Looking for your first Global Positioning System receiver? Here are some good reasons to consider the Garmin eTrex:

cheap - about $110
rugged - built with the clumsy klutz in mind
waterproof - in case the klutz is fording a stream
convenient - pocket size, intuitive interface
simple - as easy to learn as a cell phone
flexible - many customizable options
upgradeable - firmware updates available online
reliable - 12-channel antenna for an accurate fix
stylish - matches your lemon yellow tie


Wondering why you should consider a GPS receiver at all? Some ideas:

hiking - find your way back to the car or tent
fishing - locate the best spots on your angler's map
navigating - follow the bearing to a waypoint, then retrace your path
fun - geocaching, Degree Confluence Project, scavenger hunt


This is the only GPS receiver I have ever used, and I am very happy with it. The most gratifying thing is that I bought the cheapest GPS unit I could find, and I have never had the disheartening feeling that I should have spent a little more for a better model. The eTrex is very easy to use, with only five buttons and an intuitive interface. But it is also feature-rich, with plenty of options.

There are four screens that you cycle through with the Page button. The first is the Satellite screen. When you power up the unit, it shows the progress in acquiring the GPS signal. Once three or more satellites have been acquired, it shows the current accuracy. In my experience this has been better than 10 meters. With the latest firmware version (2.10), the Satellite screen shows the location of all the satellites currently overhead, with their signal strengths. If you are in the city, you can see where satellites may be blocked by tall buildings, and move to a better location. (GPS requires a clear view of the sky. I haven't noticed any trouble from forest canopy, and the eTrex works well propped up on a car's dashboard. I couldn't, however, get a signal while on an airplane.)

The second screen is the Map. This shows your current location as a little walking figure, and any nearby waypoints you have marked. The orientation can be fixed with North at the top, or with the map rotating as you move, with whatever is ahead of you at the top. Using the Up and Down buttons, you can zoom to change the scale from 500 feet to 800 miles. Additionally, everywhere you go the eTrex records a track log, which appears as a light gray line. You can save up to 10 tracks, and use the TracBack feature to find your way back to your starting point. I tried this on a drive from Washington to Baltimore and it worked great. I saved the track of my trip to the destination, unfortunately including a wrong turn and some backtracking. When I left, I activated the TracBack to follow my steps back. It was easy find my way without having to refer to my written directions. But the Pointer screen was even more helpful.

The Pointer screen is the one you will use most for navigating. In the center is a large compass face. While you are moving, this compass rotates to indicate in which direction you are heading. A large arrow in the middle points in the direction you should go to reach your destination. On my way back from Baltimore, the arrow pointed ahead while I was on track. It conveniently ignored my wrong turn. And I was pleasantly surprised when a little message popped up saying 'TURN AHEAD' each time I approached a sharp angle in my track. Naturally, the large interchanges confused it briefly, since the southbound onramp is on the other side of the highway from the northbound exit ramp. But as soon as I got near the trail again, the arrow confirmed that I was heading back the way I came.

The Pointer screen offers a wealth of information while you are moving. If you are en route to a known destination (either following a track or following a GOTO waypoint) you will see the distance to the destination, the estimated time left before you arrive, and the large arrow pointing you in the right direction. At the bottom of the screen is a field showing one of the following types of data (switch among them using Up and Down): speed, average speed (since last trip reset), max speed (since last reset), heading (the compass direction in which you are moving), bearing (the direction of your destination), elevation, location (latitude and longitude), local sunrise or sunset time, trip time, and trip odometer. All data are updated once per second.

The last screen has the Menu. From here there are five options:

Mark - Use this to create a waypoint. This will store your present location and elevation, with a symbol and name (up to six letters) that you choose. A handy shortcut for marking a waypoint from other screens is to press and hold the Enter button. You can store up to 500 waypoints, and they are preserved when you change the two AA batteries.

Waypoints - This page sorts your waypoints, with tabs on the left to jump to a section of the alphabet. When you select a waypoint, you can edit its location, name or symbol. You can switch to the map with that waypoint centered. Or you can initiate a GOTO with that waypoint as the destination.

Route - By linking several waypoints (from two to fifty) you create a route. When you follow the route, eTrex will direct you to the first waypoint in the list. When you get pretty close to that spot, it will automatically switch to the next waypoint, and so on to the end of the route. I haven't found this feature useful, but with the optional software for uploading waypoints, routes, and tracks from a computer, it could be fun. You could download someone's guided tour of a city before you visit, or mark the waypoints of a favorite hike and make them available on your web page.

Tracks - From here you can save or delete your track logs and activate the TracBack feature.

Setup - In addition to allowing you to configure eTrex, this page shows the current time, date, and a battery life indicator. Garmin has done a fantastic job of providing all the options most users would ever need in a clean, intuitive format. You can choose metric, imperial, or nautical units of distance. 12- or 24-hour time, with or without daylight savings. Display contrast, and duration of the backlight. (You can always tap the power button to turn the backlight on or off.) Choose true north, magnetic north, or grid north. Check the user manual at garmin.com if you want details on map grids, choosing a map datum, or connecting DGPS beacon receivers. If this sounds too confusing, just leave the default settings and it will work fine.

The setup screen also helps you connect the eTrex to a computer. The first thing you will want to do is get the latest firmware update. I bought my eTrex from Amazon in December 2000 (for $109.94) and it had version 2.09, but 2.10 was already available from garmin.com. The connecting cable is $38, but I was able to harvest the cord from an old serial mouse and make one. The update took 30 seconds and went smoothly. Garmin's mapping software will help you manage and exchange your trip and waypoint data, but the eTrex does not support loading street maps, so bring your old paper map along.


What about the fun stuff mentioned above? GPS is fun to have along on a trip anyway, but there are some activities that make GPS essential. One is called geocaching. It is a variation of the letterboxing phenomenon that started in the U.K. Someone hides a little box full of goodies somewhere and notes the location with a GPS unit. This cache is then listed on a web site, and you can go and find it. The tradition is to take something from the booty and leave something else for the next explorer. See web links below.

A second activity made possible by GPS is the Degree Confluence Project. The goal is to visit the intersection of every line of latitude and longitude in the world, except those over water and near the poles. There is one such intersection within 49 miles (79 km) of every point on earth, so you can try and find one nearby. See the eTrex in action at 42N 3E in Catalonia, Spain.


links:

degree confluence project
http://www.confluence.org

geocaching
http://www.geocache.org
http://www.geocaching.com

Another review with photos at:
http://www.gadgetmad.com/reviews/etrex.shtml

Comprehensive GPS reference:
http://joe.mehaffey.com

User manual, firmware update details, info on GPS, and more from the manufacturer:
http://www.garmin.com

Title inspired by Juggling For the Complete Klutz, the admirable precursor to the insipid "For Dummies" series.
http://www.klutz.com


Recommended: Yes