jps246's Full Review: Garmin eTrex H Handheld GPS Receiver
An inexpensive, rugged and easy to use GPS unit, the Garmin eTrex GPS is an good first-time GPS unit for users who are looking for a simple and foolproof system as an introduction to the world of GPS.
The eTrex is, from the ground up, a GPS receiver that has been designed for outdoor adventurers who don’t need all the features of other more expensive or sophisticated models. The eTrex features basic navigation capabilities in a solid package that should suit average outdoor GPS users.
Unit Details
The eTrex is enclosed a rugged and waterproof plastic case. I wouldn’t suggest trying it out, the unit is strong enough to survive a drop or a fall and waterproof enough so that it can be submerged in water (it is rated to survive up to 30 minutes submerged completely in water). In more benign conditions like rain or snow, the unit performs with no problems.
The eTrex has all of the navigation buttons on the side of the unit, which makes it very easy to hold and operate with a single hand. It is also very easy to use while you are walking or otherwise in motion, once you get a handle on what each button does. The display on the eTrex is about 2 inches high an inch wide. The display is a high-contrast gray-scale LCD screen with a backlight for use in the dark. Getting through the menu system and options on the unit is straightforward and easy to follow and most users should be up and running with the menus within a few minutes.
The unit is about 2 inches wide, 4 ½ inches high and a little over 1 inch deep and weights in at only about 6 ounces when fully loaded with its batteries. This is a significantly smaller than most other GPS units, the eTrex can literally fit into the palm of your hand. It’s almost small enough to slide into your pocket and you won’t even notice it in your backpack.
The eTrex features runs on 2 AA batteries. With new batteries installed, the eTrex should run for continuously for about 22 hours. More scattered use should provide significantly more battery time (not really any longer than 22 hours, it’s just scattered about).
The eTrex is able to store up to 500 waypoints in memory and features the ability to store a single route with 50 waypoints. In addition to laying out the route, the eTrex is has a “TracBack” function that allows you to automatically reverse your course and go back the same way that you have just traveled (sort of the proverbial line of bread crumbs). Coordinates can be displayed in latitude and longitude, UTM, and MGRS coordinate grid systems.
The eTrex has a positioning averaging feature that helps to reduce the error introduced by the government’s Selective Availability (SA) policy. The accuracy for the eTrex however around 15 meters (about 50 feet – though this may increase or decrease depending upon the number of satellites received and the SA policy in the area). The eTrex can receive signals from up to 12 different satellites in the GPS constellation, however it’s unlikely that you’ll ever lock onto all 12 at any one time.
How’s It Work?
In practice the accuracy of the eTrex is often greater than the rated 15 meters. This is because while Selective Availability is still in place, throughout most of the country the difference has been reduced to the point that even handheld units have great accuracy. Areas where you may run into problem with the unit’s accuracy are in places where the government has maintained the higher Selective Availability, such as near military bases and other government installations.
I purchashed a eTrex for my brother and we’ve taken it hiking with us several times. The routes are generally accurate enough to re-follow and the waypoints are very easy to locate. The eTrex does well in a heavily forested area and can lock onto several satellites no matter where we were. In highly mountainous areas though, the accuracy does go down a bit, as the satellite signals are reflected along the sides of the mountains.
The unit holds up quite well. We’ve dropped it, got it wet in the rain, and left it sit in a car for days and haven’t had a problem with the eTrex.
If you want more information on how the exactly GPS works, or on GPS in general, check out a book like GPS Made Easy, it is a great introduction to GPS navigation in the outdoors and will have you up running with your GPS much faster than trying to figure it out on your own, or using just the manual that is included with the unit. You might also want to consider investing in a carrying case to protect the unit from bumps and falls in the outdoors.
Final Thoughts
No one really needs sub-meter accuracy in a GPS unit unless they are using it for surveying, or detailed research work. For those of us out in the woods navigating or driving and using GPS for navigation, the 15-meter accuracy of the eTrex is more than enough.
The eTrex is a simple (and inexpensive) GPS that is perfect for someone just starting out with GPS. It might not have all the bells and whistles of the newer and more expensive models, but it will help you navigate and will do the job with ease.
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