Backcountry Gadgetry
By Steve Mann

While many weekend warriors head for the backcountry to escape the wonders (and headaches) of modern technology, for all but the most techno-averse backcountry traveler technological gadgetry enhances the outdoor experience without ruining the natural aspect of the trip.

With that in mind, this month I review five of the latest outdoor gadgets designed to make your trip safer, more convenient, or more informed. We'll start with Motorola's new Talk About radios, them move to a handheld barometer/altimeter from Suunto, then close out with three new GPS systems, two integrated with electronic compasses, and the third that plugs into your handheld computer.

In reviewing all of these gadgets, especially the GPS systems, I'm focusing on features and capabilities for backcountry usage. So, while the GPS systems have software that provides them with city maps, my review zeros in on basic navigation features that you'd use in hiking, backpacking, and fishing.

Motorola TalkAbout Radios T6300, T6310, and T6320
Suunto Escape 203 Handheld Barometer
Brunton Multi-Navigator System (MNS)
Garmin eTrex Summit
GeoDiscovery Geode

Motorola TalkAbout Radios T6300, T6310, and T6320
Weight (T6310): 6.9 ounces
Price: (per radio)
T6300: $129
T6310: $149
T6320: $179

Motorola's Talk About radios have been a staple of the FRS radio market. Over the past few months Motorola has upped the ante with the introduction of three new versions in the Talk About series.

The new radios, all in the 6300 series, feature a rugged, ergonomic design that fits well in your hand. The rugged case withstands the abuse associated with outdoor activities. Like their predecessors the 6300 series transmit up to 2 miles in open terrain via the FRS (family band) radio frequencies.

The three new radios share several new features, including NOAA weather channel reception, allowing you to listen to recorded weather reports. All three offer eavesdrop reduction, which scrambles the transmission from the sending radio and descrambles it on the receiving end. Both radios must be set on to the same scrambling setting. However, other T6300 series operators can select the setting and hear your conversations.

A QuieT6300 feature ignores transmissions from other radios once two-radio conversation gets established. Other T6300 base features include time display, an alarm and stopwatch, vibra-call to signal an incoming message, a "roger" tone indicating the sender has finished speaking. Three AA batteries power the radios, or you can get a rechargeable nickel hydride battery, or a vehicle power adapter each at an extra cost. An optional earbud and microphone accessory gives you hands free usage.

Two of the radios offer unique features. The T6310 has a built-in FM radio, with scanning and 10 preset stations. The T6320 includes an altimeter, barometer, digital compass, and thermometer.

While these features work well, the FM radio is probably best in more urban locations, such as a beach or park—FM radio reception spans shorter distances than AM stations. For backcountry uses, the weather-related functions give useful information, but not the serious weather tracking of the Suunto Escape (reviewed below).

For example, the barometer is not corrected to sea level, meaning that the numbers you see are going to be lower at elevation than you are used to seeing. The number are useful for relative pressure, i.e. going up or down or steady, but not going to relate to the numbers you are used to seeing on TV or NOAA weather reports. More importantly, the barometer lacks trend tracking needed for basic weather prediction.

I also found the menus hard to learn and navigate. After a few hours with the radios, I could get around, but after leaving the radio for a couple of days it took a few minutes to relearn. The VOX (voice operated transmission) didn't work well. I couldn't get the sensitivity adjusted correctly in a quiet environment. Using the button on the earbud microphone worked great—transmission was clear#151;but the VOX was harder to hear clearly and reliably. I missed having a belt clip in the package—although you can get one at an extra cost.

Motorola: www.mot.com/LMPS/RPG/NA/portables/talkabout or (800)448-6686.

Suunto Escape 203 Handheld Barometer
Weight: 2.1 oz
Price: $139

A serious weather instrument—there's the bottom line right at the top. I like the Suunto Escape 203 Handheld Barometer. At 2.1 ounces, for me its functional weather features and light weight justify its inclusion in my pack, especially on longer trips when weather information is most needed.

Being a handheld, rather than worn watch-style on the wrist, there's a danger of leaving it hanging somewhere, like my Brunton Windwatch, which some lucky backpacker found hanging in a tree at Utah's Ibantik Lake. Despite that danger, I strongly prefer the Escape handheld to Suunto's (or any other manufacturer's) "wristop computers", which I personally find too bulky for my wrist. The watch-style device's displays and buttons are too small, and the handheld's weight is comparable.

The Escape's documentation was clear, although the type is very small. It seems like a huge manual until you realize it comes in six languages. Although not complex, navigating through the features is not obvious. If you only use the Escape occasionally, you'll probably need a refresher run through the manual before heading out for the backcountry. If you use it frequently, you'll have no problem remembering how to access the various features.

Now to the meat of product—weather measurement. The Escape stores barometric pressure information for 24 hours, and shows a 6-hour trend on all screens. A pressure change alarm sounds when pressure drops 0.12 inches of mercury (4hPa) or more in a three-hour period, a sign of impending bad weather. The barometer memory keeps max/min pressure and temperature for the last 24 hours, and 30 minute reading for the last 3 hours, and 3 hours interval readings from 3 hours to 24 hours.

The altimeter also has an alarm, and logs altitude gain/loss, cumulative gain/loss since the last log reset, max/min altitude, the average rate of ascent/descent, starting date and time of the log, and any altitude points you enter.

The barometer and altimeter logs might seem minor, but they are the essence of a good weather instrument. It is the tracking of barometric temperature over time that allows weather forecasting.

One cool feature is a weather station/altitude feature. In weather station mode, the device assumes that altitude is locked (as when you are at camp) so all pressure changes are due to weather. In altitude mode, it assumes pressure changes are due to elevation change (altitude) as during an ascent.

With all of these excellent weather features I was surprised to learn that the bottom of the temperature range is ­5 F, while the altimeter goes to 29,000 feet. This seems like an unreasonable limitation: in winter even at elevations of 10,000 feet, common throughout the western North and South America and Europe, temperatures drop well below ­5 F.

Although the unit has no backlight, I didn't miss it; besides backlighting would just add weight. The Escape is waterproof to 15 feet (5 meters) and offers selectable measurements (feet vs. meters, inHg vs. hPa for barometer).

If all you need is temperature or altitude readings, watch-style devices or a Kestrel weather sensor will work fine. If you need to predict weather trends (tracking of barometric pressure over time)—say on longer more remote trips or expeditions—Suunto's Escape 203 is a great choice.

Suunto: www.suuntousa.com or 800-543-9124.

Brunton Multi-Navigator System (MNS)
Weight: 7.9 ounces with lanyard
Price: $399

Brunton's MNS (along with the Garmin eTrex series, reviewed next) breaks new ground in the GPS market by combining standard GPS features with new, more integrated electronic compass navigation features. Throw in barometric pressure monitoring capabilities, with which Brunton has good experience from the Brunton Windwatch product line, and you've got a multi-featured navigation system.

The MNS provides standard GPS features: 12-channel reception, many grid systems (e.g. Lat/Lon, UTM) and datum choices, storage for up to 1000 waypoints, and 10 routes each with up to 100 waypoints. The device is waterproof at a depth of 1.5 feet (.5 meter) for 10 minutes.

What sets the MNS apart is the coordination between the compass and GPS. For example, I found the StraightHome feature to be very nice: It combines the best of GPS and compass into a single functioning system. Say you are going for a hike on a primitive trail and you want to make sure you can get back to the trailhead. When you park your car, you hold down the waypoint button to set the trailhead as *Home*. Then you hike the trail. When you reach your destination and are ready to return, you activate the StraightHome feature to guide you back. You put the MNS into Compass mode and it gives you the correct bearing and distance to *Home*, with arrows to guide you right or left. With previous GPS systems you needed the GPS and a separate compass to accomplish this.

Most GPS also require you to be moving for compass features to work. The MNS compass works while you are stopped. Since the compass Œknows' where you are, it can automatically set the declination (between true north and magnetic north) for your area. In general I found the navigation features of the MNS, such as StraightHome, to be exceptional.

Even the documentation on the navigation features was good. The example in the manual on GPS navigation using UTM and various waypoints is one of the better examples I've seen in GPS documentation. Still, this manual (or any other GPS manual) it isn't going to help customers new to GPS systems. My recommendation is that you sell your customers a good basic primer (book) on GPS navigation when you sell them the GPS.

I found the MNS system's menuing, i.e. accessing the various features of the MNS, to be less than intuitive. After using the system for several days, the features became easy to find, but it does take some effort to learn.

The only problems I experienced with the MNS were minor. Replacing the battery compartment case was the most difficult of the three GPS systems. The lanyard is attached to the screw that closes the case, causing lots of twisting of the lanyard before you get the case securely closed. A screwdriver makes the process easier. Second, the automatic time adjustment for specific time zones was incorrect. I had to manually adjust the time by one hour, and the values printed in the manual were all one hour different than the other GPS systems.

In the weather department, the MNS performs well. The barometer pressure is shown in actual pressure, not adjusted for altitude until you manually enter a correction reference altitude. Although the MNS shows a general trend in pressure and displays Steady, Rising, or Falling, it lacks the 12 or 24 hour logging of devices like the Suunto.

Brunton: www.brunton.com or 800-443-4871.

Garmin eTrex Summit
Weight: 5.6 ounces with lanyard
Price: $249

Much like the Brunton MNS, the eTrex combines an electronic compass and altimeter with a GPS. The compass, again like the Brunton, is one of the first on a GPS to work while standing still. The obligatory GPS feature set is all there: 12 channel reception, storage of up to 500 waypoints, and up to 10 saved tracks to retrace path in both directions. Two AA batteries power the GPS for up to 16 hours. The eTrex is completely waterproof up to 30 minutes in 3 feet (1 meter) of water. The built-in barometer shows a 12-hour pressure trend.

The eTrex is small and lightweight (5.6 ounces), great for backpacking. I found the D-ring screw on the case covering the battery compartment was much easier to replace than the MultiNavigator. It requires only a quarter turn to lock into position. The backlight comes on when it makes sense, and the contrast adjustment is very helpful.

The menu system is easier to navigate than on the Brunton, as more information and context is displayed as you move thru the menus on the eTrex. The buttons are logically placed and allow one-handed operation. I was able to set all of the options, such as the Units (UTM vs. Lat/Lon), Datum (NAD 27 CONUS), measurements (feet vs meters) and calibrate the compass and altimeter without referencing the manual.

Navigating with the eTrex, however, was harder than the Brunton. I found the directional response to be slower to reflect the correct direction. Since the eTrex automatically keeps a breadcrumb trail of your path (the Map Page) by default, I expected the basic GOTO waypoint mode to follow that breadcrumb trail, just as if I had set intermediate waypoints. It did not. Going back to the Map Page, I could see that I was retracing my steps, but the directional indicator on the Pointer Page was pointing directly back to the Home waypoint. My path was essentially an "L", a long straight section then a 90-degree turn. Instead of pointing from the end of the base of the L back to the junction of the L, the eTrex created a triangle, pointing form the end of the short leg in a straight line back to the waypoint. Granted, the Brunton MNS does the same, the eTrex's automatic track logging already had the information for automatic retracing that I found this disappointing.

Both the Brunton and the eTrex get confused when you get very close to your waypoint. This is within the accuracy of the devices. The eTrex manual suggested that when I got close to the waypoint a message indicating I was Approaching Waypoint (a proximity alarm) would go off, but it never did. Fortunately, once you are within 30 feet or less of a waypoint you generally don't need the GPS anymore to find your way.

eTrex's unique Sight'N'Go feature helps with another common navigation task. You line up the compass with a landmark then select Sight'N'Go, which locks the bearing into the compass. You then follow that bearing (and the pointer on the compass) to the landmark.

The eTrex has better visual mapping with the graphical Map Page, which shows your track and waypoints, and allows you to zoom in or out to adjust your view of the area. This is handy for seeing zigs and zags in your path.

The eTrex's light weight, small size, easy menus, graphical mapping, barometer trend logging, and unique navigation features (e.g. Sight'N'Go) rise above the Brunton MNS. However, I prefer the Brunton's StraightHome and other compass navigation features over the eTrex. So what sways my decision? Price: at $150 less than the Brunton MNS, I'd take the eTrex.

Garmin: www.garmin.com or (888)442-7646.

GeoDiscovery Geode
Weight: 5.6 ounces, 11.4 ounces (with Handspring Visor)
Price: $289 (without Visor)

The Geode is a GPS add-on module for the Handspring Visor Handheld or PDA device. The Handspring, much like a Palm Pilot, offers an expansion slot so that third parties can add functionality to the device. GeoDiscovery's Geode is one such device.

Today the Geode's feature set is not as targeted to the backcountry outdoor market as the Brunton MNS or Garmin eTrex. It does not offer extras like a barometer or altimeter (although it can get elevation data from the GPS). However, I elected to include the Geode for one specific reason‹quick expandability. Because the Geode ties into desktop computers through the Handspring's cradle, there is a quick, easy, and industry standard technology for updating the Geode's features, and for downloading maps and other mapping utilities.

This means that if you purchase a Geode today, then GeoDiscovery comes out with new software features, you'll be able to go to their web site and download the latest software driver, sync your computer with the Visor and poof!—like magic you have the new features on your "old" Geode. Some of what I view as the key deficiencies of the Geode for backcountry usage are of exactly this type—features easily updated in software and downloaded.

When you download maps, you get rich content associated with the maps (called packs by GeoDiscovery). Each pack's content includes information about restaurants, museums, points of interest, campsites, fishing, and roads. For more remote areas the content might include trails, the location of the trailhead, key landmarks, and alternate destinations. Currently, most packs are oriented to cities and urban landmarks, but GeoDiscovery is aggressively pursuing hiking and backpacking related content.

So what GPS outdoor recreation-oriented features will you get, or not get, with the Geode? First, the Geode uses only Lat/Lon for location. While Lat/Lon does identify your location, I strongly prefer UTM for outdoor navigation. The Geode also lacks good route and track abilities. While you can set waypoints (or create a point in Geode terminology) there is no way to associate location points into a route. The Geode does allow you to select an existing point as your target and then helps you navigate, using compass and GPS, to that point. The compass integration is not as nice as that of the eTrex's Sight'N'Go or the Brunton's StraightHome features.

The Geode today is an excellent resource for more urban-oriented travel. The rich downloadable content puts it heads above other GPS systems in that regard. For example, you could associate a specific location (waypoint) to one of the people in the Visor's contact list (e.g. Jim's office).

For outdoor enthusiasts, perhaps the Geode isn't the first choice in a navigation system right now, but keep your eyes on GeoDiscovery. Once they add the outdoor-specific software features (hopefully downloadable to existing Geodes), and get the backcountry content going, this will be a great navigation device. Piggy backing on the Handspring Visor makes the Geode a shoe-in for the GPS device to have the most content, the most easily downloadable content, the highest quality or richest content, and the best integration with your computer/PDA device.

GeoDiscovery: www.geodiscovery.com

Steve Mann is a contributing editor for GearReview.com.