Official Tiger GPS Garmin Oregon Guide

Don't you hate pushing buttons? Awkward layout, never in the right place, always pressing the wrong one? Ever wish your handheld GPS receiver would provide true fingertip control? Your wishes have been answered with the Garmin Oregon series of handheld GPS receivers. Similar to the Garmin Colorado series of receivers, the Oregon series provides touch-screen control by doing away with the Rock n' Roller wheel, in favor of no buttons at all but the power switch!

The Oregon is available in five flavors: the base model Oregon 200, which features touch-screen control and contains a worldwide basemap, a small amount of internal memory for loading map detail from a home computer, and a microSD slot for detailed maps on data cards. Upgrade to the Oregon 300 for an enhanced basemap, a larger amount of internal memory (plus the free SD slot as well), electronic compass and barometric altimeter, alarm and beeper, and wireless exchange feature so that you can beam your waypoints, tracks, routes and geocaches wirelessly to other Oregon and Colorado users.

At the highest end are a trifecta of pre-loaded mapping goodness: the Oregon 400t with built-in topographical maps for the United States; the Oregon 400c with built-in BlueChart g2 charts for the United States East Coast, West Coast, Gulf Coast and Great Lakes; and the Oregon 400i with built-in United States Inland Lakes maps. The Oregon 400t boasts a 3D contour view of the topo maps, as well.

One of the most obvious upgrades of the Oregon series is the screen. A full 3" diagonally, it's the largest handheld screen from Garmin, and boasts 240 x 400 pixels of big, beautiful color. Throw in an improved processor, and the Oregon can do what the handheld GPSMAPs only dreamed of.

For example, check out the topo screens from a GPSMAP 60CSx vs. an Oregon 400t. The Oregon screen is taller, plus it shows much more info due to its enhanced resolution, screen type, and colors:

GPSMAP 60CSx Topo Screens:      Oregon 400t Topo Screens:

Will you also be taking your Garmin Oregon on the road? It's easy: simply add the City Navigator NT North America pre-programmed card and Automotive Kit, which includes a car mount and cigarette lighter adapter. The Oregon will calculate turn-by-turn directions and beep when it's time to turn.

Are you a geocacher? Garmin makes it easier than ever with the Oregon, which supports Geocaching.com (click here) GPX files for downloading geocaches and detail straight to your unit (left). Plus, you can download games and adventures from Wherigo (click here) as well; it's the equivalent of an outdoors video game with your Garmin! Use GPS technology to guide you to physical locations and interact with virtual objects and characters. You can even customize Oregon's interface based on your favorite activity, and show off photos of your excursions with Oregon's picture viewer.

Are you a workout buff? The Garmin Oregon is compatible with the GSC 10 Speed/Cadence sensor for bicycles and the wireless Heart Rate Monitor. You can use your Oregon to plan your workout routing, and record valuable training into the unit, just like a Forerunner or Edge series unit, albeit without Training Center software.

The Oregon 300 and 400 series models are equipped with a barometric altimeter for elevation and air pressure readings, and an electronic compass for magnetic bearing. A new feature is the elevation profile (right), which allows you to plot elevation or air pressure over time and display it dynamically.

Garmin Oregons are even better when you share - and you won't have to give up your own! Each Oregon receiver can send a wireless signal to another Oregon or Colorado unit in range, letting you share your waypoints, tracks, routes and geocaches with any other Oregon or Colorado user with the press of a button.

So which Oregon package is for you?

All five Oregon packages are expandable and powerful, but one should take care to select the one that matches his or her needs. What if you need more than one map set? There are a number of options available.

If you require topographical maps, with elevation contours, campgrounds, parks, forests, trails, and the like, then you require the Oregon 400t. Pre-loaded with Garmin's high-detail topo maps for the United States, the Oregon 400t is the only receiver in this line with 3D topo contour views available on the screen of the handheld! Note that this detail is only available on the pre-loaded unit, and cannot be added on later. The Oregon 400t is also compatible with City Navigator software for driving directions and has limited compatibility with BlueChart g2 Vision for waterway detail.

If your main use for the Oregon is on the water, look into an Oregon 400c or Oregon 400i. The Oregon 400c is pre-loaded with detailed BlueChart g2 Vision data for the United States East Coast (Maine to Bahamas), Gulf Coast (Florida through Texas), West Coast (Washington state through Baja California) and the Great Lakes. You'll get detailed depth contours, color navaids, port plans, tide data, and more on these units. If you do your boating in inland lakes and rivers, check out the Oregon 400i instead, with pre-programmed depth and nautical data for thousands of lakes across the United States. If you need both offshore and inland data, your best bet is to buy an Oregon 400c and add a BlueChart g2 Vision Inland Lakes card as an accessory. The Oregon 400c and 400i are also compatible with City Navigator software for driving directions and the Garmin Topo 2008 DVD for off-road maps.

If you don't need high-detail mapping, or already have the software that you need, you can invest in an Oregon 300. Its internal memory, plus microSD card slot, ensure that you'll be able to fit all you need onto your receiver. If you don't need the high-detail mapping, compass, altimeter, or wireless exchange feature, and just want a base-level touch-screen receiver, then the Oregon 200 is the one for you.

See what the Oregon can do:

If your primary use is automotive navigation, you may want to check out the Garmin nuvi 500 and nuvi 550. These are touch-screen automotive GPS navigators that can accept topographical and marine charts as well. Here's a comparison chart:

"Garmin Oregon Guide" Copyright © 2008 TigerGPS.com, Ltd. All rights reserved.

Garmin Oregon 400t Touch-Screen Handheld GPS Receiver with US Topo Maps
Garmin Oregon 400c Touch-Screen Handheld GPS Receiver with US Coastal Charts
Garmin Oregon 400i Touch-Screen Handheld GPS Receiver with US Inland Lakes
Garmin Oregon 300 Touch-Screen Handheld GPS Receiver
Garmin Oregon 200 Touch-Screen Handheld GPS Receiver
Garmin Oregon 400t Canada Touch-Screen Handheld GPS Receiver with Canada Topo Maps