Reviews of the Garmin Foretrex 401

Real Reviews Submitted by Real Users!

An Obvious Successor of the Foretrex 101.  I have to say that the Foretrex 101 works excellently even after 5 years of use.  Unfortunately it uses a serial port rather than a USB connection, whereas the 401 boasts a highly useful USB interface.  I really cannot say that I have found the 401 disappointing in the least.  I can only hope that it will be just as reliable as my trusty Foretrex 101 has been.

Since both the Foretrex 101 and 401 are worn on the wrist they are great for hikers, climbers, cyclists, etc. in fact anyone who has experienced difficulties with hand-held GPS units.  For novices the user interface takes some getting used to but once understood it really impresses you with its capabilities.  It uses AAA batteries which means that it really is not a bother to simply change them when necessary.  If you love GPS then this compact unit is a must.

The Garmin Foretrex 401 as a Replacement.  When my Magellan Explorist failed to boot I bought the 401 as a replacement.

I soon found that it was much quicker to use when removed from the packaging and acquired satellites and position speedily.  The accuracy appears superior also.

As is to be expected the compass doesn't function perfectly but for basic operations such as geotagging photos it is suitable.  It might need occasional calibration.

Using Maha Powerex 1000s batteries translates into approximately sixteen hours even with the light on for six of them.  Even older batteries with hundreds of hours used still rendered about three hours of use.

Considering my use of this unit I find that the lack of mapping capabilities is not a problem especially considering the convenience of the smaller size.

When it comes to storing information this is limited and I was only able to store 9 track-logs of 20 miles (about 2 hours) each.

The .gpx file opens easily in GeoSetter.

Although critics refer to less than perfect documentation I personally find it simple to use.

The Foretrex 101 and the Foretrex 401 may appear similar but they really are quite different.  Whereas satellite acquisition was slow with the 101 the 401 is very fast.  Unlike the 101 that uses watch pins on the strap the 401 uses screws.  The battery life definitely is superior to those that came before it.  I happen to work in a business that requires fast grid location and the 401 certainly does not disappoint and there is no need to leave the GPS on constantly.  It takes just thirty seconds to pinpoint your location.  Without a doubt this is a great product and gets two thumbs up.

MGRS is Fantastic.  Knowing how many miles have been covered is a great feature.  Although somewhat bulky it can be worn on a loop or something similar however this means you run the risk of damage or even loss of the unit.

When it comes to fans of 13 series this device will give you mils also as well as elevation.  For the forward observer this is superb.

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