Garmin Foretrex 401 GPS

Comments about Garmin Foretrex 401 GPS:

This is an excellent product for the right user. This is a perfect unit for most military operations where a GPS is used to send command current locations as well as giving accurate LAT/LONG to aircraft for support. This is also very good at using as a way to confirm current location on the map. This is not a substitute for navigation aids such as maps, charts or compasses. The jumpmaster function is a good additional tool for the military professional and is used by civilian jumpers wishing to have a way to verify where they are in case of an emergency. I have used this product overseas as well as the 101 model. The newer sensitive receiver is what makes this unit stand out. If you are military you will want the 301 or 401. If you are looking for a GPS incase you get lost this is a good unit for you. If you are looking for a one stop navigation tool this unit is not for you.

Comments about Garmin Foretrex 401 GPS:

I bought the Foretrex 401 to upgrade my Foretrex 101 on my bicycle. I almost returned it because, unlike my Foretrex 101, the speed readout was useless under tree canopies. This was a big problem in the Pacific NW where we have trees everywhere. However, I decided to keep it because it works great for hiking.

Pros:
* Easy to read display in all lighting conditions. Also, has a large viewing angle.
* Replaceable batteries, so, I don't have to remember to keep it charged.
* Excellent satellite reception - much better than my Foretrex 101. I hike with the 401 in my jacket pocket in areas with dense tree cover and valleys without any satellite reception problems.
* It works like a USB drive when attached to a computer. All the data is contained in a human readable XML file. This has allowed me to easily write my own S/W programs to directly post process the data from my hikes.
* Works with Garmin's MapSource and their free downloadable BaseCamp for displaying and editing tracks, waypoints, and routes. However, this is not documented in the 401's owners manual.

Cons:
* The displayed instantaneous speed works great in open areas. However, under tree canopies, the speed readout is useless because it is inaccurate and has large speed fluctuations for speeds less than 20 MPH. My old Foretrex 101 has much better speed accuracy under tree canopies.
* The displayed total ascent and decent elevations reads half the correct value. Garmin has confirmed this issue 5 months ago and plans to fix it - someday.
* The displayed total ascent and decent elevations also creeps at about 250 feet per hour. This introduces a 250 feet error every hour when hiking on flat sections of trails.

Comments about Garmin Foretrex 401 GPS:

One of my Foretrex101s expired a few weeks ago and I decided to replace it with the just released Foretrex401. It arrived mid-week and I had no trouble accessing and opening the Foretrex401 generated gpx file with Easy/ExpertGPS and Topofusion. The 401 appears as a USB drive in Windows. I was hoping to use the 401 along with the Garmin heart rate monitor during my mtbike rides instead of the my Edge205 and separate HRM. The 401 had no trouble picking up the HR reading and displaying the values.Perhaps not surprisingly, the Garmin website has no substantial information of the 401 as of yet and no discussion of what software will work with the 401. When I emailed Garmin concerning data transfer software and the spanner function under the Setup menu, I received the following rather uninformative reply:"Thank you for contacting Garmin International. I am happy to answer your questions. At this point, the Foretrex 401 is only compatible with Garmin MapSource[@], but this information will unfortunately not include your cadence or heart rate information. On the bright side, Garmin Connect, our online fitness website, will support the Garmin Outdoor product line in the second half of 2009. In the meantime, we recommend that you upload activities from those devices to [@]. Unfortunately, there is not much documentation available for Spanner other than the installation instructions found on the download page. [...]. Even though it is now well beyond the "second half of 2009" Garmin Connect does not include the Foretrex 401 and the[@] has essentially been abandoned by Garmin leaving the Foretrex401 in effect unsupported by Garmin except for the most basic data transfer. The Foretrex401 manual makes no mention of the spanner function or what a gpx file is or how to make use of it.At this point the Foretex401 appears to be corporate orphan that no Garmin division is able or willing to support. It is unclear if it is intended for jumping out of airplanes (jumpmaster function), hiking (altimeter/compass), cycling/fitness (HR/cadence) or providing a heads-up when ordinance is going to explode (countdown-up/timer). In addition to the above, function wise, the 401 adds a USB interface, faster satellite acquisition and wireless data transfer to the venerable Foretrex101. It is slightly more compact in size than the 101, has a better strap attachments and stores the data is in a gpx file. Operationally the Foretex401 does what is it supposed to do but with no software included, undocumented functions and virtually non-existent technical support, most purchasers will be frustrated in trying to use the Foretrex401 right out of the box. A printed quick start guide is in the box but the manual in a pdf on the CD.As noted above, with some tinkering and non Garmin software I've been able to list and view the Foretex401 tracks, waypoints, routes and other data as well as transfer the data to GoogleEarth. For what Garmin lists as a basic handheld GPS it should be much more straightforward to operate and transfer data. I'll give it 2 stars until it is better supported.

Comments about Garmin Foretrex 401 GPS:

I bought this for long (week plus) backpacking and skiing trips. I wanted a barometer for weather trends.

After I bought this, I discovered that the ONLY altitude that it will display is from the barometer. It will NOT display an altitude using the GPS fix. I took it back and got the Garmin 301.

The altitude from a barometer is useless if not calibrated daily, which is not possible on longer trips. We can not get a pressure reading, and often we are on glaciers where the maps and altitudes are no longer correct. Even on shorter, day trips you need to remember to calibrate the unit before heading off.
I called Garmin and they agreed that the unit does not provide an altitude based on the GPS signal.

Comments about Garmin Foretrex 401 GPS:

Probably the best lightweight GPS for serious navigation I've seen. Strapping it to your wrist is very convenient, and the strap attachment is vastly better than the watchband pins on the Foretrex 101 (Previously, my favorite GPS). The altimeter, compass and barometer are nice additions and the 401 locks in on satellites quickly. No one should ever go into the wild without topos, which makes the display features on more expensive GPS units fun to play with but not really essential. I usually turn on the GPS for a few minutes, verify my location, sight the next landmark on my route and shut it off. That saves batteries and allows me to check out the scenery rather than admire the pretty color screen on a larger, heavier GPS unit that costs twice as much. The one improvement I would suggest is a feature that allows users to track barometer readings over time. Can't say how the accessories work with the 401 -- not how I use it.

Comments about Garmin Foretrex 401 GPS:

For over 4 years I have used a Forerunner 301 with great success. I use it for cycling and sea kayaking for fitness. In conjunction with the Training Center software, all sorts of workouts can be created. Workout data can be recorded downloaded and analyzed. Also alarms can be set to warn user of high or low heart-rate, speed etc and uploaded to the unit along with the workout. For example when I do a recovery ride and I don't want my heart-rate to go above 120 BPM, I set the alarm to keep myself in check.I recently purchased a Foretrex 401 because it seemed to be like the Forerunner 301 and had some useful additional features including:1. Advanced GPS features including track back.2. Compass, altimeter and barometer3. More sensitive GPS receiver.4. User changeable batteries, (very useful for multiday kayak camping trips where recharging the Forerunner 301 is difficult).5. The addition of a Speed/Candace Sensor for cycling (this and the heart-rate sensor made me think the 401 would be very much like the Forerunner 301). I wonder Garmin did not also include the foot pod to record distance & speed on a treadmill for those snowbound indoor runs.Before plunking down [...] for the Foretrex 401 I called Garmin (they haven't responded to any of my e-mail inquires at all, customer service is declining) and was assured that the heart-rate transmitter chest strap from my Forerunner 301 would work on the Foretrex. That would save me $70.00 for an additional heart-rate transmitter chest strap.You guessed it, Garmin told me wrong, the Foretrex 401 does not talk to the Forerunner 301 transmitter (not ANT +??). Also, The 401 will not talk to the Training Center software. This is very disappointing because of the very usable and valuable features of setting alarms and creating workouts that upload to the unit. GPX files can be imported from the Foretrex 401 into Training Center but TCs rich feature set cannot be used.Over the years Garmin has moved away from customer service and their products are far less reliable than the older GPS products they made in the past. My 20 year old 12 XL GPS still works but not my eTrex Vista or my Nuvi 76x. I am seeing that Garmin now makes products that simply die requiring the user to purchase new (supposedly better but often more limited) products. Even though Garmin has poor customer service and does not appear not care much about the quality of its products, REI will always step up and take care of its customers. Additional evidence that Garmin is not responsive to customer needs or product improvement is a feature on the Forerunner 401 called "Spanner" which does not show up in the manual. Spanner allows you to use your GPS 18 USB with most NMEA 0183-compliant mapping programs. It adds a virtual com port interface to your GPS 18 so that you can send NMEA data to other programs.WARNING: Windows Vista and Windows 7 are not supported by the Spanner software. Even though Vista was main stream and Windows 7 was about to be released, Garmin chose to only support the older OS which most people had moved away from.If you feel the Forerunner 401 will suit your needs by all means purchase it from REI and let them deal with Garmin. I would only recommend the Foretrex to those who will accept its limitations and lack of compatibility with other Garmin software and hardware. Also, don't e-mail Garmin call them at 800 800-1020 for customer service, as they do answer the phone.

Comments about Garmin Foretrex 401 GPS:

I searched for months for a GPS that fit my needs. I paddle for a outrigger club and needed to know our speed on the water, time, sunset, stop watch, compass directions and tracking back to shore. Sometimes out in the ocean a fog blanket would drop and you're in the dark, lost, no idea where you are. I look at my Garmin and follow the tracker back to shore. The compass was an extra but glad I got it. On clear days I can track my destination and return without missing my mark. Not only is it great for outriggering, I use it to travel. Walking in Rome, lost in the small streets, push my button and it tracks me back to my hotel without the frustration and confusion. I haven't used the elevation but maybe I can fit it in someday. All in all, I feel safe out in the water/European city knowing I can get back home/to the hotel.

Comments about Garmin Foretrex 401 GPS:

Replaced a Foretrex 101 with this upgrade model to get the heart monitor. With typical Garmin "out of the box" simplicity the unit was up and running within minutes. Not at all surprised that the MapSource software uploaded all my waypoints and tracks without difficulty. Fast aquisition time was a definite plus.
I have given Garmins to family (one going back to Iraq) and have owned eTrex, GPS III Plus, and Oregon 400t models all have performed flawlessly in the relatively severe Minnesota outdoors

Comments about Garmin Foretrex 401 GPS:

I was issued this product while in the service and it was amazing for its size and durability. It's extremely accurate and has numerous features that can be used for various applications even skydiving (it has a jumpmaster feature I hope to try out sometimes this year). I also use this to keep track of my distance while running in remote areas where gauging distance is difficult. I use it in conjunction with the heart rate monitor which provides a semi accurate reading (gets you in the ballpark which is for what I need). The issues I've had with this GPS is wishing the AAA batteries would last longer I started using this threw a night movement and Im thinking the light on it probably took quite a bit of juice out of it. Overall if your looking for something compact with lots of features and durability this is a pretty good GPS.

Comments about Garmin Foretrex 401 GPS:

I have had this device since January 2011 now and it has been a blast to have and use. I started using it for downhill & backcountry skiing. Was able to finally see just how fast I go. 76mph so far and I'm shooting for 80mph this season! Not believing that reading was accurate, I turned it on in my vehicle and compared it to my speedometer, as well as the GPS in my vehicle. Dead on accurate, and faster to adjust to my changing speed than the GPS in my vehicle. It's a blast to upload the map info and see where I skied laid over a Google Earth map. I did the same thing with mtn biking this summer. It's also a great little tool for when I hike 14ers here in Colorado. This thing is so diverse that I go almost nowhere without it. The biggest issue I've had is with Garmin's online website called "GarminConnect". That site has been a pain constantly. It's not easy to find a link to it from other pages on Garmin's web site. The instructions there are not very clear, and the default settings will really screw up your data from the ForeTrex. I've compared the data on my ForeTrex to other sources and it is actually more accurate than the tranlated info you will see on GarminConnect. My advice is don't use the GarminConnect info as factual. It's probably close, but certainly not reliable. On frustration on the ForeTrex itself is that I haven't been able to figure out how to stop tracking and start a new one without turning the unit of then back on again. The manual information is not easily (for me) understood. It must have been written by engineers who often assume everybody else knows what they know already.

Also someone commented that it doesn't work well with WinVista. I have Vista Home Premium (64-bit) and that has not been an issue at all. I can't speak to Win 7, but really what does work well with Windows? Even Internet Explorer crashes constantly, but I digress...

I love my ForeTrex and use it constantly. My buddies laughed at me for having this "gadget" initially. Now they're always asking me what it reads for speed, distance, elevation, etc. Then I send them the uploaded data on Google Earth and we have a blast pouring over the routes.

I've used Garmin's support by Email a couple times. Pretty lame actually. They lose interest or forget they were working with you or something. Next time I'll try the 800 phone number and see if that's better.