Registered: Aug 2009
Location: Cleveland, Tx
Posts: 308

if you dont like reading just scroll down to the video and check it out.

So for i really like My new Astro 320. The technology is what you would expect (or Closer to what you would expect) from a peice of equipment that cost's close to $600 . There are many up grades.

I can find many things i love about the Astro 320.

And few i dont like.

There is also one feature that in a nite hunt, it can be taken advantage of easily, and that is the vibrate option. there's ganna hae to be some "lets see'em boys throught the night"

The compass calibration must be calibrated three different directions, to the right, spun clock wise and end over end.

The end over end is kind of tricky, or atleast it was for me.

i lke that you dont have to hold it perfectly level to get a good direction to the dogs.

The birds eye view has outlaw written all over it :-) . there is a sample view down loaded already on the hand held when you get it. I personaly have not had a chance to down load my area yet. The area that is down loaded is around .85 of a mile long.
i would imagine the area downloadable will be larger than that because my dogs can cover that in about 32 and a half seconds flat.

one feature i dont like is it doesnt show the battery life on the dog screen. I havent relly messed with it enough to see if that can be changed, but i do love the addition to the Time being available.

For the most part i will give Garmin An A for right now on the changes. in a couple months i may have a different outlook, we will see!!!



<embed width="600" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullscreen="true" allowNetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf" flashvars="file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid831.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fzz232%2Fda_wells%2FVIDEO0039.mp4">

input is welcomed, and if i can answer any questions i will try!

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Allen Wells
WWW.EASTFORKHUNTINGSUPPLIES.COM
da.wells@yahoo.com
832-492-3712

Proud Member Of The Cleveland Coon Hunters Association.

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Registered: Aug 2009
Location: Cleveland, Tx
Posts: 308

I did forget to mention that they do include a flexible Long range antenna

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Allen Wells
WWW.EASTFORKHUNTINGSUPPLIES.COM
da.wells@yahoo.com
832-492-3712

Proud Member Of The Cleveland Coon Hunters Association.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Troy Iowa
Posts: 2159

There are 2 ways to view battery level, one click the power button and it will show battery life and you can adjust backround brightness. When you are in a menu mode, battery level is at the top of the screen. Here is a BIG piece of advice: go buy rechargable NiH batteries. When set on alkaline, the battery level alarms will start going off at 40%, which is a lot of life left and it is very annoying. With rechargable, the alarm is disabled. Battery life is just a tad shorter than the 220, but is to be expected with the vibrate function and the more room for storage. The BirdsEye is real cool. It can be disabled by going to the map menu. With some of our field testers, it is not as desirable in thick wooded timber, because it makes a dark screen. In my area with farm land with brushy fencerows and ditches, it is real cool. You can even zoom down to see if they are in a building. I have not maxed out my downloads yet. I have probably 20 square miles on mine at this time. You have a BirdsEye card with a scratch off number on it. After you have downloaded the free Basecamp from the Garmin site, you plug your 320 in and you will have to register it on the site. That will tie your Birdseye with your 320. I have found that downloading about 4 square mile section at a time is best as more than that is like watching paint dry. The subscription for BirdsEye is good for one year after you register. During that time you can down load all the area you want. At the end of the year, you cannot download more without renewing, but what is on your 320 will stay there until you delete it. There is a tether slot at the bottom of the 320, rather than the side on the 220. Power button is more convenient on the side. It has a key lock feature, so buttons don't get pushed in your pouch. As a whole, there are a lot of good features over the 220. But, as far as meat and pototos of the beast, the 220 will still locate your dog.

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Last edited by Tim MACHA on 08-02-2011 at 09:19 PM

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Troy Iowa
Posts: 2159

The first thing you will notice is the buttons are larger. Buttons can be used with gloves. It seems to me that the menu is easier to surf around on. But extensive use for the last 6 months has familiarized me pretty good. Because we were testing the proto types head to head with the 220s, I even got better finding my way around the 220. I do hope they will come up with a short cheat sheet with the BirdsEye to eliminate some early complaints. It took me a couple trys to figure my way around, but I am what I would consider an average guy around a computer. All in all, if you are not thinking about upgrading, don't look at someone's 320, because you will have to have one, also. It is like going from a HD tv to watching an old show in black and white.

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OFFICIAL FIELD TESTER FOR LEMS LIGHTS

Good people do not need laws to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws (Plato)

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Weyers Cave Va
Posts: 13413

quote:

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Originally posted by Tim MACHA
All in all, if you are not thinking about upgrading, don't look at someone's 320, because you will have to have one, also. It is like going from a HD tv to watching an old show in black and white.

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Gr.Nt.Ch.Gr.Ch.Dohoney's Lobo
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But Looking To The Future...

Nt.Ch.Gr.Ch.Swampmusic Big Hoss




Dennis Robinson
Cell 540-295-3892

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Registered: Mar 2011
Location:
Posts: 86

When will Joe Public be able to get these?

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Troy Iowa
Posts: 2159

It sounds like they are trickling out a few at a time. Maybe it is a ploy. Everyone wants something they can't have. lol

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OFFICIAL FIELD TESTER FOR LEMS LIGHTS

Good people do not need laws to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws (Plato)

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Registered: Aug 2009
Location: Cleveland, Tx
Posts: 308

I am Joe public. And have sold out to other Joe public's

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Allen Wells
WWW.EASTFORKHUNTINGSUPPLIES.COM
da.wells@yahoo.com
832-492-3712

Proud Member Of The Cleveland Coon Hunters Association.

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Registered: Mar 2011
Location:
Posts: 86

I want one but no one knows when they will be available.

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Registered: Aug 2009
Location: Cleveland, Tx
Posts: 308

I received mine on Monday. I sold what I had left today

I was told they will be released real slow. I was just lucky enough to be one the very first shipment from my supplier

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Allen Wells
WWW.EASTFORKHUNTINGSUPPLIES.COM
da.wells@yahoo.com
832-492-3712

Proud Member Of The Cleveland Coon Hunters Association.

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