In this video I review the Bushnell Backtrack GPS Personal Location Finder. The Bushnell device combines GPS with a digital compass to help you navigate back to a spot you have been to before (such as your house, where you parked your car, etc). The unit can store up to 3 “waypoints”. I provide a brief explanation of the unit and then provide a field test.
Note, this unit does not utilize maps and requires no subscriptions. Hence, it is reasonably inexpensive (roughly $50). My field test indicates that although there are some faults, they
can be usually be overcome, providing a useful tool when hiking.
I have absolutely no connection with the manufacturer and merely wish to provide an unbiased review of the product. If you use this product (or similar products) be forewarned that they can fail – you should not rely on them solely, especially if you are orienteering. Be prudent and exercise caution. Also, my explanation of how the unit works is based purely on some experience with robots and is an educated guess – I have not found any good documentation.
QSTARZ and IDC (Ecco) appear to provide similar devices. I have not tested them. I would love to hear from anyone who has done a comparison.
Duration : 0:8:56
[youtube 47iMcopiu3o]
Thanks for the work …
Thanks for the work you put in to the review,I will spend a little more and buy a Garmin. I think Bushnell needs to put a lot of work into this one. Bushnell has really slipped from “Mediocre” to junk in the past decade. I would have sold my Bushnell stock long ago.
@cleve0h Absolutely …
@cleve0h Absolutely, and true whether you have a digital compass or a regular compass…
rocks may have iron …
rocks may have iron an other minerals that may interfere with reading.
@keelee7771 Did …
@keelee7771 Did you calibrate the compass? You can do that by moving the unit in a figure 8, horizontally. I show that in my new D-TOUR review (part 2).
i find mine to be …
i find mine to be apx. 24 deg. off. sure wouldn’t want to be my life on it.
somehow I don’t …
somehow I don’t fully trust electronic navigational devices, a good mechanical compass is much better, plus a map of course . .. even GPS in smartphones are somewhat inaccurate
I guess this is a …
I guess this is a good example not to buy this…..take pictures or video of your trek instead
@tudorelviola I’ve …
@tudorelviola I’ve found that the first time you turn it on (if it has been off for a long time), it can take quite a few minutes for it to “lock” (even 10 minutes). And then other times it happens quickly. If you are in a city, buildings can block GPS entirely. If you are in a really thick forest, GPS can be blocked. Thus far it has always worked for me, even if I’m inside a building (but at a window). Maybe your unit is bad.
I have a problem …
I have a problem with this device. The problem is that the Sattelite icon does not stop from blinking so i can not use the toy.
@EdificeArchitect I …
@EdificeArchitect I totally agree and people should always keep this in mind!
@Fadsmashers That …
@Fadsmashers That is a good question. The last time I used it was in December in California. Still using the original batteries. Today I went for a hike and used it for about 15 minutes – still showing a full charge on the original batteries. I’m a “light” user, but apparently I have now had the same original batteries in it for almost 2 years, and I don’t remove the batteries when I don’t use the unit. For more serious stuff I always care extra batteries though, just in case.
@swarmotics How is …
@swarmotics How is the battery life?
Navigational …
Navigational equipment should never be considered 100% accurate and really should be used as a way to CONFIRM your position. It should never be relied solely upon and is no substitute for basic navigation skills. =) Cheers big ears!
@sinsearch I’ve …
@sinsearch I’ve used it in Denver ok…
@TrueHelpTV Well, …
@TrueHelpTV Well, it is foolish to rely on any one piece of tech to save your life. But, any compass reading can be off by 15 degrees if you are near some magnetic ore. This unit always tells you your distance, so you would really have to mess up to not notice that you were getting further and further away, while walking for miles. You don’t even need the compass. Just walk in the direction that maximally minimizes your distance. That part is very accurate (assuming you get the satellite lock).
15 degrees can VERY …
15 degrees can VERY quickly turn into miles of course, I wouldn’t recommend something that imprecise; considering that’s it’s purpose if to ultimately “Save” your life.
@sinsearch
It …
@sinsearch
It seems to work ok. Even if the compass gets flaky the distance is computed via the GPS module, so you can see if you are getting closer to your desired location or not.
@acknob
Only …
@acknob
Only where you have been. Up to 3 locations.
So this device …
So this device would be completely useless in a city or for the purpose of finding a car in a car lot for example lol
@acknob: It can …
@acknob: It can store only 3 locations where you have been previously. I’m sure an ECE student could figure out how to hack it, but it would be beyond most of us, and would need an extra interface.
are you able to …
are you able to program coordinates into it or does it only backtrack where you have been yourself?
are you able to …
are you able to program coordinates into it or does it only backtrack where you have been yourself?