Garmin RINO 120
Manufacturer: Garmin Part number: RINO120
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Spend the extra money for the RINO 120; it's all you'll ever need in a navigation/communication device.
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Where to buy
| store | customer rating | inventory | tax & shipping | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.com Marketplace |  | In stock | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 11/07/2009 |
CNET editors' review
Garmin RINO 120 price range: $185.00
- Reviewed by: John R. Delaney
- Reviewed on: 06/02/2003
The good: Strong GPS and radio performance; rugged design; reasonably priced; extra memory and applications.
The bad: Small buttons; sensitive Click Stick; no low-battery alarm.
The bottom line: Spend the extra money for the RINO 120; it's all you'll ever need in a navigation/communication device.
Done up in an olive-green-and-black-rubber casing, the RINO 120 ($268 list price) has a 12-channel GPS receiver, as well as 14 FRS and 8 GMRS (5-mile range) channels with 38 squelch (privacy) codes. It's also waterproof for up to half an hour in one meter of water. Sharing space with the PTT and Call buttons on the left side of the unit, the Page button is used to cycle through the main radio, navigation, and trip computer pages. On the front of the RINO sits the Click Stick, a volume button, and a zoom button, all three of which are just a tad too small for the average user. We found the Click Stick, which moves the cursor in four directions when choosing main menu items or entering text, to be a little too sensitive. However, this is a minor flaw in an otherwise well-designed product.
Like the 110, the RINO 120 can store up to 500 waypoints and 20 tracks, as well as 50 contacts from other users for peer-to-peer positioning, wherein each user has a unique personalized icon and ID that allows fellow RINO users to beam their location to each other via an FRS channel so that they can track each other's location during communication. The GPS receiver is WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) enabled for enhanced accuracy, and the 120 includes a hunt/fish calculator, a stopwatch, an alarm clock, a sun/moon calculator, and a page with four team-oriented games.
The main difference between the 120 and the step-down 110 are the extras included with the 120. You get built-in Americas Highways and Marine Point Database maps, plus 8MB of memory for storing data from one of several optional MapSource CDs, including Fishing Hot Spots, BlueChart marine maps, MetroGuide, and Topo maps. The 120 includes a vibrate-alert option and a voice scrambler for extra security when communicating with other users of the same model.
In an urban setting, both the FRS and GMRS radio functions performed as expected, giving us a clear signal within a 1- and 3-mile range, respectively. Out on the water, the FRS range topped out at 1.8 miles according to our boat's navigation system, while the GMRS range held steady at 3 miles before communications became garbled. It's important to note that the 2- and 5-mile claims for FRS and GMRS radios are maximum ranges that are rarely obtained due to atmospheric and geographical conditions.
The RINO's GPS functionality was typical of Garmin products; it took less than a minute to acquire a 3D satellite lock and even maintained a strong signal while driving in a car. Whether roaming the streets of Manhattan or cruising the waterways of Long Island, we were able to pinpoint our location as well as that of a fellow RINO user. We particularly liked the Find N' Go feature, which lets you instantly locate the nearest cities, service exits, and other RINO users, as well as addresses, intersections, and points of interest when used with a detailed MapSource map. The RINO uses three AA alkaline cells (not included) or an optional rechargeable nickel-metal-hydride battery pack. We tested the radios with alkaline batteries, getting a little more than 14 hours of continuous use before the battery meter registered zero and the radio quit on us; a low-battery alarm would be nice.
User reviews
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We love it!
Pros:
Cons:
Summary: Coming from a Military application point of view, the Rino 120 is the cats meow! It adds an additional layer of communication for low comsec level communicating of mundain coordinations, ...
Summary: Coming from a Military application point of view, the Rino 120 is the cats meow! It adds an additional layer of communication for low comsec level communicating of mundain coordinations, we found that when a group of leaders needs a shorter response time to commo delays normally encountered, the 120 filled the gap fine. Along with driving in the Iraqi desert, having a small, lightweight GPS and emergency commo adds an extra sence of ability. Ask Garmin where most of their sales have been lately, you'll find that it's were it counts most, and we thank them for continuing to improve on a great idea.
10 out of 10 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great Multi-use tool
Pros:
Cons:
Summary: At first I was upset that you had to scream into the mic for the other person to hear you. Garmin website now has a software update to allow adjustment ...
Summary: At first I was upset that you had to scream into the mic for the other person to hear you. Garmin website now has a software update to allow adjustment of internal mic sensistivity. Works great now. GPS works great, accuracy as far to 10 feet.
5 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Garmin does it again!
Pros:
Cons:
Summary: The Rino 120 has more features than I know what to do with and all packed into a small size. I was expecting the Rino 120 to be larger due ...
Summary: The Rino 120 has more features than I know what to do with and all packed into a small size. I was expecting the Rino 120 to be larger due to the fact of all the features but I was proved wrong. The radio functions are clear and concise. The GPS functions are also good. The only complaint I have is that the small toggle button is very cumbersome to use and it took me a while to get used to it. But other than that one complaint - this has to be one of the best 'gadget' purchases I've made lately. Recommend! A+
5 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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All you'll ever need for a GPS and FRS radio
by JonAdsit on September 29, 2009
Pros: well worth the price you pay
Cons: not as powerful as the latest versions in connecting with satelites
Summary: I've worked with Search and Rescue for five years now and i've worked with this gps the whole time. Even though it's been perfected through the later ...
Summary: I've worked with Search and Rescue for five years now and i've worked with this gps the whole time. Even though it's been perfected through the later models this GPS/FRS does everything you'll need it for. The one drawback is the satellite reception is not as good as the more expensive models. Even in the back woods and thick brush in the wilderness as long as you find a reasonable clear spot in the woods you'll get service. I know from experience that you should never be looking down and follow the arrow your GPS gives you. Even on the most advanced GPS it could get you lost. Instead have a topographical map and a good compass that you can adjust your declination. Use the GPS for finding your location and determining your direction of travel. Knowing that you can follow that exact direction of travel on your compass and confirm where you're going by identifying features on your topographical map. Map and Compass never lets you down in the wilderness if you know what your doing, something no GPS can do.
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great hunting/hiking GPS
by speedsicks on July 16, 2009
Pros: gps works great, radio is great for group hunting, can track friends locations and talk to them. makes working as a team possible visually as well as audibly. rugged, waterproof, never had a problem.
Cons: wish it came with USB cable, even though you can buy one. also wish it came with a rechargable battery pack, or atleast a vehicle power adapter. overall small cons for such a neat product. monochrome screen..well thats my fault for being cheap
Summary: great function, gps radio work very well, what more could you ask for for under $300?
Summary: great function, gps radio work very well, what more could you ask for for under $300?
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I went thru 3 120's from Cabela's
Pros: ease of use, great little screen, great idea of the features!
Cons: to locate buddy only works on FRS..not GMRS, I had problems with the radio transmitting on ALL 3 UNITS (1, I got a loud horn like sound, 2 would not transmit more then 100 yards, 3 would not transmit at all...... I sent ALL 3 back and emailed Garmin. All
0 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great GPS, poor radio
Pros: GPS reception and features are great.
Cons: The audio quality is the lowest of any FRS radio I have used. The poor quality of the radio function makes the Rino an simply an oversized GPS. The concept of GPS tracking of other Rino users is great, but the radio is limited by the FCC in that GPS loc
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Can't understand audio
Pros: Nice concept, ruggerd design easy to use.
Cons: Audio almost useless, Range rating not even close, (I tested on open water no obstructions), software freezes and batteries need to be pulled to reset. Try doing that out on a kayak on the ocean. Hope they just make them work like they claim
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Great Piece of Gear!
Pros: I use it for military field op's and it works great. I use it to locate and comunicate with my platoon of vehicles. It makes communication and orginization of the platoon easy! It gets wet and doesn't break! The radios have a scan function so I can hear
Cons: Radio range is OK but not the best
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radio so weak
Pros: Good GPS (but there are so many others - I use the Garmin 12XL)
Cons: The radio - I bought the unit so I wouldn't have to carry both a GPS and a radio when I enter the woods alone in hunting season...now I leave the RINO 120 at home and take my Motorola and 12XL. And, yes, I did read the manual. Great idea, poor product = a
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Garmin
- Part number: RINO120
- Description: The Rino 120 is state-of-the-art GPS navigation and two-way communications combined, with enough memory to download detailed mapping for driving, hiking, hunting, fishing - or just about anything else you can dream up. It's waterproof and can "beam" your exact location to another Rino user within a two-mile range (on the FRS spectrum) using "Position Reporting". The radio functionality of the Rino 120 provides two-way communications for up to two miles (using FRS channels), and you can talk to friends or family who own conventional FRS radios. There's also a voice scrambler and a vibration mode for silent calls. PRODUCT FEATURES: Channels: 22 (1-14 FRS, 15-22 GMRS); Squelch codes: 38; Range: Up to 2 miles on FRS channels; 5 miles on GMRS; Modes: Channel scan with programmable scan list; channel monitor; Call tones: 10 call and ring tones, 4 roger tones; VOX: External Voice Activation with sensitivity selection; Other features: Alarm, calculator, calendar, clock, lap timer, stopwatch, and games.
General
- Width 2.3 in
- Depth 1.6 in
- Height 4.5 in
- Weight 8.3 oz
Acquisition Times
- Cold acquisition times 45 sec
- Warm acquisition times 15 sec
GPS System
- Recommended Use Hiking
- Receiver 12 channel
- SBAS WAAS
- DGPS DGPS ready
- Accuracy Position - 15 m, Velocity - 0.05 m/sec, Position - 3 - 5 m ( With DGPS ), Velocity - 0.05 m/sec ( With DGPS ), Position - 3 m ( With WAAS ), Velocity - 0.05 m/sec ( With WAAS )
- Update Rate 1/second
- Grids UPS, UTM, Lat/Lon, Loran TDs, Maidenhead
- Connectivity Serial
- Interface NMEA 0183, RTCM SC-104 DGPS
- Antenna External
- Features Downloadable POIs
- Built-in Memory 8 MB
- Maps Included USA, Canada
- Software Included Garmin Americas Highway Basemap, Garmin Marine Point Database (Americas)
- Compatible GPS Software MapSource BlueChart, MapSource MetroGuide, MapSource Fishing Hot Spots
Navigation
- Waypoints 500
- Navigation tracks 20
- Navigation routes 20
- Trip computer Trip timer, Average speed, Maximum speed, Trip distance, Sunrise/sunset times
Built-in Display
- Type LCD
- Color Support Monochrome
Connections
- Connector Type Serial - RS-232
Battery
- Battery size AA type
- Battery required qty 3
- Mfr estimated battery life 28 hour(s)
Miscellaneous
- Included GPS accessories PC cable, Belt clip, Wrist strap
- Waterproof Yes
- Waterproof standard IPX7
Product series
Manufacturer info
- Garmin
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Garmin products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.garmin.com
- Address:
1200 E. 151st St, Olathe, KS - Phone: 913-397-8200
- Fax: 913-397-8282
