Cusomtizable - The screen arrangement can be configured to best suit your needs. BAD Mouse - The mouse bottom has no cover, so when ever its placed in the case or pocket the mouse botton is pressed and the unit backlight activated. So don't carry the unit inside a case or pocket on long hikes. Unlike a ipod there lacks a firm switch that deactivates the controls. Best if Etrex is not used in mission critical tasks unless you can build a hard case or moouse cover. Night time use - to turn on the backlight, its most natural to press the light botton, but it requies a long wait to show the map screen, alternative is to press the mouse botton.
I have to turn down the resolution of tracks I download from Trimble or other sites before uploading it to Etrex. Why, Garmin claims a huge capacity for track points and waypoints, but some bug prevents it from showing more then several dozen. A big NO NO for those of use hiking on remote trails where markers are not visible.
I had to sepsarate my track points by severl hundred feed to a thousand feet to feet the track on the etrex. File menu - There is none. You have to take out memory card and place it in a USB memory reader to organize the files. The GPS unit does not act as a memory card reader. So don't expect to walk into a Internet Cafe, download a track from the Internet and upload the files into the Etrex.
You are pretty much stuck using your own laptop that has the garmin USB driver and Garmin Mapsource software installed. Alternative, you can carry a USB card reader. Water - it doesnt float, so be very careful when on a river, lake or ocean. It also does not show tides. So for Marine use get a different GPS. Screen - A bit too small. The size of the unit limits the screen size.
But for those of us with normal or better then normal vision, the small screen could be put to better use if the resolution was increased to make the small icons more clear. Only Garmin Maps can be downloaded to the Etrex. Considering Garmin Mapsource software are among the worst out there except for Magellen Software which is the worst, it limits the enjoyment and usefulness of the GPS. Due to a lack of international competition on software quality in this areas usually suffers greatly.
And no you cannt go to a Japanese site and buy a import. It doesn't exist. The software also is bare minimum when it comes to features. So far the hardware OEMs are doing their best to also sell the software and hence, making the maps proprietory.
I am keeping my eye open for a strictly hardware manufacturer that just makes GPS, so I can use any software I want. Its also good for the market because it brings in competition. Compass - Slow and inaccurate. Bring a magnetic compass on challenging navigations. It will take about four separate files to load the entire USA topo. Alternative, probably a reliable one, use a old USB 1. I fortunately have a 5 year OLD antique laptop I can use.
Nothing can be done on the unit or on a public PC. Personally I like to spend my nights reviewing my tracks and organizing, but cannt be done without your own laptop. For those of us who have discovered and used this port its a GOD bless. So when I am in deep canyons, tree foliage, urban jungle or really bad weather the external antenna receieves where the built in usually fails. Even on car GPSs I look for a antenna port. No waiting for warmup, no "poor reception" warning, and no 50 feet or worse resolution.
I broke the cable on the external antenna, and I cannt replace it because all I know of it is that it was "made in Taiwan". It was OEM, where the American company is supposed to import it and then stick their company name on it, but mine didn't have a label. But the unit is usable and the hardware is well made. Its the best unit of its kind out there.
For those of us who like to hike, climb or bike. I don't recommend it for Marine use, because it does't float and lacks tides.
But can be used on water, lets say for kayaking or canoeing. Just don't drop it. Or have a bouy connected to it. And bring along a tides map. I like to see in the next version a Bluetooth capability. So I can use it with my phone and laptop. I like to also see a more feature rich software on the unit. This little device becomes a object of distraction and amusement on lonely nights on the trail.
We can lose the games on the unit. Not saying how much over 40! I think my wrists are fine though. When hiking you take a map with you and use the gps to get you location on the map. I also use it to mart my trail head and truck location. This is a great unit and I have recorded over 12, miles on it….. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. Sunday, March 18, News Feed Comments.
Order by 5 p. Comments Grumpy says:. March 25, at pm. Rich Owings says:. March 26, at am. Mike says:. October 30, at pm.
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