Your Garmin, Your Story ...

We're constantly amazed at the positive feedback we get from people who use our products for just about anything you can imagine. Their stories range from geocaching to surviving life-threatening situations.

Scroll below to read about testimonials for this product and don't forget to check out the amazing testimonials and human interest stories on our Garmin Blog!

View testimonials on Garmin Blog

 

"Enduring with their Rinos"

During Operation Iraqi Freedom, my Rino 110 allowed me to tell our convoy how far we were from Baghdad, as well as Mosul, when we eventually moved there. The radio's scan capability helped keep my troops and I informed by scanning every channel that the other soldiers were using. It may not have saved our life or anything like that, but it definitely lowered the level of stress by keeping us informed of movements, locations and distances. And furthermore, the horrific environment of heat and sand destroyed many GPS systems and radios bought by my fellow soldiers. My Garmin Rino 110 survived three months of sandstorms and heat. It endured, as did we. Thank you for such a great product.

Sincerely,

Sgt. S. L. F.
U.S. Army

"Rino enables lieutenant to find troops in sand storm"

My name is Lt. R. P. and I just wanted to take some time to let you all know what great products you put out. I returned to the United States on July 4th, 2003, from service in Iraq and Kuwait with the 226th EN CO based in Augusta, KS. Many of my soldiers purchased Garmin products from the PX in Ft. Riley (Kansas) with their own hard-earned money prior to our deployment, knowing that, in the desert, these products would possibly come in handy. Turns out it was good preparation.

On March 21st, about two days before the land war with Iraq began, my soldiers and I were out on a pipeline project in northern Kuwait. Around 2300 hrs, as we were finishing our assigned section of the project, a hellacious sandstorm hit. Words cannot describe how brutal the winds were, and the sand being blown around was blinding. I ordered all of my soldiers into the vehicles for cover. We were missing three of our soldiers. I was able to communicate with them with our handheld radios, but I wasn't able to find them in the blinding conditions to give them shelter from the sandstorm. They were without a vehicle, not far from our position. Problem was, given the conditions, I could not locate them. We drove around in circles. One of my soldiers, who owns a Rino GPS, was communicating with one of my soldiers, who also had a Rino. The lost soldiers transmitted their grid to our vehicle, and he relayed those coordinates to me up in front of the vehicle. I punched them into my eTrex and discovered my three soldiers were only about 500 meters to the east of us. We drove toward the coordinates and came right upon them.

This story may not sound like much, but your products allowed my three soldiers to have shelter in the brutal sandstorm that turned out to last about 90 minutes. I am grateful. In addition, I know the next Garmin purchase I will make is the Rino.

Thanks,

Lt. R. M. P.
Augusta, KS

"15,860 miles on desert roads with his Rino"

I recently returned from my tour in Iraq, and Garmin was with me every step of the way. The Army's version of a GPS is bulky, takes specific batteries, and weighs a ton, so we all bought civilian GPS systems. I really liked the Rino the best because we'd have two-way communications as well as a GPS in the palm of our hands! The eTrex and Rino are so user-friendly that it was not difficult to map our routes, mark waypoints, and navigate our way through the desert while still paying attention to our surroundings. After a few trips throughout Iraq, I did not even require a map and protractor. I just selected "go to 'x'" and knew how long it was going to take me to get there, how far away it was, and what direction I needed to head while following my previously tracked routes. If we had contact with the enemy, I instantly had a ten-digit grid coordinate to relay to my higher unit, as well as the MPs, providing us with security. As a convoy commander in a transportation unit, Garmin really made my life much easier and less stressful. I logged over 15,860 miles on desert roads, and Garmin was with me every turn of the wheel!

J. E. G., Jr.
1st Lt., TC
Platoon Leader
68th Transportation Company ("Eagle Express!")

We contacted 1st Lt. to see if he had any pictures to share. Here's what he sent:

Yes sir, you may use my story for reprint. (This is) a picture of our driving conditions and why it was so important to have the tracking on, as well as the military grid plugged in. Here are just some of our daily routes we had to drive on. You can barely see where the road is or turns off.

 

 

"Rino and soldier escape harm in Baghdad"

Dear Garmin,

My name is Sgt. C. F. I am stationed in Ft. Stewart, GA. Just before I was to depart for Kuwait in January of 2003, I decided to purchase a GPS because the military's PLGR units are too bulky and sometimes very unreliable. I decided to get a Rino because of the radio capabilities. When we crossed the border to assault Iraq, I used it quite frequently. When the commo failed in one of our Bradley fighting vehicles, I lent it to the driver so he could hear the commands of his vehicle commander. Once we reached Baghdad, I was quite impressed with how durable it was. Most of the equipment I had had already failed because of the sand and numerous dust storms. Unfortunately, while we were in a firefight in Baghdad International airport, all the accessories to the Rino were in a bag in my Bradley, and this same Bradley was shot and destroyed by an Iraqi T-72 tank. I lost every piece of equipment and clothing I had except the Rino, which I always kept on me. The point is, I was thoroughly impressed with the performance of the Rino and will always stick with Garmin for all of my navigational needs.

Sgt. C. F.
U.S. Army

"Paintball Wars with the Rino® 110"

Dear Garmin® Corp,

I purchased a Rino 110 radio/GPS two months ago for recreational use. It has been quite enjoyable. Since then, several of my friends saw it and decided to get their own. We all live within a mile or so, so we can use its built-in games from home. As well, it works great for paintball. We play in heavy woods. The Rino was well worth the cost. However, when on a camping trip, one of my friends became lost by the river in early-morning fog. He called me on a GMRS channel and when we heard from him, we moved to an FRS channel and, through position reporting, found he was 1 1/2 miles away. The unit let him navigate right to the truck. As far as me and three friends are concerned, It has been worth the price. I started using GPS two years ago with an eTrex®, and it was cutting edge then. Now your company has done it again my blending GPS and FRS/GMRS. I hope this becomes a standard of communication as it has been highly helpful for me.

Thanks,
N. G.

"Rino takes a beating...and keeps on ticking"

I am working at a construction site where we use FRS radios to keep in contact. My crew all work from swing stages and a few radios fell to their deaths. I brought in my Rino because we were short on radios. I kept my Rino clipped to my tool bag, so it would not get knocked off my belt.

Unfortunately, the 35-pound tool bag, and my Rino, fell 8 stories (96 feet) from the swing stage. When I got to the ground, I was expecting the worst, but the Rino was still on and working. The belt clip has a small crack, but no other damage. I am very impressed with the toughness of this unit. Keep up the good work

B. R.
Windsor, Ontario
Canada

"Rinos go hunting in Michigan"

To whom it may concern, 

 I purchased three Rinos for me, my dad, and my brother. We live in Michigan and go hunting for deer every year. We hunt on State land and not in the same area every year, so it is important to know where we are. We have always used a compass, but GPS was so expensive. The Rino appealed to us because of all of its features. We learned how to use them in one week and had a great time hunting. No deer, but we were never lost with the Rino. We also knew where each other were and that is very important. We try to stay close together, but we hunt with rifles so its nice to see how far away we are. The Rino showed us everything, and the tracks showed us everywhere we had gone. If we had shot a deer, it was nice knowing that help to drag it was just a call away. No more yelling in the woods for help. Don't ever buy 2-way radios—buy a Rino. You will not regret it.

M. W.