Garmin Etrex GPS ??

[amshaw]

Hi All,
Im looking at buying a Garmin Etrex, I just want a basic unit to learn about using a GPS and to be Honest may not get used all that often....but I like the idea of having one just in case, also if nothing else I can keep an eye on our speed (dont trust the Disco Speedo that much)

Can the above work ok with rechargable batterys?

Any remarks on a Etrex, good or bad Please?

[Phoenix]

I've got a Garmin 60 series which is great. works fine on rechargables. I've got a mate that has an extex and swears by it.

[dmdigital]

Hi All,
Im looking at buying a Garmin Etrex, I just want a basic unit to learn about using a GPS and to be Honest may not get used all that often....but I like the idea of having one just in case, also if nothing else I can keep an eye on our speed (dont trust the Disco Speedo that much)

Can the above work ok with rechargable batterys?

Any remarks on a Etrex, good or bad Please?


I've had one since they came out and yes it will do exactly what you want. It is an excellant easy to use basic unit and what you are after. It will work of rechargeable batteries and you can then buy the car charger for it if required.

Also for GPS understanding check out the book by Robert Pepper http://www.gpsvehiclenavigation.com/GPS/. This is an excellent guide to GPS.

[p38arover]

I'd spring a bit extra for the eMap with the inbuilt base maps even though it's a bit old by today's standards.

I have an eMap but my eyes aren't the best so it isn't easy to read whilst driving.

Robert Pepper's (RMP on this forum) book is well worth buying before you buy anything. You can buy it almost anywhere but why not buy it directly from Robert: http://www.gpsvehiclenavigation.com/GPS/

He might even autograph it for you. Bugger, I forgot to get him to autograph mine!

Ron

[DirtyDawg]

I have an etrex legend and I can't fault it, I run energiser recharge bats with no dramas, I also have a car charger and a windscreen mount , great toy;) and you can do things like this with downloading to your PC

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2006/09/172.jpg

[Blknight.aus]

the ETREX series of GPS..

The only GPS's stocked (the others they order in) at frontline on the army bases and they go like hotcakes

so simple even the grunterpeeds can use em.

[Utemad]

I have the Etrex Legend and it has been pretty good over the last 3 years. However the joystick on mine sometimes needs a good bashing before it will work these days. The receiver is also not as sensitive as my compact flash card GPS. I have a reradiating antenna for in car use.
I got the Legend so I could use the Mapsource maps although I never did. So in hindsight I should have got the Etrex Vista which is the same but with less internal memory and cheaper.
I think it is the Vista and up that have the good screen while the standard yellow and camo ones have the low res screen.
I use the NimH batteries in mine with no ill effects. You can change the settings to reflect what type of batteries you are using which I assume corrects the battery meter.
Whatever you get make sure it has a port for computer connection for downloading/uploading waypoints etc and for using with moving maps. All Etrex models have this feature.

[amshaw]

Thanks everybody for input.

Im wondering about the slowish time it takes to hook up to a sat....would i need to connet an external aerial to help it out....or thats just that model and thats the way it is?

[Utemad]

Take the GPS out into an open area with clear sky and see how long it takes to get its satellites. Then you can compare that to wherever you are trying to use it and if it is much slower than maybe an antenna would help.

[dmdigital]

Thanks everybody for input.

Im wondering about the slowish time it takes to hook up to a sat....would i need to connet an external aerial to help it out....or thats just that model and thats the way it is?

The eTrex won't take an external aerial. Also acquisition time is a processor dependant funtion as well as signal strength, location on the globe, interference and visiability to the sky, to name a few things.

Certainly more expensive models maybe better but there is always a startup lag whilst the unit locates itself in space (and time?).

[weeds]

i have the base model etrex, as much as i was tempted to go up a few models to the ones with maps i had to keep reminding myself how much will it get used. i now turn it on everytime i hop in the defender and at times would like to have maps loaded. on my outback trip last year i needed touse the gps to nabigate, i had the hema maps just had to input the waypoint and off i went


The eTrex won't take an external aerial. Also acquisition time is a processor dependant funtion as well as signal strength, location on the globe, interference and visiability to the sky, to name a few things.

Certainly more expensive models maybe better but there is always a startup lag whilst the unit locates itself in space (and time?).

reception with the etrex in the defender is a real problem so i brought one of these http://www.gpsaustralia.net/shop/product_info.php?products_id=187&osCsid=42800e078bf1bd3bc2367e813773388f problem solved. i also brought the 12V power supply.

sometimes the etrex takes a little while to loc onto sats but when your touring or just out for a day drive what a few minutes. with batteries and the 12V power supply you can leave the unit on all day so that you don't have to wait for sats, remember to turn it off at the end of the day cause they can chew through batteries, if you plan to use it at night you will definetly need the 12V power supply to keep power upto the unit

[dmdigital]

Forgot about using a signal retransion device. Good idea and it has a charger too!

[Utemad]

The Etrex won't take a plug in antenna but you can use an antenna with it. I use a reradiating antenna which does wonders for reception. Especially when 4wding in a forest area or in a gully etc.
Signal strength does depend on many things however this is one of them that you can control.

[SharkyUAE]

My first GPS was a basic eTrex and still have it and use it frequently when I am travelling around on business in various countries.

When you eventually upgrade (and you will) keep it otherwise you will regret it.

[amshaw]

i have the base model etrex, as much as i was tempted to go up a few models to the ones with maps i had to keep reminding myself how much will it get used. i now turn it on everytime i hop in the defender and at times would like to have maps loaded. on my outback trip last year i needed touse the gps to nabigate, i had the hema maps just had to input the waypoint and off i went



reception with the etrex in the defender is a real problem so i brought one of these http://www.gpsaustralia.net/shop/product_info.php?products_id=187&osCsid=42800e078bf1bd3bc2367e813773388f problem solved. i also brought the 12V power supply.

sometimes the etrex takes a little while to loc onto sats but when your touring or just out for a day drive what a few minutes. with batteries and the 12V power supply you can leave the unit on all day so that you don't have to wait for sats, remember to turn it off at the end of the day cause they can chew through batteries, if you plan to use it at night you will definetly need the 12V power supply to keep power upto the unit

After playing with a Etrex at the 4wd show in Melb I will get one for sure....screen was bigger than I thought it would be and seems very easy to use....Didnt get one at the show because you can get them cheaper on Ebay inc postage etc.

Ok Thanks Weeds.....Ummm can you dumb it down a bit for me please...so I can plug that anntena thingo into the power and the other end sits on the roof or bonnet etc and transmits the data to the gps like a fm modulator type deal....or is it connected to the gps via a cable? In which case it would need to be feed through the firewall somewhere.

[dmdigital]

Andrew, reradiating antenna is just that. It sits outside the car or somewhere with a clear view of the sky and lets the eTrex sit inside the car. The antenna receives the GPS signals and retransmits them for the eTrex to pick up. So you had the right idea. In the Disco you can use the eTrex OK on the dashboard as the windscreen slops sufficiently. In a Defender this is an issue (as I am learning).

[abaddonxi]

Got an etrex legend, if you want a permanent signal inside a defender you'd better get a re-radiating antenna. First time I took mine out I kept putting it under the dash and lost the signal. They also eat batteries.

Great aside from that.

Cheers
Simon.

[weeds]

Ok Thanks Weeds.....Ummm can you dumb it down a bit for me please...so I can plug that anntena thingo into the power and the other end sits on the roof or bonnet etc and transmits the data to the gps like a fm modulator type deal....or is it connected to the gps via a cable? In which case it would need to be feed through the firewall somewhere.

it has two wires with bits hanging off the ends, one has a magnetic base and sits outside the car a receiver i guess you would call it, handy if you have a metal roof rack and the other end a transmittor i guess u would call it has been run around the windon frame and it hangs of the rear view mirror above the gps

i cannot belive it raining, i will take some pics

yep the etrex eats batteries, you will be buying a power supply soon as well

[abaddonxi]

And this would be a picture of said re-radiating antenna.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2006/11/146.jpg

Cheers
Simon

[weeds]

ok a couple of pics sorry forgot to rotate prior to saving, they are not the best and keep in mind that the rig was parked the reception is worse when moving

1st is with the power connected to the re radiating antenna
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2006/11/138.jpg

2nd with the power disconnected
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2006/11/139.jpg

[defender90]

The eTrex won't take an external aerial. Also acquisition time is a processor dependant funtion as well as signal strength, location on the globe, interference and visiability to the sky, to name a few things.

Certainly more expensive models maybe better but there is always a startup lag whilst the unit locates itself in space (and time?). you can use a reradiating antenna with the etrex and the start up lag depends on time since it last aquirred but they still chew batteries unless you get the car adaptor. mine just sits in the back now in a enclosure with constant 12v so its on 24/7 as its connected to my computer and i just open up mapsource and go from there

[amshaw]

G'Day Gang,
Well I now have my Etrex "Yellow". Very happy with it so far , Ive even got a book about GPS from the libaray by Robert Pepper, better still its Aussie and easy to read ! (just noted in past posts that this book was the "one to get").....but Ive got a Question.

In the "set up" menu and then into "units" Im wondering what settings I need to put in. mainly "Position Format" & "Map Datum". I dont think the guy I got it from used it much and really had no idea.

Ive got the rest sorted but Im just making sure what they should be on.....any help please?

Also Im surpried that i still can use the etrex while dtill in the Disco....well not as good as out of the Disco but still can be used. Ive also noted that it really east the recharable batteries quickly, not a big prob but thought I would get more out of them.

[incisor]

G'Day Gang,
Well I now have my Etrex "Yellow". Very happy with it so far , Ive even got a book about GPS from the libaray by Robert Pepper, better still its Aussie and easy to read !

Robert is a moderator of the GPS forums here :P

[Utemad]

Position format and datum need to be set to whatever the map your using with your GPS uses.

I prefer UTM for position format though.

The map datum needs to be set for each map otherwise the position your GPS tells you and the position you see on the map won't match up with the actual position on Earth.

However if you just use your GPS to show you a line on the screen and getting back to waypoints you've already marked or vehicle speed etc then they are irrelevant.

[amshaw]

Robert is a moderator of the GPS forums here :P

:oops2: :whistling: :wasntme: :bat: Just as well i said its a really really great book isnt it :D

[amshaw]

Position format and datum need to be set to whatever the map your using with your GPS uses.

I prefer UTM for position format though.

The map datum needs to be set for each map otherwise the position your GPS tells you and the position you see on the map won't match up with the actual position on Earth.

However if you just use your GPS to show you a line on the screen and getting back to waypoints you've already marked or vehicle speed etc then they are irrelevant.

Hi All,
Ive been playing again, but I just dont get it, I mean when trying to use my location Im having trouble finding that possie on the map.

Im using the Vic CFA fire map book, we use a 6 number map referance. Any idea what setting I need to have my gps on so I can use it with my maps?:confused:

I know on the gps in the CFA command 4x4 it gives two (of course) 7-8 numbers (Nthings & Eastings), from memory we need to take off the first & last two of each number to get our possie, do i need to do the same?:confused:

Any help would be great please:)

[Utemad]

I think you need to set your GPS to UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) which I'll explain why below.

I'll use my HEMA Fraser Island map as an example as it sounds to me to be using the same system as your Vic CFA maps. Most large scale maps use this as you don'e have to worry about the curve of the Earth at such a large scale.

UTM uses 6 numbers for an easting and 7 for a northing. However when you look on your map only some of the numbers will change so they only show you the numbers that change. So on my Fraser map the bottom left corner is

490000E 7150000N

So as you go further up the left hand border of the map instead of displaying the entire northing again they just display the big number as the rest stays the same. So all you will see is 55, 60, 65, 70 etc until it reaches 00 again and you will see 7200. The same goes for the eastings.

[amshaw]

Ok Thankyou Will try that....umm Just changed it to UTM but there are to choose from;

Aus geod '66
Aus geod '84

Also I got this reading out the front of our place (As per screen);

54H 0588610
UTM 5822687

Any ideas?

am I on the right track, just about to pull out the map book.

[Utemad]

Given your coordinates I would place you slightly North-West inside of Hamilton, Vic. You've stated Hamilton as your location though of course :D
54H is the zone (see the websites below)
0588610 is the Easting
5822687 is the Northing

The GPS has just added a 0 to the front of your Easting.

As for your Aus geod '66 and Aus geod '84 did you get them from your map or the GPS?

When inputing these settings under 'Position Format' choose 'UTM UPS'.
Under 'Map Datum' choose either 'Aus geod '66' or 'Aus geod '84'. Whichever is stated on your map book.
These are the menu setting names in my Etrex Legend (blue one). Not sure if they differ from the standard Etrex (yellow).

To get your position I used Oziexplorer and some maps I recently downloaded. They are Vic CFA maps. There are about 448 maps. When on the map sheet that incorporates Hamilton (map 431) it says for greater detail of Hamilton see map 431k on page 151. Is this the same map book you are using? These look to be very high quality scans of the book or perhaps they were digital to start with?

Have a look at these sites to get a better understanding of UTM.
http://www.dmap.co.uk/utmworld.htm
http://www.maptools.com/UsingUTM/UTMdetails.html

[amshaw]

Given your coordinates I would place you slightly North-West inside of Hamilton, Vic. You've stated Hamilton as your location though of course :D
54H is the zone (see the websites below)
0588610 is the Easting
5822687 is the Northing

The GPS has just added a 0 to the front of your Easting.

As for your Aus geod '66 and Aus geod '84 did you get them from your map or the GPS?

When inputing these settings under 'Position Format' choose 'UTM UPS'.
Under 'Map Datum' choose either 'Aus geod '66' or 'Aus geod '84'. Whichever is stated on your map book.
These are the menu setting names in my Etrex Legend (blue one). Not sure if they differ from the standard Etrex (yellow).

To get your position I used Oziexplorer and some maps I recently downloaded. They are Vic CFA maps. There are about 448 maps. When on the map sheet that incorporates Hamilton (map 431) it says for greater detail of Hamilton see map 431k on page 151. Is this the same map book you are using? These look to be very high quality scans of the book or perhaps they were digital to start with?

Have a look at these sites to get a better understanding of UTM.
http://www.dmap.co.uk/utmworld.htm
http://www.maptools.com/UsingUTM/UTMdetails.html

Yep same book, yes same menu on our Etrex, as far as the rest go's Aus 66 or Aus 84 they are in the GPS and I cant find anything in the map book to tell me which to use.

I did have a play and iused the 84 and seems ok so far....

Also thanks for the links, helping us out and your patiants :)

[Utemad]

Well for the map datum I would use Aus geod '66. As it is the most commonly used of the two. Plus the digital versions I have have been calibrated using Aus geod '66 :).

I've got no problems helping out people on here. Considering most of the time I just ask questions here myself since I'm new to Landy ownership. So don't worry about it.

If you start using Oziexplorer PM me and I'll send you the digital version of those maps.

[dmdigital]

If you're referencing maps to GPS just look down in the corner of the map, it should say which datum it has been referenced to.