The Garmin Edge 305 GPS with Cadence Speed Sensor puts the “fun” in functional and when you choose it, you are getting a great ridealong partner to help you take your cycling to the next level. It provides state-of-the-art technology and it is rather good-looking too. It has a sleek look and easy-to-read display so you will never be embarassed to be seen with it.

As your partner in fitness, the Edge 305 works to help you achieve your personal best. Certainly, you do well on your own, but we all can use a little help.

Edge 305 comes packaged with a heart rate monitor and a speed / cadence sensor. These wireless sensors use ANT technology to send valuable workout data to the Edge.
Here are more reasons why you should bring the Garmin Edge 305 along for the ride:

Two- way Relationship The Edge 305 provides you with the information you need and also records information about your pedaling cadence and wheel speed. You can use it to train indoors as well as out of doors because the sensor can be attached to your rear wheel.

Ever-alert The Edge 305 features a high-sensitivity receiver that can retain a signal under a tree of near a tall building. The Auto Lap feature will automatically trigger a lap each time that you ride by a certain spot or cycle a pre-determined distance.

Racing Partner Those of you who get by with a little help from your friends (or enemies) will be glad to know that Edge 605 lets you race a virtual competitor.

Git along little doggies! In the not too distant future, a unique GPS device may help cowboys round up the herd. Now being tested at the government’s Jornada Experimental Range in southern New Mexico, the “Ear-A-Round” uses a GPS device to track and monitor a cow’s location and movements. A remote-controlled wireless headset transmits sounds directly into the cows’ ears, enabling cowboys to direct their movements from a distance. Researchers hope the device will allow ranchers and farmers to herd their cattle from afar, without hitting the dusty trail.

Developed in cooperation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the hat-like GPS device sits atop the cow’s head and is held in place by a “cap” with holes that fit over the cow’s ears. The units are powered by a small solar-energy panel affixed to the top of the rectangular device. About the size small shoebox, the odd looking “caps” make the test cows look like a herd that’s been invaded by Borg.

The purpose of the project is to improve animal distribution on the landscape to prevent overgrazing and animals overrunning sensitive areas. “It has the potential to give farmers a much finer control of pastures, finer management of where animals are and a better use of the land,” said Daniela Rus, MIT professor of electrical engineering and computer science. With the GPS device ranchers will be able to check on their herds by logging onto a computer. They’ll be able to direct them away from overgrazed pastures and into better food areas.

Researchers hope the devices will eventually enable techno cowboys to round up and herd cattle with the sound of their voice. USDA researcher Dean Anderson, a 30-year veteran of remote herding technology, has been working with the test herd, training them to respond to cowboy herding songs. If the project is a success, Anderson envisions a fenceless West with GPS technology keeping herds in a virtual paddock.

Gas prices have slid down a little and we all are so very grateful for this. But that doesn’t mean that gas still isn’t taking a bigger bite out of your wallet than it did last year. You still want to do what you can to limit costs. This is where GPS navigation come into play.

With a GPS navigation device you will, one daily basis, be taking the most efficient routes to your destinations. Of course you’ll see results immediately, and when you look at the cumulative effect of getting places quicker, without getting lost, you’ll have an even great appreciation for what a GPS can do for you. Little bits add up. Every wrong turn, every time you exit the highway at the wrong spot and have to get back on–these unnecessary actions utilize gas.

The most basic GPS devices will help you find the shortest route and now they come with even more advanced features to help you make that tank of gas last as long as possible. Some come equipped to access information on the way traffic patterns work in your area and help you avoid bottlenecks. Others allow users to input real-time traffic alerts, so that even unexpected traffic snags can be incorporated into your route.

A GPS navigation device like the TomTom ONE XL GPS Automotive Navigation System allows you to access traffic and weather information in real time. This is important because even with great directions, you can still hit s snag if everyone else is going where you are going.

Visit ActionGPS.com to see the TomTom One XL and other gas-saving GPS devices.

Call me a worrywart, but when my daughter and her roommate decided to hike the Vermont Trail, I insisted they take along the Garmin Rino GPS FRS/GMRS 2-way radio. They were planning a rugged week backpacking in the mountains of Vermont where the weather can change in an instant. It’s not unusual for afternoons to turn stormy and nights to drop to 40 degrees even in the dog days of August. But I was more concerned about the rugged terrain and my daughter’s relative lack of primitive camping experience. With a Garmin Rino GPS 2-way radio along, I figured they’d have a better chance of calling for help in an emergency.

The Vermont Trail is an ongoing volunteer project to build a multi-purpose four-season trail across Vermont. When completed it will make for comfortable hiking in the Vermont mountains. But it’s still a work in progress and, like the Appalachian Trail, in many places is no more than a deer path through the wild brush. My daughter had done some wilderness camping back in her college days and her roomie, a Vermont native, had hiked the Trail with friends as a teen; but that was years ago. Despite their assurances that they had everything under control, mom that I am, I envisioned crumbling rock ledges and vicious bear attacks. I felt much happier when they agreed to take the Rino along for the trip.

Weight is a big issue when you’re carrying all your supplies on your back, but at just 10.3 ounces, the Garmin Rino 520 HCx GPS 2-way radio didn’t weigh them down. They were able to add topographic and trail maps and plot their route to leave with friends. With the capacity to store 500 waypoints it was easy to mark overnight shelters, dangerous water areas and paths to nearby towns. With conservative use, the 14-hour battery life would see them through the mountains and safely home. The highly sensitive GPS receiver on the Rino 520 provides a whopping 5 watts of transmitting power, enough to locate your position even in heavy cover or deep canyons — and provide a 14-mile line-of-sight contact capability. In an emergency situation, I felt confident they’d be able to pinpoint their location and contact rescue teams.

Today is day 2 of their trek in the mountains and knowing they have the Garmin Rino GPS 2-way radio with them, I’m not really worried. (Well, not much anyway.)

Last month, a GPS navigation device helped a pilot and his wife to rescue a man who was near-death in Nevada’s Black Rock desert.

The pilot saw what appeared to be a person lying face down in the sand. This pilot was also a former police officer and he knew that people become stranded and die out in the desert. Still, he wasn’t certain that it really was a person. Unfortunately, pranksters can deter a Good Samaritan from helping because it is possible that no one needs help.

Still, the pilot decided to mark the spot where he saw the body as a waypoint on his Garmin GPS device. This helped the pilot later when the pilots wife saw some movement. She initially thought it was a dummy with clothes on. As it turns out, it was indeed a reala person who was in real need of medical attention.

You don’t have to have a story nearly this dramatic to appreciate the usefulness ofa GPS navigation device. A GPS device can help you get to where you need to go so that you do not end up stranded. A device that allows you to program points of interest (POIs) can keep track of favorite spots so you can spend your mental energy on other tasks.

Plus, a GPS device does not only have to be used to get you where you want to go in your car; it can get you where you want to go in ANY car. Think about it: you can get directional help no matter how you travel.

Visit ActionGPS.com to check out GPS devices made by Garmin and other manufacturers.

The Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx Portable Handheld Outdoor Color GPS is an exciting update of the GPSMAP 60CS. The GPSMAP 60CS was one of Garmin’s most sought-after GPS devices for outdoor and marine use and the 60CSx is just as popular.

The sturdy GPSMAP 60CSx is ready to go when you are. Garmin’s GPS devices for outdoor use are constructed to go with you wherever you go. When taking on Mother Nature, you need a GPS device that is to weather the elements.With its waterproof battery compartment, LED backlit display and built-in quad-helix receiving antenna, this unit is more than adequate for all of your outdoor and marine adventures.

Here are some of its great features:

-Built-in Americas autoroute basemap with automatic routing capabilities, including highways, exits, and tide data (U.S. only)
-Position formats include Lat/Lon, UTM, Loran TDs, Maidenhead, MGRS, user grid, and more
-Trip computer that provides odometer, stopped time, moving average, overall average, total time, max speed, and more
-Navigation instructions that can be shared with repeaters, plotters, and autopilots using NMEA protocols through the dedicated serial port
-10,000-point automatic track log; 20 saved tracks (500 points each) let you retrace your path in both directions
-Electronic compass and barometric altimeter

The Garmin 60CSx is a must-have for serious outdoor enthusiasts. This unit has a large color TFT display, which makes for comprehensive viewing. Your Garmin 60CSx will arrive with a blank 64 MB microSD card and you have option of getting new microSD cards. You can get new cards that come pre-loaded with MapSource Topo, inland lake maps, BlueChart marine cartography and City Navigator street maps.

Go the ActionGPS.com to purchase the Garmin 60CSx or another outdoor GPS device to guide you in your travels.

Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? The new ActionGPS Learning Center shows you how to easily convert your Bluetooth-enabled PDA or laptop into a GPS receiver. Except for the basic Bluetooth compatibility, no special equipment is required. All you need is a Bluetooth-enabled GPS receiver. Plug it into the serial port on your laptop or PDA and voila! — you have a functioning automotive or handheld GPS device. And, best of all, you pay no GPS service fee. Your only expense is the receiver.

This simple trick — one of many handy tips you’ll find at the new ActionGPS Learning Center – allows you to use your laptop to plan your next vacation, a cross-country road trip, even an international adventure. Using expansion slots, you can enhance your trip planning capabilities by adding useful maps and navigation aids. Take your GPS-enhanced PDA or laptop along on the trip for plotting spur-of-the-moment day trips and excursions to sight-seeing gems you learn about during your travels. The data logging function on the GPS receiver allows you to record your entire trip and mark new points of interest for return trips.

Of course with versatile, pocket-sized, Bluetooth GPS units on the market like Garmin’s Nuvi 360, you don’t have to lug a bulky laptop across country or through Europe. Navigator, translator, entertainer, tour guide — the Garmin Nuvi 360 is like having a personal travel agent in your pocket.

Wireless Bluetooth technology allows the Nuvi 360 to integrate with your compatible Bluetooth phone. Use the Nuvi’s touch screen keypad to dial calls. Answer calls by tapping the screen. The powerful built-in microphone and speaker allow you to talk hands-free and stay focused on the road. Handy one-touch dialing for points of interest allows you to call ahead for reservations or information effortlessly. Sleek and slim, Garmin’s Nuvi 360 fits comfortably into your pocket or purse and has a convenient rechargeable lithium-ion battery. You couldn’t ask for a better traveling companion!

Just the other day I saw an editorial cartoon that showed a couple in a car with a GPS navigation system that seemed unsure of how to point the driver in the right direction. In the word balloon, the system tells them to take and right and then tells them no it was really a right. And it gets worse—then the GPS device declares that it is most certainly not going to ask someone else.

Well, that makes for a funny cartoon, but it would not be an amusing situation in real life.
GPS devices really do not have personalities of their own. Instead, they can take on the personality and reflect the interests of the user. You can customize your GPS navigation device you fit your lifestyle and travel needs.

Action GPS does not sell GPS navigation systems that are unsure of themselves. Yes, GPS systems do come with voice prompts that sound just like human voices. But unlike the guy at the gas station who doesn’t want to admit that he doesn’t really know how to direct you to where you want to go, GPS knows. GPS devices employ state-of-the-art satellite technology with updates. Some GPS devices can even warn you of upcoming traffic snags.

A device like the Garmin Nuvi 650 will provide you with turn-by-turn voice directions. It even announces the name of exits and streets so you never have to take your eyes off the road. Plus, it is programmable, so it will also take input from you. Add your own points of interest (POIs) like restaurants, schools, safety cameras and sports venues. You can also set alerts so that the Garmin Nuvi 650 can let you know when you are getting close to POIs.

Tech-savvy adventurers around the world are flocking to the sport of geocaching. It’s a sport the whole family can enjoy, and the technology is a snap to learn. (See our Aug. 5 & 7 posts.) Once you’ve mastered the basics though, real enthusiasts want more. When you’re ready to take geocaching to the next level, you’ll want to upgrade your portable handheld GPS unit. Naturally, you’ll still want the solid features found in basic handheld GPS models: lightweight, compact, long battery life, waypoint storage, and screen readability (see our Aug. 5 post for details). But you’ll want to upgrade to a GPS unit that also offers the following advanced features:

• A WAAS-enabled GPS unit provides superior accuracy and can pinpoint waypoints to within 10 feet 95% of the time.
• A built-in compass is particularly convenient in tracking the cache in the final critical 100 feet.
• An altimeter shows you how high up to search for vertically-hidden caches.
• Mapping capabilities give you the big picture and make navigation a snap. They allow you to download maps to your unit that give you a picture of the terrain.
• An external antenna improves signal reception in difficult terrains and under heavy tree cover.

ActionGPS carries superior portable handheld GPS devices for the serious geocacher. The Garmin Colorado 400i handheld outdoor color GPS can track waypoints from the city to deep backcountry trails. WAAS-enabled with a built-in electronic compass, barometric altimeter and mapping capabilities, the Garmin Colorado 400i keeps you on track when you’re searching out even the most difficult geocaches. Visit Action GPS for complete details on the Garmin Colorado and other excellent geocaching GPS devices.

Check and follow the ActionGPS twitter page for some interesting micro-blogging:

http://twitter.com/actiongps

- ActionGPS Staff

With rising fuel costs affecting your wallet and contributing to the higher prices for goods and services, people are becoming more reluctant to travel very far. Just because you may decide not to take that road trip across the U.S. doesn’t mean that you cannot benefit from using GPS navigation in your own neck of the woods.

Summer is winding away and fall will be here soon. You will still need to take a break and relax. You can still explore and travel throughout your own region and a GPS navigation device can help. Most people stick to the same routes, so when it comes to exploring your county or state, you may be a little lost.

Use a GPS device to take you through those areas that are off the beaten path. You’ll keep costs down because you won’t be traveling far or paying extra fees for that second suitcase. Plus, you will keep fuel costs down because having navigation help will mean you won’t wander.

To save even more consider purchasing a refurbished GPS navigation device. A GPS like the Garmin Nuvi 250 comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator NT street maps, including a hefty points of interest (POIs) database with hotels, restaurants, fuel, ATMs and more. Simply touch the color screen to enter a destination, and nuvi takes you there with 2D or 3D maps and turn-by-turn voice directions. Plus it is portable, so you can take it with you in your pocket so once you leave the car and travel by foot, you will still be able to find your way.

The TomTom ONE XL picks up where the TomTom ONE left off–the XL comes with an impressive roster to features that they somehow managed to get into 1 GB of internal memory. There is a lot going on in this slim little GPS device. It is hard to believe that something so compact could so packed with information and useful features.

This very user-friendly GPS navigation device has crystal-clear display, and will give you crystal-clear turn-by-turn directions. Voice instructions are issued at a speed-sensitive volume, so as your vehicle’s engine becomes louder or quieter as your speed changes, the volume adjusts itself accordingly, guaranteeing clear and easy listening.

The TomTom ONE XL–
-works right out of the box, so all you have to do is plug it in and go.
- has 4.3” Widescreen touchscreen for easy viewing
-has TomTom’s award-winning software
-is very portable and can fit in your pocket
-has Bluetooth technology built right in
-can recalculate your route quickly to keep you on track
-come with preloaded maps of the US and Canada in its internal memory. It doesn’t even need an SD card!
-lets to opt to get warnings if you go above the speed limit
-comes equipped with branded POI so that you can easily find your favorite coffee shop, gas station, hotel and other destinations. You can also download other POI as needed, so you are not limited to those that come programmed with your device.
-also provides access to real-time traffic, weather, and other pertinent info

Read more about the TomTom One XL and other TomTom GPS products at ActionGPS.com

Once you pinpoint the cache location as closely as you can using your geocache GPS (see our Tuesday post), it’s time to start searching. Geocachers are devious thinkers. When you’re hiding a cache, part of the fun is finding a hiding place that’s hard to spot. You want your cache to be found, but you want fellow cachers to work for it. So think sneaky as you start looking.

Cache containers can be any size but are usually smaller than a shoebox. Ammo boxes, plastic containers and tiny film canisters are prized for their waterproof and weather-resistant qualities. Any container that is or can be made weather-proof will work. Some people wrap old pill bottles in layers of plastic tape. Many geocachers cover containers with camouflage tape to make them harder to spot.

Don’t expect finding the cache to be easy. Using your GPS to get to the location is only half the fun. The thrill of the hunt and exhilaration of discovery are what geocachers live for. You’re not going to find the cache sitting out in the open. Look under rocks or logs, inside hollow trees, on the undersides of fences and structures, behind rocks in rock walls and in the crooks of trees. Check tree branches and ledges. We once found a cache hanging inside a hollowed tree. A devious cacher had fashioned a 2-sided hook from a coat hanger. A tiny hook of metal was wedged in the tree bark with the cache hanging from the other hook inside the hollow tree. Ingenious!

Cachers are no less creative in cityscapes. Powerful magnet strips glued to thin metal slide boxes (like Sucrets boxes) can be attached to utility boxes or the undersides of metal guard rails. If your coordinates lead you to a parking lot light pole, carefully pop up the base cover that hides the screws. These covers slide up, making a perfect spot to hide a small cache. We’ve found micro-caches hidden inside the cone-shaped filials on top of metal fence posts. The filials pop off and the cache can either be stuffed into the cap or dangled on a string into the post.

As you’re searching, it’s important to replace items exactly as you find them. Not only do geocachers pride themselves on protecting the environment, but who wants to give away the cache site to the next guy? You worked to find the cache; he should, too. Geocachers live for the thrill of the hunt! ActionGPS has a full line of GPS units perfect for the sport of geocaching. Visit our website today and happy hunting!

If you happened to hear about the existence of Oregon geocoins, this is not urban legend. Oregon geocoins really do exist and they are out there…now it is up to you to find them. The coins are silver and have a blue rim. And that is about all we can tell you. You can’t expect us to do all of the work for you, now do you? Geocaching is about the joy of the hunt, after all.

Intrepid seekers were already finding Oregon geocoins just weeks after the Garmin made announcements about the Oregon, its latest line of GPS devices for geocaching and other outdoor pursuits. The Oregon follows in the footsteps of the Colorado line. All of Garmin’s handheld GPS devices are durable and ready for anything. You can also upload Geocaching.com GPX files for family fun or solo geocaching exploration. Your adventure, your choice.

In fact, the Oregon geocoins were made to celebrate the Oregon line of outdoor GPS navigation devices.  The Oregon is a rugged device that was made with geocaching in mind, as it was crafted to persist despite dust, dirt, wind, humidity and even water.

With the Garmin Oregon, you’ll be certain to find the treasures you seek.  It doesn’t matter how long it takes because with the Oregon you’ll get up to 16 hours of battery life. And in addition to getting bragging rights for the treasures you find, you’ll also get to show pictures since the Oregon comes with a built-in picture viewer.

You can check out the Oregon’s features and pre-order your own Garmin Oregon or choose another Geocaching GPS device at ActionGPS.com.

So close, but yet so far! It’s the geocacher’s common lament. There’s nothing more frustrating than knowing you’re standing right on top of a cache but not being able to find it. Here are a few tips that can help:

• Research the cache location. Log the cache coordinates into your GPS unit. Print out any tips offered on the locator site. (You can choose to read them only if you’re stumped.) Check a map of the area to get the big picture. Some handheld GPS units come loaded with maps and high-end outdoor units even offer topographic maps. You can get a quick area-wide view by scaling out on your automotive GPS or checking www.GoogleMaps or another internet map site. It’s easier to pinpoint the cache location when you have a general idea of where things are in the area.
• Prepare for the trip. Make sure you take plenty of water and don’t forget sunscreen and insect repellent. Wear appropriate clothing for the weather and add a jacket and raincoat in case the weather changes if you are planning to geocache all day. If you’re hiking into the woods or back country to hunt truly remote caches, bring appropriate hiking/climbing gear and always take a friend along for safety. Make sure someone back home knows your plans.
• Get as close to the cache location as you can using your GPS. You shouldn’t have much trouble getting to the general location site. It’s finding the precise coordinates that can be tricky. You may have to walk back and forth a bit. Tree or cloud cover can sometimes interfere with GPS signals, and it may take a little experimentation to hone in on the cache.

On Thursday: Finding the cache!