowrance, Trimble, and many others. Their prices range anywhere from less than $100 to more than $400. All have good-quality features, but a few really stand out above the rest, such as the offering from Bushnell discussed below.
This is a product that really impressed me. The brainchild of Phil Gyori and Jason Luzar from Bushnell, the ONIX 400 is a second-generation Bushnell attempt at getting GPS right, and it succeeded. Based on the needs of a customer base that demands a hardy field solution, be it rifle scopes, binoculars, field optics, or GPS, Bushnell went beyond the typical mass-market features found in recreational GPS devices to create something new and extremely usable.
Out of the box, the ONIX 400 feels good in your hand and is obviously well thought out, with a load of features and accessories. What's unusual about this device is the planning that went on in the design stage. First of all, you can download maps and aerial photos of the areas you want to explore. This feature allowed us to spot hiking trails and other parts of the ranch, as well as determine our proximity to them and our ability to navigate to them.
Another great feature of the ONIX 400 not typically found in this class of device is XM satellite radio — very cool indeed. I initially thought this feature might be a bit too much, but when I discovered my GPS location could be tagged to the weather channel and that I would receive any corresponding weather alerts, it all made good sense. There is nothing like standing in the middle of nowhere and being able to watch Doppler radar (actually, I turned the game on instead). The ONIX 400's GPS acquisition times were fast, it exhibited good battery life, and it featured easy-to-understand instructions. The large color display also pops out at you, even in direct sunlight. Not bad, for a company that has created only two GPS devices so far, it's a good start..
This is a product that really impressed me. The brainchild of Phil Gyori and Jason Luzar from Bushnell, the ONIX 400 is a second-generation Bushnell attempt at getting GPS right, and it succeeded. Based on the needs of a customer base that demands a hardy field solution, be it rifle scopes, binoculars, field optics, or GPS, Bushnell went beyond the typical mass-market features found in recreational GPS devices to create something new and extremely usable.
Out of the box, the ONIX 400 feels good in your hand and is obviously well thought out, with a load of features and accessories. What's unusual about this device is the planning that went on in the design stage. First of all, you can download maps and aerial photos of the areas you want to explore. This feature allowed us to spot hiking trails and other parts of the ranch, as well as determine our proximity to them and our ability to navigate to them.
Another great feature of the ONIX 400 not typically found in this class of device is XM satellite radio — very cool indeed. I initially thought this feature might be a bit too much, but when I discovered my GPS location could be tagged to the weather channel and that I would receive any corresponding weather alerts, it all made good sense. There is nothing like standing in the middle of nowhere and being able to watch Doppler radar (actually, I turned the game on instead). The ONIX 400's GPS acquisition times were fast, it exhibited good battery life, and it featured easy-to-understand instructions. The large color display also pops out at you, even in direct sunlight. Not bad, for a company that has created only two GPS devices so far, it's a good start..
