yogazoo Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 (edited) Don't get the wrong idea. I'm in no way affiliated with these guys. I'm waiting to see some prices but the specs look decent. They even offer software to make your own maps using shapefiles. Could be interesting to watch. These guys aren't ready for prime time just yet. It just points o the greater horizon of a multitude of companies putting out low-cost (?) alternatives. Could be an abject disaster too but time will tell. Site Link: http://www.bhcnav.com/products.html Edited December 17, 2013 by yogazoo Quote Link to comment
Mr.Yuck Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 Chinese. And, according to their website (the "about us" page), they claim to have 40% of the Chinese hand held GPS market. They certainly would sell them cheaply to other parts of the world. How the heck did you hear about them? Apparently, a Geocacher from Finland got a hold of one, and wrote it's only review on Geocaching.com. Quote Link to comment
+Gitchee-Gummee Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 (edited) Actually, they have been around for a bit, but they are going "global" with their line now. I read about them a year or so ago and looked about through their website. At that time their market was (apparently) only in China -- no doubt, expecting to go global at some time. At that time, they did not have quite as many models (only one or two, if I remember correctly). Edited December 17, 2013 by Gitchee-Gummee Quote Link to comment
+Red90 Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 I've never seen a handheld GPS for sale in China. I've been there a dozen times and have kept my eyes open. Quote Link to comment
^up Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 (edited) Not interested in their products. I know many components even in American products are sourced from China, but Chinese sourced, produced and owned seem to be nothing but disaster, from the lead in children's toys to the cars that are pure death traps because they skimp on safety features. I'll try my best to support American made products and companies. Why I only buy New Balance for running shoes because they make them here in the United States (not all, but many). Edited December 17, 2013 by ^up Quote Link to comment
NordicMan Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 I've never seen a handheld GPS for sale in China. I've been there a dozen times and have kept my eyes open. From what I've read I thought GPS usage in China isn't a commonly allowed thing especially for foreigners. Kinda the same like in Cuba. Quote Link to comment
+Red90 Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 I've never seen a handheld GPS for sale in China. I've been there a dozen times and have kept my eyes open. From what I've read I thought GPS usage in China isn't a commonly allowed thing especially for foreigners. Kinda the same like in Cuba. Nothing I've heard of before. I usually have one in my carry on and have been search. You see automotive ones quite a bit. Quote Link to comment
Fangamon Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 The GUI on Garmins is so awful anything will easily beat them if the noobs incorporate good usability! Quote Link to comment
+Walts Hunting Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 I don't see any touch screens there which puts them at least one generation behind Garmin's GUI which I love. Quote Link to comment
+K4NNW Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 They list them as USB and NMEA 0183 compatible... IF they are truly NMEA compatible, the APRS crowd (myself included) will love these things. Quote Link to comment
^up Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 The GUI on Garmins is so awful anything will easily beat them if the noobs incorporate good usability! I prefer them. Granted I am coming from outdoor sports other than geocaching, but Garmin is superior IMO. Quote Link to comment
+gpsblake Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 Wouldn't surprise me if they are more shopping for a distributor to rebrand them such as a Lowrance or a Magellan????? Quote Link to comment
Fangamon Posted December 27, 2013 Share Posted December 27, 2013 I'm hoping that they scare Garmin enough to force Garmin to beta test in house before releases are made.. ..in short, more competition always brings better products! Quote Link to comment
Dr Jeckyl and Mr Hide Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 I've never seen a handheld GPS for sale in China. I've been there a dozen times and have kept my eyes open. From what I've read I thought GPS usage in China isn't a commonly allowed thing especially for foreigners. Kinda the same like in Cuba. Nothing I've heard of before. I usually have one in my carry on and have been search. You see automotive ones quite a bit. My wife bought me a DVD about a couple of Canadians on BMW motorcycles doing a ride around China and in the first episode they mention how difficult it was for them to get anything to do with GPS there. Google "The Middle Kingdom Ride". Quote Link to comment
Fangamon Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 (edited) Rand McNally GPS http://www.randmcnally.com/product/foris-850 Rand McNally Foris 850 GPS Has Built-In Contour Maps and Voice Directions According to their rep, Rand McNally is already #1 in truck and car GPS systems; now they are entering the competitive outdoor GPS market with the Foris GPS. They gave us an in-depth demonstration, and we were impressed. For one thing, contour maps of the entire US, including special features like roads and trails and special interest sites, are already in the GPS – no cumbersome and expensive downloading of desired maps from a website like other products force you to do. Navigation is by touch screen and very user friendly. A special feature is the ability to offer localized hiking, biking, or driving options for the amount of time and energy you have available. The screen is very sharp and the unit responds quickly. And this one will provide voice directions, if desired, just like a car GPS. This is all very impressive for a brand new product. Weight is 8.15 ounces and MSRP is $400. Edited January 13, 2014 by Odourless Quote Link to comment
Pacific NW Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 (edited) I will forego any Chinese GPS, but this is an interesting development. While it probably would be fine for casual use, I certainly wouldn't want to be the person relying on a Chinese-made GPS product for any sort of critical application, such as aviation or maritime navigation. As mentioned prior, hopefully this encourages Garmin to raise the bar a little bit. We are seeing this same thing play out in the amateur / ham radio arena as well. Lots of cheap radios flowing in from China. Some better than others, but nothing I would want to bet my life on. Edited January 16, 2014 by Pacific NW Quote Link to comment
Mr.Yuck Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 I actually did a blog post about these units a few weeks ago. However, for reasons I can't get into, I don't think I'd be allowed to link to it. However, if you google "mr.yuck geocaching" you can probably find it. I attempted to contact them twice (in English of course), but they never responded. But I went ahead and did the blog post anyways. They obviously went out of their way to make that English website, and there is speculation in the GPS blogosphere they want to enter the American market, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Anyone have any idea who makes those handheld units for Rand McNally? Or where they're manufactured? Quote Link to comment
insig Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 I actually did a blog post about these units a few weeks ago. However, for reasons I can't get into, I don't think I'd be allowed to link to it. However, if you google "mr.yuck geocaching" you can probably find it. I attempted to contact them twice (in English of course), but they never responded. But I went ahead and did the blog post anyways. They obviously went out of their way to make that English website, and there is speculation in the GPS blogosphere they want to enter the American market, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Anyone have any idea who makes those handheld units for Rand McNally? Or where they're manufactured? The Rand McNally Foris 850 is a rebranded Falk Lux series device. Quote Link to comment
Mr.Yuck Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 I actually did a blog post about these units a few weeks ago. However, for reasons I can't get into, I don't think I'd be allowed to link to it. However, if you google "mr.yuck geocaching" you can probably find it. I attempted to contact them twice (in English of course), but they never responded. But I went ahead and did the blog post anyways. They obviously went out of their way to make that English website, and there is speculation in the GPS blogosphere they want to enter the American market, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Anyone have any idea who makes those handheld units for Rand McNally? Or where they're manufactured? The Rand McNally Foris 850 is a rebranded Falk Lux series device. Ah, very interesting! We could very well see these Chinese units rebranded as well. Or we may never see them. They are indeed low-end units, with no touch screen, and only their top of the line model has an electronic compass. Quote Link to comment
+gpsblake Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 Foris down to $128 on amazon now, after starting off at $399 Complete contour maps, spoken turn by turn directions, paperless caching, storage for 7,000 geocaches, electronic compass, altimeter I just got a Garmin 62s and own too many units now but this seems to be to good of a deal to pass up. There has to be a downside. Quote Link to comment
+geodarts Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 Foris down to $128 on amazon now, after starting off at $399 Complete contour maps, spoken turn by turn directions, paperless caching, storage for 7,000 geocaches, electronic compass, altimeter I just got a Garmin 62s and own too many units now but this seems to be to good of a deal to pass up. There has to be a downside. Perhaps this review covers the downside. Quote Link to comment
+splashy Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 I've seen so many beautiful looking 'boxes' last couple of years, until now they all disappeared and remember if it looks to good to be true.... Quote Link to comment
+Kolenka Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 (edited) Is that... Windows Mobile 6 on the larger devices? Really? Edited March 31, 2014 by Kolenka Quote Link to comment
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