It depends. If I were doing much more offroad than on road then possibly. I've also got Gaia GPS. It works well with my touchscreen stereo under CarPlay and frees up space in an already tight cockpit but outside of cell coverage and you'll loose maps and some functionality. You loose anything with a dedicated GPS. I took the tread with me on a road trip to Oregon. While the tread worked, it didn't do as well as a regular Garmin street GPS. Good topic to follow up on though. Thanks.
Me and my group, use this every time we go out to ride. We are able to connect up to 20 different devices. 2-of us have the actual "Garmin Tread" with it's mic. The rest downloaded the app on there mobile devices, and are able to see what we see on our "Garmin Tread". The way we communicate with people with out a mic is with a "Boafeng UV-9R" hand held raidio with the same frequency of the channel "2" on the "Garmin Tread". This improved our group riding tremendously. Highly recommend!!
Hey Hector, so your saying if you download the app. Each party can keep track of each other. So the Tread will pair with an iphone and visaversa? What brand radio do you use? Thanks
Bob, could you explain the Murs radio a little more? How they work and what benefit they have over the Rugged Radio platform. I will pick one of these up if you want to test out the group ride, just meet me in Moab or Colorado LOL Great video by the way.
MURS is a non licensed multi use radio service. Only five channels allotted near the commercial portion of vhf. Rugged sells baofeng uv5rs programmed into murs, FRS, and gmrs. Personally, I’m not a fan of Some of rugged business practices. You can buy the same gear for about half.
I have no experience with this device (just now researching it -that's how I found your video) but my Garmin Montana allows me do select and download various base maps which contain the different trails, topo, etc. that you mentioned were not on this device. If it's similar to the Montana the standard (i.e. free and included) base map is more for road navigation and doesn't provide much detail (Imagine how much memory would be required to hold all that detail for every possible region that they might sell these units in). There are lots of base maps available on the internet, both free and subscription.
Great shows! I saw you got that Tinergy battery monitor. How’s that working out for you? I need to get one for my shack. Not too many reviews on battery monitors, your is the only one I’ve seen related to HAM radio use.
What did you use to transmit to your Tread in the video? I have Tread and it won’t let me use the radio function the way you showed in the video. The only way I can access my channels, is in setting up a group ride. I’ve also tried the MURS channel that it’s on and the Tread doesn’t recognize it. Good video
I just checked. The Tread MSRP is just $100 more than the MSRP for the Overlander. But for this month there is a $200 rebate for the Overlander from Garmin.
My opinion; Garmin wants to sell. As many treads as they can. Installing a radio that requires a license to use opens them up to liability. MURS allows unregulated radio with a gain antenna and no extra payment required.
Hi and thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts on this device! I’ve been doing a little research, since I’m considering buying one of these, and it seems like you can track friends who downloads Garmin’s Group Ride Mobile app. 😊 Now that you’ve had it for around a year, how are you finding it? Have there been any improvements to the software and maps since you bought it? Have they added the option to download more, non-Garmin maps? How’s turn-by-turn navigation? I’m considering the Tread XL - Overlander edition…do you think it’s worth forking out the $1,500 it costs? Thanks a ton in advance!
Any chance on checking out the new Tread SxS 8 inch screen that just came out? Supposed to have trails and BLM maps installed. I can’t find any Independant reviews.
How about a Rfinder P10, I think that would be a better choice it has a dual band radio and a android tablet. Should be able to download off road maps, or google earth app. Just an idea. Glad you are back making videos, keep up the good work. 73 de N6LPV
If I find one, I’ll definitely test it. I just don’t think there’s enough market for it. Garmin is banking on sales into the millions not hundreds or thousands.
No need for APRS, Garmin has made use of the MURS FCC rules that allow digital transmissions. The Garmin Tread sends GPS location data bursts over the VHF MURS frequencies. They are aiming to market this to off-road community, not to many hams in this general community. MURS is a VHF 2 watt no license required radio service.
![Updated Garmin Tread Review: 3,000 Miles / 8 Months II Polaris General 4 1000 [UTV Offroad GPS]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/d-T0sEg9FX4/mqdefault.jpg)
![Updated Garmin Tread Review: 3,000 Miles / 8 Months II Polaris General 4 1000 [UTV Offroad GPS]](/img/tr.png)
Let s say that you own only the Jeep , would you buy this GPS Tread ?
It depends. If I were doing much more offroad than on road then possibly. I've also got Gaia GPS. It works well with my touchscreen stereo under CarPlay and frees up space in an already tight cockpit but outside of cell coverage and you'll loose maps and some functionality. You loose anything with a dedicated GPS. I took the tread with me on a road trip to Oregon. While the tread worked, it didn't do as well as a regular Garmin street GPS. Good topic to follow up on though. Thanks.
Me and my group, use this every time we go out to ride. We are able to connect up to 20 different devices. 2-of us have the actual "Garmin Tread" with it's mic. The rest downloaded the app on there mobile devices, and are able to see what we see on our "Garmin Tread". The way we communicate with people with out a mic is with a "Boafeng UV-9R" hand held raidio with the same frequency of the channel "2" on the "Garmin Tread". This improved our group riding tremendously. Highly recommend!!
Hey Hector, so your saying if you download the app. Each party can keep track of each other. So the Tread will pair with an iphone and visaversa? What brand radio do you use? Thanks
I am glad to see a new MURS type certified radio on the market, I feel it is a very under appreciated service.
Sawtooth is on my bucket list, ever since I watched Pale Rider.
I’m waiting for the HUD Helmet like the one on Apache Helicopter to come out. 🤣😂
Would like to have heard more details on the MURS radio.
Bob, could you explain the Murs radio a little more? How they work and what benefit they have over the Rugged Radio platform. I will pick one of these up if you want to test out the group ride, just meet me in Moab or Colorado LOL Great video by the way.
MURS is a non licensed multi use radio service. Only five channels allotted near the commercial portion of vhf. Rugged sells baofeng uv5rs programmed into murs, FRS, and gmrs. Personally, I’m not a fan of Some of rugged business practices. You can buy the same gear for about half.
We use MURS in the off road club quite often. I agree that rugged radio is a joke. 73 KB7SQS
I have no experience with this device (just now researching it -that's how I found your video) but my Garmin Montana allows me do select and download various base maps which contain the different trails, topo, etc. that you mentioned were not on this device. If it's similar to the Montana the standard (i.e. free and included) base map is more for road navigation and doesn't provide much detail (Imagine how much memory would be required to hold all that detail for every possible region that they might sell these units in). There are lots of base maps available on the internet, both free and subscription.
Great shows! I saw you got that Tinergy battery monitor. How’s that working out for you? I need to get one for my shack. Not too many reviews on battery monitors, your is the only one I’ve seen related to HAM radio use.
What did you use to transmit to your Tread in the video? I have Tread and it won’t let me use the radio function the way you showed in the video. The only way I can access my channels, is in setting up a group ride. I’ve also tried the MURS channel that it’s on and the Tread doesn’t recognize it. Good video
I just checked. The Tread MSRP is just $100 more than the MSRP for the Overlander. But for this month there is a $200 rebate for the Overlander from Garmin.
I wonder why Garmin went the MURS radio route instead of the GMRS route. Didn’t the off-road community just endorse GMRS as the standard.
My opinion; Garmin wants to sell. As many treads as they can. Installing a radio that requires a license to use opens them up to liability. MURS allows unregulated radio with a gain antenna and no extra payment required.
Hi and thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts on this device!
I’ve been doing a little research, since I’m considering buying one of these, and it seems like you can track friends who downloads Garmin’s Group Ride Mobile app. 😊
Now that you’ve had it for around a year, how are you finding it? Have there been any improvements to the software and maps since you bought it? Have they added the option to download more, non-Garmin maps? How’s turn-by-turn navigation? I’m considering the Tread XL - Overlander edition…do you think it’s worth forking out the $1,500 it costs?
Thanks a ton in advance!
Garmin have craziest prices on the market
Have you done a power output check of the unit? Is it putting out the full 2 watts
Any chance on checking out the new Tread SxS 8 inch screen that just came out? Supposed to have trails and BLM maps installed.
I can’t find any Independant reviews.
How about a Rfinder P10, I think that would be a better choice it has a dual band radio and a android tablet. Should be able to download off road maps, or google earth app. Just an idea. Glad you are back making videos, keep up the good work. 73 de N6LPV
Been a ham for 30 years... I never thought ham radio was very fitting for off-roading.
Very interested in this device! Do you know if a helmet communicator(Cardo/Sena) will activate the ptt or do you have to use the handheld mic?
You also own a Jeep. , great ! Would you install the TREAD gps in the Jeep for offroading maps ?
I live in Utah. The entire west half of Utah is desert. Remote. help an hour or more away. Inteach and sat phones save lives.
Good review- i purchased one last year. Mapping needs to be better
Have you been able to get the group ride to work with Polaris ride command?
Sounds like "$on of Garmin Rhino" to me.
And they had track-back thirty years ago.
What size screen is that? 5.5"?
Great Video & Details
Whenever you do the tracking are you able to save your tracks for future rides
Yep
So, how does the radio work? Range?
What model spare tire is that ;)
Can't believe this thing still uses Mini-USB instead of USB-C or even Micro USB.
I still like miniUSB but really Garmin....that's been obsoleted for over a decade now! Even USB-C has been obsoleted by 3.1, 3.2, 3-PD....
I wish it was HAM. I was hoping for it to support APRS and map locations. Anyone know of something that does that out of the box?
I'd like to know too
If I find one, I’ll definitely test it. I just don’t think there’s enough market for it. Garmin is banking on sales into the millions not hundreds or thousands.
No need for APRS, Garmin has made use of the MURS FCC rules that allow digital transmissions. The Garmin Tread sends GPS location data bursts over the VHF MURS frequencies. They are aiming to market this to off-road community, not to many hams in this general community. MURS is a VHF 2 watt no license required radio service.
I am sure APRS over MURS would go over like a turd in the punch bow.
I bet your kidneys were bleeding after a ride on stock shocks. Need to add a set or ori on that side by side 😉😉
What’s the point in dragging electronics and commo crap along? Isn’t the point to get away from the Californians?
4 wheels, couple bags of chips, some sandwiches, an ice box full of cold beer and a dirt road! That's living...
Sometimes nice to get back to the truck after a 100 miles on the trail. Not a Californian in sight.