Regrettably, the Onix experience was highly unfavorable. I do not understand how or why Bushnell, a company whose other sporting products have such a sterling reputation, could put out such a poor product. I can only imagine that the absolute wrong person got put in charge of product development for it, and there was no serious QA or market research done. Where to begin? I suppose the unit itself. While the screen is large, it is easily damaged and the resolution is fairly low. The processor inside of the unit is woefully underpowered and the display programming makes no use of memory windowing techniques -- thus loading more than a few of the bitmap overlay maps into the unit drags its scroll speed down to a frustrating crawl as it had to shift all of them around at once. The base map that underlies the overlays is absolutely terrible, and virtually unusable for all but the most general direction-finding. Had Bushnell licensed even the cheapest and most incomplete base map from any other GPS manufacturer, it would have been better. I contacted their customer service about it and they said there is no plan to upgrade or offer a replacement for the base map. The process of finding, downloading and installing map overlays from the Bushnell site to the actual unit is tedious, numbing and frustrating. Why didn't they provide -- even as a separately-purchasable option -- all the maps for the USA and Canada on a CD or DVD? Why this broken, frustrating, slow web site? How are people who are out in the field supposed to make use of it, if they wind up going outside of their planned area? I'd gladly have paid $100 extra at the time of purchase for such a CD, just to be able to have it with me and be able to use it in the field -- and I think I'm not alone. How many people will make 100 $1 downloads from their site? They'd wind up making a whole lot more money and having a lot less unhappy customers. There is also no backwards integration via USB to the laptop. Why not have an matching application on the PC, such as the Bushnell GPS PC Companion and make that a full-featured GPS client with as many features as a Garmin or more -- using the handheld GPS to feed it positioning and weather data? No such simple, forward ideas were apparently present at Bushnell when this unit was being made. As to the XM radio, I'd rather get a dedicated portable unit than have it built into my GPS. The weather tracking is an interesting feature that I can see the value of but the need for a subscription is annoying. At the price point of this premium GPS unit, it should have come with a free lifetime subscription to XM Weather. There is so much more that could have been done with the unit, through creative programming if nothing else, that it's disappointing. The fact that Bushnell really seems to have given up on the unit (that's the sense I get when talking to their bored customer support reps) and nothing new is really happening or planned for the unit just goes to show that they see it as a failed product and have gone on to other things instead of trying to improve and make the unit better through downloadable upgrades -- even simple ones, like replacing the abysmal base map. I could go on and on with more complaints, but why waste your time? I strongly recommend NOT BUYING this unit.Read full review
This GPS is the ONLY one I have ever seen to have Sirius XM built in. I mainly bought this just for the Sirius XM and it does a very good job running the Sirius XM Radio! But on the other hand. the GPS is just plain crap. Bushnell no longer supports this and you cant even get maps or 3d satellite images for it anymore! But it is rugged and waterproof and as far as the GPS Goes. It does tell you your speed and is very accurate at that. and it also has a trip odometer and it is good at that as well. The only major thing is the Bushnell maps, if they WERE Still available. This would be the BEST GPS Ever! But, sadly. I cant find them anywhere...
THE FOLLOWING IS A COPY OF SOMEONE ELSE REVIEW, BUT I COULD NOT HAVE SAID ANY BETTER. Regrettably, the Onix experience was highly unfavorable. I do not understand how or why Bushnell, a company whose other sporting products have such a sterling reputation, could put out such a poor product. I can only imagine that the absolute wrong person got put in charge of product development for it, and there was no serious QA or market research done. Where to begin? I suppose the unit itself. While the screen is large, it is easily damaged and the resolution is fairly low. The processor inside of the unit is woefully underpowered and the display programming makes no use of memory windowing techniques -- thus loading more than a few of the bitmap overlay maps into the unit drags its scroll speed down to a frustrating crawl as it had to shift all of them around at once. The base map that underlies the overlays is absolutely terrible, and virtually unusable for all but the most general direction-finding. Had Bushnell licensed even the cheapest and most incomplete base map from any other GPS manufacturer, it would have been better. I contacted their customer service about it and they said there is no plan to upgrade or offer a replacement for the base map. The process of finding, downloading and installing map overlays from the Bushnell site to the actual unit is tedious, numbing and frustrating. Why didn't they provide -- even as a separately-purchasable option -- all the maps for the USA and Canada on a CD or DVD? Why this broken, frustrating, slow web site? How are people who are out in the field supposed to make use of it, if they wind up going outside of their planned area? I'd gladly have paid $100 extra at the time of purchase for such a CD, just to be able to have it with me and be able to use it in the field -- and I think I'm not alone. How many people will make 100 $1 downloads from their site? They'd wind up making a whole lot more money and having a lot less unhappy customers. There is also no backwards integration via USB to the laptop. Why not have an matching application on the PC, such as the Bushnell GPS PC Companion and make that a full-featured GPS client with as many features as a Garmin or more -- using the handheld GPS to feed it positioning and weather data? No such simple, forward ideas were apparently present at Bushnell when this unit was being made. As to the XM radio, I'd rather get a dedicated portable unit than have it built into my GPS. The weather tracking is an interesting feature that I can see the value of but the need for a subscription is annoying. At the price point of this premium GPS unit, it should have come with a free lifetime subscription to XM Weather. There is so much more that could have been done with the unit, through creative programming if nothing else, that it's disappointing. The fact that Bushnell really seems to have given up on the unit (that's the sense I get when talking to their bored customer support reps) and nothing new is really happening or planned for the unit just goes to show that they see it as a failed product and have gone on to other things instead of trying to improve and make the unit better through downloadable upgrades -- even simple ones, like replacing the abysmal base map. I could go on and on with more complaints, but why waste your time? I strongly recommend NOT BUYING this unit.Read full review
Downsides -Clumsy menu's, large, heavy and awkward stature. -Near impossible navigation of website for uploading maps. -The lanyard attaches from the top of the unit, when walking you must detach it to comfortably read. -Very very slow map browsing. Cursor speed is almost agonizing. Positives -Awesome battery life (3 full days of walking through the bush) -Waterproof (unintentionally tested) -Largest screen of any GPS i've ever used -Satellite Weather is handy tool but need to subscribe All in all it is a good BUDGET gps but if i could do it again I think i would spend the little extra and buy a Garmin.
This review is actually about the unit- not the sellers... I have owned this unit for 7 months now and it works beautifully. I would encourage you to download the free software updates for the unit to get even more functionality (Solar Tables and fish/hunt activity predictors) and some of the early "bugs" fixed. I use the unit as an XM Radio in my car, and we go hiking, camping, and snowshoeing with it. It is very handy to be able to overlay weather radar, topo maps and aerials over the base maps to really see the land around you. The early reviews indicating a poor base map were correct, but after the third (free) firmware update the base map is actually pretty good for an outdoors (not in-car, turn-by-turn) gps. The Ram cradle available for this unit is also very sturdy, and worth owning. My only criticism is that you have to download the maps for the area you will be using it in before you go- and if you go off your pre-downloaded maps, the base map doesn't show much land detail. The maps can get a little pricey if you choose to download many of them. (I have hundreds.) The included memory of 128 is too small, I upgraded to 2gb for less than $15, and it came with a reader to update/upload maps from my computer without the cable. (much faster) Customer service has been excellent, both times I have called, the same technician called me back and helped me remedy my download issues. In all, once you realize the value of watching the moving, near real-time weather radar overlay when you are outdoors- and the "wow factor" of the satellite images- this unit will become your favorite, and draw ALOT of attention too. (I own 6 gps units- and this is the one I carry all the time because of: xm radio, weather radar, weather forecasts, aerial & topo maps, and large display.) Oh, and by the way- when you buy one- put a screen protector on it- the front display is so large and flat it attracts abuse. Happy eBaying!Read full review
For the cost this is a fabulous GPS. The display is large and well lighted for reduced light conditions. In full sunlight I turn off the backlight to conserve battery power. It if fully readable in full direct sunlight. This is a GPS for any activity EXCEPT highway or road use. If you want a GPS to get you to or from a location DON'T buy this one. It does display highways, major roads, and a number of landmarks (hospitals, airports etc.) which you can use to orient yourself. It also has most state and federal parks including hiking trails. It is designed for hiking, hunting and other off road uses. There are so many features that can be customized you can't begin to discuss them in a review. The reason I bought this unit was for the XM weather subscription. With a onetime activation fee I got XM weather including NEXRAD, local U.S. cities weather, clouds, and lightning detection. The subscription was around $12 per month. That is a about a third of the least expensive XM weather for aviation units. During the off season you can suspend your subscription without any charges and restart it without any activation fee. This also is not possible with the aviation units. The unit is well built and rugged. I gave my son one of these and he uses it with his son for geocaching. Bushnell has now discontinued selling aerial and topo maps. I didn't use this feature because of the expense and there didn't seem to be any value for me. I think Bushnell has discontinued this unit.Read full review
I would not buy this item again. Very complicated to download maps and maps are of a very small land area. Radar did not work on my unit so I spent many calls to Bushnell techs trying to solve this problem. The techs were very nice guys and tried hard to solve the radar problem but could not solve it and advised me to send the unit in for inspection or repair. The techs say that Bushnell had a bad experience with the ONIX and dumped the product. That's why they sell cheap on the internet. My unit has been at Bushnell Repair for 3 weeks now awaiting decision to repair or replace as Bushnell said they may not have a unit in stock to replace it with since they dumped their stock. I think some fast talking salesperson sold Bushnell into investing in this GPS and Bushnell later regretted that decision. They seem to be very disappointed in the ONIX 400. So, buy it if you want to but you will probably regret it later. ThanksRead full review
I recently purchased the Bushnell Onix 400, This G.P.S is one of the best G.P.S. units I have ever used, and I have used several from a Military Plugger to Magellan and Garmin. Now Having said this. All of the other units I have used were excellent as well. This G.P.S. is though VERY user friendly and easy to use. Plus it has a list of other "available" features a mile long. The Problem is that to use many of the nicer features one has to buy a subscription to these services, ie: Satellite images XM satellite radio and weather, sports etc. All In All though all by itself it is a solid rock steady very user friendly G.P.S. with a built in United States Base Map which is Absolutely NO Frills but very functional. on a scale from 1 to 10 standing alone without the frills it is an 8, with all the whistles and bells ( if you have the money it is a 10 . I Hope you find this review helpful thank you for reading.Read full review
I wish I had read reviews first. There is a reason why these gps units are on Ebay for only a fraction of the original retail. The software support that goes along with the unit are VERY user unfriendly. Downloading maps is extremely difficult with all the glitches and problems computer wise. I have owned and used several handheld units and used many different cartographic software products in designing recreational trails. Downloading maps is , let us say, very likely , not to succeed. Still, if you get lucky enough, the unit is impressive once you get over the near impossible hurdles. Other units are better, but the weather capability is good when you are working on a trail 20 miles from shelter.
Compared to the Magellan Triton 400, Performance is equivelant. GPS Satellite lock-on can be obtained almost instantly, however sometimes it can take up to a minute on a cold startup. The BIG advantage id the large format LCD screen. At nearly twice the size as the Magellan, your maps and nav data are EASY to read while on the move. The screen is great in bright sunlight and well as complete darkness. All menues are easy to navigate, and setup is a breeze. The ONLY thing I do NOT like about it is the Base map. Crude with only MAJOR roads and landmarks (or POIs) and the Bushnell map "downloads are a rippoff at best. Topo map and satellite resolutions are pretty much useless. Still waiting on a version of Accuterra Topo maps for my Onix that will equal the base maps on my Magellan
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