Garmin Oregon 550T 3-Inch Handheld GPS Navigator with 3.2MP Digital Camera (U.S. Topographic Maps) Product Reviews
Good but not perfect,
July 27, 2009
After using the 550t for several weeks, I find the unit good but not perfect. It still has some issues, one of which I have been in touch with Garmin over. The main issue I have is it will periodically corrupt the track file and stop showing the tracks on the map or allowing for elevation plots on the tracks. The only way to clear it is to attach the unit to a computer and replace the track file with a new one from the computer.
The compass sometimes loses it’s way and needs to be recalibrated.
I have not had an issue with the accuracy under tree cover, that some have reported, but I have had a few tracks that were not 100% accurate. Walking on known roads, it will be several 100 feet off in some cases. I am not sure if this is an issue with the preloaded Topo 2008 maps, or the unit’s accuracy.
I love the camera and the tagging of each photo.
For a new unit, it is not bad, but it still shows a few rough edges.
Just an update – After comparing the tracks for accuracy, I found it was the 2008 Topo maps that were off. When superimposed over the City Navigator NT 2009 Street maps, the 550t was dead on. So the accuracy concerns I have are shifted from the 550t itself to the topo maps it comes loaded with.
Mixed Blessings in an attractive package,
September 7, 2009
Having “played” with this device for few weeks now, i’m still not convinced it was worth the money.
Mostly there’s the trust issue, I’m not entirely sure I can trust it. I’ve repeatedly lost waypoints. I feel REALLY naked without a fix point of where I parked my truck and I’d like to be able to get a fix to the last waypoint, which works fine as long as you have the waypoint. If you loose the waypoint, you are well, kind of lost. Seems like the only reliable waypoint you can have (at least I haven’t lost one yet) is to take a picture. Problem is that taking pictures burns batteries even quicker and batterylife is a real issue with this device. real issue. waas off, compass off, back light low and time out set to a few seconds, you still burn batteries FAST. and what is worse is that it is more like catastrophic failure than a slow decline, one moment you have 5 bars of battery and the next, its panic time. Not sure I understand this, what I do understand is that lithium batteries are kind of pricey. Forget the nihm batteries that comes with the device,I’ve no good experiences with those. If you are going anywhere without paved roads and cell coverage be sure to bring an 8 pack of lithium batteries, may just save theday. Also, bring a back up device, if I haven’t been there before I save the truck’s location on the Nuvi and bring that too, then I pull out the nuvi and save a waypoint occasionally. That has saved me before and seems 100% reliable. The oregon ? not so much.
Back to the waypoints,I’ve had TWO issues with waypoints, one of which I opened a ticket for (with Garmin) and another one I’m just going to wonder about,I can’t reproduce it at will. Occasionally when you save the current track the waypoints dissapear. Garmin suggested I do a device reset. Has happened twice after that. The other issue is probably even worse, save a waypoint, just tag it with the default name (an incrementing number#, 1 for the first, 2 for the second and so on.. then find out that while the counter incremented you have NO waypoints saved. Thank goodness I found that out in a place I’ve been before. And today it failed to connect to my lap top. Had to do another device reset. YAY!
Its a pretty device though, and it feels good in the hand, has real potential if they fix the issues. I really DO like the waypoint function, it is by far the easest, fastest waypoint save around, just fix the reliability issues. That has got to be a software issue.
ONE feature I REALLY like: the trip timer, very addictive.
Oregon great for geocaching, but not perfect,
August 22, 2009
Got my Oregon 550T approximately a month ago and have been completely reinvigorated to go geocaching. No more route planning, reviewing logs and printing out all of the potential locations to visit. All GPX files on [...]which are easily downloaded and updated (with premium membership).
Screen is still somewhat difficult to read in direct sunlight unless you have the backlight on fairly high which limits the batteries, but one observation I made the other day, it is nearly impossible to see with polarized sunglasses. I checked this out with my Vista C as well and it was still somewhat difficult with the glasses, but not as bad as the Oregon.
Took it ATV riding last weekend and it was GREAT for that as well. Topo’s really helped in the back woods and paths as well as the tagged pictures allowing for a quick Google Earch overlay of our route and pictures of the trip! Truely a unique way to record your trips!
I would highly recommend if you are new to geocaching as it makes it so much easier, as well as for hiking and biking as you can keep your camera at home for basic pictures. But I would NOT recommend this if you are looking for a vehicle GPS. I love my Nuvi and am obviously a Garmin fan, but this one would miss the mark in a car.
A GPS I can trust,
February 19, 2010
I have suffered over handheld, off-road GPS for a long time. I tried a Oregon 400t which has many features in common with the 550t but the difficulty seeing the screen and the 2 axis compass made it difficult for me. Prior to that I had a Deloreme which was completely unreliable.
Pros
I found The 550t to be completely reliable when I needed it.
Satellites were picked up almost instantly.
The 3 axis compass and waypoints got me back to where I needed to go while cutting trails in the snow. (I certainly would have had trouble getting back without it)
Amazon price very good. You can find it a bit cheaper but Amazon is so reliable… And with 1 day shipping.
Battery life was a LOT better than expected based on some of the prior reviews. Not sure if this is due to newer firmware or what. But I used it for 10 hours with the included rechargeable batteries including taking a few pictures and was still able to use it for another 6 hours a few days later without recharging, and without hitting red on the battery gauge.
Cons
The user interface is still a little clunky, having to traverse so many screens, but much better with the addition of the dashboards.
The PC software, basepoint and others seem inadequate for managing tracks and waypoints… I started using EXPERTGPS which is for sale on the Internet instead.
Still some difficulty reading the screen in bright sunlight but a lot more usable than the 400t
I had hoped the lat / long would be superimposed on pictures but it was only stored in the file properties
UPDATE:
This thing is so good at picking up signal… I tried to turn it on and NOT get signal (saving a track) I hid out in a bathroom in the center of the house with no windows. Still got full signal in seconds. My old GPS wouldnt pickup a signal in the house even near a window.
My wife has a hard time seeing the screen in the sun. While it is not the brightest I can see it.
PS I also tried a Delorean pn-40 after the guy at REI raved about it. I returned it 12 hours later when I found the 3 axis compass varied by 45 degrees or so, spinning while being held stable… I had previously sworn I would never buy another Delorean. I was righter than the REI store guru.
Never lost…,
September 20, 2009
I just recently got my 550t as a replacement for a Colorado 400t. The topo maps are the same, the user interface is similar, but that is where it stops. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed the Colorado, but REI doesn’t carry it anymore. On to the Oregon. I love it. It is the simplest piece of electronic equipment I own (and I own an electric razor). I have not had the problems that other users seem to have had. It works great in all conditions, and mine works well under trees (light-medium). I think the geotagging feature with pictures is awesome. I have already used it to ensure I could get back to the exact same mud puddle in my Jeep. Speaking of vehicles, I also installed City Navigator for North America. The Oregon works seamlessly with the map-set, and directions are almost perfect. I guess my only suggestion would be to allow me to have a picture of a Jeep instead of an arrow when I am driving like you can do in the dedicated auto GPSr’s. Anywhoo, a great little unit, kinda pricey, but well worth the money, in my opinion.
One year after,
August 29, 2010
I have owned the Oregon 550T for a year now and I think I have used every of its most important features, accessories and software. My overall rating is that there is room for improvement, its accessories are very expensive but it is one of the top hiking GPS products compared to others. There is so much stuff that can be reviewed so I’ll try to cover purchasing decision factors and how-to tips that I think will be valuable for the ones looking for real and tested decision information.
- ACCURACY: I have used my Oregon mostly in the Shenandoah, VA area and have done hiking in South America as well. One point in behalf of the Oregon is its ability to quickly pick satellite reception and pinpoint your location. I have noticed though that when you drastically change your location, let’s say North American vs. South America, the GPS will need more time to discover the satellites in that area, but after that, it reconnects quickly.
One not pleasant detail is that even when you walk back and forth over the same trail and spot, the GPS shows your tracks several feet apart. The accuracy of the GPS from my measurements is around 25 feet and often more. You may want to remember this when hiking and trying to find the trail the GPS tells you is there. You may find it 25 feet “around” you and not exactly in the direction the GPS is telling you it is. I think its accuracy requires improvement.
Initially I thought this is a problem in my GPS so I contacted Garmin’s support and I was told basically what I suspected. The accuracy is not 2 or 3 feet but a whole lot more. I think is not too different to a car GPS in this regards. I also found that once you tap on the satellite signal in the GPS it will provide you the GPS accuracy which often displays a number between 30 and 49. To me this is something that requires urgent improvement. The mission of a GPS is ultimately let you know where your trails are, not providing accurate information is failing to its basic mission.
- MAPS AND PRELOADED MAP: The Oregon 550T comes preloaded with the US Topo 100K. This is a very low detail map. My experience tells me that many well-known park trails are missing, camp information is missing and basic routes are missing as well. It is just an awfully basic, high level map. I felt very disappointed to know that my over 500+ bucks didn’t give me anything better so I contacted Garmin regarding this. I wanted something with more details so they kindly recommended me to get the Garmin Topo US 24K DVD for my area (Southeast DVD) which is $129.99 or an BirdsEye imagery subscription for one year (more about this last one later in my review) but they require of purchasing an additional microSD Card. Expenditures continue.
- ADDITIONAL CARD: Technical support told me that the maximum microSD card supported by the Oregon 550t is 4GB so I got one. Make sure to review the microSD card speed before you buy it. There are several speeds, make sure to get the fastest possible to make sure uploading and downloading data doesn’t becomes mission impossible. Installation of the card is hassle free and it got it in quickly. There is very little you can do with the card and the GPS alone if you don’t have the necessary software tools to move maps around with your GPS. I’ll talk about that later in my review.
- OTHER MAPS, DVDS OR CARDS OR WHAT: If you have been browsing Garmin’s website you may have noticed an interesting assortment of products. They have the same maps in several formats: DVD, microSD and download. I contacted support and ask them what format is more convenient and why. Michael S from their technical team gave me this great answer: “Thank you for contacting Garmin International. I would be happy to assist you with this. For most of our maps there are typically 3 options: Getting a disk, doing the download or getting the preprogrammed data card. When you get the disk you have these on both the computer and the unit. You can load these Topo maps onto as many Garmin mapping handhelds that you own since it is not a locked product. With the preprogrammed data card, the maps are just on the card. They cannot be viewed on the computer unless the Oregon is plugged in and Basecamp is running. They also cannot be backed up. It can be put into any Garmin unit that accepts microSD/SD cards as it is not locked to a particular unit, but it can only be in one unit at one time. With the downloadable content, it is downloaded directly to your microSD card. The map can be backed up on the computer, but it cannot be viewed on the computer unless the Oregon is plugged in and Basecamp is running. The map is also locked to the unit you downloaded it to, and cannot be viewed in any other Garmin unit. As for the DVD version of the 24k Mid-Atlantic, the DVD is still forthcoming and will include both the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions. The part number for the DVD is 010-11319-00 and will be $129.99. If you have any other questions, please let me know. “
Well, as you can see from this answer you better get the DVD. If you have not purchased the GPS, you may want to plan on adding 130 bucks to your budget if you are planning to hike places you are not familiar with because the preloaded US Topo 100K is too high level.
- THE CAMERA AND DIGITAL ZOOM: When I read that the Oregon can geotag pictures with the location of the shot I got excited. For a minute I was thinking the camera can imprint this information in the picture itself like many digital cameras can do with the date/time stamp. I was wrong, there isn’t such thing as that. When you take pictures, information is recoded and kept in the GPS. You can download the pictures using BaseCamp and then upload the pictures to an album in Picassa, and then when you click the picture, geolocation information will be displayed in a text field but not in the picture. I think there is misleading information here, this is what Garmin claims in their website: “Each photo is geotagged automatically with the location of where it was taken”. Instead it should say: “Geolocation information is saved in the GPS every time you take a picture. No photo geolocation stamp is available”.
Well, aside this fiasco, I find the GPS camera not to be that incredible, just a little phone-like camera without real zoom or wide angle. It will take pictures but any other digital camera will be able to do a better job.
- SUN LIGHT READABILITY: I have been hiking at sunlight and under the forest. I prefer to create a little shade to better read the Oregon. I believe that still you can read it under sunlight. Yes it is not going to be incredible clear but what can be brighter that direct sunlight? The screen can be read better under shady conditions but can handle sunlight well enough to keep you moving and oriented.
- TOUCH SCREEN: The touch screen is really nice. It feels a little like an iPhone. You can tap on the icons and move the screens from side to side, reorganize the icons and move around. You also have buttons to do exactly the same so you can choose.
- DURABLE AND WATERPROOF: The unit is impressively light and it seems rugged but I don’t have any plans of testing its durability any further. I just feel that messing with a very expensive toy like this doesn’t meet the requirements of my curiosity. The unit also claims to be waterproof and I have seen some demos in YouTube where the unit is operated under the water. Well, the unit connects to a PC using a USB cable and the connector is at the bottom of the device. A little cap is all what will prevent your unit from getting wet. I’m positive the unit will endure some exposure to rain and hopefully will survive a fall to a river. Make sure to keep the USB connector cap well adjusted.
- DOWNLOADING DATA – MAPSOURCE: So you went for your first hike and you recorded your tracks in your GPS. But how do you download this data to your computer? The answer is MapSource. In order to get MapSource installed you need to have a Garmin product previously installed. So install Training Center and then install MapSource. Just Google these names and the word `download’ to find them. They are available at Garmin’s website and thanks goodness they are free. With this software you can download data from your GPS and review the details of your tracks, modify titles, waypoints and so on. Then you can export your file as .GPX for future use or upload it to some websites. MapSource can compute the profile of your hike and other interesting data.
If you want to see your track in Google Maps or Earth, try using GPS Visualizer [...]. These cool guys created this program that allows importing GPX files into Google and presenting it all together. I also like [...], you can download your GPX data, it will process it and get your the ascent profile, speed, etc. Your GPX data will become available to anyone and you can download files for your GPS as well. Try this example: [...]
While trying to find a way to create my own maps I found TOPO! a National Geographic Product. You can create the topo maps of your hikes and print them out or get the PDF version of them and send them to your friends or just save them for future reference. TOPO! costs 50 bucks. The quality of the Topo maps is so bad but I couldn’t find anything better. I hope one day you can merge your GPX files with Google Earth in terrain mode in one tool. Google Earth is still the best Topo maps I have found.
The last tool I want to mention is EasyGPS, a nice small program that will allow you to download and upload GPX files to your GPS and browse the tracks on the screen. It allows some basic editing. I find MapSource a lot better.
- BIRDSEYE IMAGERY AND BASECAMP: For those places where real maps are not available, Garmin offers you the BirdsEye Imagery subscription. It is 30 bucks a year and it only works with one device. BirdsEye imagery is just satellite images (like Google Earth) that you can download to your GPS. BaseCamp is the software that will allow you to download imagery to your computer and create a library. From your library of images you can right click images and upload them to your device. In your device and while hiking they will look like an additional layer. It is nice if the areas you will be hiking don’t have a lot of trees. The quality of the images is good but if you plan on downloading a lot of them make sure to get the 4GB microSD and some patience. You cannot download large sections but tiny sections and one at the time.
- BATTERIES AND CHARGER: I’m glad I got a nice couple of rechargeable batteries and the charger in the box. No complains here, I charge the batteries the night before hiking and they last all day long easily. I haven’t noticed them drain out because of lack of use. They go strong for long periods of time.
So as you can see it is a very expensive device and although it has some deficiencies it is probably the best of its class. I have compared my Oregon to other GPS devices of fellow hikers and the Oregon seems to be better in many aspects, not perfect but just better.
Well I hope you found in this review enough information to make an educated decision. Happy hiking!
Just what I’d hoped for!,
June 3, 2010
I upgraded from a Garmin GPSMap76cs, which was an upgrade from an eTrex. Reviews of the Oregon 550t have been concerned about the brightness of the screen and about battery life. I don’t think either of these are problematic.
The Oregon’s screen is just about as bright as the 76cs ever was, and the batteries seem to last just as long if you’re not taking a bunch of pictures. I agree that taking photos runs the batteries down noticeably; but if you’re only taking one photo per cache, for example, you’ll not have any problem.
I like the size of the Oregon compared to both the 76cs and the eTrex. I like the touch screen a lot, as well as the ability to set up various profiles for various uses of the GPS. I added the auto kit so as to mount it on the windshield, as well as the 24K Topo map for my part of the country (with an 8 GB micro SD card) and an invisibleShield for the screen, and I’m altogether good to go!
The price isn’t bad compared to what I paid for the 76cs several years ago.
Best Garmin I’ve owned so far,
May 8, 2010
after using a 60C then 60CSX for the last several years, we upgraded to the Oregon 550t this year and totally LOVE it!! i’ve also owned a Nuvi 250 that i upgraded to a 260w and I use a Forerunner 205 for marathons. of all the garmins i’ve owned/used so far, this is the most user-friendly, and fastest. very easy to use for geocaching…you can view all the hints, logs and cache details on your device in the field where it really helps when you’re searching for that hard-to-find cache. even in the hands of our younger kids the touch screen is super user-friendly and easy to use. at the same time, i’m on our county’s Sheriff’s Search and Rescue ATV Posse, and this gps provides all the usefulness i could ever wish for. the tracking function is similar to other garmins and in the field i love the rugged waterproof feel and not having to worry if i drop it off my ATV in the mud. the satellite reception works great even in my basement surrounded by concrete and its super fast…locates your position is less than 15 seconds every time. camera works fine…picture quality is good…a flash would be nice but you dont miss it that much. i’ve been able to find some topo maps online available for download that are 24k instead of the 100k that Garmin includes, but it would be nice if Garmin included the 24k topo maps on the unit strait out of the box. the lanyard seems to be much stronger but i still dont trust lanyards. i’ve lost both of my gpsmap60s and had to backtrack looking for them in the past because the lanyard broke on one and the belt clip broke on the other…both while riding a horse and bouncing in the saddle a little. never had problems with either of them bouncing out of my ATV handlebar mount though. overall 5 stars and totally worth the price.
Oregon 550T,
April 27, 2010
The only negative with this GPS is that the user’s booklet doesn’t give very much information. The manual on disk is a “4″ on a scale of 1 to 5 (5 being the best). However, the GPS is easy to use and most of the menu items are pretty much self-explanatory. Having the TOPO maps included is a big plus. If you were to buy the more inexpensive 450T and have to buy the maps for various regions you could easily spend far more to have maps for the entire U.S. than what this device costs. The scale is acceptable, the contour intervals are not as good as a USGS map of course, but you do have the option to purchase more detailed map (at at least $99 a “pop”). I’ve found that I don’t really need that much detail. As a backpacker, I found setting a route using my own waypoints to be a great asset. I’ve also used this GPS for geocaching and it is pretty accurate. The camera is another plus, the detail is good enough unless you want to print an 8X10 photo. Downloading the photos was relatively simple and I was able to easily bring pictures into my Kodak Easyshare program as well as my Nikon program. Again as a backpacker I like to only take items with me that have more than one purpose (I use a frisbee as a dinner plate, but I have yet to find more than one use for my toothbrush). Anyway, I’m pleased with this GPS and reccommend it.
Garmin Oregon 550t I Love It!,
March 23, 2010
I just bought the latest Garmin Oregon 550t and so far it has been a great unit! I am, however, coming from having owned only one other GPS unit, a Lowrance unit purchased way back in 2000. Compared to my old Lowrance the Oregon 550t is GREAT! No more being stuck in a valley or under heavy cover and not being able to lock on. Easy to use, easy to see in bright sunlight and so far has proved to be very accurate. Also, super easy to hook up to my MacbookPro and load/download information. I am a missionary and live in the middle of the jungle in central Papua, Indonesia. (Formerly Irian Jaya) I need a reliable GPS unit for extensive hikes and survey to outlying villages and so far the Oregon 550t has proved to be everything it says it is. Great job Garmin!
Just some description of Garmin Oregon 550T 3-Inch Handheld GPS Navigator with 3.2MP Digital Camera (U.S. Topographic Maps) to you.
