Garmin eTrex H Handheld GPS | List Price: $99.99
Discount Price: Too low to display
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Platform: Not Machine Specific
Brand: Garmin
Binding: Electronics
Features: - Handheld GPS navigator designed for outdoor enthusiasts on a budget
- High-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled 12-parallel-channel GPS receiver
- 500 user waypoints with names and graphic symbols; built-in patch antenna
- 4-level gray LCD display; automatic track log with 10 saved tracks
- Requires 2 AA batteries; measures 2 x 4.4 x 1.2 inches (W x H x D)
An Excellent Basic GPS [Posted on 2008-08-07]
I wanted a basic, easy to use, GPS that would allow me to hike in the wilderness and easily find my way to and from various places without fear of getting lost; and to always find my way back to my campsite or car. I also wanted to be able to save locations I visited as well as locations on the topo map I had not visited yet but wanted to be directed to by the GPS. In addition, I wanted to take a reading "in the field" and be able to find that location on a topo map. This unit does all of this perfectly. Unlike the experience of another reviewer of the eTrex H on this site, when I first turned this GPS on it initialized to satellites and my position in only a few minutes. The description of this unit should mention directly that you can use it to save locations you are not present at. It implies this by referring to Geocaching, but some people, like me, don't know what that is. And the description of how to do this in the owner's manual could be a little better. I am not very experienced in using a GPS with a topo map and I overlooked the need to program the GPS to the "datum" used for the map I was working with, which resulted in my readings being several hundred meters off. My biggest complaint about the owner's manual is that, while it tells you how to program the GPS for various map datums, it does not tell the "beginner" that if you live in the lower 48 US states, for a map that says "NAD 27" for the datum you select "NAD 27 CONUS" (for "Continental US"). I had to buy a couple of books on GPSs to find this out. Otherwise the owner's manual, while it is a little concise, is pretty thorough and easy to use. If your needs are simple, like mine, and you do not need to have topo maps loaded into the GPs, this is an excellent choice at a great price. (Even with a GPS it is always advised to go into unknown areas of the wilderness with a map and compass as well. If you work with a map, you will probably use the UTM system so you will need to learn how to work with that and get a plastic scale for reading meters in "grids". A good book on the GPS can be helpful in these regards - the owner's manual does not go into these details.)
Garmin eTrex H [Posted on 2008-09-06]
This product is perfect for geocaching, which I've been using it for since July 2008. It's very good as a cache is closer, and does pretty decently at zeroing in on the few feet remaining. The unit is durable, as I've frequently dropped it on the caching trail and it still keeps on working. Garmin was also really good about replacing my first unit when the display starting fading out at the bottom and the right hand side. Since I received my replacement (free of charge), I've had no problems whatsoever with it.
Awesome Basic GPS Unit, Great Price! [Posted on 2008-09-15]
I was looking for a basic GPS unit to take with me when I solo backpack ... so I can find my car again, as well as some waypoints along the trail (like, oh, say, where I left my campsite before starting out on a dayhike. ;-).
There are more expensive GPS units that do more out there. I love technology in all parts of my life, but the reason I backpack is to simplify. The last thing I wanted was to buy a complex GPS that required the purchasing and loading of topo maps onto my computer ... and all the headaches and hassles thereunto. (Read some of the reviews on the pricier, more complex GPS models.)
I took this eTrex with me on a multi-day backpacking trip in Southern PA. I received the eTrex literally the evening of the day before I was to leave. I turned it on, watched a few on-line videos, and was off and running. (I even made copies of a few pages of the owner's manual to take with me, but found that the unit is so simple to use that I didn't need them.)
I gave it four stars because the owner's manual is very poorly written. This is my first GPS unit and some discussion of the basics would have been helpful. But with the help of a few videos on Youtube and other places on-line, I was able to get up and running fairly quickly.
As with other reviewers, my eTrex took a few minutes to find the satellites when I first turned it on at home. The other things new users might want to know is that if you drive several hours before turning the unit on (as I did), the eTrex needs a few extra minutes to "find" itself again. Not a big deal, but good to know.
Bottom line: If you want a simple GPS for backpacking, hunting or fly-fishing, then this is the unit to get.
great device [Posted on 2008-09-28]
Garmin E trex H is a great little gps devise, I dont know much about geocaching or anything like that but I am in the military and need to know where I am and how to get to others during operations. At first I was sceptical because nowhere on any other reviews did it say it gave MGRS (Military Grid Reference) which is how us U.S. miltary navigate, but I gave it a shot because most garmin products come with MGRS.
The size is excellent can fit anywhere in my gear and works great under cloud cover and trees so far. The manual isnt so great but it is so easy I played around with it for about 10 minutes and figured it out. I gave it four stars simply because when you select MGRS, the numbers are small and it takes that extra second to read.
Hopes this helps out any other u.s. military interested
Very Good For a Beginner [Posted on 2008-10-04]
I just recently purchased this garmin etrex gps device and it has been very helpful and fairly accurate in finding specific locations. I use it for hiking and geocaching and have done well with it so far. The batteries in mine lasted quite a long time before I had to replace them for 1st time. The only hang up I have with it, is that dense tree coverage can interfere with the signal. It is my first gps and I am still learning about it but it has been very helpful.
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