Garmin Rino 530 combines two-way radio, GPS, weather tools

If you're off trekking through the wilderness (or just the local oversized water park), two pieces of gear that could really help you out are a two-way radio and a GPS unit. So, why hasn't anyone combined the two? In fact, Garmin has with its Rino series, which now includes the Rino 530, a version that adds an electronic compass, barometric altimeter, and NOAA weather receiver. The radio has a 12-mile range and the GPS includes a color TFT display so you can get like, really freaking lost. You can also use the GPS unit to locate other Rino-toting cohorts, which could make those group outings a lot less stressful. Of course, all this outdoorsy goodness comes at a price; the 530 has an MSRP of $535.70. A similar model, the 520 ditches the compass, weather and related functions, and comes in at $482.13.

[Thanks, Dave]

[Xavier Ashe @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Yeah, but can it play MP3s, take pictures, or play video games??

[gorkon @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Ok this is lame. The "weather tools" is simply a extension of the existing radio to cover the NOAA band. Definitely NOT as cool as the other GPS's Garmin makes with the built in XM radio that downloads the radar images in real time.

[Gary @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Dont forget the GMRS radio will requuire an FCC license. License cost is $80...

[Lenord @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

I used to have a Rhino, but I was fairly dissapointed with it. I think my unit was defective, its radio transmitted worse than $20 walmart walkie talkies. Aside from that, it's pretty bulky. I imagine that if my unit had worked well and I had friends with their own rhino's so we could use the tricky send-your-location-to-your-friend's-within-5-miles feature, I might have kept it.
As it is, I took it back to REI and ended up with a much smaller foretrex gps that I use for everything from a replacement bicycle computer to finding lakes in the mountains.

[Dennis @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

#4 While transmitting over GMRS Does require a license from the FCC (I think its $80 for 5 years or something like that..) This also has the ability to broadcast over FRS channels, which is a freebee. Though if I remember correctly, it may only transmit its location information to the other units if you are using GMRS... though I could be wrong on that.

[Robert Massey @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

It looks great but I will not waste my money. I purchased a Rhino 130 about 6 months ago (as did 2 other members of my Search and Rescue unit). We train with FRS radios all the time and the radio in the 130 is of extremely poor quality when compared with the other FRS/GMRS radios we use. When I turn mine on, I have to wait about 10 minutes before I am able to send a clear transmission. Even then I am often not able to pick up transmisions from other members of my unit when someone standing next to me with a different radio will have no problem. This happens even when the batteries in my Rhino are brand new. I have read commentary on other Rhino models and this problem is common. It's a nice GPS but we have come to the conclusion that the radio is useless. The other two members of my unit are having similar problems and we have stopped using these devices for radio communications altogether. We had high hopes for the Rhinos because of their combined functionality. The whole experience has been very disappointing.

[Robert Massey @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

In fairness to Garmin, I have to ammend my previous comment about the Garmin 130. I talked to my other two team members about the radio performance of their units. While they did have some complaints about the Garmin 130, they were satisfied with the radio performance of their units. I am not and my complaints stand. I will be talking to Garmin about the problems I am having. Also it is worth mentioning I have had a Garmin Etrex GPS for years and it is a wonderful tool.

[Robert Scoville @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

My hunting buddy and I bought a pair of rhino 120's when they first came out. We had high hopes that we would no longer have to carry a radio and a separate GPS as we had up till then. Our hopes we dashed as we found out the radio portion of the rhinos are garbage. we still have to carry our motorola radios so we can talk to each other. The GPS portion of the rhino works just fine and the ability to transmit your location to another rhino has REALLY come in handy. For the record it only transmits location over the FRS and NOT over GMRS. I wish they had got together with Motorola when they decided to combined a radio and GPS. If any company can come out with one that both the GPS AND the radio work I will be right there to buy it as long as I can test it first. I'd like to here from anyone with the new 520 or 530 to know if they have cured the radio problem yet.

[Gary @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Like the user before my buddy and I purchased two Rhino 120's for hunting. We too were very diapointed with the radio. I contacted Garmin to see if there was any way to cure this problem and their response was, we are in the GPS business not the radio business!!!! Curious! I too would be very interested in hearing from anyone who has purchased and tested the new 530. The concepte is great but if it dosen't work, what good is it!

[Tim @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

I want to see all brand of walkie talkies When I go to YaHoo & Ask "All pics of brands of walkie talkies" I'm out of walmart site because appearently they are unable to show all of them availible. If you want me to possible come back to look do what I ask & hopfully for you I have bought one yet. Tim

[Peter @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Ive had 2 Rhino 130's for about a year for my family and the radio's seem to work fine for us. Garmin has recieved a waiver from the fcc so you do NOT need a license to operate. I would like to try the 530 for both a better display (Color) and farther radio signal (now 5 watts~12 miles) and hopefully better battery life. The 530 comes with a lithium rechargeable but I dont know if you can carry standered for spares?

[Mark @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Normally, GMRS radios may not send coded data of any kind, so Garmin needed a waiver from the FCC to send encoded GPS location data via the GMRS channels. They did NOT receive a waiver to allow operation on GMRS channels without a license! So if you want to use GMRS frequencies with the Garmin or other GMRS radio, you still need an $80 license. But if you stick to FRS channels only, you do not need a license.

[bill @ Jan 27th 2008 3:41AM]

I have no problem transmitting location on any frequency with the 530. But, I do have a problem with the radio. Sometimes when I transmit the screen goes blank and i have to turn the unit off and then back on to get my screen back. Has anyone had this problem?