First let me start by saying HELLO!
I'm new here and still have some looking around to do, but like what I see so far. I read a lot here before selling my Polaris and moving on......to my new Rincon.

My family has owned Honda's for many years, but in 1997 I bought my first Polaris, (mostly due to size I'm 6'4"), then in 1999 we bought our second Polaris. Well reliability issues (and great pricing on the '05 Rincon) brought my family back to the RED Leader.
(We also still own several Honda ATC's, a Z50r, Eton 50, Cobra 50, and a D.B. Motors 50 race bike)

My question is reguarding the GPScape feature that's supposed to be capable of showing altitude. How do I access that feature?
I have read and re-read that chapter and althogh on page 48 it clearly states: "In addition to latitude and longitude, GPScape also calculates altitude (above sea level)" I cannot figure out where it displays it......

 

My Rancher's manual states the same thing. I also looked and looked to find the output, to no avail. My guess is that the GPS processor does compute altitude, but Honda chose not to display it unfortunately. I'll bet that statement was taken word for word from the GPS manufacturer's literature about its capability.

I think one could connect to the GPS processor and read the altitude. It would just take getting the tech spec from the GPS manufacturer, and hooking up the appropriate bus like a JTAG or serial etc to a computer. Too much work for me, I use the GPS in conjuntion with my Garmin Rino, I use the Rino for the map, and the GPScape for the waypoints and backup. I almost didn't get the GPScape, but I really like it.

 

We almost passed on the GPS too and I'm glad I paid the extra $100 for it now also. I figured the same as you that it's not seen just used in the signal calculation.
I'm going to buy a nice GPS for our boat and now I'll look for a portable one. I'd like the map feature in the woods plus I could use it in the car. Research to start shortly......

Hey why did you go from a Rincon to the Rancher?

 

The new Garmin Rino 530 is one sweet GPS, but it's hard to justify upgrading when I have a 120. But I have been happy with my Rino, durable, functional and a radio too.

I went from the Rincon to the Rancher because I think the Rincon is a death machine. I've posted here about this before, but in a nut shell, the front suspension is way to soft, & the IRS way to unstable in technical terrain. It loves to endo and/or roll. If I want to ride on the edge, I'll take out the CR. In my humble opinion, 4-wheelers shouldn't be used for aggressive riding, just for utility and exploring.

Good luck shopping for the GPS, there are many great options out there!