Bushnell ONIX 200
Bushnell has announced the Bushnell ONIX 200 marking their entry into the handheld GPS market. They have certainly hit the ground running with this device as it comes with a few features many handheld GPS owners have been wanting for many years… Yes indeed, you can load up satellite imagery and aerial photography onto this GPS and layer the map files onto other views.
You will be able to visit the Bushnell website and download satellite imagery, aerial photography, or topographic maps into your GPS device. With your purchase of the device Bushnell will allow you to download four images. Additional purchase options are available as well as a subscription model.
The device comes with a grayscale display which might still be okay since so much of the aerial photography and satellite imagery out there is also grayscale. There will also be a color model, the Bushnell ONIX 200 CR coming out in a few months which does feature a color screen. The ONIX 200 also features a “reverse video” mode to allow easier reading in low light conditions.
With a handheld GPS device, battery duration and type is often an important consideration. The ONIX 200 uses two AA batteries which could last up to 26 hours. I’ve always preferred traditional sized alkaline batteries in handheld devices for a couple of reasons. One, you can still put rechargeable batteries in most of these devices and two, if you run out of charge you can solve the problem at the nearest convenience store. With lithium ion battery packs finding a charge (and waiting for it!) in the middle of a trip can be very difficult.
Battery life in this GPS is aided by a new “SafeTrack” mode where the GPS chipset continues to monitor your location while putting other device operations into sleep mode. Even when in sleep mode you can still set audible alarms to alert you to course corrections or arrival notifications.
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Sending IT BACK! Seems you have to wait 48hrs to get your free dowmloads. Nowhere on the instructions or software doe’s it mention having to wait. Myself I like to play with my toys as soon as I get them. The software is terrible, hard to read letters “blurred” but it’s just my opinion.
Awful, awful, awful. This unit needs to go back to the drawing board. You can’t down load the maps or photos. The built in maps are so small that they are not recognizable. There is no way to download instantly even when you purchase additional maps. Don’t waste your money or your time. Too frustraiting. Mine was sent back.
I’ve never been so sorry to spend $200.00 OF MY HARD EARNED MONEY ON ANYTHING in this lifetime or any to follow hopefully. I’m returning it as soon as possible, if it can find it’s way back to where it came from that it! I’m not going to take any chances on second thought I’ll just return it myself using my own navigational CPU called my brain. Something that was lacking in the brainstorming of this devise….DON’T DO IT!!!!!!!!!
I wish I could send it back! This is the most difficult, user unfriendly piece of equipment I have ever purchased or used, and I have a lot of them. Have four other gps brands and all are excellent and easy to use. This one is impossible. Downloads don’t work. Software is terrible. Instructions are awful. I hate to throw it out, but it is impossible to use.
when I try to download maps for my Bushnell Onix 200 with Internet explorer I get these error messages. Error type: Load XML
Description: Incorrect XML
Error type: Data structure
Destination: XML refers to non existing parent.
I’ve tried all types of settings but have not been able to viem maps other than the big general map or the U.S.
When I try with Netscape I get: Were sorry the image you requested is not available because:the request used to generate an image is not valid. please request another image. Does anyone know what this means? Bushnell customer service is no help at all they tell me it’s either my computer or my internet provider but can’t give me any usefull info. I’m about ready to take this unit back and get a garmin if I can’t solve this problem. Please Help.
Get rid of the thing, if you have to throw it in the trash. I worked with mine for months, made many requests for help and got none. The unit stinks. The software is terrible. Company support is non-existant. I finally placed it for sale on e-bay with full description of the problems with it and my inability to get it to work, and somebody BOUGHT it for $112.00. Best loss I ever had. I then bought a Garmin eTrex Vista HCX. It is a marvelous little machine. The software is great, and the company support is good, too. The ONIX 200 should be taken off the market.
Worked just fine last year when I bought it. Was useful. Can’t download any maps this year as they’ve “upgraded” the website and when I try to download a topo map, “error code 500″ appears on their website. Customer service not yet helpful. Still trying after three days. I’ll keep you posted if anything changes. Getting pretty frustrated.
I got the “error is 500″ problem everytime I tried to download anything from the bushnell site to the Bushnell PC Companion for my ONIX 400. XM Weather works great on the unit after activation, but I needed the promised satellite photos and topos more. I wish I had found out that you had to the bushell website to put anything on the unit. I may take it back and get the Magellan Triton 500 Adventure Pack with the Topo software included instead.
Update. after one week and five phone calls to Bushnell (got to talk to live person on two occasions still no progress. The two I spoke to weren’t versed enough to help me and I got a call back from “Ladell” at 0730 the next morning who left a message for me. He wouldn’t/ couldn’t talk to me on my subsequent return calls. The call answerer took my info including unit SN and sign on access. Now I can’t even get onto the download site. I am very patient and polite, but in this case wholly disapointed. I’m going hunting this week without the benefit of the topo maps I paid for. What a rip off. Do not buy.
Yeah this thing is junk. The first GPS I ever owned 10 years ago was more useful due to user friendliness. I spent two hours trying to figure out how to download the maps for my buddy last night. Really makes me appreciate my Etrex Vista that comes with maps for the whole country installed and has a user friendly format to the system.
junk worst support ever sent it back
I am at least happy (if that’s possible, that I am not the only one having problems with this unit. Software does not function properly, I have attempted to download maps and get error messages, yet I am charged credits for these downloads.
Biggest piece of crap I have ever seen. Bushnell should be ashamed for putting out this junk.
WOW! Wish I had read these coments before purchasing the unit. I’m impressed with the unit’s color screen (200CR), but am experiencing the same problems getting maps that seem to plague everyone else. It’s too bad Bushnell hasn’t decided to better support this unit as there are very few affordable handhelds on the market these days. I just wanted something without all the bells and whistles.
I got this thing today “xmas”2008. I have never been within 10 feet of a gps before I got this lil crapper! It only took me 2 hours of flustration to realize this thing is junk!! Could not get anything to work, The CD would not work right out of the new box! I will be exchanging this tomorrow!!!!!!!
Pure garbage!!!! Not user friendly. Good luck ever getting any maps downloaded into it. This is nothing but junk. The software writers for this unit [deleted]! I will never buy anything from bushnell again.
Bought new from [deleted] sales associate said it was good and easy to use… Complete junk want to throw it but it cost 200 bucks. worst thing that i have ever held in my hand. What a scam bettter results from a 5.00 compass. If you are in need of pure fustrastion BUY ONE if not get your money back and get an etrex….thanx bushnell
I bought this to use for my son’s science project. I’m new to the whole GPS thing. After reading this, I’m pretty bummed. Question. When you hit the hot button on these thing which is supposed to show you the coordinated of where you are, do these nummber (Long, lat and alt) ever stop changing? It’s hard to write down your coordinates when they keep fluctuating eventhough you haven’t moved. Also, who long does it normally take for these units to get a reading? I was out there for 15 minutes on a clear night just waiting. Thanks ahead of time for any feedback.
I noticed the same problem with the ONIX 400 I just bought. I tried out the Magellan Triton 500 this week and it appears to be more stable and does much better getting sat acquisition under heavy cover or in a building with windows. The compass is much better too and even works reliably when standing still.
I have had several other GPS units, and this one is the most difficult to use of them all. A friend of mine purchased this and wanted me to help him get the maps installed. Even with a degree in info systems, it’s very hard to use. Bushnell-go back to the drawing board!!
For the most part I’m happy with my onix 200 I’m able to download photo’s fine. The one thing I don’t like about it is I only get about four hrs out of a set of batteries
You guys are right!! Somebody presented me with the Bushnell Onix200 and it worked for the first two days and now does’nt even come on!!I live in India and cannot even find a dealer here who could look at it. Tried everything for the last six months. Any suggestions? Can anyone help? Crappy peace of equipment And very expensive.